Microsoft: Ensemble closure not all rosy – Key members open independent studio
We have been closely following the closure of Ensemble Studios here on Blorge. And in light of some recent comments made by key studio member Bruce Shelley, it seems that things were not as rosy as Microsoft made them out to be. In fact some of the key studio members will be leaving Microsoft to form an independent studio.
Bruce Shelley is a game designer and currently part of the management at Ensemble Studios (ES). Shelley has been heavily involved with the Age franchise since the beginning back in 1997. He also posts on the official Ensemble Blog regularly, where in his latest blog entry Shelley talks about the closure of the studio.
He states:
I have mentioned with regret the closing of several quality game studios over the past several years but I never considered that ES would join the list. Everyone at our studio was shocked, and I think remains very disappointed that this is going to happen. I believe we thought we were immune to shut-down talk because our published games have done so well and have been so profitable. Plus we felt we had built a really stable (low-turnover), talented, hard-working, and creative team, which is not easy to do. We thought we were among the best studios in the world, and that may be true, but we don’t fit in the future plans of MGS as an internal studio so we’re out.
Understandably, there is definitely some bitterness in the tone of the blog post. Since Shelley has dedicated so much of his life to ES, to see it all shutdown must be heartbreaking. He reiterates what I said in my previous story about how because the Age franchise has been very profitable, the closure of the studio seems very confusing.
It must be quite disappointing to realize that it really doesn’t matter if the studio is successful or the games are profitable if it does not fit within Microsoft’s overall vision. According to Microsoft, with the closure of ES the Age franchise will fall upon a new team.
There is also the chance Microsoft may not bring the franchise back until far into the future, with rumblings that the company is planning on shifting focus from the hardcore to the casual market.
However, all is not lost as Shelley makes an announcement that key members of ES will form a new independent studio to continue the tradition of developing exciting games.
He says:
Studio head Tony Goodman has a plan to start a new independent studio following the end of ES and a number of the existing ES employees have been offered a position in this company. He felt he had to get a plan for that in place, even though it will not being operating until after ES closes down, so that all employees can know where they stand and begin making plans for their futures. I believe the spirit and mission of ES will be carried forward in this new company if enough of the key leaders agree to take part, which I expect to happen. There has been no announcement about what the new studio will be working on when it gets going.
It is good to hear that part of ES will live on through the spiritual successor of the studio. From what Shelley says it seems that even though some of the key personnel may be offered a position within Microsoft, most will likely join the newly formed studio along with Ensemble Studio head, Tony Goodman.
Shelley ends the blog post indicating that he expects that he will no longer be with Microsoft after the completion of the Halo Wars project.
He states:
This was a sort of special edition blog focused entirely on the news about the coming closure of Ensemble Studios. I expect to continue with more typical blogs in the coming months through the completion of Halo Wars and my employment with the company. I do not expect to be part of the new company formed after ES is shut down, so the blog will probably end at that point.
It is sad to hear that many of the key members of ES will be losing a home at Microsoft, but it is also good to hear that they are planning on forming a new and exciting independent studio. I am sure given the success of the Age franchise that the new studio will have no problems getting up and started. Going independent may open up new doors with different publishers and new platforms. You could very well see an amazing RTS from these folks on the PS3 and the Wii in the near future.
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18 Responses to “Microsoft: Ensemble closure not all rosy – Key members open independent studio”
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October 4th, 2008
Good on them. They may find alot of fan support behind them. Hopefully they can bring out a game or franchise that equals or even eclipses Age of Empires and then releases as a Sony and Nintendo exclusive…….
October 4th, 2008
” but we don’t fit in the future plans of MGS ”
Cmon now, im sure Hideo Kojima will allow you to meet snake or even voice some soldiers.
October 4th, 2008
hahaha @ Bourne
October 4th, 2008
That wasn’t funny, bourne. That was just stupid. You can say some stupid stuff sometimes. Only an idiot like harry would laugh at that. You two deserve each other.
October 4th, 2008
very good harry no balls. Impersonate me. I really cant believe its come down to that. IP bans Mike?
October 4th, 2008
Obviously Blorge needs a login system. That said:
I have been a huge fan of AoE since its first release. Countless hours played. It is too bad to see an end. I would have liked to see MS sell it or spin it off than just shut the doors. An independent studio bringing the AoE franchise to a all consoles could give us something far less disappointing than Civ Revo.
October 4th, 2008
harry just a fucking poser he tries to be me all the time he was the first one to start the gay poser talk about penis and all that bullshit. He always rambling about bitterness.
October 4th, 2008
huh? I haven’t impersonated anyone! I don’t have the need to! And yes, I agree, do an IP ban, as someone has been impersonating me too, talking about how much I like dicks etc.
All I did was laugh at Bourne’s joke….
October 4th, 2008
And Ivan, I KNOW that you have been imposting me. Want to know how? Because your grasp of the english language is fucking terrible!
October 4th, 2008
I can speak and write better then you. You just a cry baby stop being a little bitch and shut up. I bet you never graduated High School.
October 4th, 2008
Ivan, i’ll give you a hand. I’ll disect your last post and correct the english for you (my corrections will be in CAPITALS, and in ” ” where letters are not the issue)
I can speak and write better then you. (I CAN’T JUDGE ON HOW YOU SPEAK, BUT YOUR WRITING SKILLS ARE ATROCIOUS.)
You” ‘ “RE just a cry baby” , ” stop being a little bitch and shut up.
I bet you never graduated FROM ” h” igh ” s “chool.
I hope this helps you.
— Harry Sachz
October 5th, 2008
harry sachz is such a loser he lives his life through Xbox 360. What a loser i bet he doesn’t even own an Xbox 360.
October 5th, 2008
@harry.
If it wasn’t you I apologize.
I jumped the gun since its usually me and you goin’ verbal fisty cuffs.
October 5th, 2008
I don’t think IP bans will work, they’re easy to get around. A login system will fix the issue.
October 5th, 2008
I’m sorry but that whole grammer thing was so funny Harry
October 6th, 2008
Maybe DNS bans then.
October 6th, 2008
Uh, it’s pretty obvious from Harry’s general online demeanor that he is not quite bored or immature enough to go around impersonating other posters on a somewhat obscure gaming website. Strange to find myself saying that about someone who likely thinks the online handle “harry sachz” is funny and clever. Still… it’s true, I don’t think Harry has done any impersonating.
-Arvis
October 6th, 2008
Actually Chris, I stole it from an episode of Beavis and Butthead.
The best solution would be a login service. Maybe that might bring some of the old crew back, i.e winner, spideydog etc.