Rippy: Ensemble Studios was a 'victim of its own success'

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 10th 2009 at 1:31PM }

David Rippy, founder of Bonfire Studios and a lead producer on Halo Wars, believes Ensemble's death occurred because the studio was only known for -- and allowed to create -- RTS titles. In an interview with GI.biz, Rippy expresses that Ensemble couldn't get non-RTS project prototypes approved, stating that the group represented "the RTS guys." He notes that lack of diversity is something he'd like to avoid in the future with his new studio.

Rippy states that Bonfire's first project will not be an RTS game, but that the company may consider doing one again in the future. He states that the game will be different than what the team has done in the past, while still offering "a strong strategy element." As Bonfire works on the new project -- which will apparently not be published by Microsoft -- the other studio born out of Ensemble's remains, Robot Entertainment, will continue employing "the RTS guys."

Tags: bonfire, bonfire-studios, ensemble, ensemble-studios, halo-wars, rts

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

wcarnation @ Mar 10th 2009 1:35PM

I don't think anyone has a problem with companies Valve being "those FPS guys".

I think the trick is to diversify how exactly you do a broad thing such as a single genre, instead of, you know, making the exact same game over and over again.

Noshino @ Mar 10th 2009 1:39PM

Uh, that's because FPS's, actually, shooters in general, have a lot of mainstream appeal.

Strategy in the other hand, specially RTS, are a considerably smaller market.

HitNRun @ Mar 10th 2009 2:08PM

Yes, and especially Ensemble's peculiar brand of real-time strategy games that usually involves, you know, strategy.

wcarnation @ Mar 10th 2009 2:28PM

Well, you can take it further. Bethesda doesn't seem to have an issue being "those RPG guys" nor Paradox being "those grand strategy guys".

I think Ensemble killed themselves, not the market. They just kept throwing crap out the window like Age of Empires 3, and in turn people stopped caring.

Other RTS games are still having a fine time.

Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Mar 10th 2009 2:38PM

@ wcarnation

Actually Bethesda would've still been considered "those RPG guys" if they stuck with Morrowind formula instead of moving onto the "dumb-down" action-over-roleplaying Oblivion and Paradox are far more diverse when it comes to their strategies, also releasing a shit load of other games as publishers.

As for Ensemble, I'll just leave this here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensemble_Studios#Games

Noshino @ Mar 10th 2009 3:13PM

Once again, it isn't the same.

To begin with, RPGs are far from being a niche market, whether it is a WRPG or a jRPG, there is a huge market, oh, and as for Bethesda, the fact that they included Shooter elements to the game did pay off for them.

Paradox is a developer/publisher, they do fine because they have a lot of freedom as to what they can or can't do. It is easier for them to try new things, push their boundaries, since they are the ones investing the money. Not only that, but their focus is on the PC market.

Noshino @ Mar 10th 2009 1:47PM

Good Bye Ensemble *salutes*

So FASA, ACES, and Ensemble, Who is next Microsoft?

Neuromancer @ Mar 10th 2009 2:29PM

Hopefully Silicon Knights

I kid, I kid

Mr Khan @ Mar 10th 2009 3:54PM

Is Silicon Knights wholly owned, though? I'm pretty sure Nintendo still has a 1/4 stake in them, and Microsoft may only have a plurality share.

Deck @ Mar 10th 2009 1:55PM

Well it was a great run Ensemble. Though I can totally understand wanting to try something different and because you can't, getting rather frustrated.

Look forward to what Bonfire is going to go onto and what RTS Robot Entertainment will bring out.

Residentevil72501 @ Mar 10th 2009 1:57PM

If you want a good RTS you buy from Blizzard or Gas Powered Games......Bye Ensemble noone will miss you!

F1 Gamertag: Cadablog @ Mar 10th 2009 2:00PM

Frack off! Ensemble was FAR greater than Blizzard ever could be! And Gas powered games? Come on.

HitNRun @ Mar 10th 2009 2:05PM

I loled

Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Mar 10th 2009 3:52PM

Actually Blizzard kicks ass in every department but we have to play something during the 4-to-10 years they take between projects.

Gas powered games well I had a lot of fun with Dungeon Siege but then they dropped the ball.

Ensemble did epic stuff and was at the par with Blizzard and Valve but I guess the creativity barrel dried since AoE III was more of the same without any change and it felt dull compared to AoE2 and Conquerors, especially conquerors but if you say no one will miss them I guess you are quoting what people are willing to say in your funeral pal.

So have a nice cup of STFU or a GTFO suppository, your choice.

finnith @ Mar 11th 2009 12:07AM

Although the OP is clearly wrong in this case, I wouldn't go as far as to say that Ensemble was much better than Blizzard. Both have made very good RTS games in the past but I think Blizzard has been more successful, if only commercially.

Don't forget Relic. Company of Heroes and Dawn of War were really good.

Blazur @ Mar 10th 2009 1:59PM

That's a shame. With the inevitable release of StarCraft 2, I can't help wondering if that had any impact on the layoffs of a company dedicated to the RTS genre. Presumably that game will crush any other RTS game on the PC.

Rudolphe @ Mar 10th 2009 2:09PM

That's probably a pretty good assumption... Even if it stinks (hah! fat chance) it'll sell mega tons.

Mr Khan @ Mar 10th 2009 3:57PM

I really don't see how that would be the case. It presumes that a large part of the market only has time for one RTS a year, and that pretty much every PC RTS is substitutable.

HitNRun @ Mar 10th 2009 2:10PM

Age of Empires 2 is still my favorite RTS game. RIP, Ensemble.

On a different note, it'll be interesting to see what the people who put together such great games before they were pigeonholed will do with their newly regained creative freedom.

Megadanxzero @ Mar 10th 2009 2:26PM

Sounds pretty likely to me... I know that Codemasters has what they refer to as their Racing Studio. I'll hopefully be doing a placement year programming next year (Maybe even at Codemasters...) and I know I'd hate to work exclusively on one genre, or especially one franchise. I have a feeling that's why a lot of sequels don't live up to their predecessors... I bet the people making them just get sick of making them...