Kuma Games is a computer games developer. They have specialized in developing free episodic first person shooters (FPS) since 2004.^[1] The company has also created a number of machinima movies for their games, particularly The Dinohunters.^[2]

Kuma Games; along with their original properties Kuma\War and Dinohunters also produces games based on other TV properties such as The History Channel's Dogfights and ShootOut! series,^[3] as well as The Kill Point for Spike TV.^[4]

Gamisodes[link]

Kuma Reality Games currently produces eleven major game titles. All are available to download for free. Kuma Reality Games ceased production of new episodes for Kuma War Classics, but the game is still available for free download. Despite recent controversy, all KUMA Games published have an ESRB rating of T due to legal issues.

• Kuma\War This is the second version of Kuma\War, taking information from recent military operations, but this game is a first person and can be seen in third person (unlike Kuma War Classics). Kuma Games is known as UE9 (Unidad Especial 9) in Latin America. In May 2011, KUMA released their final episode of KUMA\War: The Death of Osama bin Laden.^[5]

• WWII\Vietnam: WWII\Vietnam is a game that was produced in conjunction with The History Channel program ShootOut!. The episodic games for this title are based on the actual ShootOut! episodes that air on The History Channel. Some of the battles recreated include Iwo Jima, The Tet Offensive, The Battle of the Bulge, and an episode on the Vietcong attacking of the US Embassy in Vietnam.

• WWII Experience: WWII Experience is a game based on actual World War II missions. The missions cover land, sea, and air.

• National Blood Sport: A football-style shooter taking place in Nazi-occupied America.

• The DinoHunters: The story of the Dinohunters is centered around a fictitious reality show on the Total Hunting Channel. The producers send a crew of washed up celebrities into the past to hunt dinosaurs for sport and big ratings. The crew consists of Australian stuntman and actor Roger Wallaby, country singer Harlan Davis, Brooklyn native Shaw Jefferson, and their sexpot producer Candace "Candy" Spencer.

• Mobsters: Mobsters is a free episodic first person shooter based on The Biography Channel's program Mobsters. Each game episode mirrors events from each episode of the series; where police try to negotiate the safe release of hostages in a bank robbery gone awry.^[4] The game was formerly based on Spike TV's program The Kill Point.

• Dogfights: Dogfights is a game that was produced in conjunction with The History Channel program of the same name. The games for this title are based on the show's Season 2 World War II episodes.^[6]

• Street Soccer: Street Soccer is a third-person soccer game. It is Kuma's only non-shooter, but it does have melee combat & a wall-walking ability.

• I,Predator: I,Predator is a survival game based on Discovery's TV channel Animal Planet.

• Kuma War Classics: This game takes information and strategic data from recent military operations and attempts to recreate the war scenario as it happened. The missions for Kuma War Classics are missions 1-74. The missions after that are Kuma War missions. This game has come under much praise and criticism for the role it plays in reproducing recent battles. Kuma War now has an option to play in first-person, rather than the default third-person.^[7]

• Wahdat al Nimr (The Tiger Unit) : The second series released for the Middle Eastern gamer, Wahdat al Nimr is a multiplayer, FPS set in the Middle East and North Africa. Players will join the "Tiger Unit" to take down corruption.

• Sibak Al Fursan (Race of the Horsemen) : The latest in KUMA's episodic game titles is a 3D racing game set in and made for the Middle Eastern Gamer. Sibak Al Fursan is available in Arabic, English, Persian and Urdu. United States and Latin American release due out Summer of 2011.

Other Projects[link]

• Free Energy Game: An informative and fun approach to energy management, created by Stanford University, KUMA Games, and Seriosity

Controversy[link]

In December 18, 2011, an alleged CIA agent being held in Tehran said in a report that he has worked for Kuma as a CIA operative.^[8] The report which was aired by Iranian state TV alleged that Kuma acts as a cover-up machine for CIA media war operations and has links with DARPA.

The channel named the alleged agent as Amir Mirza Hekmati and said he joined the US Marine Corp and was employed by the military intelligence section in 2001 and had a decade of intelligence training. The report said Hekmati was sent to the US-run Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and given access to classified US intelligence before flying to Tehran to try to entice the Iranians with it and establish his value to them.

Television report said Hekmati had worked for the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) between 2005 and 2007.

“After DARPA, I was recruited by Kuma Games Company, a computer games company which received money from CIA to design and make special films and computer games to change the public opinion’s mindset in the Middle East and distribute them among Middle East residents free of charge. The goal of Kuma Games was to convince the people of the world and Iraq that what the US does in Iraq and other countries is good and acceptable,” ^[9] Hekmati alleged in the report.

