Thunderdome - Annual 36h Hackaton
Riot Games is an American gaming company founded in 2006 that specializes in video game publishing and esports tournaments. Riot is known for its flagship League of Legends, taking loosely organized events that were initially created mainly by fans and turning them into a professional league of divisions and tiers.
WHAT IS THIS HR INNOVATION ABOUT?
Once a year everyone in the company have to form teams and join the hackathon for a 3 days challenge: build a prototype game in 36h.
Engineers may have to write, animators paint, writers lead teams, and producers code : getting out of their comforting daily tasks and routine due to their position titles.
WHY WAS THIS INNOVATION IMPLEMENTED?
“Great ideas have a way of coming from unexpected places.” RIOT GAMES developed this little ritual called Thunderdome, in order to enhance creativity, innovation and team building. The aim is to work with people you don’t usually work with and do something that is not related with their job description.
“They should succeed not because of their abilities but thanks to their passion”
WHAT ARE ITS MAIN BENEFITS?
Employees can try new technologies, play & adapt the game, work with colleagues that you don’t usually work with, in a nice and collaborative atmosphere.
Develop new skills together and present at the end at the science fair.
Helps understand what employees are capable of and enhances creativity & innovation in addition to the excitement of challenge.
Check the sources at the bottom of the page.
WEBLINKS/ FURTHER INFORMATION
http://thunderdome.riotgames.com
http://www.riotgames.com/articles/20140910/238/rioters-hack-thunderdome
http://www.riotgames.com/articles/20150817/547/working-riot
USA - St Louis, 2012