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{{realworld}}
{{Status|RealWorld}}
{{ratings}}
{{Wikipedia}}
{{era|HW|}}
{{Infobox/Developer
{{SeeWikipedia|Ensemble Studios}}
|name=Ensemble Studios
[[Image:Age-of-empires-3.jpg|left|thumb|200px|A screenshot of Age Of Empires III]]
|image=[[File:Ensemble Studios Logo.png|250px]]
|founded= 1995
|dissolved= 2009
|founder= *Tony Goodman
*Rick Goodman
*Brian Sullivan
|leader=
|parent= [[Microsoft]]
|subsidiaries=
|headquarters= Dallas, Texas, USA {{C|Former}}
|locations=
|website= [http://www.ensemblestudios.com/ www.ensemblestudios.com]
|halogames= [[Halo Wars]]
|othergames=[[wikipedia:Age of Empires|''Age of Empires'' series]]
}}
'''Ensemble Studios''' was a game studio known for the [[wikipedia:Age of Empires|''Age of Empires'' series]] and the developers of ''[[Halo Wars]]'', the first [[real-time strategy]] game set in the [[Halo universe|''Halo'' universe]]. The studio was disbanded in [[2009]], following the release of ''Halo Wars''. A majority of studio's former employees moved to [[Robot Entertainment]].


'''Ensemble Studios''' is a [[Microsoft]]-owned company that has developed several computer games, including the famous ''Age of Empires'' series. The company was founded in 1995 in Dallas by Tony Goodman, his brother, Rick Goodman, Bruce Shelley, and Brian Sullivan. After 2 years, it released its first game, ''Age of Empires''. In May 2001, Microsoft acquired the company. Currently, the company employs about 100 people, including Bruce Shelley, Graeme Devine and Sandy Petersen.
== History ==
=== Origin and acquisition by Microsoft ===
[[File:Age-of-empires-3.jpg|thumb|200px|A screenshot of Age Of Empires III]]
The studio founded in 1995 in Dallas by Tony Goodman, his brother, Rick Goodman, Bruce Shelley, and Brian Sullivan. The studio released its first game, ''Age of Empires'', after two years of operation. The game was well received by the gaming community at the time, establishing a venerable reputation for Ensemble as a leading real-time strategy developer.


Ensemble is notable for its playtesting procedures: everyone at the company is required to test the current product at least once a week. The company has a varied employee background, its workers range from high school graduates to PhDs.
In May 2001, the studio was acquired by Microsoft.<ref name="internal">[http://asia.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-to-acquire-ensemble-studios-2715282 '''Gamespot''': ''Microsoft to acquire Ensemble Studios'']</ref> Under Microsoft till [[2007 (real world)|2007]], Ensemble developed their last ''Age of Empires'' title and ''Age of Mythology'', a spin-off from the series.


This company cooperated with [[Bungie]] to create one of the three new Halo game projects; [[Halo Wars]]. [[Frank O'Connor]] announced in one of his weekly updates that Ensemble is designing the entire game, with Bungie playing a supporting role to ensure that the story fits in properly with the [[Halo universe]].
=== Developing ''Halo Wars'' and closure ===
In 2007, Ensemble spent 12–18 months prototyping their ''Age of Mythology'' engine to experiment with the concept of a real-time strategy mechanics on a console.<ref name="gamasutra">[http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20835#.UGUyuVG-XlO '''Gamasutra''': ''Q&A: How Ensemble Gets Halo Fans To Appreciate Halo Wars'']</ref><ref name="worthplaying">[http://worthplaying.com/article/2009/2/22/interviews/59199/ '''Worthplaying''': ''"Halo Wars" (X360) Developer Interview Part 1'']</ref> The studio concluded the experimentation with the concept of a centralized user interface system and settled for micromanagement and base-building and restricted resource gathering and management to bases. These game mechanics were presented to Microsoft shortly after.{{Ref/Reuse|gamasutra}} Microsoft, being risk-averse at the time, pressured Ensemble to rebrand their formerly original game as a ''Halo'' title.<ref name="gameindustry">[http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-09-27-halo-wars-bungie-saw-it-as-whoring-out-franchise-says-ensemble-founder '''GameIndustry''': ''Halo Wars: Bungie saw it as "whoring out franchise" says Ensemble founder'']</ref> Microsoft doubted that a real-time strategy game on a console could achieve adequate sales otherwise. This decision by Microsoft created a breakdown in relationship between Ensemble Studios and Bungie Studios.{{Ref/Reuse|gameindustry}}{{Ref/Note|Ensemble Studios desired to use their novel game mechanics for an original title. This was denied by Microsoft, who suggested that the game would sell better as a ''Halo'' title. Bungie was discontent with Microsoft's decision of forcing the ''Halo'' intellectual property to be in a different genre. This led to their buy-out in 2007.}} Regardless, the studio cooperated with Bungie Studios to develop ''[[Halo Wars]]''.


