Ensemble Studios
{{about|the video game development company|the acting studio and related theatre company in Sydney, Australia|Ensemble Theatre}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{short description|American video game developer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Ensemble Studios
| logo = Ensemble Studios Logo.svg
| type = Subsidiary
| predecessor =
| successor =
| defunct = {{end date and age|2009|01|29}}
| fate = Defunct
| founder = Tony Goodman
| industry = Video games
| products = Age of Empires
Age of Mythology
Halo Wars
| owner = Microsoft
| num_employees =
| parent = Microsoft Game Studios
| subsid =
| caption =
| slogan =
| foundation = {{start date and age|1994}}
| location = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
}}
Ensemble Studios was an American video game developer. It was founded by Tony Goodman in 1994 and incorporated the following year. It borrowed the name of Ensemble Corporation, a consulting firm founded by Goodman in 1990.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p18.html |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 18 of 19 |first=John |last=Keefer |date=March 31, 2006 |website=GameSpy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133145/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p18.html |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |url-status=dead}} It was acquired by Microsoft in 2001 and operated as an internal studio until 2009, when its development capabilities were officially disbanded.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2715282.html |title=Microsoft to acquire Ensemble Studios |work=GameSpot |access-date=May 3, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214185016/http://www.gamespot.com/news/2715282.html |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |df=mdy }} Ensemble developed many real-time strategy games, including the Age of Empires game series, Age of Mythology, and Halo Wars. In addition to game development, Ensemble Studios also made the Genie Game Engine used in Age of Empires, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, and Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds. The studio sold 20 million games and was worth an estimated $500 million.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/death-ensemble-studios/|title=The Death of Ensemble Studios|date=February 20, 2009|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future plc|access-date= November 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307083024/http://www.edge-online.com/features/death-ensemble-studios|archive-date=March 7, 2012|df=mdy}}
Games
Ensemble Studios developed the Age of Empires game series of real-time strategy titles, comprising Age of Empires, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings and Age of Empires III. They also released Age of Mythology, a spin-off from the original series. Expansion packs were also released for all their games including two for Age of Empires III. Their last release was the real-time strategy game called Halo Wars for Xbox 360.
Closure and legacy
In 1998, Rick Goodman left Ensemble Studios and started a new independent studio, Stainless Steel Studios.
In 2000, Brian Sullivan left Ensemble Studios and started a new independent studio, Iron Lore Entertainment, to develop the action role-playing game Titan Quest.
In 2001, Microsoft acquired Ensemble Studios for $100 million.{{cite news |date=May 4, 2001 |title=Dallas creators of PC gaming hit Age of Empires bought by Microsoft |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2001/04/30/daily39.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624170222/http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2001/04/30/daily39.html |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |work=Dallas Business Journal |quote=Microsoft Corp. has agreed to buy Ensemble Studios Inc., the Dallas-based software developer responsible for the top-selling Age of Empires game franchise. Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., said Friday that Ensemble will continue to create titles from its Dallas headquarters. |df=mdy}}{{cite web|first=Lisa|last=Tanner|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/02/18/focus3.html|title=Ensemble's success spurred acquisition by Microsoft|newspaper=Dallas Business Journal|date=February 17, 2008|access-date=October 29, 2020}} Ensemble remained at their original location in a high-rise office in Dallas, Texas, until April 2008 when Microsoft moved them to the Shops at Legacy in Plano, the same location as GearBox Software. {{Citation needed|reason=GearBox was never located in the Shops at Legacy.|date=January 2017}} Their office was 50,000 square feet and designed to house 120 employees.{{cite news |last=Webster |first=Stephen |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/12/24/daily14.html |title=Ensemble Studios moving to Plano |work=Dallas Business Journal |date=December 27, 2007 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |quote=Ensemble Studios ... plans to relocate its operations to the Shops at Legacy in Plano, according to published reports. |df=mdy |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625020554/http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/12/24/daily14.html |url-status=live }}
In 2008, Ensemble announced that it would close after the release of Halo Wars in 2009. According to multiple independent reports, all non-essential staff were laid off and remaining staff were given incentives to remain until the completion of the project.{{cite web | url = http://www.shacknews.com/article/54648/rumor-halo-wars-dev-ensemble | title = Ensemble Studios rumoured to be closing | work = Shacknews | date = September 9, 2008 | access-date = January 8, 2017 | df = mdy | archive-date = January 9, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170109021956/http://www.shacknews.com/article/54648/rumor-halo-wars-dev-ensemble | url-status = live }} Microsoft issued an internal statement on September 10, 2008 which was then leaked to the public.{{cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/5047753/read-the-ensemble-youre-done-here-email-from-microsoft | title = Read the 'Ensemble Studios, You're Done Here' Email from Microsoft | work = Kotaku | date = September 10, 2008 | access-date = January 8, 2017 | df = mdy | archive-date = January 9, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170109113235/http://kotaku.com/5047753/read-the-ensemble-youre-done-here-email-from-microsoft | url-status = live }}
The company shut down on January 29, 2009.{{cite web | url = http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2009/01/16/halo-wars-on-schedule-wrapping-up-soon.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090119012959/http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2009/01/16/halo-wars-on-schedule-wrapping-up-soon.aspx | archive-date = January 19, 2009 | title = Bruce Shelley : Halo Wars on Schedule - Wrapping up Soon | work = Ensemble Studios Blog | access-date = January 21, 2009 | url-status = dead | df = mdy}} It was also stated at the time that at least two new studios were being formed by ES employees.{{cite web | url = http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2008/09/22/ensemble-studios-closing.aspx | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081118194620/http://www.ensemblestudios.com/blogs/bshelley/archive/2008/09/22/ensemble-studios-closing.aspx | archive-date = November 18, 2008 | title = Bruce Shelley : Ensemble Studios Closing | work = Ensemble Studios Blog | access-date= January 21, 2009 | url-status = dead | df = mdy}}
In February 2009, former Ensemble Studios head Tony Goodman started a new independent studio, Robot Entertainment, and a number of the existing employees have been offered a position in this company.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/ensemble-veterans-form-robot-entertainment|title=Ensemble Veterans Form Robot Entertainment|publisher=Gamasutra|date=February 13, 2009|access-date=January 8, 2017|df=mdy|archive-date=November 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109110337/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22133|url-status=live}}
Following the announcement of Robot Entertainment, former Ensemble Studios producer David Rippy started a new independent studio, Bonfire Studios, composed entirely of former Ensemble staff members.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22399|title=Ensemble Veterans Assemble Bonfire|publisher=Gamasutra|date=February 20, 2009|access-date=January 8, 2017|df=mdy|archive-date=November 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112232301/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22399|url-status=dead}} Bonfire was later renamed Zynga Dallas through its acquisition by Zynga and released only one game as an independent company.
