Kuma\War

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$Kuma\War$

Kuma\War

Kuma\War is a tactical first and third-person shooter created by the new American company Kuma Reality Games. Kuma\War is an episodic game that re-creates real-world conflicts in video game format using information culled from news accounts, military experts, Department of Defense records and original research. Episodes consist of a playable mission, extensive background text, and often include interviews with military experts, soldiers and other actual participants in the events described.

First released in 2004, Kuma\War currently hosts 78 missions (as of 6th December 2006). While most episodes are drawn from the war in Iraq, Kuma has re-created events from Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Iran and Vietnam. Kuma\War was created as a consumer product, but is now also used by the US Military as a training and communications tool.

Kuma\War has become the subject of much controversy, taking criticism for supporting the war, its speed of release – many of its missions recreate battles which are just days or weeks old – its close relationship with the military, and for its coverage of a number of divisive issues including the potential for military action in Iran and a positive depiction of John Kerry’s military service.

The first mission of the game (named "Uday and Qusay's Last Stand") is the battle in which the two sons of Saddam Hussein, Uday and Qusay, are killed. The attack is described as "a turning point in Operation Iraqi Freedom" and "a milestone in the War on Terror".[1] Other significant episodes include “John Kerry’s Silver Star”, “Fallujah: Operation al Fajr”, and “Osama 2001: Tora Bora.”

Unlike other games created with the assistance of the US Military, such as America's Army, Full Spectrum Warrior and SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs, the main distinguishing feature in Kuma\War is its extensive background information for each mission, which includes satellite photos, original articles and a multimedia library.

Kuma is also notable for its free ad-supported business model, its Iraqi fan base^[1] and continuous updates, delivering new episodes twice each month. Every episode from the collection of Kuma\War missions can be downloaded for free and played as a single-player first-person shooter. Popular past missions can also be played as a free online multiplayer experience.

In July 2006, Kuma\War 2 was released, featuring improved graphics (based on the Source engine) and an expanded online multiplayer environment. The first mission re-creates the assassination of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and further missions have been promised.