You know what was really stupid?

[Delicieuxz]

Microsoft disbanding Ensemble Studios. Every time I think about it, I'm blown away. It has to have been one of the dumbest decisions in the history of gaming, or so it seems to me. No more Age of Empires - and even if the IP was continued, any effort would hardly amount to a shadow of what the series was, without the specific intent and creativity that was in Ensemble. That series was one of a kind, polished to the max, and one of the gaming world's gems. MS f-ed up big time with their surprise decision.

[DerricktheW]

They disbanded Ensemble, the guys who created my first and favorite RTS Age of Empires.

They also didn't allow RealTime Worlds to make Crackdown 2, which they would've made a profit on and not be bankrupt

They also made Ruffian make Crackdown 2 in less than a year

[Sang]

any effort would hardly amount to a shadow of what the series was, without the specific intent and creativity that was in Ensemble. That series was one of a kind, polished to the max, and one of the gaming world's gems. MS f-ed up big time with their surprise decision.

But... Age of Empires 3 sucked, IMO.

I also didn't like the first Age of Empires but that's probably because I didn't play it until after AOE2 and AOM.. speaking of which AOE2 and AOM were like the only good ones. AOE3 was/is a pretty boring yawnfest.

[Burfid]

All i really remember was photonman and sucking playing the normal way. In fact I sucked so bad at these games that even while using photonman the wizard guys would covert him and the converted photonman/men would obliterate me.

But still, very good times. :D

[DerricktheW]

Using the cheat steroids in the first 10 seconds of a new skirmish game against CPU usually resulted in you getting your ass slaughtered in just a few minutes.

[ZuljinRaynor]

AOE was great, AOE 2 was good, AOE 3 was terrible, then they made Halo Wars, one of the worst RTS games ever. They deserve to go under after that piece of shit.

[Damien_Azreal]

AOE was great, AOE 2 was good, AOE 3 was terrible, then they made Halo Wars, one of the worst RTS games ever. They deserve to go under after that piece of shit.

Yeah, the studio had been falling apart slowly... this feels more like a mercy kill then anything else. Put them out of their misery.

[peoplessi]

AoE 3 was fun over LAN, nothing special but it was easy to pick up & play.

[Delicieuxz]

I don't think AOE III was bad at all. It wasn't really the game I wanted (I wanted another AEO II, and also disliked the colonial setting), but it was far from bad. There was a lot still for Ensemble to explore and try out. An AOM II could have been fantastic. I never played Halo Wars, but I wouldn't call the studio finished after making one terrible game, especially one done in a theme that was out of their element.

[Wamplet]

You guys realize Age of empires is back?

www.ageofempiresonline.com


You will have to forgive me for not making a thread when i read about it last week. :o

I'm sure you will know why.

[Sang]

AoE 3 was fun over LAN, nothing special but it was easy to pick up & play.

It's indeed somewhat fun to play with friends, but any shitty game is more fun with friends. Alone or with randoms... boring.

Also Wamplet: yeah but we're not really talking about AOE but Ensemble Studios itself. Regardless I'm curious about this new installment.

[ZuljinRaynor]

Command and Conquer Generals was fun to play over LAN, like almost any RTS game is. That game still sucked.

[Tang Lung]

Generals was great, and Zero Hour made it even better.

[0marTheZealot]

Generals was great, and Zero Hour made it even better.

Until you played someone who knew how to abuse everything in the game. Not even bugs, but imbalances. Nothing you can do except abuse the same things.

[ZuljinRaynor]

Generals was great, and Zero Hour made it even better.

If by better you mean even worse, then I agree.

[pjVgt]

If by better you mean even worse, then I agree.

I agree - Generals was a bad idea from the start, something that came from FOX News directors wet dream. After that came massive croc of shit called tiberium wars, then kanes revenge, red alert 3 and death sigh of c&c4.

C&C was a good series but it was time to die.

[Tang Lung]

If by better you mean even worse, then I agree.

Quiet you!!

Well, I loved it anyway. And that's coming from a hardcore Westwood fanboy. But then I only ever played single player and over LAN with a friend.

Everything since then was pretty horrible though. Especially RA3 :mryuck:

[December Man]

I actually liked Tiberium Wars... and hated RA2.

[Karthik]

I actually liked Tiberium Wars... and hated RA2.
You mean RA3 right?

[ZuljinRaynor]

I hate all the CnC games besides Renegade. :cool:

But RA3 is the worst... nay... CnC4. :mryuck:

[Kit]

I hate all the CnC games besides Renegade. :cool:

RA3 is the worst...

yeah, the unit design in that game was so bad it'd make your eyes bleed.

[December Man]

You mean RA3 right?

Nope. I haven't even touched RA3, because it supposedly continues to be so corny that it's not even remotely funny like RA2. At least Tiberium Wars was cheese goodness.

[peoplessi]

RA2 strayed too much, but I know people love that too. RA3 was just plain silly, didn't feel like a Red Alert game to me. It might be that I'm just too nostalgic about RA - it was released at the correct time, it felt fresh.

Now there is so much competition in the RTS arena that most recent CnC's have been shit in comparison. Relic and Blizzard rule. Relic being the innovator there.

[Justyce]

Ya everyone of us for waiting for FREAKING long for DNF.