According to an interview on December 20, 2011 with The Daily Telegraph, Hekmati's father states that he was not a CIA spy as authorities in the country claim and was visiting relatives when he was detained.^[10] Finally, an Iranian court sentenced Hekmati to death on espionage charges.^[11] KUMA officials told Kotaku in 2006 that the company has done contract work for the U.S. government, designing gaming technology to help train the armed forces, but it has primarily presented itself as a gaming company that caters to civilians.^[12]

See also[link]

• Episodic games
• List of free first-person shooters

Notes[link]

1. ^ Klaassen, Abbey (August 20, 2007). "Turning Video-Game Development Into TV-Size Chunks". Advertising Age. http://adage.com/article?article_id=119925. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
2. ^ Kuma Reality Games. (2004) Kuma\War. [PC], New York: Kuma Reality Games.
3. ^ Andy Chalk. "Kuma Joins With History Channel For Dogfights Program". Escapistmagazine.com. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/72464-Kuma-Joins-With-History-Channel-For-Dogfights-Program. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Fritz, Ben (2007-07-19). "Spike ties videogame to series". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968861.html?categoryid=14&cs=1. 
5. ^ "'War' is Over! 106 Missions Later, Gamers Take Down bin Laden in Final Episode of KUMA\WAR II". 5/6/11. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/war-is-over-106-missions-later-gamers-take-down-bin-laden-in-final-episode-of-kumawar-ii-121402834.html. 
6. ^ Dogfights The Game - The History Channel^{[dead link]}
7. ^ Kuma plays war games^{[dead link]}
8. ^ Burleigh, Marc (December 18, 2011). "Iran TV shows 'CIA spy' speaking of alleged mission". AFP. http://news.yahoo.com/iran-tv-shows-cia-spy-speaking-alleged-mission-180319430.html. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
9. ^ "Transcript - Confessions of the arrested CIA spy aired on Iranian TV". Tehran Times. December 18, 2011. http://www.tehrantimes.com/politics/93662-transcript-confessions-of-the-arrested-cia-spy-aired-on-iranian-tv. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
10. ^ "Father of captured 'US spy' says his son never worked for the CIA". The Telegraph. December 20, 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8967271/Father-of-captured-US-spy-says-his-son-never-worked-for-the-CIA.html. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 
11. ^ "Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, alleged U.S. spy, sentenced to death in Iran". Washington Post. January 9, 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iran-court-sentences-american-to-death/2012/01/09/gIQA3T8GlP_story.html?tid=pm_pop. Retrieved January 11, 2011. 
12. ^ Totilo, Stephen (December 19, 2011). "Alleged Iranian Spy ‘Confesses’ that U.S. Video Game Company is CIA Propaganda Tool". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/kuma-war/. Retrieved December 27, 2011. 

External links[link]

• Official Kuma Games website
• "Free "Baghdad Surge" Episode Depicts Current Military Push; Puts Gamers in the Boots of An Iraqi Soldier". http://www.gameinatrix.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3741. 
• "GameZone information page for Kuma Games". http://search.gamezone.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?PUBLISHER=Kuma%20Games. 
• "Kuma Reality Games Hits CNN, Pisses People Off". http://www.gamesfirst.com/index.php?id=884. 

Afro Samurai (アフロサムライ, Afuro Samurai^?), also written AFRO SAMURAI, is a Japanese seinen dōjinshi manga series written and illustrated by manga artist Takashi Okazaki. It was originally serialized irregularly in the avant-garde dōjinshi manga magazine Nou Nou Hau from September 1999 to May 2000. Inspired by Takashi Okazaki's love of soul and hip hop music and American media, Afro Samurai follows the life of Afro Samurai who witnessed his father (owner of the No. 1 headband) being killed by the hands of a gunslinger named Justice (owner of the No. 2 headband) while he was a child. As an adult, Afro sets off to avenge his father's death and kill Justice.

The Afro Samurai dōjinshi was adapted into a 5-episode anime TV series by studio Gonzo in 2007. The same studio also went on to produce a made-for-TV movie sequel entitled Afro Samurai: Resurrection in 2009, which gained two Emmy nominations, for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation, which it won, and Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or More). After the release of the anime series, Takashi Okazaki remade the original Afro Samurai dōjinshi into a two-volume manga. To be only released in North America, Tor Books and Seven Seas Entertainment licensed the title and published it under their new Tor/Seven Seas imprint.

