Confirmed: Microsoft closes Ensemble

nbsmatambo - 484 days 9 hours ago

age of empires =(

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PirateThom - 484 days 9 hours ago

Lionhead.

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HighDefinition - 484 days 9 hours ago

I don`t know about next. But I bet GeoW3 will be a PS3 exclusive, since MSFT only has the "rights" to 2 games. Epic has expressed that....

1) the 360 is about "tapped"
2) They don`t like XBL pricings (over charging)
3) No Mods at all

These things don`t make EPIC happy, I think they go for the extra storage space (Blu-ray) since the PS3 will have surpassed the 360 in total sales easily by then.

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The Matrix - 484 days 8 hours ago

Yeah, leave it to microsoft to something this stupid. I grew up playing Age of Mythology and the Titans expansion as well as the Age of Empires. Heck, I've been waiting for AoM 2 and AoE 4. I had so many memories of Ensembles games....thanks a lot microsoft.

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HighDefinition - 484 days 8 hours ago

Possibly MSFT might be leave the gaming business.

Seriously their LOSING lots and lots of studios in the last year. I`m not being a "fanboy" I`m just saying you think they`d be building them if they were thinking of progressing farther w/ this.

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UltimateIdiot911 - 484 days 8 hours ago

I love Age of Empire. I remember all those epic battles with friends. Microsoft, why? why do you slowly kill off all the good side of you? I really want to support Microsoft, but they make it so hard.

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barom - 484 days 8 hours ago

You forgot, letting Bizarre Creations get bought up by Activision and letting BioWare get bought up by EA.

Wait, whos supporting 360 atm? Lionhead and Bungie does but who else?

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GameOn - 484 days 8 hours ago

They just swallowed Ensemble lol. What makes you think they are backing out of the race.

To me it looks like they are expanding so they can better compete against Sony's horde of first party publishers.

Any way, what do I know...

Oh yeh... yeh. I see now. Im wrong.

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HighDefinition - 484 days 8 hours ago

You could be right, but I don`t think it looks that way.

Edit:

"Though Microsoft will close the studio, Ensemble brass plan to soldier on. As part of today's statement, Microsoft said that Ensemble's "leadership team" will form a new development house, and has already entered into an agreement with the publisher to continue supporting Halo Wars post-launch, "as well as work on other projects with Microsoft Game Studios."

Their NOT 1st party anymore, that`s what I get from that. They wouldn`t need a "AGREEMENT" if they were.

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GameOn - 484 days 8 hours ago

Im just totally confused. Every one is saying that MS has lost a studio (as in they already own Ensemble) when, from what I have just read they are creating a new studio from the programmers of ensemble.

Am I reading the same article?

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VF34EJ25 - 484 days 8 hours ago

@HD

What I'm getting from that quote, is that MS is closing down Ensemble. Then leading members are continuing to develope their own studio and continue to suppor Halo Wars, and have other projects with MGS.

Technically it doesn't say anywhere that they are going to be PART of MGS, thus you seem to be right on your guess. They are NOT a 1st party studio.

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SRuN4 - 484 days 8 hours ago

The way I take it. Microsoft shut down Ensemble and some of them decided to venture out and open a new stuido and agreed to support Halo Wars post launch from their new studio, as well as work on other projects with MGS. But at the same time, this new studio will be independent.

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badz149 - 484 days 8 hours ago

they are going to release an exclusive game from that studio and then they are going to shut it down upon completion? WTH? @Gameon, a lot of other studios 'swallow' smaller studios but I can't recall they shut them down completely! Activision, EA and even Sony bought a lot of small studio but they never shut them down completely, right? what's the problem having a studio as 1st party if there is really no problem? even if they are thinking of forming a new internal studio, is making a new studio better than using the same studio name which already has a proven track record? I don't think so. I wonder if we'll ever see the next AoM or AoE after this move

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gameplayer - 484 days 6 hours ago

Here's how I am looking at it: Microsoft let's the developers from Bungie, Ensemble etc create their own company, this company has very close ties to Microsoft but raises it's own funding and creates its games in a way that makes them happy and Microsoft gets what is essentially a second party developer out of it that pays it's own bills and makes it's own profits meanwhile Microsoft can take the money that it was previously giving Bungie, Ensemble etc to develop games for them and can use that money to invest in new studios, talent or IPs. Anyway, that's what seems to be happening and it seems like a fairly sound strategy to me...

