Halo Wars dev on disassembling Ensemble

D.I.C.E. 2009: The Age of Empires may be over, but Ensemble Studios cofounder Bruce Shelley recaps what his studio did right--and what it did wrong--during its 14-year run.

LAS VEGAS--It's not uncommon for game conferences to play host to game postmortems; that is, frank discussions from developers about what worked and what didn't with their latest efforts. This week's D.I.C.E. Summit played host to a postmortem of a different kind, as Bruce Shelley, cofounder of Microsoft's shuttered Ensemble Studios, reflected on what led the Halo Wars studio to its demise.

Ex-Ensemble head Bruce Shelley

Accentuating the positive, Shelley started with what the company did right. From the very beginning, Shelley stressed, the studio's priorities were to create a great place to work and to make great games, in that order. The company culture came up time and again as an example of what Ensemble did right, especially in the early years. Shelley brought up the strong sense of community the team had, a recruiting process that involved the entire team, a focus on boosting morale, and strong communication within the studio.

Additionally, Shelley said the company showed some wisdom in its choice of games. When the company started in 1995, the real-time strategy genre was exploding, but everybody was making sci-fi or fantasy RTS games. That made Ensemble's historical Age of Empires, released in 1997, stand out from the crowd and gave the company a competitive edge.

Halo Wars.

Other Ensemble successes that Shelley touted included delivering exceptional value for the price in each game, building games with an appeal that spanned regions and gaming tendencies, and keeping a low turnover rate among its employees. When Ensemble closed down, Shelley noted that 60 percent of the employees had been with the company since the original Age of Empires project--or at least 12 years.

When it came time to assess what went wrong, Shelley brought up many of the same points again, noting that those qualities eroded in later years. As the studio grew, the culture changed, and the sense of community was negatively impacted. Shelley said it was harder to find quality hires to fill every lead position, especially once the studio split into three teams.

The lack of genre diversification was also a problem, as it tied the company's fate to the popularity of the RTS genre. While Ensemble did try to branch out multiple times over the years, those projects wound up canceled. Shelley also said the studio tried to do too much with each game, which led to the near constant cutting of features, long crunch times, and delays.

The original Age of Empires.

Finally, Shelley said the last thing Ensemble did wrong was to be closed down. The management thought it had been running the company from a strategically sound point of view, but in hindsight there may have been ways to stave off the closure. Shelley suspects that the Texas studio's ties to Washington-based parent company Microsoft had become too weak over the years due in part to distance. Ensemble also may have erred in not downsizing at all after Microsoft canceled two of the studio's projects. Not only that, but the company continued to go full speed ahead with plans to expand even further with new facilities.

"It's a sad day, but this is business," Shelley said. "Maybe we didn't do some things very well. We were shocked, but we've gone through the stages of grief and now we're looking for a new direction."

Sad as the closure might be for Shelley, he was heartened that there are already two studios starting up out of the ashes of Ensemble. In addition to the already announced Robot Entertainment, ex-Ensemble players have stoked a new operation called Bonfire Studios.

117 Comments

  • chimpanchu

    Posted Jul 5, 2009 4:41 pm PT

    Microsoft gets too arrogant and overconfident. Because why would they need to keep the expensive 1st party studios to make games for them, where there are tons of 3rd party studios are willingly develop exclusive games for them?

  • man-man-man

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 2:34 pm PT

    WTF???????????????????????????????????
    I SWEAR I HAVE THIS GAME I'VE JUST GOT IT TODAY
    I SWEAR.............................

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Feb 24, 2009 9:22 pm PT

    =(

  • DoomSky

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 4:47 pm PT

    So do microsoft still own the age of empire franchise? Sucks if they do, mind you who would you give the rights?

  • Koal_Jadian

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 7:56 am PT

    Microsoft ruins another studio, I'll miss the high quality, high-featured and highly customizable games

  • Nicman07

    Posted Feb 23, 2009 1:44 am PT

    and there goes another great game company...
    R.I.P.

  • RoyalPurple

    Posted Feb 22, 2009 6:41 pm PT

    So FallenAngel, you've played Halo Wars... But it's not even out? Oh wait, you must've pirated it. But why would pirate a Halo game if you hate Halo and played the demo? What's that... You didn't play the demo? You DON'T have the game? Oh well that explains it then!

