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?
@Wii U priced at $300 for basic, $350 for deluxe
I heard a lot of criticism towards the console after the pricing was announced. This doesn’t look good.
@Obsidian unveils Kickstarter title Project Eternity, raise $1M in 24 hours
I don’t get it, Dr. Evil … Studios going to Kickstarter for money instead of going to producers? I take it they no longer want to cope with the pressure of the producer?
Thing is, “One million dollars” doesn’t keep a studio running for too long, so what’s going on there?
@“no disc based games” next-gen
That’s quite some bandwidth required right there. For this reason alone (and the fact that I’m using a 3G modem) I say that CD/DVD is good, me likes them 🙂
@QOTW:
Not much. I played Shadowrun for SNES during my Internet-less vacation, and I found that game to be surprisingly entertaining.
@Wii U
Not sure. I also think having 2 versions is stupid, considering the Deluxe version is way superior to Basic. The price is not so bad. But in the current economic situation I don’t expect it to sell out like the Wii. Personally, I will play it safe and get it early next year. I will wait for reviews, new title announcements and to see how popular it will get. Don’t need another Nintendo branded brick on my hands.
Especially if it mostly plays Xbox 360 games
@Guild Wars 2
I kind off fell out of the whole MMO world. Level grinding is just not my thing. Usually I get to LvL 20 and loose interest. That’s why I play F2P stuff. Not sure if I should invest into Guild Wars. It has no subscription but does it provide enough content to make me play it long enough? MMOs are just to repetitive these days.
@QOTW
Just finished Yakuza on PS2. Currently playing Witcher. It’s funny. Jonah says he is playing Mass Effect and completing all the quests. I have done that on my first playthrough. Then I did it for the second time as an asshole. I usually play games very thoroughly. I only reached chapter 3 on Witcher but already played over 30 hours. I prefer to do everything on the first attempt. Although, in an RPG that means that I max level half way the game and then kill the final boss with a backhand slap.
@Wii U priced at $300 for basic, $350 for deluxe
good job on the guess guys! i think this price is ok for a console of that caliber, it might be “a couple of wiis taped together” but it will fufill the gamer’s needs for a few years without a doubt (i hope)
@Obsidian unveils Kickstarter title Project Eternity, raise $1M in 24 hours
well, they really do have a history with good games! they deserve it!
@QOTW
mostly Borderlands 2 and Battlefield 3: armored kill. as of now, i am a lvl 19 assassin focused fully on the melee tree… oh god, the carnage! :3
now time for my question: wich classes and wich builds are you guys doing on BL2? and wich you made for BL1? i made mordekai as a kick ass sniper, also 100% focused on the sniper tree.