Just when you think everything's moving along all nice and rosy comes word from the top that you're about to be shut down. Happens all the time. Bruce Shelley, boss of Halo Wars dev Ensemble, has updated his blog about how disappointed he and the team are at Microsoft's decision. Brought a tear to our eye...
"I have mentioned with regret the closing of several quality game studios over the past several years but I never considered that ES would join the list. Everyone at our studio was shocked, and I think remains very disappointed that this is going to happen.
"I believe we thought we were immune to shut-down talk because our published games have done so well and have been so profitable. Plus we felt we had built a really stable (low-turnover), talented, hard-working, and creative team, which is not easy to do. We thought we were among the best studios in the world, and that may be true, but we don't fit in the future plans of MGS as an internal studio so we're out.
"A senior executive of MGS addressed the studio in early September and gave us the news. He did not go into a lot of detail about why, but basically the decision, as I understand it, was based on several major factors. First, they want to divert the headcount tied up in ES and the costs that are expected to be required to run ES for the next few years into other projects. Second, it sounded like it cost more to run ES on a per person basis than other first party studios (Rare, Lionhead, Forza, Flight Sim) putting us at a disadvantage. (Plus they avoid the expense of a new office that we were planning.) And third, games those studios are expected to deliver in the next few years are expected to be more strategic and profitable to the company than anything we would be finishing after Halo Wars.
"You may recall that the mission for our studio from the start in 1995 has been to create great games and a great place to work. Overall we think we have built a studio consistent with that mission. But within the framework of a larger organization other stuff matters and perhaps has higher priorities, including costs of operation and overall strategic direction of the larger business. The new leadership of the game group at Microsoft has a new plan for making the game group consistently profitable, especially over the next few crucial years, and we are the odd group out.
"We have had a week now to get over the shock and have begun the process of finding new work, considering relocating, etc. We have heard from many recruiters and other studios with openings. There may be opportunities for ES people in other MGS studios, including the new one in Redmond. Microsoft HR has begun the process of getting us information on what to expect as we leave the company. In the meantime, we still have uncompleted work to finish."
Shelly also gave an update on Halo Wars and a new dev that may rise from the ashes.
"In August we shut down work on everything non-Halo Wars related and now the entire studio is focused on finishing this game by the end of this year. Everyone in the studio has a job until Halo Wars is finished. There have been no layoffs and none are expected. We have received fantastic feedback on the game at a variety of game shows and events, and want to deliver on the promises we have made as our last hurrah. We want a great Halo Wars game to be the final tribute to everything that ES has come to mean to us and perhaps you as well, over the past 13 years.
"Studio head Tony Goodman has a plan to start a new independent studio following the end of ES and a number of the existing ES employees have been offered a position in this company. He felt he had to get a plan for that in place, even though it will not being operating until after ES closes down, so that all employees can know where they stand and begin making plans for their futures.
"I believe the spirit and mission of ES will be carried forward in this new company if enough of the key leaders agree to take part, which I expect to happen. There has been no announcement about what the new studio will be working on when it gets going."
We'll never forget you Ensemble and promise to play the hell out of Halo Wars.
It's never good hearing about studios having to close down. I am very surprised that MS has done this to ES, considering that a lot of Halo fans will be looking forward to Halo Wars.
And this is undoubtedly the real reason: "And third, games those studios are expected to deliver in the next few years are expected to be more strategic and profitable to the company than anything we would be finishing after Halo Wars."
Translation: MS don't believe anything ES creates will rake in the dough like anything Rare, Lionhead et al will.
Bastards.
Rare best watch out then - if Banjo Kazooie and Viva Pinata don't fair well, they might be next...
And this is undoubtedly the real reason: "And third, games those studios are expected to deliver in the next few years are expected to be more strategic and profitable to the company than anything we would be finishing after Halo Wars."
Translation: MS don't believe anything ES creates will rake in the dough like anything Rare, Lionhead et al will.
Bastards.
Rare best watch out then - if Banjo Kazooie and Viva Pinata don't fair well, they might be next...
I doubt that MS will get rid of RARE, considering the amount of money they bought them for in the first place!
And this is undoubtedly the real reason: "And third, games those studios are expected to deliver in the next few years are expected to be more strategic and profitable to the company than anything we would be finishing after Halo Wars."
Translation: MS don't believe anything ES creates will rake in the dough like anything Rare, Lionhead et al will.
Bastards.
Rare best watch out then - if Banjo Kazooie and Viva Pinata don't fair well, they might be next...
Thats the law of the jungle my friend. In my work over the last 2 months we have probably let go (sacked) about 15 people for underperforming, if it happens in my work it happens everywhere, it might not be nice but they are all in it to make money.
And this is undoubtedly the real reason: "And third, games those studios are expected to deliver in the next few years are expected to be more strategic and profitable to the company than anything we would be finishing after Halo Wars."
Translation: MS don't believe anything ES creates will rake in the dough like anything Rare, Lionhead et al will.