    R.I.P Ensemble

  • Arronaxxx

    Posted Feb 22, 2009 9:00 am PT

    So long, ES, and thanks for all the fish

  • The_Game_Critic

    Posted Feb 22, 2009 7:58 am PT

    This is a real shame.

  • ace-of-spades93

    Posted Feb 22, 2009 5:10 am PT

    IM not an rts fan at all so im not going to say R.I.P ensemble because it would be fake.
    I do think that this is a dark day for gaming if an apparently well-loved and respected studio can be shut down after making games that you guys all love. TUT TUT

  • harkusrex

    Posted Feb 22, 2009 4:06 am PT

    A sad day indeed for Age of Empire fans.........We will miss you Ensemble Studios......Does this mean that the Age of Empires series is over? I personally can not see a new Age of Empires game out in this new era.

  • FallenAngelXBL

    Posted Feb 22, 2009 2:49 am PT

    Hellequin85, you see i to am a lover of the RTS genre, however i thought Halo Wars was terrible. I really did not enjoy it. Do i think Gamespot was Bias? No. Why? because its one mans opinion. I dislike Halo 3, however it got a 9.5 (i think), i dislike GTA 4 it got a 10. Its not biased if its there own opinion, even if it is against yours. Thats my 2 dracma

  • Hellequin85

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 11:21 am PT

    We got the game a week early at work, and we have an xbox in the staffroom so I had a blast. I am a hardcore PC rts gamer but I still enjoyed this, it's the only rts I've actually enjoyed on a console. I don't know how gamespot can give it a 6.5 but they most of their ratings have been off/biased over the last year or so.

  • gnrlstuart

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 5:24 am PT

    i really dont care what gamespot said about the game, shure its not a fully fledged rts. but its damn impressive for a console, topped off with killer visuals and a great soundtrack. theres not much the game does wrong.

  • dkjjabs

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 3:12 am PT

    reading all your comments is shocking that ppl will go by a ratings even if thay have never played it, its just shocking

  • dkjjabs

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 3:02 am PT

    The demo of this was great easy but still tactical, plus any game to me that
    puts in co-op campain are already on the right track.
    Well done this will keep me going till RES 5.

  • DoomSky

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 2:30 am PT

    Intrestingly enough Official Xbox Magazine UK gave Halo Wars a 9. I do feel gamespot reveiwed the game from a hardcore pc rts gamer point, what were they expecting a in depth strat on par with Total War or something? I respect their opnion though and I have yet to play the game but from what I have played and seen already I dont I will be giving this a 6.5. This game looks simple, high quality and most of all fun, just what I would expect from Ensemble.

  • combatsoldier

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 12:55 am PT

    unbelievable. how did this happen.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Feb 21, 2009 12:52 am PT

    They created amazing games and yet this happened...
    They won't be forgotten... ever...

  • funnysplay

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 5:19 pm PT

    I dont know about the rest of you but im gonna pass on this.
    I love the studio'n all, i mean i still play age of empires 2.
    But halo wars got a 6.5/10 thats not to good for any standard.
    Besides money is tight right now, and im only spending my cash on the best games have to offer.

  • dannyatkinson

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 4:07 pm PT

    I too loved Ensemble however I will not buy Halo Wars until it comes to PC.

  • SchumiF1

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    Age of Empires.....the memories....

  • slaymanio1

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    Halo wars is bad.

  • uas-2001

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 2:35 pm PT

    Age of Empires was awesome

  • Tr5978

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 2:16 pm PT

    For the life of me, I still cannot figure out why Ensemble would be closed before the sales figures of Halo Wars are even out.

  • 21655

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 1:34 pm PT

    Somebody get this straight for me: will there be an AOE4 or 5 or not?

  • GameFan1983

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 1:31 pm PT

    I just played halo war, you know what Ensemble? you guys are epic pwnage. From earliest AOC2-AOC3, to now halo war, there are greatest RTS I ever played. Every game you brought us is so ground breaking and outstand the others. Those so called "best" RTS world in conflict, redalert 3, total war etc. been there done that, was great but nothing like the depth and fun that AOC2 and AOC3 has gaven me. and I still learning the great halo war.

    If say a qualitied stuido like Ensemble has to close but a half ass Halo 3 studio such as Bungie is keep growing fat. Gaming industry will going down sooner or later. What is going on? mIcosoft? or stupid immature players don't know how to appreciate a great game anymore?

