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[giuliu]

Well I'm not seeing huge financial gains from MS either. Of course they're not hemorrhaging money; of course they're not pullilng out; of course third-party support will continue to be stellar for MS's platform.

However, if you do not see a problem with Microsoft's recent (bone-headed) handling of Bungie, BioWare, Bizarre, Rare, Ensemble, Silicon Knights and FASA, then you must know something that I don't.

You must know something I don't, of the studios you mentioned, MS has nothing to do with 3 of them...

I'm not sure how MS can handle bioware, bizarre, and sk when those studios are not under MS control in any way.

as for bungie, not sure what haven't been said yet, just search the topic
as for rare, how are they handling it really? like telling them to make banjo games which no one buys or what?

as for FASA, that's the one that has the most similarity to the ES closure, no one knows the exact detail unless you work for MS games. you can argue about axing studio to be stupid, but you must accept that internal corporate restructure is also a possibility.

As for those talking about xxx making bone-headed decisions, save it till you see the results. Any decision made is a result of the the makers seeing the profitability of such decision.

 

[Ridli]

I'd like to ignore the idiocy that has spread around on this thread, and just say that this news makes me very, very sad.

When I first played Age of Empires it blew my mind. It was the little crazy touches that I really loved, like being able to take on large animals like elephants to harvest for food. I remember trying to kite stuff back to my village so I could cut down the travel time to harvest.

Or, I still remember one of my favorite levels where you only start out with a single priest, and you have to convert enough peasants to start a town and build to victory. I still love the chant he would make "Aiiyoooo yo yo!"

This really was one of my favorite games and I am quite sad to see the studio close down.

For those of you who would rather reminisce about a great game, I direct you to this music video.

Damn, I wonder if I still have my CD.

 

[Fredescu]

For those of you who would rather reminisce about a great game, I direct you to this music video.

Awesome.

 

[watership]

You must know something I don't, of the studios you mentioned, MS has nothing to do with 3 of them...

I think in the case of Bioware and Bizarre its that MS let them get swallowed by EA and Activision. This means games that are cross platform rather than MS exclusives. Activision grabbing Bizarre really bugs me. Get ready for Geometry Wars on every platform twice a year and other such crap.

 

[giuliu]

I think in the case of Bioware and Bizarre its that MS let them get swallowed by EA and Activision. This means games that are cross platform rather than MS exclusives. Activision grabbing Bizarre really bugs me. Get ready for Geometry Wars on every platform twice a year and other such crap.

lol, why would you associate bioware and bizarre with MS in the first place? just because they made couple first party games like Epic did?

How can MS not let them? MS has absolute zero control over the decision made by bioware and bizarre unless it's related to the first party game.

 

[Xapati]

It's a sad day. Age II was one of my most played games. Age of Mythologie could have been as good if they hadn't put in such excessive hard counters.

Best of luck to all employees.

 

[Tallshortman]

How about a little restructure to better organize for future projects?
can anyone prove that ES closes = no more AOE/profitable RTS?

oh how about this one, isn't this the same as saying the end of Halo if bungie shuts down but its employees joins MGS?

Except bungie talent joining MGS is not the same fucking thing as Ensemble closing and most of their employees being laid off. Do you even understand the concept of studios composed of talent, not simply their name?

The talent at that studio is what made their games fun, not simply the IP of AOE. And besides, no one is claiming MS can't make anymore profitable RTS games, simply that they are laying off arguably their best and most talented first party developer.

Anyways I can't say how many countless hours I spent playing skirmish mode when AOE2 came out. Still the most addictive RTS ever made.

 

[giuliu]

Except bungie talent joining MGS is not the same fucking thing as Ensemble closing and most of their employees being laid off. Do you even understand the concept of studios composed of talent, not simply their name?

The talent at that studio is what made their games fun, not simply the IP of AOE. And besides, no one is claiming MS can't make anymore profitable RTS games, simply that they are laying off arguably their best and most talented first party developer.