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The BS Police - 484 days 5 hours ago

Nintendo knew Rare was running out of quality titles, that is why they sold Rare to Microsoft, Star Fox Adventures for the Gamecube was a terrible game developed by Rare before Microosft bought them.

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slugboss - 484 days 4 hours ago

Maybe Nintendo knew they were entering this casual market, and Rare doesn't develop budget technology games as far as I remember, they tap the power of every system they have developed for.. I know that 16 player conker team deathmatch, PDZ 32(most on 360 I believe) player online and original titles like Kameo and Viva Pinata, even Grabbed by the Ghoulies was fun and keep me from losing faith in Xbox. Best decision MS has ever made, stupid op.

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BLuKhaos - 484 days 4 hours ago

MS leaving the gaming scene? Oh god please no,even though I don't own a 360 I still appreciate what MS did for its fans.Without MS,things are going to become very boring with just Sony and Nin duking it out.Also we Sony need to give Microsoft a chance.After all it's because of MS that Sony is constantly pushing to make the PS3 and its Software better.

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AAACE5 - 484 days ago

It may not be as bad as it sounds! When you look at it they are basically getting a fresh start. They will create a new studio and possibly create new games. And those who don't make the switch will be placed internally at MS making MGS bigger and able to make more new IP's.

I know it looks stupid what MS has been doing, but to me it seems more like they are developing and consolidating relationships in order to become more effective!

Hell... you never know... Bungie, Ensamble, etc. might have had an arrangement in place that after they met certain criteria... MS would pay off their debt, and fund a new company for them! I don't know, but those companies are gone but still have a decent relationship with MS!

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marinelife9 - 483 days 20 hours ago

I think it's a smart move on Microsoft's part.

Dissolve the studio so you don't have to pay for it. Let them go independent but still get the benefit of having any third party games also on your system that they create.

Use the money you save to buy timed exclusives, exclusive DLC, or outright exclusives from the big third party studios.

Sony and MS are taking two different unique paths to attract the most consumers.

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Tidus11 - 483 days 13 hours ago

Age of mythology is one of my favorite tactical online games... sure hope they keep making quality titles when the re opon

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Jenzo - 484 days 4 hours ago

I think it will do for the console RTS what Halo did for the console FPS.

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shamusl93 - 483 days 11 hours ago

Make it generic?

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Hagaf22 - 484 days 9 hours ago

its not even about microsoft, its about the gamers, what about after this game ships, does that mean there is no follow on support? no patches no dlc nothing? does this mean the game is going to be rushed to finish since they are closing them? im not the biggest fan of halo, but i would hate to see the series take a hit for something like this...

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EastCoastSB - 484 days 8 hours ago

If you actually read the article, you would have seen that Microsoft is keeping a team for future game support.

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GameOn - 484 days 8 hours ago

It says in the article that they will continue support post-launch.
Did you miss that bit?

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Whoooop - 484 days 9 hours ago

They said that they're working on a deal with some ES employees to work indefinetly on Halo Wars support.

True or not, that's what they stated...

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GameOn - 484 days 8 hours ago

It says in the article the article they will continue support post-release.

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Panthers - 484 days 9 hours ago

M$ goes after old, worn out franchises while Sony makes new, fresh ones.

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Jenzo - 484 days 4 hours ago

"This was a fiscally rooted decision that keeps MGS on its growth path. While the decision to dissolve Ensemble was not an easy one, Microsoft is working to place as many Ensemble employees who do not move to the newly formed studio into open positions within Microsoft as possible."

If so, why are they keeping the developers from Ensemble and integrating them into their Microsoft Game Studios?

@Panthers - "M$ goes after old, worn out franchises while Sony makes new, fresh ones."

MGS 4, Gran Turismo 5, Socom 4(?), God of War 3, Tekken 6, Time Crisis 4, Yakuza 3.

You guys are bad at lying.

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Maldread - 484 days 2 hours ago

Well, Sony dosn`t make MGS4, Tekken 6, Time Crisis 4, or Yakuza 3 themselves. They made a deal with Konami on keeping MGS4 exclusive but that`s it.

