The History Channel Goes Interactive

On November 3, 2006, The History Channel will begin the second season of its television series Shootout!, dedicated to exploring some of history's most significant gun battles. Today, developer Kuma Reality Games announced its intention to allow gamers to experience those same battles themselves. Downloadable shooter episodes will correspond to episodes of the program, giving users a more interactive take on the events described. "Season two of 'Shootout!' was developed with gamers in mind," said The History Channel historical programming director Dolores Gavin. "We think that the unique perspective of the series combined with the immersive nature of the game will allow our viewers to experience history in a whole new way." Shootout! advertisers will have the opportunity to buy in-game or more traditional advertising for the downloadable games. Kuma Reality, apparently one of several companies to describe itself as "the industry leader in the new market for Episodic Video Games," is best known for its episodic game series Kuma\War, first released in 2004 and using Valve's Source engine in its current form. Kuma\War recreates specific battles from modern United States conflicts, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, frequently very soon after the battles have taken place.