Ensemble Studios

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Ensemble Studios
Type Video game developer
Founded 1995
Headquarters Dallas, Texas
Key people Tony Goodman
Rick Goodman
Graeme Devine
Industry Computer and video game industry
Products Video games
Website www.ensemblestudios.com

Ensemble Studios is a Microsoft-owned company that has developed several video games, including the famous Age of Empires game series. 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.

Contents

[edit] Games

Ensemble Studios developed the Age of Empires game series of real-time strategy titles, comprising of 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.

Currently, they are developing Halo Wars, and another, as of yet unannounced project.

Name Release Date Genre
Age of Empires 1997 real-time strategy
Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome 1998 expansion pack
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings 1999 real-time strategy
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors 2000 expansion pack
Age of Mythology 2002 real-time strategy
Age of Mythology: The Titans 2003 expansion pack
Age of Empires III 2005 real-time strategy
Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs 2006 expansion pack
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties[1] 2007 expansion pack
Halo Wars in development real-time strategy

[edit] Recent news

Ensemble released Age of Empires III, on October 18, 2005, in North America. The game follows from the end of Age of Empires II, set in times such as the Industrial Age. The lead-up to the game's announcement was a series of teasers on Ensemble's website, culminating in a number of in-game screenshots.

The game has sold over 2 million copies, as of October 2007, and has become the fastest selling game of the series.

Afterwards, development began on the first expansion pack to Age of Empires III titled Age of Empires III: The War Chiefs. It included new content, new gameplay elements, a new single-player campaign, and three new native American civilizations. It was originally set for an October 2, 2006 release, but was released later, on October 17, 2006.[2]

They have recently released a second expansion to Age of Empires III titled Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties. It introduced three Asian civilizations and six minor natives, as well as new gameplay features. They developed this project in conjunction with Big Huge Games, the creators of Rise of Nations.

Ensemble is also developing real-time strategy game based for the Xbox 360 on the successful Halo franchise, called Halo Wars.

[edit] Awards

Ensemble Studios has received a number of awards through the years. Including many for game of the year.

  • Game Spy - 2005 Game of the year - PC RTS
  • Game Spy - 2005 Best Graphics
  • Game Spy - 2005 Best Music – Honorable Mention
  • Game Spy – Best of E3 2005
  • Worth Playing – Editor Choice
  • PCGamers – Editor Choice
  • Game Critics Award – Best of E3 2005
  • Game Zone – Outstanding Award
  • IGN.Com – Editor Choice Award
  • IGN – Best of E3 Award 2005
  • Daily Game - Best of Show E3 2005
  • GT – Gold Medal
  • GamePower Award
  • Strategy Gaming Online – Editors Choice
  • Gamer Voice – Best Wargame
  • GameSpot – Game of the year
  • Gamesmania – Award of Excellence
  • GamesDomain – Readers Award
  • Thresh’s FiringSquad – Editors Choice
  • Computer Gaming World – 5 Stars
  • Computer Gaming World – Editors Choice
  • WarGamer – Award for excellence
  • GamesWeekly – Top 15 of games
  • Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences – Best Strategy Game of the Year
  • GameCenter - 1997 Game of the Year

[edit] References

  1. ^ Co-developed with Big Huge Games.
  2. ^ AoE III: The War Chiefs Demo Available. GamerNode. Retrieved on January 30, 2008.

[edit] External links