Just when you thought virtual reality couldn't get any weirder, KFC reveals an Oculus Rift game where players learn how to cook fried chicken out of the blue.
It's called The Hard Way: A Virtual Reality Training Experience — as if the name weren't straightforward enough.
KFC's 'The Hard Way' Gameplay
Based on KFC's "the hard way" line, the game is a simulation that teaches players how to fry chicken the KFC way.
In short, it's teetering between eerie and creepy in a steampunk-like setting, starting off with Col. Sanders telling the player that they're "not allowed to leave" until they get how to make his chicken right.
Throughout the experience, the colonel will guide players step-by-step, from inspecting each piece of chicken and rinsing to breading and frying. He even takes a shot at robots, calling them "stupid pieces of dumb metal without souls."
Once the colonel is satisfied, he will set the player free and wrap things up in a cozy breakroom, handing out the player's performance report and all.
KFC Wants To Train Employees Via Virtual Reality
At first glance, The Hard Way looks terribly ridiculous to be anything more than just a quirky game or a marketing stunt. However, it appears that KFC is dead serious in using it to train employees.
"KFC will use the VR simulation to supplement its robust, multi-step employee training program, called Chicken Mastery Certification, which provides detailed eLearning and hands-on training for cooks in each of KFC's kitchens. KFC will provide yet another platform for training by bringing the VR simulation technology to its regional general manager training classes, quarterly franchise meetings, and employee onboarding," KFC told PC Gamer.
At any rate, that's one way of taking advantage of what modern technology has to offer.
The Bottom Line
To sum things up, KFC intends to use the Oculus Rift platform and The Hard Way to make sure its employees really know how to make its signature fried chicken in virtual reality, no matter how weird that sounds.
For the record, KFC is no stranger when it comes to diving into the tech world. Exhibit A: Huawei launched a smartphone in collaboration with KFC as part of the restaurant's 30th anniversary celebration. Exhibit B: KFC rolled out Watt a Box, a meal box that can be used as a power bank. It even took an odd turn of sorts, venturing into cosmetics with a fried chicken-flavored nail polish.