  • gow117

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 1:15 pm PT

    only great companys go down..what a shame
    (well, not all)

  • theclaw135

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 12:54 pm PT

    It's simple. Microsoft has greatly cut back PC game publishing. So they no longer need studios who's main strength are PC.

  • endocrine

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 12:42 pm PT

    Kokonut you make me laugh. Microsoft are poor decision makes? Is that why they made 4 Billion profit last quarter and their second highest highest profits per year during a recession? Microsoft knows exactly what they are doing, but I just wish they didn't have to screw over their employees in the process. We only made our second highest profits ever, time to fire people.

  • HAMODA

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 12:22 pm PT

    this is the fall of the RTS games age !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Gamingcucumber

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 12:19 pm PT

    Now two of the best RTS developers has been shut down by a stupid move done by their parent company. Westwood and Ensemble Studios it's a damn shame.

  • kokonut1971

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 11:54 am PT

    It boggles the mind to see microsoft who swims in money not able to forecast that at some point of time business might be bad and save some money for rainy days and support their low level tier business..it also boggles the mind that most of these guys are just gonna turn around form studios like they did and produce derivative stuff from what they had done at ensemble...Microsoft just looses all the money in that case or would have earned it if they had the wisdom to reinvest in the company......they are really poor decision makers at that company.

  • Don111

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 11:51 am PT

    When is this going to be for the PC?

  • dmish82

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 11:21 am PT

    Looks like Microsoft's plan of stealing Killzone 2's thunder by releasing Halo Wars at the same may not work based on the review scores received so far.

  • raptures330

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 10:53 am PT

    @Buffalodude

    Last I checked the release date for the game was March, 2009. Maybe you meant to say "The demo for Halo Wars rocks." Which it may very well do. I never said that it would or wouldn't rock. Since it has not been released I do not have an opinion on it. Which is why I answer to your comment with "Huh?" ^_^

  • rikhan_z

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 10:38 am PT

    Ensemble did amazing games... the first Age of Empires did have a few painful flaws, however the company continued to make games and learn from those mistake to produce something EPIC! For that... I hope they use those skills and quality to produce more great games.

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 10:31 am PT

    AoE is the first RTS I ever played, and it is responsible for me even having an interest in PC gaming or the RTS genre. Everyone drools over Starcraft, but I was turned off by SC and instead preferred Ensemble's more historical PoV with the genre. Microsoft should burn in hell for closing this studio which if they did anything "wrong" it was consistently churn out quality RTS games for MS. And how does MS repay that loyalty and hard work? With a kick in the ass and a pink slip.

    Burn in hell, MS, for destroying the ONLY studio that I actually supported of yours and that was truly worth a damn.

  • drangel_jam

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 10:28 am PT

    waiting for the spiritual successors killer apps.

  • jadefury27

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 10:17 am PT

    hey make us a great game and we'll repay you by shutting you down and scattering you to the winds. nice job micro$oft.

  • doyd

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 9:45 am PT

    rip ensemble

  • sackboy25

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 9:35 am PT

    too bad that ensemble is gone, hopefully robot entertainment rts games. age of empires was good.

  • tsb247

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 9:24 am PT

    It's sad to see Ensemble gone. Age of Empires was amazing. Oh well... Here's to looking toward the future. Bigger and better things are sure to come our way.

    @dannyatkinson - Is your avatar from a Man-O-War album cover? Cuz it REALLY looks that way.

  • dannyatkinson

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 8:47 am PT

    That and stupid DRM like EA is using.
    Down with SecuROM. I will not buy any more games with SecuROM on them period.

  • dannyatkinson

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 8:39 am PT

    @ Halo_wars86
    That is a total load of bull. I am so sick of hearing this.
    The Developers are what is killing PC gaming period.
    How come Stardock can produce games with no protection whatsoever and they do extremely well.
    This is a stupid misconception that just needs to go away.

  • Buffalodude

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 8:21 am PT

    Oh and Raptures Halo Wars rocks.

  • Buffalodude

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 8:19 am PT

    I may have not been a huge Age of Empire fan. But they made some great games and Halo Wars is awesome.

    Ensemble me and my friends will miss you. But thankfully you still have a chance to keep up the good work.

  • 01_855403

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 6:55 am PT

    that was a head shot to Microsoft really bad.

  • xbox4life76

    Posted Feb 20, 2009 6:16 am PT

    another one bites the economy bullet. what can we do except hope they rebuild somewhere else and produce even greater games.

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