NEXON America Employee Reviews about "korean"

Pros

I haven't worked at Nexon in awhile, but while I was there: 1. Backing of the well funded Asian arm ensured the company wasn't shutting down overnight. That counts as a blessing these days. 2. Effort to be create a full fledged publishing operation created new units and focused on improving many aspects of current operations. 3. Like-minded, passionate people who you bond with because you are going through a traumatic experience together and spending more time with than your significant other.

Cons

1. Pay was mediocre 2. Work/life balance was not a consideration. If work to be done, it needs to be done. 3. The import of employees from Korea plus hiring of locals caused a fissure in the org that really wasn't justified. Nexon is tough on everyone equally. 4. Leadership lacked experience in running a company.

Pros

The environment, when not facing strenuous deadlines concerning updates, patches, whatever, is very relaxed and the people you meet are wonderful. Basketball court, lounge, and beautiful beach view. Great place to make life-long friends and find people who are truly compassionate about their jobs and the games.

Cons

Leadership is addled and confused. They have no clue how to manage these games and are hindered even further by Nexon Korea. Meager pay. Harsh deadlines and late nights. No overtime. Some of the policies are for certain individuals only.

Pros

They are trying to share everything happening and our goal and mission.

Cons

Even though the company is located in the US, many of its things are closely being worked with Nexon Korea. So many of managers are Korean so hard to take a higher position if you can't speak in Korea

Pros

Got my foot in the door working in online games production. Some of the employees are pretty cool, but a lot of 'lifers'. The company was trying to go through a 'Western Renaissance' while I was there, focusing on developing western games and exporting back to asia. Doesn't seem to have worked out, last I heard the parent company (HQ in JP) is reappointing more Korean leadership. They've been down that road before... With the products they're pushing and the developers they have falling apart, I don't see a lot of growth potential for the company. This was strictly the PC division in El Segundo, btw. Can't speak to the Emeryville mobile location.

Cons

On a personal level,they rarely seem to promote from within. The structure felt too hierarchical and political for a normal worker to rise. Once you realize that those HR performance review things are a load of BS, you'll start looking elsewhere.

Pros

most co-workers were nice. very easy to share your no-life work life together pay is decent compared to other eastern developers and publishers

Cons

absolutely zero work balance, be prepared to work 10-14hr days, and be available at all times if you are not Korean the chances of upward mobility are limited micro-management is an Olympic sport here office politics more complex than game of thrones communications between teams are poor, and information is often left to the last minute the work motto is they don't tell you what not to do until you've done it, and then expect you to have known not to do it all along

Pros

Decent Office Unlimited PTO policy Bi-weekly Happy Hour

Cons

There was a time when a lot of western professionals were brought in to work on what was called 'Nexon 2.0'. Essentially a push to work with western talent to create games appealing to the western market. While the idea behind it was a welcomed and logical direction to go it ended up failing miserably. And the reason being is what is called the 'Nexon Family Clan'. There are several Korean people in key positions planted by other members of the 'Family Clan' that are working way past their capabilities. They have no business sense, no empathy for players and no common sense either. What you would consider an acceptable quality standard for work is something that is way out of reach for many people there. And that creates a lot of emergent work leading to overtime and constant time pressure. If mistakes were made (which happens a lot due to their sheer lack of competence), the Family clan is trying to cover it up. If you point out mistakes for the sake of accountability or improvement you will instantly be made the enemy number 1. That means lies are being fabricated about your work while you are being back-stabbed from above. The sad part is that the 'Family Clan' actually thinks that they are doing a world class job. Of course when you ask, they can't quantify or back anything up. So think about this company as the Trump regime - Just say words, make up lies, tell yourself everyday you are rock stars, it is always the fault of others and never yourself when something goes wrong, never question your boss and just do what he says. When you thought 'Ok, this is probably the most stupid thing that ever happened at Nexon' you would always be surprised a week later with something coming up that was so stupid that nobody could make this up in their dreams. The appointment of the current GM (also part of the 'Family Clan') resulted in a massive hit to the employee morale. In fact, many of the western professionals that were brought in to 'fix' Nexon left in a hurry over the last few months as a result and I expect many more to leave as well. Long story short - If you just want to collect a paycheck, are fine with mediocre being the new northstar and to never question what you are being told while seeing plenty of bias towards members of the 'Family' clan...well, then this is the place for you!

Pros

Great team members that are passionate about the work and take care of each other. They are trying to expand by getting more Western developed games.

Cons

Controlled by Korean overlords both in Korea and in El Segundo. What games to publish, game updates, and development are all heavily dictated by the whims of the Korean office and their higher ups. Constant change in both upper management and organization/teams. Commitment to Quality is a goal that is preached but rarely obtained. Its hard when a massive MMORPG has 1 or 2 QAs dedicated to it. Compensation is not up to market for most positions. Not even close.

Pros

Happy hours and monthly free lunches. Mercifully, there is a bar/restaurant at the PCT building. This company would have been ten times harder to work for if not for RED. If you're in a select few departments, you're somewhat insulated from a lot of wider issues. If you're in a niche position, you can expect little to no oversight.

Cons

Be prepared to be micromanaged, overworked, and questioned on everything. The most vocal group of Korean managers are illt vocal group of Korean managers are illt vocal group of Korean managers are ill-suited to their jobs (having gotten their positions via nepotism) and allergic to practical rationality, thinking that if they show any level of flexibility, they'll be seen as ineffective. On several occasions, managers came to me with petty and unfounded concerns or probing personal questions unrelated to work - this usually meant that their boss (the then executive director of live games now president), in passing, saw something he didn't like and decided to probe, or another employee made (easily refuted) allegations. In my last several months, I was placed under a manager who had been promoted from a tech position. He was visibly uncomfortable dealing with people, and meetings 'with my manager' turned into one of the Korean managers doing all the talking while my actual manager sat hiding under his hat, completely mute and unwilling to make eye contact. A producer on a team I worked with closely comes in an hour late each day, takes an hour and a half lunch to go to the gym, and leaves an hour early every single day. Morale on most teams is completely shot. Overall, the company is extremely inefficient. Managers are so focused on micromanaging their employees that people are busy enough just avoiding hassle. Projects and initiatives are not seen through because Nexon lacks a lot of expertise in key positions. Initiatives such as expanding into new markets, adding additional languages to their most popular titles, or anything else remotely ambitious don't happen because no one takes ownership of anything. The day-to-day interpersonal squabbles have the highest priority and everything else is left rudderless. If you're still considering Nexon, beware of being brought on as a contract employee. Nexon abuses the contract system, rarely hiring contract employees on full time and typically giving very little notice when they don't intend to renew. If you work QA, be prepared for heavy overtime and working weekends due to completely avoidable circumstances. MapleStory is a death sentence for your work/life balance.

Pros

- Mostly nice co-workers - Great location in El Segundo close to restaurants - Casual dress code - Playing video games is part of the culture - Subsidized Korean language classes

Cons

- Unprofessional and nasty Head of HR (she has since left the company) - Scapegoating culture - Low salaries, no stock for non-upper management employees - Few skills growth opportunities - Teams disempowered by meddling from upper management