Anyways I can't say how many countless hours I spent playing skirmish mode when AOE2 came out. Still the most addictive RTS ever made.

So how many of their employees are laid off? a majority? are you one of them?
and we know for sure that not one of them is joining MGS or working for MS?

please stop pretending like you know exactly what happened.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Question: What happens to DLC/Patches?

 

[Micromegas]

End of an era. Just another example of Microsoft being bad for business...

 

[Jonnyboy117]

Sup with Microsoft closing studios just as their latest games are released? Seem to remember the same happening to FASA around when Shadowrun came out.

 

[pakkit]

I blame Wii Fit. goddam.

haha how long had he been doing the "goddam" routine?


I love a number of Ensemble games. I hope all the employees find a nice stable job in the industry or regroup somewhere else.

 

[grandjedi6]

Ensemble introduced me to RTS games. I owe them so much.

 

[freddy]

Thanks for the awesome times, people. The Age series has been one of my most played ever. I hope you all land on your feet and swinging.

 

[xbhaskarx]

As someone who enjoys both my 360 and AoE games on the PC, I still don't understand why this had to happen.

 

[leroidys]

OLOLOOOOOOOOO

I'll miss you, Ensemble =(

AoE 2 = best RTS ever made. Fuck you Starcraft, Warcraft or whatever else.

amen.

 

[shykyoichi]

Sad day. I hope these people find new jobs somewhere.

 

[Vorador]

Microsoft is seriously killing their PC gaming division.

I hope those two studios getting formed from the people laid from Ensemble get some funding and some good projects in the near future. That talent should not be wasted.

 

[D4Danger]

I still don't understand why Microsoft would do this.

Good luck to everyone at Ensemble.

 

[szaromir]

I'd like to ignore the idiocy that has spread around on this thread, and just say that this news makes me very, very sad.

When I first played Age of Empires it blew my mind. It was the little crazy touches that I really loved, like being able to take on large animals like elephants to harvest for food. I remember trying to kite stuff back to my village so I could cut down the travel time to harvest.

Or, I still remember one of my favorite levels where you only start out with a single priest, and you have to convert enough peasants to start a town and build to victory. I still love the chant he would make "Aiiyoooo yo yo!"

This really was one of my favorite games and I am quite sad to see the studio close down

Get out of my brain.

 

[FFChris]

I hope Halo Wars is a good game and a big hit, would be nice for that studio to have a good end to a fantastic career. Like everyone here, I loved AOE and it was the first game that really introduced me to RTS.

My question is, with all the talent in that studio why didn't MS redistribute the personell rather than just layoff the whole workforce?

 

[Another_visitor]

I don't have a problem with MS deciding that Ensemble doesn't fit into their portfolio anymore but I don't understand why they didn't at least try to sell the studio as a going concern.

 

[ghst]

i'd be really intrigued to actually find out the specifics of microsoft's intentions towards pc gaming. it's pretty damn ominous a thing if they start to adopt the thinking that pc gaming actually cannibalizes their xbox adoption rate, considering that p'aming (there, that right there is my solution to how many times i type "pc gaming" on this fuggin forum) is entirely tethered to their software.

i mean, there are limits to their insidious stupidity right?

 

[SimpleDesign]

i'd be really intrigued to actually find out the specifics of microsoft's intentions towards pc gaming. it's pretty damn ominous a thing if they start to adopt the thinking that pc gaming actually cannibalizes their xbox adoption rate, considering that p'aming (there, that right there is my solution to how many times i type "pc gaming" on this fuggin forum) is entirely tethered to their software.

i mean, there are limits to their insidious stupidity right?

Well people tend to say "I'll just wait for the PC port" a lot concerning Xbox 360 exclusive games. Really it seemed like only a matter of time before Microsoft stopped.

