Startup using a custom Portal 2 level to recruit engineers

I say this partly in jest but... it's nice to see a lean startup using its limited resources correctly by creating levels for Portal 2. For all I know, this could've been an employee's pet project, but if not I'm not sure I see the value.<p>Also, the jobs homepage lede is a little grating:<p>"We're seeking brilliant people ..." [Click "I'm brilliant" to continue]<p>Because who doesn't think they deserve brilliant people? Nice employers and a good corporate culture are obviously very important, but can't it be taken too far? I think, what it comes down to, is that I don't like seeing a company's <i>ego</i> on display so brazenly, especially when they're a startup which still has a lot to prove.

Seems like fun...<p>But this type of thing doesn't help our profession be taken seriously. If WibiData was a game company this would fit - but they do data analytics as far as I can tell.<p>I am a professional software developer. I have a very specific skill set and I expect to be treated properly. I do not appreciate it when people think I am a "geek", or that I obviously play video games or are in to Star Trek[1]. When it comes to my professional career I expected to be treated as an adult with a valuable skillset that can add value to a business.<p>I wouldn't apply to this company frankly because this strategy belies a culture that thinks development is all fun and games. Whether that's true or not, doesn't matter. What they are communicating to me as a potential applicant turns me off. (and the photos of a giant open room don't help either - who the hell wants to work in an office like that?)<p>[1]note, just because I am totally into all that doesn't invalidate my point

Kind of neat, but strange as a recruitment device: It seems difficult enough to get good people, why would one put such an arbitrary filter as a first barrier? People who don't play computer games or Portal 2 are probably much less likely to apply that way.

Some people don't like video games, prefer sports, like skiing... Some people play Settlers and/or Civilization or turn based strategies... They won't be able to react or move quickly in Portal. It's like saying - we will hire you but you need to BUY and DRIVE this motorbike through this hoop of fire... And person don't even have driving license. Not to mention they were busy building that hoop of fire instead of making their product in the first place (but that's for them to decide how they want to run their business). I juts think being a gamer is not requirement. If you can opt out and solve a chess puzzle or a super fast Tetris or whatever - there should be alternatives, just like audio capcha or sites for color blind people

On a side note: I wish startups would start putting the company location somewhere in an easily accessible place. This would allow me to decide if an application is a valid option due to geography.

The irony is that, if they weren't busy designing Portal maps, they'd have enough manpower to develop their product.

I like these sort of recruitment teasers, mainly because if done well they self-select for exactly the kind of person you want.<p>I think this is similar in effect to website job boards like the joelonsoftware board or the hn jobs section, where the people who answer are likelier to share your vision and opinions.<p>In this case you'd have to have Portal 2 already, but anyway. Maybe they're looking for that :)

Has anyone downloaded the mod and tried it?<p>I'm curious why they use this mod for recruiting, though I don't own Portal 2 and I'm not interested in applying to Wibidata. What the video shows of the gameplay and puzzles are what I'd expect from Portal 2.

email template for people who want to apply: I estimated it would take X time units to finish this game. Instead I wrote this neat piece of software (github-link) in that timespan.<p>Hire me, gg no re

This is a fantastic idea. Cultural fit as selection criteria is more appreciated than it used to be, but still underrated.<p>This nails it. I'll do this next time I need to recruit.

Clever idea although as others mention it's obviously a very biased selection, but if they are OK with that, that's fine with me. I was all set to try it just for kicks, but this turned me off and I quit the install:<p>"In this mod you're placed into the Wibi!Data office to reset a PIN for the CEO of the company. You reset this by gathering reset keys and slowing figuring out the reset code."

Neat! Not great for applicants that they have to purchase a copy of Portal 2 on steam, but at least it should be fun. Also, I don't know if it's a good thing to require engineers to apply by playing a game - but I guess it might be good to identify people who would be a good cultural fit.

I think all of you are missing the point. They might have done this to create a filter that would weed out people who wouldn't fit. But, I think the main point was to attract as much attention as possible to the fact that they are hiring. "Free" advertisement.<p>This thread proves they succeed beautifully.

I think it's a fun. But while "brilliant" people playing* portal 2, a clever and unemployed person who has to pay his bills, will spend his time applying for jobs, networking or/and building a product and try to maximize his utility.<p>* : I mean really playing, not decompiling..

Is the typo deliberate? recuriting?

It's interesting to me how negative most of the comments are here, compared to how positive they were for a very similar idea last week: <a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5081053" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5081053</a>

Can someone tell me what Portal 2 is?<p>Ah, forget it. I'm obviously not qualified for this job.

Anyone try portal 2 on Linux? How is the performance ?

From the trailer, this looks like high quality stuff. I wonder what their budget was! They certainly got my attention.

haha, this is awesome!

Surely any engineer worth their salt will just grab a map decompiler - like this one. <a href="https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/BSPSource" rel="nofollow">https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/BSPSource</a>