Depressingly, sexual harassment in a development studio is once again the lead news item this week, and from a studio most gamers would never think it could happen. That, and major seismic shifting in the power structure of the digital storefront landscape.
The news includes:
Let us know what you think.
This week is a hybrid of a “greatest hits” episode and a short news brief, we’ve got a couple stories, community comments and Don added a blooper “greatest hits” reel to the end of the episode, so enjoy! The news includes:
This week, we’re still busting a question of the week as well and it’s a thinker… if you had one novel to implement into a game (which has never been done), what novel would it be?
This weeks gaming podcast we contemplate the question “how do you buy video games?” Do you use news magazines, online reviews, screenshots, previews or do you have your own method of deciding what games are cool. We also do a bit of a flashback on Q*Bert.
This weeks gaming podcast news includes:
We also take a short look at the history of Cliff Bleszinkski and what he’s done so far in his career. He may be the next Carmack, who knows!
Ensemble Studios, owned and operated by Microsoft or, Microsoft Games Studios, has been targed to be dissolved. All employees will find new homes, a large quantity will start a new studio and continue maintaining the later released Halo Wars franchise.
Microsoft has chosen to close the studio as part of their growth plan of Microsoft Games Studios much like FASA was closed in the past. The difference, there is a new landing point for Halo Wars unlike the uncertain future of Shadowrun.
Commenting on the reason for the closure, Microsoft said, “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.” (gamespot)
Ensemble Studio’s folks will continue to work with Microsoft and will continue to support Halo Wars after its launch. It is important to stress their statement of continuing to support Halo Wars, there is no need to think the project will be done half-assed or without pride as the project will live on with a different studio name.
The only question is… what is causing Microsoft to close down studios with actively working real franchise projects? FASA went down, Bungie was let go on their own and now Ensemble Studios? There has to be something going on here… idea?
