Ensemble pitched Halo Wars, same with the MMO. MS where really hesistant to even go trough with the MMO, also changing staff prevented that game from coming out.No Ensemble, no sale.
Though they should have made an Age of Empires II: The Conquerors 3D long before they made AOE3 or the aborted fetus known as AOEOnline. Fuck MS Studios for forcing them to make Halo Wars, seriously.