I think they`re more refereing to Sony`s own games or Sony supported games like Resistance, Motorstorm, Uncharted, Heavenly Sword, LBP, Heavy Rain, Infamous, Linger in the Shadows etc. I`m sure they`ve go some secret projetcts on the way too. Say what you want about Sony, but they do make more new IPs than Microsoft (or Nintendo for that matter).

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HighDefinition - 484 days 8 hours ago

That`s what I`m starting to think.

For real, their losing more than their gaining, kinda the opposite of what you want to do if your trying to progress further. As I stated in comment 1.5

@chubear

I hear ya, it looks as if their gonna "wrap this up" to me, atleast.

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Chubear - 484 days 8 hours ago

This is something I've been slammed about saying around Q1 of 2007 and even did a blog on it later on from there. The writing's been on the wall since the Q1 of 2007 and really showed it's self, to me atleast, by the end of 2007 that MS were making plans to bail from the hardware side of things.

Here's the blog: http://www.n4g.com/up/18776...

No way MS goes in for an xbox 3 next gen without having a partner to help carry hardware costs or take care of software commitments.

Thumb me down all you want. I'm not hating, I'm just calling it as I see it.

If they do however, then they'll have shown they didn't take note of history with the likes of Sega and will go the same route as Sega's DC within 24 months.

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VF34EJ25 - 484 days 8 hours ago

Honestly, I don't think this is a sign that MS is shutting down. They're quite far from being "dead."

Just because Sony is having great momemtum, doesn't mean the 360 isn't selling. Infact, the 360 has been selling quite well despite the Sony train.

But like you said in your post, years from now you could just be wrong or right. We'll find out.

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HighDefinition - 484 days 8 hours ago

I`m not talking about sales, I`m talking about losing/not gaining 1st party devs. Lets put it this way NOT keeping Bungie as a 1st party is ridiculous, they have the $$$ to. I think their done after this console.

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TheExecutive - 484 days 6 hours ago

i am starting to get that vibe. They have been systematically releasing 1st and 2nd party studios. This doesnt bode well for the future of MGS.

@oohWii

3rd party games dont sell consoles, this is not the way to upold a platform. The only thing MS is going to have is LIVE and I can guarantee you that by the time the PS4 hits Sony will have caught up to them.

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ICUP - 484 days 8 hours ago

SONY should hire them.

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ThatCanadianguy420 - 484 days 8 hours ago

Put you're fanboyism aside for a minute will ya?
This is a great PC dev team that has made some of the BEST PC games

And there being shut down.If you're not going to contribute anything relatively productive to the article then just shush.

This f*cking sucks.I was hoping by some slim chance they would make Age of Mythology 2.

But no.There getting shut down.Bravo Microsoft,Bravo

Edit:Excuse me? I guarantee i hate that 360 fanboy more then you.
But the fact is..HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.Why don't you just go crawl back to you're cave you disgusting troll.

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juuken - 484 days 8 hours ago

...

This has nothing to do with Crab?

EDIT: But that was kind of stupid. It really had nothing to do with Crab.

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thekingofMA - 484 days 8 hours ago

...but i am right now. while i've never played one of their games since i haven't really gotten into RTS's (may pick up halo wars), this decision is quite odd

but @dumbass first poster

no one is more deserving of only one bubble than the pathetic piece of trash that you are

and dude (ma'am?), you're obsessed with GiantEnemyCrab. infatuated. if your one job in life is to behave like an eleven year old and post stupid comments on a video game website (against someone who could easily kick your ass in an argument) than you live a sad, worthless life. i think i speak for all of n4g when i say go slit your wrists.

EDIT: first time i've ever clicked agree on juuken's comment! i guess it's okay to team up against a pile of crap of a person

EDIT 2: wimpy ass edited his comment

EDIT 3: your stupidity amazes me, but your middle school humor of telling me i have a vagina and that i'm crying, even though my comment was entirely an insult to you rather than sulking, "amazes" me more

but uh oh! you only have 4 more minutes to edit your comment! you should have thought of that before you posted other crap comments and trimmed yourself down to the appropriate one bubble

also: you are a disgrace to Seinfeld fans everywhere

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TheOtherGuy - 484 days 8 hours ago

"I edited it because your bleeding tampon was soaking through my screen. I was going to wash my car later on, but your tears did the job for me. Make sure you slap your parents for me for not having you aborted when they had the chance.