In addition to the success of the anime series, Afro Samurai has also been adapted into a video game and an upcoming live-action feature film. For the TV series and the film, two soundtracks by the RZA of Wu-Tang Clan have been released as well as a profile book in Japan.

Plot[link]

[edit] Afro Samurai

In a futuristic yet feudal Japan, it is said that the one who wields the Number 1 headband is the fiercest fighter in the world and shall possess godlike powers. The only way to obtain the Number 1 headband is to challenge and defeat him in combat. However, only the Number 2 can challenge the Number 1, while anyone can challenge the Number 2, which causes a constant struggle for the Number 2 headband.

Justice, the owner of the No. 2 headband, goes to fight the owner of the No. 1 headband, Afro's father. The two battle, ending with Justice decapitating Afro's father and claiming his headband. His head rolls in front of his son, Afro, as he sobs and vows revenge.

Now an adult, "Afro Samurai" is the current No. 2 and a master swordsman. He travels Japan trying to make his way to the mountain-top keep where Justice awaits. As he makes his way to Justice, he recalls his journey from a frightened young boy to a master samurai. Along the way, many people challenge Afro for his headband, including the "Empty Seven Clan" who send various agents, including a robotic Afro, to kill him throughout his travels. He is also being hunted by his vengeful childhood friend Jinno, who was long thought to be dead. It is revealed that Afro's childhood samurai master became the new No. 2 after Justice killed Afro's father. When Afro confronts his master, they are both attacked by assassins, leading to the death of everyone except Afro, Jinno, Atsura (Ukikio) and their master. Jinno begs Afro not to kill their own master, claiming he is selfish and he is to blame for the death of their friends. Afro defeats the master and claims the number 2 headband. Jinno, filled with rage and hatred for Afro, throws himself off a nearby cliff. Afro as an adult finally confronts Justice. Afro learns that there are other headbands in existence, ranging to an unspecified higher number, and sees that the corpses of those who wore them are skewered throughout the room where Justice awaits. Afro defeats Justice and takes the No. 1 headband, and the other headbands disappear.

Afro decides to live in the mountains once again. Jinno, adorned with every headband in existence, returns and confronts Afro for the No. 1 band and his revenge.

[edit] Afro Samurai: Resurrection

Afro refuses to wear the No. 1 headband as the rules require, and spends his days making wooden sculptures of people from his past instead of fighting. On a bridge, after fishing, a group of people challenge him, but he easily slays all of them. One dark and stormy night, Jinno (now mindlessly taking orders) and a mysterious woman named Sio attacks Afro. Jinno easily defeats him and takes the No. 1 headband for Sio and then robs his father's grave of his remains. Sio is revealed to be Jinno's sister. Sio tells Afro her plans to resurrect Afro's father, Rokutaro, so she can torture him as revenge against Afro for the lives he has destroyed, including her brother's and her own. Sio challenges Afro to find the No. 2 headband to earn the right to challenge her. Afro, determined to recover the No. 1 headband and his father's remains, sets off to find the No. 2 headband. At "Lady's Luck Town" in a stripper/sex club, finds brothers No. 1 (who is in a stand-up wheelchair and has a catheter) and 3 and has to play a dice game against Brother No. 3. No. 3 cheats and Afro finds out, threatening to kill him and eventually learns from No. 3 that the bearer of the No. 2 headband is a man named Shichigoro.

Afro, in search of Shichigoro, coincidentally kills the kidnapper of Schichigoro's son and prompts Shichigoro to buy him a drink. They eventually fight to the death with the No. 2 headband at stake, and upon victory, Afro continues on toward Sio. Shichigoro's son, who witnessed his father's death, sobs and then vows revenge over the dead body of his father, much like Afro and Justice. Along the way he is observed by three masked, android warriors from his past. The warriors are revealed to be a part of Sio's original plan to overwhelm Afro in the final battle, but apparently had decided to battle Afro early in an attempt to finish him off before Sio had to dirty her hands.

Afro battles and defeats the three while Sio attempts to resurrect a mind-controlled version of Afro's father. However, Rokutaro is revived before he is completely restored, leaving him merely a mindless, though apparently somewhat controllable, killing machine. Afro defeats the three and is soon confronted by Sio, Jinno, and his resurrected father. With Afro hesitant to fight his father, Rokutaro defeats and kills him (stops his heart from beating by strangling him). Jinno comes to Afro's aid, though pointless as Sio points out, in a sudden flash of selective memories of being a childhood friend and sparring partner with Afro. Landing only a few blows, Jinno is quickly killed by Rokutaro, who kills Sio in the same blow when she attempts to come to Jinno's aid. The cybernetic remains of Jinno give off an electrical surge, which, conducted through the spilled blood of Sio, restarts Afro's heart. Afro apparently defeats Rokotaro and emerges from the scene wearing the No. 1 headband.

