Ensemble Studios: Difference between revisions

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 name="gamasutra"/> Microsoft, being risk-averse at the time, pressured Ensemble to rebrand their formerly original game as a ''Halo'' titles.<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 name="gameindustry"/><ref group="note">Ensemble Studios was keen on using their novel game mechanics for an original title. This was denied by Microsoft, whom suggested that the game would sell better as a ''Halo'' title. Bungie Studios on the other hand 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.</ref> 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]]'' is finished. 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.