This week the gang covers the Xbox Partner Preview, while also discussing the closing of Rooster Teeth.
The news includes:
Let us know what you think.
Ubisoft is coming back with the Assassin’s Creed games, but the guys also discuss the sheer Scottishness of Still Wakes the Deep, Farming Simulator 25 announced, 20 TB NVMe drives for under $300, Final Fantasy 14 producer Yoshi-P apologizing, Space Marine 2 public beta test canceled, and Forza Horizon 4 to be delisted.
The news also includes:
Let us know what you think.
This week we’re busting out the Gaming Podcast love with some gaming news, community comments and we’re flashing back to Tag Team M.U.S.C.L.E for the NES and looking through the history of Greg Costikyan. For those interested in Herr Alien’s link, here is the article about Modern Warfars woes. Also, the Will It Blend iPad video. This weeks gaming news:
Thanks for all the feedback and answers to the questions last week. This weeks, we’re asking a tough question… what game exists in the market today that rivals the overall play time seen by games like Minesweeper and Solitaire?
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?