Afro walks away from the battle, wearing the No. 1 headband and clutching the No. 2 headband in right hand. He comes across Shichigoro's orphaned son, who had been following him, and hands him the No. 2, telling him to challenge him when he's ready.

Production[link]

Takashi Okazaki started drawing African-American characters on items like Kleenex boxes when he was a teenager, inspired by his fondness for hip hop and soul music. He also drew ideas from American media and their depiction of Japanese culture.^[1] Takashi started combining elements of samurai into his work, eventually developing the design for Afro. Takashi Okazaki began writing the original dōjinshi, then called Afro Samurai!, when he and his friends started independently publishing the art magazine Nou Nou Hau.^[2] The preparatory "issue 0" of Nou Nou Hau was released on November 1998 with Afro Samurai artwork featured on the cover.^[3] Takashi Okazaki wrote the entire manga in the English direction, with elements from English and Japanese comics. He also used Afro Samurai for a cat food advertisement in the last pages of his manga book.^[4]

In addition to the anime production, Takashi Okazaki re-made the dōjinshi, with much better art skills.^[4] At the Japan Society from March 13 to June 14, 2009, original Afro Samurai dōjinshi artwork (as used on issue 0 of Nou Nou Hau) was showcased at the KRAZY!: The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games exhibition.^[5]

Media[link]

Manga[link]

Written and illustrated by Takashi Okazaki, Afro Samurai was originally published in the self-funded Nou Nou Hau dōjinshi magazine.^[2] First appearing in issue 0, the dōjinshi version was first published from September 1999 to October 2000.^[3] After the release of the anime version, Takashi Okazaki recreated the original dōjinshi.^[4] Although the recreation of the original manga was created in Japan, it was first published in the United States by Seven Seas Entertainment and Tor Books in two tankōbon volumes.^[6] As a special supplement, thumb-nail sized clips of the original dōjinshi were shown at the end of the first volume.^[7] The English release of the manga was Tor Books and Seven Seas' first publication under the newly formed Tor/Seven Seas imprint.^[6] The manga was also released in Italy through Panini Comics' manga publishing division Planet Manga, starting on April 9, 2009.^[8] The manga was released in one volume in Japan on December 18, 2009. The limited edition came with all the issues of the original dōjinshi included in a separate volume.^[1]

Anime[link]

One of Takashi Okazaki's friends decided to make action figures based on the character, which were released in small amounts. After the action figures were created, a producer from the Japanese studio, Gonzo, happened to find them and thought of an animated TV project based on the series. The anime took three years to develop, and in the three years the studio also created a trailer, which happened to fall into the hands of Samuel L. Jackson.^[10] It was announced that the project would be a five-episode "creative collaboration" between Samuel L. Jackson, Takashi Okazaki, and Gonzo, with a music score by hip hop artist RZA from the rap group Wu-Tang Clan.^[11][12] In 2006, it was announced that Funimation Entertainment acquired the rights to the anime series which would premier on Spike TV (now simply known as "Spike") later that year, and that Samuel L. Jackson would voice Afro.^[13] Afro Samurai debuted on Spike TV, on January 4, 2007.^[14] The series' worldwide premier was on Spike TV's website where they streamed the first episode online. The anime was later released on Japanese television Thursday, May 3, 2007, in English with Japanese subtitles. The Japanese air was released completely uncut.^[15] On Friday, May 11, 2007 Funimation released the first Afro Samurai DVDs at Anime Central, at their own booth, the regular Afro Samurai: Spike Version and the uncut Afro Samurai: Director's Cut. Both DVDs were released to the public on May 22, 2007.^[16] On September 4, 2007, all five episodes of Afro Samurai were released on iTunes. To promote this, Funimation released eight custom designed iPods by Takashi Okazaki.^[17] In 2008, Funimation released the Afro Samurai anime series onto Xbox Live in high definition format and also debuted on Blu-ray Disc in that year.^[18][19] Also in 2008, Afro Samurai was shown at the German Film Festival in Germany.^[20]

Films[link]

