Would Microsoft be in a better position if they didn't sack Ensemble?

Do you think Microsoft's gaming division would be more successful if they still had the developers of Age of Empires?

Sure, consoles need some great RTS's.

Like TOTAL WAR! I can hope...

Well the thing is that Ensemble reformed into a company known as Robot Entertainment, and immediately partnered back up with Microsoft.

I don't know, I don't think I'm educated enough on the business side or have any knowledge of why they did what they did.

And I don't think the Harvard grads that are SW are in any position either

Well the thing is that Ensemble reformed into a company known as Robot Entertainment, and immediately partnered back up with Microsoft.

Raymundo_Manuel

Well the thing is that Ensemble reformed into a company known as Robot Entertainment, and immediately partnered back up with Microsoft.

Raymundo_Manuel

Only to have their free to play projecttaken from their hands and given to Gas Powered Games.

Well the thing is that Ensemble reformed into a company known as Robot Entertainment, and immediately partnered back up with Microsoft.

Raymundo_Manuel

[QUOTE="Raymundo_Manuel"]

Well the thing is that Ensemble reformed into a company known as Robot Entertainment, and immediately partnered back up with Microsoft.

flashn00b

Only to have their free to play projecttaken from their hands and given to Gas Powered Games.

No, I do believe Age of Empires Online is Microsoft's project, and always has been.

"Robot was hired by Microsoft to develop the game over a 24 month period. The entire studio team focused on it as their sole project, in an effort to earn startup funds for Robot's future projects." Yep sounds like it was MS's project and they signed a deal to develop for a period.Ravensmash

Mmhh.. Mybad.

Am i forgetting any other important studios?

Not likely the whole reason Microsoft disolved ensemble is because for years they had kept taking longer and longer to produce games yet kept requiring money to run and little return was seen.

Well the thing is that Ensemble reformed into a company known as Robot Entertainment, and immediately partnered back up with Microsoft.

Raymundo_Manuel

Not likely the whole reason Microsoft disolved ensemble is because for years they had kept taking longer and longer to produce games yet kept requiring money to run and little return was seen.

WilliamRLBaker

[QUOTE="Raymundo_Manuel"]

Well the thing is that Ensemble reformed into a company known as Robot Entertainment, and immediately partnered back up with Microsoft.

senses_fail_06

Well a few set up other companies after Ensemble was closed, which were then bought by Zynga (yup, you can all thank ex-ensemble staff for words with friends) and i think theres a couple of ex-ensemble staff at 343 industries.

They would have been better off if they had not destroyed rare. I bought my 360 at first for Rare gamesHarlockJC

I remember first seeing this video, I was so excited. Then it just kept fading away, year after year.