Ensemble demise whips up Windstorm

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Mar 19, 2009 5:08 pm PT

Third independent studio emerges in wake of Microsoft's closure of Halo Wars developer; first game to be a futuristic online game.

Ensemble Studios may be gone, but the Halo Wars developer hasn't been forgotten. And if the smattering of new studios birthed from its demise catch on, Ensemble's legacy won't be forgotten anytime soon.

A piece of concept art for Windstorm's first game?

Last month saw veterans of the Age of Empires studio piece together a pair of upstart endeavors in Robot Entertainment and Bonfire Studios. This week, a third new developer has sprung up in the form of Windstorm Studios. The company's Web site touts only president and founder Dusty Monk as an employee, but stresses that the work being done is "by no means" that of just one person.

As for Windstorm's first project, the studio is promising "an online game unlike anything you've ever seen," and apparently one with a more optimistic bent than most games in the industry today.

"Are you tired of online games filled with depressing predictions of postapocalyptic destruction," the site asks. "Are you weary of walking through grey streets beneath grey skies and killing grey zombies? Have you had your fill of dank cellars and dark caves? Well so have we! And we're ready to build a brighter world! A better online game--a game with the promise of a hopeful future--cities of glass and steel, and most importantly, flying cars!"

Don't expect to see this bright future very soon; Windstorm gave no release window for the project. Although the company expects to grow in the near future, it's still searching for funding partners to help it get off the ground.

51 Comments

  • ShroudedEagle

    Posted Apr 12, 2009 10:01 am PT

    Samurai117 you don't have to suck at a game to not like it. Jesus, it's not like he's forcing his opinions on you, he's entitled to say he doesn't like Halo Wars just as much as you're entitled to say you like it.

    Anyway it's good to see another company starting up, and their first project seems promising, I wish them luck.

  • 24k_Solid_Gold

    Posted Mar 29, 2009 2:46 pm PT

    Go Windstorm!!! (and Bonfire, and Robot).

  • SAMARAI117

    Posted Mar 25, 2009 12:56 am PT

    tell that to all the halo wars players supermanmega. there are tons of stradatiegic players on halo wars having a very fun time. u probable dont like it coz u suk

  • supermanmega

    Posted Mar 24, 2009 12:56 pm PT

    i didnt like halo wars at all.....and when they say "online game" do they mean a mmorpg? if so....lol i doubt it'll get very far....and theres tons of futuristic online games...city of heros and city of villains are kinda set in the future

  • enix165

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 9:53 am PT

    Well, the start of that fourth paragraph describes my feelings perfectly, screw zombie shooters and the apocalypse, they've been WAY overdone this gen. XD And we've got another studio that's made up of Ensemble's workers! =D Even more solid games, hopefully!

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 8:46 am PT

    and forget about good online......no dedicated servers remember?

    maybe end up like gears, 10 players max on private servers with small maps.

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted Mar 22, 2009 8:43 am PT

    halo wars might be the best on console but its still not good enough as a game, especially an exclusive.....

    it was a pathetic attempt which sold thanks to the brand name of halo and a pre-rendered cut-scene asif it was a game with one of the most technologically advanced graphics in the world........

    how can microsoft just close down the studios? isnt the rip off fees of XBL enough to keep it alive???

  • StarlightHunter

    Posted Mar 21, 2009 4:19 pm PT

    to think a few weeks ago they made one of the most exciting rts games on a console, halo wars.

  • chickenfeed9

    Posted Mar 21, 2009 3:59 am PT

    I think the 3 companies should merge into one. give them a better chance of survival...
    otherwise i can see atleast one failing due to lack of funds.

  • MichaelMorbid

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 6:27 pm PT

    so... a brighter blade runner minus the murder, at least it sounds gutsy. hope it works out.

  • Desperados11

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 5:06 pm PT

    Ensemble breaks into 3 companies years after it lost any talent it might have had from early Age of Empires days. I don't really see these companies going anywhere, although I am hoping for the best. New companies tend to bring new stuff to gaming so an up and coming game company is in everyone's best interest.

  • Wunderkid7

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 1:58 pm PT

    Sounds promising

  • 856891

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 1:24 pm PT

    i sense a lack of win

  • dewwy

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 12:48 pm PT

    I'll give some of my attention to anyone who's from the same pedigree of Ensemble.

  • KriobaKeys

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 12:47 pm PT

    I can tell already this is going to fail.

  • ZirtKingLizard

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 12:35 pm PT

    if that concept art is any indication, this could be a very beautiful game.

  • BaTmAnX92

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 11:24 am PT

    Sounds like Mirror's Edge.....without the flying cars. o-o

  • jazilla

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 9:56 am PT

    @ 9-Jack-9,
    Dusty Bottoms. Chevy Chase's character in 3 Amigo's. But I agree with you. There can't be a better name for someone who isn't fictional than that. Maybe Coco Crisp(outfielder for the KC Royals)?

  • 9-Jack-9 GameSpot staff member

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 9:45 am PT

    Is there a cooler name in the world than Dusty Monk?

  • ronnet

    Posted Mar 20, 2009 9:37 am PT

    Is it an MMO? Could be any type of game with a strong multiplayer feature.

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