Ex-Ensemble members start Bonfire, Bruce Shelley expresses concern for new studios.
The rebirth of what was previously known as Ensemble Studios continues, with a second developer now springing up from the fertile remains. The new independent game development pad is known as Bonfire Studios and it’s reeled in a whole bunch of ex-Ensemble employees.
It is founded by ex-lead producer for Ensemble, David Rippy, and “former management team members of Ensemble Studios.” Judging by the domain’s recent WHOIS registration information, Bonfire snagged up Scott Winsett, a lead artist for Ensemble who dates back to the original Age of Empires title.
According to Bonfire’s website, the studio already has a game up its sleeve, although details are extremely scant. “It’s fast, fun and addictive,” it claims, but specifically won’t mention the genre or title and also declines to supply any media. Nonetheless, it suggests the game is already well into development, exclaiming “It already has a great in-depth story, combat and game play!” Pulling the mystery card, that’s for sure.
With the first Ensemble split-off, Robot Entertainment, clearly taking the real-time strategy route, perhaps Bonfire Studios is one to take the alternative path. We’re not making any bets, though, considering its employees’s 100 percent real-time strategy release history and its current need for a money supply.
Bruce Shelley, famed co-founder of Ensemble Studios, recently spoke with G4TV at this year’s D.I.C.E. Summit. He muses on the two new studios’s formation, and aside from knowing they’re made up of really talented people, he says they face some tough times given the current economic situation. “The issue is it’s going to be hard to get start-up money for a game,” he says. “For a new studio to try and sell a new product, this is a really tough time to do that.”
“That’s going to be their first issue,” states Shelley. “Are they going to be able to find a deal that’s going to get them started?”
In terms of Shelley, himself, he’s taking a short break from the game development scene, but will be returning. He even ponders a historic native American MMO title – or one set in space, he’s not given it too much thought just yet.
Looking at Bonfire Studios’s website, it’s flush with reminders of high sales and awards for the Age of Empires and Age of Mythology series, and reminds all that its team also worked on Halo Wars. It’s pretty clear that Bonfire is trying to wave as many positive flags as possible for any potential financial backers.
Here’s to hoping both studios survive to continue doing what they do best – making great games.
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