I don't understand why they won't put in the effort to support both platforms, it's such a wasted opportunity. Ensemble would be on the top of the list of studios to keep. Cut stupid R&D projects like that Halo MMO they were fucking with, no money sinks. After Halo Wars have them put out another PC RTS followed by expansions of both Halo Wars and their current PC game. How would that not make money?

Dumbass/Dick move Microsoft.

 

[DMeisterJ]

It was worse actually: $375 million USD.

Wow. That's a lot of money for a dev that hasn't done too much this gen.

 

[Doubledex]

How f+cking stupid do you have to be.... to close Ensemble..! What the F+CK?!?!?!

Let's close Blizzard next

 

[FFChris]

How f+cking stupid do you have to be.... to close Ensemble..! What the F+CK?!?!?!

Let's close Blizzard next

Not really the same thing..

 

[SamVT]

I wish them all the best in their futures.

 

[DevilWillcry]

I know people are going to attack me for this because of my avatar. But How many studios does that bring MS down to? I know they still have Turn 10, Lion's Head, and Rare but those three don't seem like they could hold down a platform. I suppose they are working on that new Halo team and Rufian will most likely be an MS studio, plus they have a second-party relationship with Bungie, but they are still nowhere near competing ground with Sony and Nintendo even with them. It's especially worrying since Nintendo and Sony are so much bigger than MS in terms of a development initiative, and the only exclusive thing you can get out of a third party these days is some downloadable content.

Oh well: RIP Ensemble

 

[Minsc]

A tragedy, this is. You will be missed Ensemble.

 

[eXistor]

I don't really follow the politics of gaming to be honest, but what if Halo Wars is a huge hit and makes a ton of money? I don't see why a succesful studio has to be closed when they have a potential million seller coming up.

 

[Tideas]

Wow, laughing at those who lost their jobs huh? Aren't you a classy fuck.

losing your job sucks, but I think he's just saying, survival of the fittest. If you ain't got the talent/vision to make great games to run a business, teh business does not deserve to survive

 

[Wii Will Rock U]

Seriously a sad day. Hopefully you guys will all move on to bigger and better things.

 

[BobsRevenge]

...



..



.

*starts crying*

 

[Teknopathetic]

"losing your job sucks, but I think he's just saying, survival of the fittest. If you ain't got the talent/vision to make great games to run a business, teh business does not deserve to survive"


Except that they did have talent/vision and made great, strong selling games.

 

[Interfectum]

losing your job sucks, but I think he's just saying, survival of the fittest. If you ain't got the talent/vision to make great games to run a business, teh business does not deserve to survive

Uh they made great games and made profit for Microsoft. Their closure was way more political than anything else.

 

[Gattsu25]

Rare makes garbage console games that sell 140,000 copies during the busiest shopping season of the year.

Ensemble makes one of the most revered PC RTS titles with lifetime sales in the 20 million unit range.

It makes perfect sense.

Yeah. Ensemble made some of my favorite RTS games =\

 

[Shaheed79]

I'm gonna clue you guys in on a little secret you probably didn't know about Microsoft when they first entered the console industry and is still true today. They don't give a shit about games. For them it's always been a means to an end for their primary business which btw they definitely do care about. Dropping Ensemble is like EA dropping Bioware. Why not ditch Rare instead?

 

[Doubledex]

Not really the same thing..

It IS the same thing, because the are both the kings of their genre (with the C&C team)
Activision is next, to close Blizz
Yeah, why not

 

[tino]

This is as bad as not bringing Metal Wolf Chaos to the US. MS has done more nasty things this gen than last gen.

 

[Tideas]

"losing your job sucks, but I think he's just saying, survival of the fittest. If you ain't got the talent/vision to make great games to run a business, teh business does not deserve to survive"


Except that they did have talent/vision and made great, strong selling games.

Besides AoE2, which the person said, has AoE3 or Age of Mythology sold great?

 

[Teknopathetic]

"Besides AoE2, which the person said, has AoE3 or Age of Mythology sold great?"