DERRRRRRRRRRRR!
"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA,I F*CKING LOVE THIS GUY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh and to the LOSER below who thinks hes slick;WE DONT CARE HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!

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Spread Butt Cheeks - 484 days 8 hours ago

This website was brought to you buy Microsoft's ASP .NET and SQL Server. Every time you visit this site you are supporting Microsoft :) :)

See how all of these webpages end with ".aspx"?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Just remember, every stupid little "RRoD" comment helps MS just a little more. As long as you keep visiting this site, the license subscriptions and windows hosting boxes will keep getting renewed. Congrats Sony fanboys! You are all morons.

Edit: @ above. I majored in software engineering moron.....my paycheck doesn't think I'm a loser :)

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ThatCanadianguy420 - 484 days 8 hours ago

Wow..the little bastard edited it all...

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cmrbe - 484 days 7 hours ago

you could be a rocket scientist for all i care but you still are a loser and and asshole.

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InfiniteUnfloppery - 484 days 7 hours ago

Actually,the fact that you have to use your Educational background and present Income as your Defense for making a Lame Comment on a Video Game News Site kinda makes you look like a Moron-and ultimately-it indeed makes your Failed effort seem Pathetic.

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Spread Butt Cheeks - 484 days 6 hours ago

I like how you Randomly capitalize Letters. Its obvious You are Trying to conjure a Professional response But lack Education.

These just Show the Ps3 crowd Is a Collection of Morons.

McCain 08 and god Bless.

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TheOtherGuy - 484 days 8 hours ago

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

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Shaka2K6 - 484 days 8 hours ago

I guess failo wars is officially canned now?

the game looked like trash anyways.

microsucks fails again.

Hahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaa!

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silverchode - 484 days 6 hours ago

maybe some of those devs will go to work for sony.

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morganfell - 484 days 3 hours ago

Damn Tweep that was some funny crap.

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Shaka2K6 - 484 days 8 hours ago

Hahahahahaha and they all flop hahahahahaha.

to be onest ensemble hasnt made a decent game in years age of empires 3 was crap and there are far better RTS right now like Company of Hereos which rapes any RTS emsemble could ever create.

MICROSUCK FAILS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaa xbugs let the tears flow Hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

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zag - 484 days 3 hours ago

MS isn't losing studios.

They buy them out then after 2-3 years close them down.

Get with the program.

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PirateThom - 484 days 8 hours ago

At least the studio behind them (SCE London Studio - Home, EyePet) didn't get cancelled as well.

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zo6_lover27 - 484 days 7 hours ago

At least they didn't shut down the whole studio.

Just imagine the games ensemble could have made that will now never exist.

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ELite_Ghost - 483 days 17 hours ago

didn't we know that last year?

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Shadow Man - 484 days 8 hours ago

*licks juukens neck* :3

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juuken - 484 days 8 hours ago

...O-o;

Oh...well...err...

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ThatCanadianguy420 - 484 days 8 hours ago

I think Shadow man has just hit puberty..

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silverchode - 484 days 6 hours ago

someones balls just dropped.

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KBDuB - 484 days 7 hours ago

"InfiniteUnfloppery - Microsoft are Officially Losing the Console War"

Hmm...

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PirateThom - 484 days 8 hours ago

The minds behind Age of Empires.

You may have played Age of Empires II on your PlayStation 2.

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ThatCanadianguy420 - 484 days 8 hours ago

PirateThom..

Age of empires 2 is on PS2??!?!!?
Thats one of my all time fav RTS games.

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PirateThom - 484 days 8 hours ago

It's also on DS!

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zo6_lover27 - 484 days 7 hours ago

You know whats funny?

Age of empires(the second one I think) was published by Microsoft yet released on the ps2

According to Wikipedia anyway, which might not be too credible

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KBDuB - 484 days 7 hours ago

They've made Age of Empires and Rise of Nations. Two of my favorite RTS games, on PC.

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KBDuB - 484 days 7 hours ago

"-Halo Wars (Confirmed by this article to be cancelled.)" What the hell you talking about?

"Microsoft and Ensemble have confirmed that the studio will be shut down once the Xbox 360-exclusive RTS set in the best-selling Halo franchise ships out early next year." It won't be shut down until AFTER the game releases.

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silverchode - 484 days 6 hours ago

i guess some people just dont like to read.

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