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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. After 2 years, it released its first game -- Age of Empires. Later, in May 2001, Microsoft Corp. acquired the company. Currently, the company employs around 60 people, including Bruce Shelley 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.
ES has a varied employee background. Its workers range from solely high school graduates to Ph.D.s.
Games
The company is the developer of the famous games Age of Empires, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, and the recent Age of Mythology, as well as expansion packs to those games.
They are currently working on Age of Empires III, to be released in the second half of 2005. It follows on after the end of Age of Empires II, set in times such as the Industrial Age. The lead up to its announcement was a series of teasers on the Ensemble Studios website, culminating in a number of ingame screenshots.
Miscellaneous
Ensemble Studios occupies the top two floors of its building in Dallas. According to Sandy Petersen in the 'Ask Sandy' threads at Age of Kings Heaven, approximately 10% of its employees are parents.
Mike McCart, the company's webmaster, created the HeavenGames (then known as HeavenWeb) fansite prior to being hired by ES.
External links
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