AOE3 sold 2 million as of May last year. Age of Mythology sold over a million in 4 months.

I'm noticing a trend here.

 

[Xapati]

I'm gonna clue you guys in on a little secret you probably didn't know about Microsoft when they first entered the console industry and is still true today. They don't give a shit about games. For them it's always been a means to an end for their primary business which btw they definitely do care about. Dropping Ensemble is like EA dropping Bioware. Why not ditch Rare instead?

WTF is with everybody pissing on Rare in this thread?

 

[goldenpp72]

rare games don't have enough RAGE and BLOOD to be worthwhile, duh.

 

[CabbageRed]

Such a said affair. I've played AOE to death, and MS's games got me back into gaming some number of years ago. To see one close and the other slowly become irrelevant to my hobby is disheartening.

 

[Sydle]

Except bungie talent joining MGS is not the same fucking thing as Ensemble closing and most of their employees being laid off. Do you even understand the concept of studios composed of talent, not simply their name?

The talent at that studio is what made their games fun, not simply the IP of AOE. And besides, no one is claiming MS can't make anymore profitable RTS games, simply that they are laying off arguably their best and most talented first party developer.

Anyways I can't say how many countless hours I spent playing skirmish mode when AOE2 came out. Still the most addictive RTS ever made.

Why don't some of you read?!

Microsoft made a public statement that they are helping to establish the new studios "rising out of the ashes" of all this where ex-Ensemble staff are going, and those not being placed in one of those independent studios (obviously with a healthy relationship with MS) will try to be placed within Microsoft Games. In other words, Microsoft is retaining the talent, but they've obviously rid themselves of some financial overhead. It's restructuring, plain and simple.

 

[Prine]

e done almost nothing since being purchased by them. I guess that's more of a pride thing, they don't want to look like they wasted money on them, but the magic just isn't there anymore. I don't see how RARE wasn't cut, but Ensemble was. Not that I want anyone to lose their job, that sucks, but if we're talking about quality of games, and sales, Ensemble would win, so why did they get cut?

BS. Id take Rare over these guys anyday. What have these guys done for the Xbox or Xbox 360?

Nothing, im not worried about their closure nor do i care. But Rare do more than makes games.

Rare and Lionhead are MS elite studios, and their output demonstrates that. I just bought Banjo Nuts and Bolts, Rare still have the creative energy and drive they had back in their golden days. Awesome game so far

 

[Sydle]

Wow. That's a lot of money for a dev that hasn't done too much this gen.

In addition to Kameo (nearly one million sales), Perfect Dark Zero (over 1.5 million in sales), Viva Pinata (around one million sales), Jetpac Refuelled, Banjo-Kazooie Nuts & Bolts and Viva Pinata Trouble in Paradise...five full games in less than 4 years, they've contributed R&D technology to other MGS studios, including Turn 10, Lionhead and Xbox Live.

What other studio has the capacity to do all that?

 

[Prine]

MS should think long and hard about Silicon Knights.

 

[SimpleDesign]

MS should think long and hard about Silicon Knights.

There's nothing to think long and hard about, Silicon Knights aren't a lucrative studio in any sense of the word.

RARE has programming skill, experience and extremely talented staff that can help other internal studios as well as develop games that tend to make a profit, as small a profit as it may be. They have the resources to assist in big projects like the NXE as well.

Silicon Knights can't deliver a game on time or even on budget, which is a pure money sink for the investor. There must not be much programming skill either since they had to rip off a third party engine just to put out an HD game. The games they make can't be marketed to audiences that Xbox 360 has had trouble suiting. So they can't make money or expand the audience, it's worthless in the short or long term.

They're also suing one of Microsoft's close partners and their most recent collaboration wasn't a success by any stretch of the imagination.

It's time to cut that turd loose. Plain and Simple.

There are far more talented and imaginative studios and out of work people out there who don't receive the time, resources or budget to make the amazing games their capable of.