Bastards.
Rare best watch out then - if Banjo Kazooie and Viva Pinata don't fair well, they might be next...
I doubt that MS will get rid of RARE, considering the amount of money they bought them for in the first place!
That's no reason to keep them around though. If, for example, Rare was costing MS $2 million a year, and they release a game every 3 years that makes $5 million, that's a deficit - and no company can afford too many of those before they have to cut their losses and run. Besides, the Rare that Microsoft bought (or wanted to buy) is not the Rare they got. I'm reminded of when 'London Bridge' was sold, and the buyer thought they were getting Tower Bridge. Imagine the disappointment? I bet Microsoft went through something similar... Here's hoping BK breathes new life into the ailing company.
And this is undoubtedly the real reason: "And third, games those studios are expected to deliver in the next few years are expected to be more strategic and profitable to the company than anything we would be finishing after Halo Wars."
Translation: MS don't believe anything ES creates will rake in the dough like anything Rare, Lionhead et al will.
Bastards.
Rare best watch out then - if Banjo Kazooie and Viva Pinata don't fair well, they might be next...
I doubt that MS will get rid of RARE, considering the amount of money they bought them for in the first place!
I think most of the original Rare team have left now and I think that is starting to show in some of Rares latest games (and the god aweful duffer Perfecr dark zero). Saying that though,even though the new Banjo looks 'meh', Viva pinata is a cracking little game.
I can't say I've ever really enjoyed to any huge degree an ES game since the first AoE, but it does indeed suck that they've been shut down. Fingers crossed the new company coming out of it is a good 'un
So Microsoft closes down Ensemble a genuinely good and talented development studio and yet still keep Rare open who delivered nothing but tosh since Microsoft bought it
So Microsoft closes down Ensemble a genuinely good and talented development studio and yet still keep Rare open who delivered nothing but tosh since Microsoft bought it
Tosh or not, Rare have released some actual games, and are likely to continue.
Microsoft can throw billions to try to smother the Red Ring issue, but can't keep one studio open?
To be honest, Halo Wars looks like a very sub-standard and overhyped RTS, and is only really getting the attention it is because of the first word in its title.
To be even more honest, it's always sad to see the big guys stepping on the little guys, especially when those big guys are Microsoft. It's kind of what you get for dealing with them, as this isn't exactly the first time they've totally screwed over smaller developers. That doesn't make it any less tragic though.
If they're so talented and creative then go and see a venture capitalist company, get the staff to invest £250K of their own money to prove their self-belief and make these brilliant and profitable games and rake in the money for themselves...I don't know what the figures for their last few releases have been but if they were making wads of cash, Microsoft wouldn't be binning them!
To be honest, Halo Wars looks like a very sub-standard and overhyped RTS, and is only really getting the attention it is because of the first word in its title.
To be even more honest, it's always sad to see the big guys stepping on the little guys, especially when those big guys are Microsoft. It's kind of what you get for dealing with them, as this isn't exactly the first time they've totally screwed over smaller developers. That doesn't make it any less tragic though.
On the other hand, after reading about and seeing this game in action I actually think this looks like a rather good RTS. I may be wrong, but I think that there will be a number of people who are surprised at the quality this title will deliver upon its release.
1.ES was making Microsoft money 2.It is announced before Halo Wars is finished 3.Studios with a good working environment are quite rare, so they attract talent, which is vital for continuity.
It's sad news yes, but most of all it's very, very odd.
That said: new independent studio means new IP. So maybe something good will come out of this after all.
That's what happens when you sell out to corporate monstrosities like M$. It's sad, but I hope they've learned their lesson.
Stay independent, stay in control. Don't let some suit decide that you don't fit into his plans for the fiscal quarter.
Its not a question of selling out, it is a question of survival. Not all studios are in the same boat as places like rebellion, kuju and the like. They have spent years building their reputation to be in a place where they can make their own games.
Having been on teh end of a studio closure recently, and trying to set up a new one, it becomes very apparent that you need people with money. Games devs are like anyone working in any other industry... they need money to live/pay the bills, etc. Those people with the money hold ALL the cards. If noone is willing to invest a large amount of cash to start up a company (£1mill a year for a AAA over 2-3 years, not including all the initial costs of a start-up) then this industry will continue to collapse.
I truly think that the games industry will change within the next 10 years, and not like it has been. It is becoming too expensive and unstable, hence the amount of studios being closed.
This is sad news. Microsoft seemed to really be supporting the industry from a creative standpoint for a while. Netting some great studios in the process.
ES, in my eyes, were the first company to put MS in a notable postion in regards to there gaming wing..with AOE. They seem to be making some rather bizarre decisions of late.
I think it seemed to start when they pushed Halo 2 as one of their big Vista exclusives.
This story needs to be put in context with the 40 billion (yes 40 billion) dollars they're going to have to spend to prop up their share price. At least the Ensemble team were highly paid and have a good chance of getting employment again.
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