NCsoft Reviews

Pros

First of all, there area number of different teams in Seattle. There is a game studio that works on localizing Korean games into American, there is marketing, creative services, interactive services and hr. Your satisfaction with the company is going to depend entirely on what team you are in. The company is based out of South Korea, and that can be extremely strange to understand if you haven't been familiar with their hierarchical nature or thought processes. It was hard for me to comprehend, honestly. But, if you stick it out and learn the ropes, you can do well here. The company has a new CEO who made some large scale changes when she came in. This inlcuded layoffs and a freeze on new hires. This was in Sept. Since then, it has been in the process of strengthening, and I can only speak for my team, but I have a great boss who is transparent about what is going on, fair, flexible and has high standards. It is making me better at what I do, and that is important as a means of growth and my advancement as someone trying to hone my craft. I like my team and respect them all for what they are doing. I have the best manager I have ever had at this company. I can not speak for all departments, but, she is very very good. The people I deal with above me are all fair and trying their best. Any rumors of the company or office tanking really make no sense. Check out NCsoft on the Korean stock market. Only growth since 2008. There are two western games Guild Wars 2 and Wildstar which are coming out in the next 2 years. You bet they are going to need an American studio to support these products. GW2 is going to blow many MMORPGS out of the water. Yes, it is really, really good. And i say that as a gamer, not an employee :)

Cons

Korea can be crazy and make illogical request at the last minute. They do not comprehend that the American market is much different than theirs, and when they try to force their solutions on us, it can frustrate our gamers. BUT, they are learning. The Seattle office has some articulate people trying to strengthen relationships with them, and they seem to be responding well. Honestly, the hardest things related to the job are related to the Korean/American cultural divide. But, I have a strong team and I like the people I work with. Sometimes it is weird in that we just wait for Korea to toss things over the wall, and we have little conversation with them.

Advice to Senior Management

There is so much miscommunicaiton with Korea that at times this feels like an episode of Keystone Cops. We have to sort this out, or people are going to be continually frustrated. You had better start converting many of your long term contractors to FTE, or they are going to be picked off by headhunters. This should be a huge concern to you. On a positive note, keep shedding ineffectual people and focusing on company-wide skill set increases, and we will be as robust as a reputable agency in town.

Pros

There are some really bright and fun people working at NCsoft and the Seattle location is right in the middle of downtown.

Cons

Unfortunately all the bright and fun people from NCsoft either left, were let go, or have the resumes out and are looking. As for the fun location, rumor has it that's going away soon too.

 While it might still be a good place to work if you are in one of the studios, the Seattle and Austin offices are in complete turmoil. Don't bother trying to talk to HR, they are more of a mess than most of the other departments and most anyone there who had experience has already jumped ship. There is a huge disconnect between the Korean office, Seattle leadership, and most of the employees and mixed messages are the norm. If you have other opportunities, I wouldn't even answer NCsoft's call.

Advice to Senior Management

If you only listen to the people who tell you what you want to hear you shouldn't be shocked with the general lack of performance and ever increasing turnover.

Pros

Casual atmosphere. Remodel of the Austin, TX offices.

Cons

Many of the major groups in NCsoft West (Operations, Billing Software, Web Development) are experiencing downsizing while those jobs are being returned to Seoul. After 3 or 4 changes of senior management in 5 years, it seems as though the folks in Seoul HQ are done with almost everything to do with North America/European offices. I'm not sure I would even consider the folks that are not losing their jobs "lucky" in any aspect.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop think that you are fooling people by holding back information. Everyone knew the layoffs were coming. Everyone knew about the leadership transitions. Have more all-hands meetings like the old days, including P&L.

Pros

Lots of luxuries from annual raises and not to shabby bonuses. Every now and then the company gives gifts to employee's. Vending machines are subsidized to 25 cents, there are no restrictions on internet access, and the people are very friendly and nice.

Cons

Employees are constantly worried about losing there jobs. Not because they do a bad job, but because HQ wishes they could fire everyone and make more money; but they can't easily. Some directions of management change every six months.

Advice to Senior Management

Advertise the games better.

Pros

Some good people work there.

Cons

Circling the drain pretty quickly. Danger.

Pros

Plenty of work to do

Cons

Total chaos in every direction

Pros

View of city. Not many people out to get one another, friendly culture. I have heard bonuses happen but yet to receive.

Cons

Lack of direction, constantly changing direction. Erratic and uninformed decision making. Huge accountability in some groups while none in others. Dissent between geographic locations resultos in feeling that nobody is really succeeding. Everyone is pretty much waiting for Guild Wars to ship and then they are out.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to your people, let them drive the business and manage up. You are there to keep it funded. If you are ineffective, leave.

Pros

Most of the people on my team are pretty smart and we work well together. Everyone puts in their fair share.

Cons

New Sr management has recently been installed. Nobody really likes change, but I believe that the changes that are being applied are doing nothing but creating red tape for the sake of "creating processes"

Advice to Senior Management

Stop it with the over analysis of everything. IT has no problem with ITIL and scheduling windows. Please stop making it so difficult to do day-today tasks.

Pros

The only reason was the location of the office, downtown Seattle.

Cons

There is not enough words to explain how terrible this place is. There were people who would last one day, on average employees would leave every 3 months, just enough time to realize how messed-up the company was. No leadership, complete chaos caused by the HQ and the lack of professionalism in the Seattle office. I could not wish this company to my enemy. The joke at the end of every week was how many emails we would get from HR informing us that people were leaving (though usually, HR would send an email per exec. request 3-4 weeks after the employees had left). The exec. team tries to hide everything. Employees are treated like idiots. No support, no recognition, no raise.

Advice to Senior Management

Shut down this mess and at least do yourself a favor...or go through a total revamp.

Pros

Nice atmosphere, friendly people, great benefits and generous salaries. The company invests in people and gives generous trainings, etc.

Cons

Lack of pespective and overall lack of ambition and strategy from the company's upper management.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate more between different offices, become a truly global company. Be more rational in fixing priorities. Hire great managers from outside of the game industry.