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 Send to email | Shades Of Bungie In Ensemble Closure [Ensemble Studios] in Ensemble Studios Business Microsoft News |  By Luke Plunkett
el 10-Sep-2008 |  Yesterday, we were told that Microsoft Games Studios had taken the decision to close Ensemble, long-time custodians (and creators) of the Age of Empires series. The rank and file were to be absorbed (where possible) into other MGS studios, while the Ensemble leadership left and formed a new studio. And hey, at face value, that's what happened. But comments made today by Microsoft's Shane Kim have thrown up an additional piece of information. According to Edge, "Kim made clear that this new studio was to be an independent entity not owned by Microsoft, and that it was a venture being taken by the heads of Ensemble". This venture, while independent, would have an "ongoing relationship" with Microsoft. Which would, as disclosed yesterday, involve looking after Halo Wars post-release. But what about Age of Empires?
Just like Bungie with Halo, the newly-independent, ex-Ensemble studio doesn't own the Age of Empires IP. Microsoft do. And here are Microsoft, talking about an "ongoing relationship" with the new team despite thier new-found independence. So all that's really happened is that Ensemble has been "closed", while the brains (and surely most of the brawn as well) set up a new studio, one that will be given the chance to work on their own stuff if they want, but will also be tethered to Microsoft. Just like Bungie with Halo. As it stands, Microsoft aren't saying much more, only wishing to "reassure you that Microsoft will still own the Age of Empires intellectual property". Phew, for a second we'd worried you'd lost it behind the couch! They're also saying "stay tuned" for news on the future of the franchise. If the new, ex-Ensemble studio isn't part of that future, I'll be very surprised. Kim: We Still Believe in PC Games [Edge]
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 | Kotaku`s The Gamers Guide |  Blogger | XBOX 360 Gamers Weblog
Gossip, news and leaks for obsessive gamers Kotaku As if you don't waste enough of your time in a gamer's haze, here's Kotaku: a gamer's guide that goes beyond the press release. Gossip, cheats, criticism, design, nostalgia, pred |
| Shades Of Bungie In Ensemble Closure [Ensemble Studios] | | Yesterday, we were told that Microsoft Games Studios had taken the decision to close Ensemble, long-time custodians (and creators) of the Age of Empires series. The rank and file were to be absorbed (where possible) into other MGS studios, while the Ensemble leade [..] Read complete article | | Published 10-Sep-2008 by Luke Plunkett in Ensemble Studios Business Microsoft News
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| Kotaku`s The Gamers Guide | Blogger | XBOX 360 Gamers Weblog
Gossip, news and leaks for obsessive gamers Kotaku As if you don't waste enough of your time in a gamer's haze, here's Kotaku: a gamer's guide that goes beyond the press release. Gossip, cheats, criticism, design, nostalgia, pred |
| Joystiq | Blogger | Covers video game news from an independent, unbiased perspective
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| Ensemble founder speaks about studio closure |  Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business
Remember that amazing relationship you once had where you didn't even see the breakup coming? Well, that's sort of what Ensemble Studios [..] Read complete article | | Published 23-Sep-2008 by Alexander Sliwinski in bruce-shellyclosureensembleensemble-studiosmicrosoftshelly
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| Microsoft confirms Ensemble closure, new studio opening |  Filed under: PC, Microsoft Xbox 360, Strategy, Business
After only briefly being classified as rumor, Microsoft has confirmed that Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios is indeed closing. Said the company in a statement [..] Read complete article | | Published 09-Sep-2008 by Ross Miller in age-of-empiresbreakingnewsensemblehalo-warsmicrosoftmicrosoft-games-studio
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| Kotaku`s The Gamers Guide | Blogger | XBOX 360 Gamers Weblog
Gossip, news and leaks for obsessive gamers Kotaku As if you don't waste enough of your time in a gamer's haze, here's Kotaku: a gamer's guide that goes beyond the press release. Gossip, cheats, criticism, design, nostalgia, pred |
| Joystiq | Blogger | Covers video game news from an independent, unbiased perspective
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| The life and death of Ensemble Studios | 
Maybe its staff wasn't surprised, but it was quite a shock to us when the plug was pulled on Ensemble Studios five months before the release of its baby, Halo Wars. Now, after reading a post-mortem delivered by studio founder Bruce S [..] Read complete article | | Published 20-Feb-2009 by Justin McElroy in dice-2009ensemble-studioshalo-warsmicrosoftpcrts
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| Joystiq | Blogger | Covers video game news from an independent, unbiased perspective
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| Kotaku`s The Gamers Guide | Blogger | XBOX 360 Gamers Weblog
Gossip, news and leaks for obsessive gamers Kotaku As if you don't waste enough of your time in a gamer's haze, here's Kotaku: a gamer's guide that goes beyond the press release. Gossip, cheats, criticism, design, nostalgia, pred |
| Kotaku`s The Gamers Guide | Blogger | XBOX 360 Gamers Weblog
Gossip, news and leaks for obsessive gamers Kotaku As if you don't waste enough of your time in a gamer's haze, here's Kotaku: a gamer's guide that goes beyond the press release. Gossip, cheats, criticism, design, nostalgia, pred |
| Joystiq | Blogger | Covers video game news from an independent, unbiased perspective
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| Joystiq | Blogger | Covers video game news from an independent, unbiased perspective
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| Ensemble Studios founder creates Robot Entertainment | 
It's been just under two weeks since Age of Empires and Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios closed its doors and already one of the two previously announced development studios springing from its demise is forming like [..] Read complete article | | Published 14-Feb-2009 by Ben Gilbert in age-of-empiresbruce-shelleydlcensemble-studioshalo-warshalo-wars-dlcrobot-entertianmenttony-goodman
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