On September 10, 2008, Ensemble Studios announced that it will be closing a short while after [[Halo Wars]] is finished. Dave Pottinger, Lead Designer of Halo Wars, issued a response assuring that the quality of the game should not be affected.  Pottinger's response can be found on the home page of ''www.halowars.com''. Post-release support for the game is being provided by [[Robot Entertainment]], where roughly half of Ensemble's crew went after the close.
On September 10, 2008, Ensemble Studios announced that it would be closing a short while after ''[[Halo Wars]]'' was released. Dave Pottinger, Lead Designer of Halo Wars, issued a response assuring that the quality of the game should not be affected. Post-release support for the game is being provided by [[Robot Entertainment]], where a majority of Ensemble's employees went after the close.


On February 26, 2009, in Asia and Australia, February 27, in the U.K., and March 3, in the U.S., Ensemble released [[Halo Wars]].
== List of games ==
 
===Released===
{| class="wikitable" width=50%
{|width="50%" class="wikitable"
!Name
!Name
!Release Date
!Release Date
Line 22: Line 41:
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires (video game)|Age of Empires]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires (video game)|Age of Empires]]''
|1997
|1997
|R.T.S.(real-time strategy)
|[[Real-time strategy]]
|-
|-
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome|Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome|Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome]]''
|1998
|1998
|Expansion pack
|Expansion pack
|-
|-
|-
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings|Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings|Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings]]''
|1999
|1999
|R.T.S.(real-time strategy)
|Real-time strategy
|-
|-
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires II: The Conquerors|Age of Empires II: The Conquerors]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires II: The Conquerors|Age of Empires II: The Conquerors]]''
Line 39: Line 57:
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Mythology|Age of Mythology]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Mythology|Age of Mythology]]''
|2002
|2002
|R.T.S.(real-time strategy)
|Real-time strategy
|-
|-
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Mythology: The Titans|Age of Mythology: The Titans]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Mythology: The Titans|Age of Mythology: The Titans]]''
Line 47: Line 65:
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires III|Age of Empires III]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires III|Age of Empires III]]''
|2005
|2005
|R.T.S.(real-time strategy)
|Real-time strategy
|-
|-
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs|Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs]]''
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs|Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs]]''
Line 53: Line 71:
|Expansion pack
|Expansion pack
|-
|-
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties|Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties]]''<ref>Co-developed with [[Wikipedia:Big Huge Games|Big Huge Games]].</ref>
|''[[Wikipedia:Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties|Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties]]''
|2007
|2007
|Expansion pack
|Expansion pack
Line 59: Line 77:
|''[[Halo Wars]]''
|''[[Halo Wars]]''
|2009
|2009
|R.T.S.(real-time strategy)
|Real-time strategy
|}
 
===Unreleased===
{|width="50%" class="wikitable"
!Name
!Release Date
!Genre
|-
|''[[Titan (canceled game)|Titan]]'' (codename){{Ref/Site|Id=LastTour|URL=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/ensemble-studios-the-last-tour|Site=Game Developer|Page=Ensemble Studios: The Last Tour|D=21|M=9|Y=2021}}
|Cancelled
|MMORPG
|-
|''[[Phoenix (Ensemble pitch)|Phoenix]]'' (codename)
|Cancelled; turned into ''Halo Wars''{{Ref/Reuse|LastTour}}
|Real-time strategy
|-
|''[[Halo Wars sequel (Ensemble)|Halo Wars sequel]]''
|DLC expansions and sequel ideas; pitched but never developed
|Real-time strategy
|-
|-
|''[[Untitled Halo MMO]]
|''Sorcerer; Nova''
|Canceled
|Cancelled{{Ref/Reuse|LastTour}}
|MMORPG.
|Dungeon crawler
|-
|Unnamed "pirate-themed take on ''Diablo''"
|Cancelled{{Ref/Reuse|LastTour}}
|Dungeon crawler
|-
|''Wrench''
|Cancelled{{Ref/Reuse|LastTour}}
|Unknown
|-
|''Bam''
|Cancelled{{Ref/Reuse|LastTour}}
|Action-adventure
|-
|''Agent''
|Cancelled{{Ref/Reuse|LastTour}}
|Unknown
|}
|}
== Known employees ==
*[[Wikipedia:Graeme Devine|Graeme Devine]]
*[[Wikipedia:Dave Pottinger|Dave Pottinger]]
*[[Jerome K. Jones]]
*[[Lance Hoke]]
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}
== Sources ==
{{Ref/Sources}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.ensemblestudios.com/ Official website]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Ensemble Studios| ]]

