After seeing Kixeye’s video, “The Interview,” I knew I had to post my personal opinion about it here. While the video is hilarious and high-quality, it only detracts any desire I’d have to work for this company and I’ve heard I’m not alone. Take a look here:
In the video, CEO Will Harbin asks, “What’s best in life? Is it to crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women?” He further explains how this is only a good start. And, while waving a giant dildo in the air explains how an employee at Kixeye will make games that when described to their grandchildren in 40 years will cause the kids to cry.
I know the quote with “lamentation of their women” is from Conan the Barbarian, but this still irks me in the wrong way. If you remember back to my posts – Wanted: More Girls in Gaming and Wanted: More Girls in Gaming, Part 2, you’ll remember how I describe the gaming industry as a man’s world. I believe Kixeye’s barbaric representation of the games industry hurts this cause!
However, it’s clear neither I nor the majority of women are the companies core audience – both to play their games or for a game job. So perhaps they achieved what they set out to do.
Comments on: "Kixeye’s Barbaric Recruiting Video" (3)
I enjoyed seeing the big game companies skewered but I did think it was odd that he used the complete Conan quote without any modifications. In my group of friends we quote that line often enough – but when I use it I will modify that the quote with something topical related to the subject at hand rather than simply women suffering. The writers could have been a bit more creative in the final sell script. Shows an unfortunate lack of imagination in an otherwise well produced bit.
Thanks for checking out my blog, Mark! I see the humor in that quote, but as you said they could have modified it a bit. Would have loved it to be less disrespectful of women!
[...] conversation is legally acceptable but off-putting to them, this same choice still exists. Take Kixeye’s recruiting video for example – I wouldn’t particularly want to have a vulgar conversation about shoving [...]