Hilton uses Vicious Engine for 'salt' training game
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Apr 14th 2009 at 6:30PM } 
Click to Hilton-size
Vicious Cycle Software has announced that Virtual Heroes used the Vicious Engine to craft a Hilton hotel employee training game, which we first reported in January. The press release notes that the PSP game, titled Hilton Garden Inn Ultimate Team Play -- catchy -- was deployed to all Hilton Garden Inn hotels in February. Don't bother yourself with puzzling questions as to why a company would retroactively announce that the "game" uses its engine. Just forget about that. You want to know about the gameplay ... and we've got you covered.
There's some drivel in the press release about it, but why bother reading that when you've got screenshots? Judging from the image above, the game involves luring customers with piles of toast -- while menacingly keeping the patrons in your crosshairs -- and managing your hotel's supplies of precious salt.
Gallery: Hilton Garden Inn Ultimate Team Play
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Omega2k3 @ Apr 14th 2009 6:35PM
If this doesn't put PSP on top, I don't know what will.
Probably nothing...
MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 6:39PM
If atleast it puts Paris Hilton on top, you get a couple of sales out of it.
...
..
Sorry I couldn't resist. Hilton topics require lame Paris Hilton jokes.
arrness @ Apr 14th 2009 6:36PM
this "game" has to be a joke
Great Golem+ @ Apr 14th 2009 6:48PM
It's not meant for commercial purposes.
But PSP seems a strange choice of platform...
GoldN @ Apr 14th 2009 6:36PM
I really hope SALT stands for something and doesn't literally mean salt. If they're putting salt in the beds I'm not staying at a Hilton ever again.
Markez @ Apr 14th 2009 6:39PM
Satisfaction and Loyalty Tracking (SALT)
LaughingTarget @ Apr 14th 2009 7:16PM
I think it means that Hilton Hotels is now a signatory on nuclear arms limitations.
LaughingTarget @ Apr 14th 2009 7:17PM
Hilton Hotels is now a signatory on nuclear arms limitations.
Saria the Cat @ Apr 14th 2009 9:30PM
Way to ruin the magic, Markez... Way to ruin the magic.
ThornedVenom (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Apr 15th 2009 12:24AM
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Arms_Limitation_Talks
ericeman @ Apr 14th 2009 6:57PM
A game for a major console that's both hard to come by and just plain weird... I could see this becoming a collectors item some day.
sony boy @ Apr 14th 2009 7:03PM
americans love salty stuff
of all the systems why psp??/ is this going to help sales?
MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 8:40PM
Americans love salty stuff? Paris Hilton seems to enjoy salty stuff more then anyone...
...
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Argh.. I can't resist... too easy.... it's like playing soccer without a goalie on the opposite team.
The Low King @ Apr 15th 2009 5:25AM
Or defenders, or midfielders, or strikers.
Come to think of it it's like playing soccer against a nonexistent team.
Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Apr 14th 2009 7:10PM
Not just any toast, French Toast. Yummy yummy French Toast
Samo @ Apr 14th 2009 7:10PM
hehehehe... "Click to Hilton-size"
... Does that mean the picture turns into a size zero chopstick????
bill51 @ Apr 14th 2009 7:17PM
I guess you have to be white to interact with the customers and Hispanic to clean rooms or fix the elevator.
MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 8:42PM
... and you have to be an asshat to make racist comments.
Vaitork @ Apr 14th 2009 9:00PM
Hilarious.
Also completely inappropriate.
And not really that funny.
Seriously, just shut the hell up next time.
aj @ Apr 14th 2009 9:04PM
That's not a racist comment. Did you see the screen shot? That was a bit weird.
QUICK! Someone photoshop Levar Burton into the "engineering" square for laughs.
MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 9:09PM
What does a blond chick eating toast have to do with hispanics fixing things?
Racist douchebag!
Markez @ Apr 14th 2009 9:13PM
Look at the screenshot for godssakes and get some context before you jump on the guy and call him a racist. Christ almighty.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Apr 14th 2009 9:16PM
DONE
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c237/sheppyboy2000/giggles.jpg
bill51 @ Apr 14th 2009 9:28PM
lol, leave it to trolls to not even look at the screenshot.
I guess I'm racist against my own race? Nice job, apologists!
Vaitork @ Apr 14th 2009 9:28PM
@Markez:
Point is, why make that comment at all but to annoy somebody? And you WILL annoy somebody. Always happens that way, so why point it out?
I believe there's a line between the inappropriate and the giggles. The former was bill51's comment. The later was Sheppy's image.
So just forget about it since, in the end, it provoked good comedy.
bill51 @ Apr 14th 2009 9:29PM
oh, double lol at the photoshop!
Saria the Cat @ Apr 14th 2009 9:33PM
Yeah, not a fan of the racial stereotyping... :\ Though at least there's a black engineer. That's progressive, right? ...Right?
MystileArmor @ Apr 17th 2009 12:07AM
Well, I took a look at the screenshot. His comment makes a bit more sence, even though I still think he put a little too much thought into it.
MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 9:40PM
Ok, well I looked at the screenshot. Still think he put a bit too much thought into it. Anyways, I agree with Vaitork on this.
Markez @ Apr 14th 2009 9:57PM
K I'll bite. Let's pretend there's a screen shot for a new Sims game. Sims are at a picnic. There's a Hispanic person eating tacos. There's an African-American eating fried chicken. Commenter on Joystiq sees it and says "oh, I guess all Hispanics do is eat tacos, and all African-Americans do is eat fried chicken." Making an observation, on an obvious stereotype apparently makes the commenter a racist douchebag.
Chill out on the hypersensitivity and PC nonsense.
Lee @ Apr 14th 2009 7:24PM
This is what Dark Alex was invented for.
Ezio Auditore de Firenze (PSN slycooper_rocker) @ Apr 14th 2009 9:03PM
ya mean this is what dark alex invents for?
aj @ Apr 14th 2009 9:02PM
What happens when one Hilton accidentally gets a couple of copies of Medal of Honor sent instead of the training program?
MystileArmor @ Apr 14th 2009 9:05PM
....They have more fun playing the damn game?
What point were you trying to make?
aj @ Apr 17th 2009 11:00PM
I was thinking that the staff would take up arms against their guests as a result.
bill51 @ Apr 14th 2009 9:31PM
@ Vaitork
How is it inappropriate to point out in a screenshot that the cleaning lady and the maintenance guy are Hispanic while the "customer service" people are white?
If you find that inappropriate I find it hard to believe you play any videogames outside of Petz or some innocuous Disney adaptation for the Wii.
Seriously, get over yourself.
Saria the Cat @ Apr 14th 2009 9:35PM
So what happens when employees blur the line between reality and this game and stop going to work because their virtual SALT level is off the charts?
Because you know, it's impossible to tell the difference between real life and video games. Just ask the mass media.
Gman @ Apr 14th 2009 9:39PM
Finally, a reason to dust off my PSP
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Apr 15th 2009 2:20AM
You sure that's dust, and not salt?
fffunfarm06 @ Apr 15th 2009 2:13AM
salt? just needed to see my account profile. thanks comment
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Apr 15th 2009 2:21AM
How long until I can pirate this? :V
Oobgarm @ Apr 15th 2009 7:04AM
If there is a UMD of this, I will own it.
I MUST.
keegan @ Apr 15th 2009 11:23AM
Hey now, don't knock salt. Wars have been fought over salt. In fact, when that salt meter gets too low, you must gather up a raiding party and pillage the Four Seasons across the street.