Latest revision as of 18:01, April 15, 2024

Wikipedia.png
 There is more information available on this subject at Ensemble Studios on the English Wikipedia.
Ensemble Studios
Ensemble Studios Logo.png
Company information

Date founded:

1995

Date dissolved:

2009

Founder(s):

  • Tony Goodman
  • Rick Goodman
  • Brian Sullivan

Parent company:

Microsoft

Headquarters:

Dallas, Texas, USA (Former)

Website:

www.ensemblestudios.com

Development information

Halo titles developed:

Halo Wars

Other notable games:

Age of Empires series

 

Ensemble Studios was a game studio known for the Age of Empires series and the developers of Halo Wars, the first real-time strategy game set in the Halo universe. The studio was disbanded in 2009, following the release of Halo Wars. A majority of studio's former employees moved to Robot Entertainment.

History[edit]

Origin and acquisition by Microsoft[edit]

A screenshot of Age Of Empires III

The studio founded in 1995 in Dallas by Tony Goodman, his brother, Rick Goodman, Bruce Shelley, and Brian Sullivan. The studio released its first game, Age of Empires, after two years of operation. The game was well received by the gaming community at the time, establishing a venerable reputation for Ensemble as a leading real-time strategy developer.

In May 2001, the studio was acquired by Microsoft.[1] Under Microsoft till 2007, Ensemble developed their last Age of Empires title and Age of Mythology, a spin-off from the series.

Developing Halo Wars and closure[edit]

In 2007, Ensemble spent 12–18 months prototyping their Age of Mythology engine to experiment with the concept of a real-time strategy mechanics on a console.[2][3] The studio concluded the experimentation with the concept of a centralized user interface system and settled for micromanagement and base-building and restricted resource gathering and management to bases. These game mechanics were presented to Microsoft shortly after.[2] Microsoft, being risk-averse at the time, pressured Ensemble to rebrand their formerly original game as a Halo title.[4] Microsoft doubted that a real-time strategy game on a console could achieve adequate sales otherwise. This decision by Microsoft created a breakdown in relationship between Ensemble Studios and Bungie Studios.[4][Note 1] Regardless, the studio cooperated with Bungie Studios to develop Halo Wars.

On September 10, 2008, Ensemble Studios announced that it would be closing a short while after Halo Wars was released. Dave Pottinger, Lead Designer of Halo Wars, issued a response assuring that the quality of the game should not be affected. Post-release support for the game is being provided by Robot Entertainment, where a majority of Ensemble's employees went after the close.

List of games[edit]

Released[edit]

Name Release Date Genre
Age of Empires 1997 Real-time strategy
Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome 1998 Expansion pack
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 1999 Real-time strategy
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors 2000 Expansion pack
Age of Mythology 2002 Real-time strategy
Age of Mythology: The Titans 2003 Expansion pack
Age of Empires III 2005 Real-time strategy
Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs 2006 Expansion pack
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties 2007 Expansion pack
Halo Wars 2009 Real-time strategy

Unreleased[edit]

Name Release Date Genre
Titan (codename)[5] Cancelled MMORPG
Phoenix (codename) Cancelled; turned into Halo Wars[5] Real-time strategy
Halo Wars sequel DLC expansions and sequel ideas; pitched but never developed Real-time strategy
Sorcerer; Nova Cancelled[5] Dungeon crawler
Unnamed "pirate-themed take on Diablo" Cancelled[5] Dungeon crawler
Wrench Cancelled[5] Unknown
Bam Cancelled[5] Action-adventure
Agent Cancelled[5] Unknown

Known employees[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Ensemble Studios desired to use their novel game mechanics for an original title. This was denied by Microsoft, who suggested that the game would sell better as a Halo title. Bungie was discontent with Microsoft's decision of forcing the Halo intellectual property to be in a different genre. This led to their buy-out in 2007.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Gamespot: Microsoft to acquire Ensemble Studios
  2. ^ a b Gamasutra: Q&A: How Ensemble Gets Halo Fans To Appreciate Halo Wars
  3. ^ Worthplaying: "Halo Wars" (X360) Developer Interview Part 1
  4. ^ a b GameIndustry: Halo Wars: Bungie saw it as "whoring out franchise" says Ensemble founder
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Game Developer, Ensemble Studios: The Last Tour (Retrieved on Sep 21, 2021) [archive]

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://www.halopedia.org/index.php?title=Ensemble_Studios&oldid=1625565"