Ensemble Studios

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.

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.

This company is cooperating 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.

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.

Awards
Ensemble Studios has received a number of awards through the years. Including many for game of the year.


 * Game Spy - 2005 Game of the year - PC RTS
 * Game Spy - 2005 Best Graphics
 * Game Spy - 2005 Best Music – Honorable Mention
 * Game Spy – Best of E3 2005
 * Worth Playing – Editor Choice
 * PCGamers – Editor Choice
 * Game Critics Award – Best of E3 2005
 * Game Zone – Outstanding Award
 * IGN.Com – Editor Choice Award
 * IGN – Best of E3 Award 2005
 * Daily Game - Best of Show E3 2005
 * GT – Gold Medal
 * GamePower Award
 * Strategy Gaming Online – Editors Choice
 * Gamer Voice – Best Wargame
 * GameSpot – Game of the year
 * Gamesmania – Award of Excellence
 * GamesDomain – Readers Award
 * Thresh’s FiringSquad – Editors Choice
 * Computer Gaming World – 5 Stars
 * Computer Gaming World – Editors Choice
 * WarGamer – Award for excellence
 * GamesWeekly – Top 15 of games
 * Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences – Best Strategy Game of the Year
 * GameCenter - 1997 Game of the Year