In 2008, a third studio called Newtoy, Inc. was created by several developers from Ensemble,{{cite web |url=http://newtoyinc.com/wp/about/ |title=Newtoy |publisher=newtoyinc.com |access-date=March 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110070922/http://newtoyinc.com/wp/about/ |archive-date=November 10, 2008 |df=mdy}} which released Chess With Friends for the iPhone in November 2008,{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/11/halo-wars-devs/ |title=Halo Wars Devs Form iPhone Game Studio |publisher=wired.com |access-date=March 18, 2010 |first=Jean |last=Snow |date=November 14, 2008 |df=mdy |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514211309/https://www.wired.com/2008/11/halo-wars-devs/ |url-status=live }} and Words With Friends in August 2009.{{cite web |url=http://prmac.com/release-id-6845.htm |title=Newtoy releases Words With Friends 1.0 for iPhone and iPod Touch |publisher=prmac.com |date=August 5, 2009 |access-date=March 18, 2010 |df=mdy |archive-date=August 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814191610/http://prmac.com/release-id-6845.htm |url-status=live }} Newtoy was also acquired by Zynga and renamed Zynga With Friends, a moniker off of Newtoy's successful 'with friends' series. Newtoy released two games while they were independent.
In March 2009, a fourth studio, Windstorm Studios, was founded by ex-staffer Dusty Monk as a one-man company.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/third-new-studio-emerges-from-ensemble-closure|title=Third New Studio Emerges From Ensemble Closure|publisher=Gamasutra|date=March 19, 2009|access-date=January 8, 2017|df=mdy|archive-date=May 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511134100/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22807|url-status=live}} Dusty Monk later closed this studio on March 21, 2012 and joined Robot Entertainment with his former co-workers.{{cite web |url=http://windstormstudios.com/ |title=Windstorm Studios - Home |access-date=2012-06-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322090204/http://windstormstudios.com/default.html |archive-date=March 22, 2009 }}
In June 2013, a fifth studio emerged, Boss Fight Entertainment,{{cite web | url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/02/03/the-undead-zynga-dallas-team-starts-new-game-studio-boss-fight-entertainment-exclusive/ | title=Venture Beat: Leaders of the undead Zynga Dallas team start Boss Fight Entertainment | first=Dean | last=Takahashi | work=VentureBeat | date=February 3, 2014 | access-date=January 8, 2017 | df=mdy | archive-date=September 20, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920202457/https://venturebeat.com/2014/02/03/the-undead-zynga-dallas-team-starts-new-game-studio-boss-fight-entertainment-exclusive/ | url-status=live }} founded by previous employees of Ensemble Studios and Zynga Dallas. Boss Fight Entertainment is located in McKinney, Texas and is developing games for mobile platforms. The studio was acquired by Netflix Inc. in 2022.{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/netflix-acquires-boss-fight-game-studio-1235214156/ | title = Netflix Acquires Its Third Game Studio, Boss Fight Entertainment | date = March 24, 2022 | access-date = April 24, 2022 | first = Todd | last = Spangler | publisher = Variety | df = mdy | archive-date = March 24, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324221130/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/netflix-acquires-boss-fight-game-studio-1235214156/ | url-status = live }}
Technology
{{Main|Genie Engine}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.ensemblestudios.com/ Ensemble Studios site]
- [http://aok.heavengames.com/gameinfo/ask-sandyman 'Ask Sandy' threads] from Age of Kings Heaven
- [http://www.mobygames.com/company/ensemble-studios Ensemble Studios] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020203220/http://www.mobygames.com/company/ensemble-studios |date=October 20, 2010 }} profile on MobyGames
- [http://www.remember-ensemblestudios.com/ Remember Ensemble Studios - archived Ensemble material and news]
{{Xbox Game Studios}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Former Microsoft subsidiaries
Category:Companies based in Dallas
Category:American companies established in 1994
Category:American companies disestablished in 2009
Category:Video game companies established in 1994
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 2009
Category:Defunct video game companies of the United States
Category:Video game companies based in Texas
Category:Video game development companies
Category:Defunct companies based in Texas