A small game studio with talented staff that started out with fresh ideas, now reduced to churning out garbage - Anonymous employee Kuato Employee Review

2.0
5 Nov 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- I gained new skills in my field, and learnt to use new software. - I was given creative freedom and a variety of tasks. - Decent salary and benefits. - Nice and friendly development team.

Cons

The company started out with the idea of creating cutting-edge games with the ability to teach secondary school students basic principles about new technology subjects added to the national curriculum, such as computer programming. The first release - "Hakitzu" was a mild success. However, over time the management lost sight of this direction and gave the Chinese investors direct input into the content of new titles, resulting in cheap and bizarre throw-away apps for 3-year-olds. To add to this, the management made a series of short-sighted decisions, such as spending vast amounts of money on lavish launch events with celebrity cameos. Spending money in the wrong areas has resulted in many lay-offs, and, as I occasionally keep in touch with friends who still work there, it's clear that the morale is at an all-time low, and the projects are getting progressively more ridiculous. I'm not sure if there is even any point to reviewing Kuato Studios, as I'm not sure how much longer the company will exist.

Kuato Response
7y
Thank you for taking the time to review Kuato Studios. We appreciate receiving feedback, good and bad. Whilst we are pleased that you gained new skills in your area, and that you got on well with the team, I’m disappointed with how you have perceived our company strategy. I’d also like to make clear that the launch event we did in America did in no way result in the lay-off of staff. I’m passionate about Kuato and producing innovative games for children and we have taken steps within the company to ensure that creativity is encouraged and fostered in a collaborative and open environment.

Explore other reviews about Kuato

4.0
2 Oct 2024
Anonymous employee
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CEO approval
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Pros

Great team and rewarding projects

Cons

pay was on the lower side

2.0
16 Sept 2015
Anonymous freelancer
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- above average compensation, well funded company - teams made up of lovely people who are a joy to be around & very good at what they do - challenging work that lets you push your limits - very diverse with lots of cultures & outlooks represented - you get to shape kids' learning capabilities

Cons

- employees getting yelled at and physically intimidated by senior management is a daily occurrence - inexperienced senior management, first time CEO with almost no experienced advisors - company is strictly hierarchical, but with a byzantine chain of command which is strictly enforced but also bypassed at a a whim when convenient - an impossible amount of micromanagement and complete lack of trust in employees' expertise - political maneuvering & image crafting for investors - despite multiple products out & years of development, none of them generate significant revenue - outdated marketing practices (bombastic launches, celebrity endorsements) & willing ignorance & lack of expertise in performance marketing vital to succeeding in current market - management is blatantly dishonest when convenient, systematically making promises that they know won't be kept

6
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