Ensemble Studios

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

=Overview=

The company was founded in 1995 in Dallas by Tony Goodman, his brother, Rick Goodman, Bruce Shelley, and Brian Sullivan. After 2 years, it released its first game, Age of Empires . In May 2001, Microsoft acquired the company. Currently, the company employs about 100 people, including Bruce Shelley, Graeme Devine and Sandy Petersen.

Ensemble is notable for its playtesting procedures: everyone at the company is required to test the current product at least once a week.

The company has a varied employee background. Its workers range from high school graduates to Doctor of Philosophy.

=Games=

The company is the developer of the famous games to those games.

Ensemble released Age of Empires III , on October 18, 2005 in North America. This follows on 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.

=Miscellaneous=

Ensemble Studios occupies the top two floors of its building in Dallas. According to Sandy Petersen at the Age of Kings Heaven website, approximately 10% of the company s employees are parents.

Mike McCart, the company s webmaster, created the HeavenGames (then known as HeavenWeb) fan site prior to being hired by ES.

=External links=

*[http://www.ensemblestudios.com Ensemble Studios site] *[http://www.microsoft.com Microsoft site] *[http://aok.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/aokcgi/display.cgiaction=t&number=3&dp=0&s_name=&s_subject=ask+sandy Ask Sandy threads] *[http://www.planetageofmythology.com/features/articles/es_trip05/ Planetage of Mythology Tour of Ensemble Studios office]