Shacknews has learned via multiple independent reports that developer Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires) will shut down operation following the release of its upcoming title Halo Wars.

According to sources, employees not associated with Halo Wars have been laid off today. Those attached to Halo Wars have been offered incentives to stay on the project until completion.

Halo Wars, an RTS based on the Halo franchise, was announced in September of 2006. The Xbox 360 title is currently slated for release sometime in the first half of 2009.

Ensemble Studios was founded in 1995. The Microsoft-owned company is best known for the Age of Empires series of RTS games.

Shacknews has contacted both Microsoft and Ensemble for comment, but has not yet received a reply.

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I hope it isn't true. Why in the hell would Microsoft close ensemble?

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It's confirmed.

http://kotaku.com/5047632/shane-kim-delivers-death-blow-to-ensemble

It sounds like what Nintendo, Sony and MS are all doing is trying to buy up developers to seal exclusives to their consoles, rather than paying lots of money for deals like in the PS1/PS2 days, while the major companies - Activision, Squeenix, etc. will be multiplatform for the most part.

So whoever gobbles up the best studios will *possibly* win the console wars.

Those games from Ensemble hadn't really improved over the years.  Little bits here and there, but you know, a 14 year old studio has some guys making serious dollars after all that time getting raises and what-not.  I'm sure Halo Wars was just built on the same game engine as everything else with some minor tweaks.  And Microsoft realized that they could get a generic RTS from anyone for a lot less.

I don't think Microsoft is being too crazy.  They dropped studios that released shitty games.  Hell, even Bungie got panned for Halo 3 being lackluster to most people. 

It's easier to just sign a developer for an exclusive title and make money on the buy-in. 

I don't think they've given up on PC gaming or are afraid of piracy.  (Microsoft has more expensive software packages that get pirated that they deal with all the time.)  They just know who is wasting cash making shit and who isn't.

That's the game industry.  At some point we'll probably see Microsoft buy someone big.  But right now, they are storing their cash to look good for the share holders.  Especially after that whole Yahoo debacle.

I hope this doesn't spell the end of the Age of Empires franchise. I really loved Age of Empires II; its the game that introduced me to strategy gaming. I always thought it was amazing how they were able to have like 12 different civilizations, and each were balanced against each other and offered unique tactics and play-styles.

Microsoft will keep it, but who will make the new Age of empires games? The new studio being formed by ensemble employees or someone else?

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How badly can you fuck up with a game which has more than a decade of history . Honestly .

Any studio who wants to make a similar game just has to reverse engineer whatever 10 year old strategy game they can find and get their job done .

I'm not sure in RTS games are that expensive in the development dept' either .

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"Everyone is judgemental, just that most are'nt honest about it... "
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"To destroy is to challege man .
      To create is to challenge god ."

They just buy a license to a good RTS engine (Like the Warhammer one) and stick Age of Empires art on it.  It's probably far cheaper than financing a studio that makes minor upgrades to a franchise year on year with dwindling returns.

I meant the 10 year old Age of Empires game (AoE II or something) which was their peak AoE selling title .

Besides, what have they REALLY worked on over the years that is so vastly an improvement . I got one game from the series and that was Age of Mythology because i knew it was gonna be more different than ;

"You do not have enough lumber to build the Barracks !!"

"Your Cavalry is being attacked !!"

:P

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"Everyone is judgemental, just that most are'nt honest about it... "
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"To destroy is to challege man .
      To create is to challenge god ."

In my opinion, the micro management was the main turn-off for me with Age of Empires.  That, and the stupid balance system which was like rock paper scissors.  (Spearmen can defeat Cavalry, Cavalry can defeat Axe-Men, Axe-Men can defeat Spearmen.)

The one good thing was that it was based on real stories and events from history.  But the engine just felt dated.  We didn't need to fart around with so many land resources.