31 votes

Six months at Riot Games

9 comments

  1. [3]
    Neverland
    Link
    My little sister got a degree in interactive media from USC, worked at a couple game companies and then got super discouraged by the cultures. I am sad to admit that I did not listen to her enough...

    My little sister got a degree in interactive media from USC, worked at a couple game companies and then got super discouraged by the cultures. I am sad to admit that I did not listen to her enough when she talked about this stuff. She was asked to interview at Riot and she just refused based on the culture she had heard about. I was all "wtf? why? it's Riot!" I should have been much more supportive. :/

    16 votes
    1. Cliftonia
      Link Parent
      Once True Gamers know you're a woman they'll never treat you right. It's worse than working with unmedicated schizophrenics.

      Once True Gamers know you're a woman they'll never treat you right. It's worse than working with unmedicated schizophrenics.

      7 votes
    2. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Neverland
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        She just started working with a Public Benefit Corp that does donations to homeless folks using Bluetooth beacons. I am really proud of her direction :) Before she ever mentioned anything gender...

        She just started working with a Public Benefit Corp that does donations to homeless folks using Bluetooth beacons.

        I am really proud of her direction :) Before she ever mentioned anything gender related in the gaming space, she told me “I just realized I am working on mechanincs to take money from children.” That was at EA. Then she did indie gaming stuff which was much more fulfilling, and way better culturally... but this latest thing is right up her alley, morality-wise.

        Edit: horrible iOS spelling

        6 votes
  2. [2]
    39hp
    Link
    Am I being overly cynical to think they purposefully put the spotlight on her in this way? The breaking of anonymity, the necessarily singular attention she would bring to herself, the tepid...

    We were encouraged to submit questions anonymously. I submitted something that had bothered me for some time as a League player
    ...
    The most prevalent characteristic of female champions at the time was sex appeal. I wanted something more.
    ...
    The senior staff liked the question so much that they requested I ask it live, rather than anonymously.
    ...
    I was very disappointed by the response, which felt dismissive of the issue
    ...
    After the meeting, I realized I had put a target on my back...

    Am I being overly cynical to think they purposefully put the spotlight on her in this way? The breaking of anonymity, the necessarily singular attention she would bring to herself, the tepid almost non-answer she got.

    15 votes
    1. Catt
      Link Parent
      Yeah, she definitely sounds like she was setup.

      Yeah, she definitely sounds like she was setup.

      8 votes
  3. nacho
    Link
    In 2012 and 2013 the most prominent female staff at Riot mostly quit, or stopped using their platforms and talking to users on a large scale. Several key leadership figures in the company also...

    In 2012 and 2013 the most prominent female staff at Riot mostly quit, or stopped using their platforms and talking to users on a large scale.

    Several key leadership figures in the company also quit at around the same time as the company grew way, way faster than they could control.

    I know a lot of people who simply used Riot as a resume-padding stepping stone into much better paid, livable jobs after a year or year and a half.

    The turnover at the company used to be massive, which is always a less than great sign.

    7 votes
  4. Catt
    Link
    Is it just me or do we see this sort of response a lot, and I can't help but go "but I'm a player and this is what I want"? I'm certain there are lots of people that would appreciate real change....

    Unfortunately, the response boiled down to “giving the players what they want”, ...

    Is it just me or do we see this sort of response a lot, and I can't help but go "but I'm a player and this is what I want"? I'm certain there are lots of people that would appreciate real change.

    A senior staff member proceeded to repeatedly call me sexist for not being willing to room with a man I’d never met before.

    This is also just plain wrong.

    6 votes
  5. Star
    Link
    I thought this might lead to some interesting discussion as it relates to the recent news about Riot's terrible corporate culture and issues going on inside the company.

    I thought this might lead to some interesting discussion as it relates to the recent news about Riot's terrible corporate culture and issues going on inside the company.

    3 votes
  6. ComradeCatgirl
    Link
    There doesn't appear to be an existing internal power structure within Riot with the capability to enforce the large changes to the internal culture that are clearly needed. This suggests to me...

    There doesn't appear to be an existing internal power structure within Riot with the capability to enforce the large changes to the internal culture that are clearly needed. This suggests to me that this was an issue that Riot has long been aware of but has been content to tolerate.

    2 votes