In an Associated Press interview in 2007, Takashi Okazaki confirmed there would be a sequel to the anime series, and that it would also be shown on Spike TV.^[21] In 2008, the sequel was announced to be a TV movie titled Afro Samurai: Resurrection, and that actors Lucy Liu and Mark Hamill would join the voice acting cast.^[22] Hip hop artist RZA also came back to provide the soundtrack for the movie. Afro Samurai: Resurrection debuted on Spike TV on the night of January 25, 2009.^[23] On July 16, 2009, Afro Samurai: Resurrection was nominated for an Emmy in the "Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or more)" category in the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards and the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. At the Emmy awards, Afro Samurai: Resurrection lost to Destination Imagination, a TV movie based on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.^[24][25] The art director of Afro Samurai: Resurrection, Shigemi Ikeda, won an Emmy for his work on Resurrection, which is the first ever awarded for work on a Japanese-animated production.^[26] Afro Samurai: Resurrection was the first Japanese anime to be nominated for and win an Emmy.^[25]

Late 2009 also saw the release of Afro Samurai: Complete Murder Sessions on Blu-Ray and DVD. A 4-disc collection of both Afro Samurai Director's Cut and Afro Samurai: Resurrection, together in one complete boxset.

Announced at the 2006 Comic-Con, a live action version of Afro Samurai was said to be in the making.^[27] On 2011-07-21, Gonzo K.K. and Indomina group announced Indomina group had obtained the rights to produce the film, with Samuel L. Jackson, Jasbinder Singh Mann (Indomina Group Vice Chairman and CEO), Shin Ishikawa (Gonzo Studios) as producers; Eli Selden of Anonymous Content as executive producer.^[28][29]

Video games[link]

In 2005, Gonzo had awarded Namco Bandai Games exclusive rights to publish to Afro Samurai video games, as announced that year.^[30] The debut trailer of the first game was released at the company's Editor's Day presentation.^[31] Afro Samurai was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on January 27, 2009.^[32][33]

Soundtracks[link]

Wu-Tang Clan member RZA produced the soundtrack for both the Afro Samurai TV series and the TV movie sequel Afro Samurai: Resurrection.^[12][23] The first soundtrack for the anime series, The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai: The Soundtrack was released on January 30, 2007 by Koch Records (now known as E1 Music).^[34] The second soundtrack for the TV movie, The RZA Presents: Afro Samurai: Resurrection: The Soundtrack was also released by Koch Records on January 27, 2009.^[35]

Crew[link]

• Samuel L. Jackson - Executive Producer
• Jamie Simone - Casting and Voice Director

Reception[link]

The Afro Samurai manga series has received generally positive reviews from critics. Scott Green, writer of the Anime AICN segment of Ain't It Cool News said that the manga "is a work of design" and that it "utilizes the medium to which it is applied as a platform rather than as an ends unto itself." Scott notes that Okazaki does not have a "head for manga as a storytelling form" and that the "manga labors to show off Okazaksi' [sic] design."^[36] Anime News Network reviewer, Carlo Santos stated about the anime that "like most typical action-adventures, the story starts out slow and only picks up toward the middle and end when the blades really start flying" and that "Afro Samurai is hardly a complex story" and that it only has "a handful of characters and a straightforward beat-the-next-guy plotline". Carlo Santos also noted that "the original Afro Samurai manga is pretty lousy" and that Takashi Okazaki often gets lost in "incomprehensible scribbles" and "style over substance."^[37] Volume 2 of Afro Samurai also charted 147 on ComiPress' "Top 250 Manga Volumes" of February 2009.^[38] The Blu-ray release of the anime series charted #16 on VideoScan's Blu-ray charts.^[19] Zac Bertschy of Anime News Nerwork stated about Afro Samurai: Resurrection that "it's a gorgeous film," with "incredible animation, spectacular action setpieces [sic] and a thumping score by The RZA". Zac noted that the plot is just "window dressing" and that if it's about anything it's about "cool".

Zac criticized that the film is just an excuse to string fight scenes together and that the farther it goes on it becomes clearer how "weak the writing is".^[39] Hyper commends the anime for its art, saying, "stylised poses and sharp, dynamic visuals have long been a trademark element of this series, and they hold true [in the anime]."^[40] In January 2009, IGN ranked Afro Samurai 90th on a list of the top 100 animated series, saying that the over-the-top violence and quirky story and characters made the show enjoyable ^[41]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Official Afro Samurai: Resurrection website (Japanese)
• Official Gomanga page
• Afro Samurai (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Afro Samurai (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Afro Samurai: Resurrection (film) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Afro Samurai (film) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Afro Samurai at the Internet Movie Database
• Afro Samurai: Resurrection at Internet Movie Database