An unconventional video game developed by the United Nations’ food aid agency to teach children about world hunger is proving massively popular, attracting a million users in its first six weeks of release.

In the U.N. World Food Programme’s "Food Force", players assume the role of aid workers whose mission is to feed the starving population of the fictitious war-torn island of Sheylan. The game can be downloaded for free from the website www.food-force.com.

Boasting slick graphics that rival anything offered by most commercial shoot-em-up adventures, the game gives players a number of realistic challenges including flying helicopters while looking out for hungry people, negotiating with armed rebels blocking a food convoy and using food aid to help rebuild communities.

John Powell, WFP deputy executive director for fundraising and communications, said the success of “Food Force” was down to having “struck the right balance between entertainment, game-play and communicating a global issue like hunger.”

The game has been designed specifically for children aged 8 to 13. After each mission is successfully completed, players are rewarded with an educational video about the WFP’s work responding to food emergencies.

“I have learnt what WFP do in a major crisis,” said Phoebe Jones, a nine-year-old player in London. “The game was very good and I would recommend it to my friends.”

Evidence of the game’s success in teaching kids about world hunger and development can be seen in an online guestbook on the game’s website.

One user says: “When I’m older I would love to do what you are doing, but how far can you really change things without dealing with the problems of unfair trade, world debt and western agricultural subsidies?”

Parents may be pleased to learn that, unlike most video games, “Food Force” lacks shooting or violence of any kind. The game’s website also includes material for teachers, including lesson plans on world hunger and topics for class discussion.

The fact that the game is now only available in English does not appear to have stunted its popularity around the globe.

“The game isn’t even translated and already we are reaching 40 countries,” Powell said.

The huge demand from teachers and children has led the WFP to search for sponsors or technical partners to help translate the game into Spanish, French, Japanese and Chinese. The classroom materials are already available in seven languages.