Staying up all night playing video games is not normally the best preparation for a job interview. But if you’re looking to join Dutch law firm Houthoff Buruma, it’s not such a bad idea.

The innovative firm (along with Ranj Serious Games) has devised a multimedia game specifically designed to help it recruit the most talented graduates. Indeed, the firm is so proud of it that Houthoff Buruma The Game will be presented at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

So how does it work? The player is acting for ‘demanding and unforgiving client’ China Mining & Marine, a fictional family-run business in the People’s Republic with more than a few skeletons in its cupboard. The client must construct a renewable energy park in a tight timeframe, and needs to acquire six ‘vessels’ to do so, by persuading shareholders to sell their shares. The students play in teams of up to five, and have 90 minutes to convince enough shareholders to sell, and draft a ‘letter of intent’. During the game they are confronted with video and text chats, conference calls, emails, Facebook pages and YouTube clips.

It all sounds terribly ‘cutting edge’. But surely there was scope for shooting a few alien monsters and the odd high-speed car chase?