Water Cooler Games - Monster.com Crap in the Door

Monster.com Crap in the Door
February 13, 2007 - by Ian Bogost

I frequently get emails from PR agencies hocking their clients lousy advergames. I usually save these up, but I realized that it's been too long since we railed on a crappy advergame.

Here's Foot in the Door, from Monster.com, the job ad website. According to the press release, the game is "a fun, interactive way for job seekers to relax while making fun of the experience of getting into an interview, and the hurdles they find in the process."

To play the game, you throw feet. At doors.

If this were just a cute game that they threw up for a laugh, perhaps I'd be less cruel. What amazes me is that Monster.com actually seems to believe that the game has something to do with their core business offering (again from the release): "we hope Foot In The Door helps players see how Monster can help them walk through the door to their next great career." What's even more unfortunate is that a game about how to perform well in a job interview would actually be a really interesting game. Throwing disembodied feet? Not so much.

Comments (4) | Post a Comment | TrackBack (0)

Comment from Joe Bourrie on February 13, 2007

Wow. I never knew that the best way to make a good impression on a potential employer was to kick their employees in the head!

Thanks Monster.com!

This does absolutely nothing to advertise Monster.com... it's not only a bad idea for an advergame, but it's also just a bad idea for a game. Why would I send this to my friends? Oh yeah, to unlock a cheat code. You know, a cheat code that I will never use because I never want to open that website again.

Brilliant!

Comment from e-wreck on February 14, 2007

Briljant review. Almost couldn't resist throwing feet at my screen. What a drag, especially since they put a lot of effort (money) in it, for instance the characters and their backround.

Comment from e-wreck on February 14, 2007

Briljant review. Almost couldn't resist throwing feet at my screen. What a drag, especially since they put a lot of effort (money) in it, for instance the characters and their backround.

Comment from AndyL on February 19, 2007

The cheaziest part of this game is that if you pelt the monster dot com mascot in the head he'll stand there holding the door open for you so you can toss a large number of feet into the door.
If you make use of the monster.com mascot then the game becomes very easy. The message we're aparently supposed to get is that Monster.com helps you get your feet into the door.

Perhaps it would have been more subtle if the monster had just held up a giant sign.

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