Microsoft closes Halo Wars developer - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 10th Sep 2008, 10:21

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/09...rs-developer/1

It has been confirmed that Microsoft is closing down Ensemble Studios, the developer behind the upcoming Halo Wars game.

wuyanxu · 10th Sep 2008, 10:52

"does not reflect at all on Ensemble’s talent or the quality of Halo Wars," and it's closing because of finance issues.... yeah right.

either going to be a rushed job or a game that don't get any support (not so much on consoles, but im sure everyone loves Halo's map packs)

TurtlePerson2 · 10th Sep 2008, 12:20

Wasn't Ensemble always pretty successful, with AoE and all?

Bluephoenix · 10th Sep 2008, 13:33

at least microsoft isn't giving employees the boot if they have other positions that they'll fit in, unlike some companies which kick out and "maybe" hire you back after a re-interview.

Cadillac Ferd · 10th Sep 2008, 13:49

I like how just yesterday I was reading that MS was saying this "rumor" was unfounded and untrue. Oh well, hopefully the folks at Ensemble find good homes in other companies/in other parts of MS. I'm sure Halo Wars will be fine, I doubt anyone wants their company to go out on a bad note. AoE was a decent enough series but I suppose it's hard times these days trying to sell (non-Bilzzard owned) RTS games seeing as how they (generally) translate poorly to consoles and consoles move more units now.

Demon Cleaner · 10th Sep 2008, 14:08

I wonder if a disgruntled employee will pour hot coffee all over this game...

devdevil85 · 10th Sep 2008, 16:58

How could MS close down a studio because of financial reasons without there being a quality/control issue? MS has tons of money (hints all of the exclusives/timed exclusives for 360) and if the game wasn't producing to the quality they felt necessary then it makes sense to close the studio down and continue the game with another one that they can control who stays on the project and who doesn't, but that's my opinion and I may be way off, but that's how I am interpreting this....

I wonder if this is going to delay the RTS any longer than it already has been announced.....

Cptn-Inafinus · 10th Sep 2008, 17:03

Ensemble developing?

This may just convince me to buy the game. I am a huge fan of AoE. I grew up (And still am) on it...

AOwpr · 10th Sep 2008, 17:48

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God, I hope the new developer studio will still make RTS games.

I was *SO* looking forward to their unannounced project (Age4?).

HourBeforeDawn · 10th Sep 2008, 18:29

so wait they are closing the studio for "financial reasons" but leaving that one game development in play until it is completed, a game that once launched will probably make soooo much freaking money that their "financial reasons" would disappear??? and bring the company back out of the red but in this case not huh more money I guess to M$ and their game division then to the studio by going this route.

10th Sep 2008, 10:21	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 8,001	Microsoft closes Halo Wars developer http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/09...rs-developer/1 It has been confirmed that Microsoft is closing down Ensemble Studios, the developer behind the upcoming Halo Wars game. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

10th Sep 2008, 10:52	#2
wuyanxu quad fuelled, GTX200 powered Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: in a room near Soton Uni. UK Posts: 3,943	"does not reflect at all on Ensemble’s talent or the quality of Halo Wars," and it's closing because of finance issues.... yeah right. either going to be a rushed job or a game that don't get any support (not so much on consoles, but im sure everyone loves Halo's map packs) __________________ Death to consolification !!!Core i7 860 @ 4Ghz Cooled by Corsair H50 // Asus P7P55D Deluxe // 8GB of Corsair Dominators @ 1528Mhz 8-8-8-24 // BFG gtx260+ OC2 MaxCore 216SP 896MB // Samsung 64GB SSD // WD Raptor 74GB + Black 1TB + Green 1TB // Corsair Hx620w // Antec p182 // Samsung 24" T240

10th Sep 2008, 14:08	#6
Demon Cleaner Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 102	I wonder if a disgruntled employee will pour hot coffee all over this game... __________________ Antec P182 \| Corsair 620HX \| Intel Q6600 G0 @ 3.0 GHz \| Noctua-U12P + Noctua NF-P12\| 2x2GB Corsair XMS2 DHX PC6400 DDR2 4-4-4-12 \| Gigabyte X48-DS4 \| Sapphire 4870 512MB \| Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 32MB 500GB \| Pioneer DVR-215DBK \| 24" Dell 2407WFP Monitor \| Vista Ultimate 64

10th Sep 2008, 17:03	#8
Cptn-Inafinus Peanut Extrordinare! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Crieff, Scotland Posts: 399	Ensemble developing? This may just convince me to buy the game. I am a huge fan of AoE. I grew up (And still am) on it... __________________ My Photography A few more of those

10th Sep 2008, 18:29	#10
HourBeforeDawn a.k.a KazeModz Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cali, USA Posts: 1,796	so wait they are closing the studio for "financial reasons" but leaving that one game development in play until it is completed, a game that once launched will probably make soooo much freaking money that their "financial reasons" would disappear??? and bring the company back out of the red but in this case not huh more money I guess to M$ and their game division then to the studio by going this route. __________________ Current Rig: RubyRED • Lian-Li A05B • (2) Swiftech 220 Radiators • (2) D5 Variable Pumps • (2) Res • and a whole lot of modding • Retired Rig: Project F.E.A.R. • TT Lanbox Lite • Swiftech H2O-120 • Q6600 G0 OC@3.6ghz • 2900XT • 4gb SuperTalent Memory •

10th Sep 2008, 12:20	#3
TurtlePerson2 Multimodder Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 82	Wasn't Ensemble always pretty successful, with AoE and all?

10th Sep 2008, 13:33	#4
Bluephoenix Spoon? What spoon? Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Daytona Beach, FL Posts: 936	at least microsoft isn't giving employees the boot if they have other positions that they'll fit in, unlike some companies which kick out and "maybe" hire you back after a re-interview.

10th Sep 2008, 13:49	#5
Cadillac Ferd Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maaaaryland, USA Posts: 219	I like how just yesterday I was reading that MS was saying this "rumor" was unfounded and untrue. Oh well, hopefully the folks at Ensemble find good homes in other companies/in other parts of MS. I'm sure Halo Wars will be fine, I doubt anyone wants their company to go out on a bad note. AoE was a decent enough series but I suppose it's hard times these days trying to sell (non-Bilzzard owned) RTS games seeing as how they (generally) translate poorly to consoles and consoles move more units now.

10th Sep 2008, 16:58	#7
devdevil85 Hypermodder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: US of A Posts: 884	How could MS close down a studio because of financial reasons without there being a quality/control issue? MS has tons of money (hints all of the exclusives/timed exclusives for 360) and if the game wasn't producing to the quality they felt necessary then it makes sense to close the studio down and continue the game with another one that they can control who stays on the project and who doesn't, but that's my opinion and I may be way off, but that's how I am interpreting this.... I wonder if this is going to delay the RTS any longer than it already has been announced.....

10th Sep 2008, 17:48	#9
AOwpr What's a Dremel? Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God, I hope the new developer studio will still make RTS games. I was SO looking forward to their unannounced project (Age4?).