Secret Ensemble project a Halo MMO? News

23 September, 2008

Ensemble Studios may have been secretly working on a Halo MMO for Microsoft.

That's according to leaked prototype images found on an Ensemble-linked artist portfolio website by Gamasutra.

The pictures show a typical MMO user interface of chat box, health bar, skill bar and mini-map, with a character sporting the Halo Spartan armour made famous by Master Chief.

A separate still illustrates a melee-focussed hero alongside a magic-wielding character, with yet another image picturing a scenario containing some overturned Warthog vehicles.

The evidence is far from conclusive, but backs up comments made by Ensemble boss Bruce Shelley about work on secret prototypes at the studio, plus job vacancies seeking developers with MMO expertise.

Microsoft's Phil Spencer also told GamesIndustry.biz recently that there were "more than two or three teams building Halo things right now".

Ensemble won't be one of them, as Microsoft has decided to close the studio after it finishes work on Halo Wars. However, parts of the team may cross over into other areas and so keep the dream alive.

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Xerx3s

23/09/08 @ 15:50

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Live from the forum!

boabg

23/09/08 @ 15:53

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mazzl

23/09/08 @ 15:58

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so ensemble is putting out all the dirty laundry ;)

evilfoxhound

23/09/08 @ 15:58

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Ahh, the Halo franchise. Finally an MMO where you can pay to be called a "nigger" by some american hick and have people threaten to slit your throat because you shot them in a game :)

InfiniteFury

23/09/08 @ 16:02

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If you'd like the experience now evilfoxhound I can take you to Warsong Gulch.

ThePissartist

23/09/08 @ 16:03

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Thank fuck that got cancelled - looks utter toss.

How about moving FORWARD with MMOs. I don't wanna be looking at a bar at the bottom of the screen with little icons and hunting little creatures until a big enough level to hunt biggers ones. UTTER TOSS.

Game devs need to innovate on MMOs.

If this is true MS were right closing Ensemble.

evilfoxhound

23/09/08 @ 16:03

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Oh, so is WOW as abusive as Halo3? I've never played WOW.

GODofDOOMS

23/09/08 @ 16:04

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OMFG EVILFOXHOUND YOU SAID THE "N" WORD HOW COULD YOU!!! N33B HALO MMO = EPIC FAIL THEY JUST TRYING TO MILK THE FRANCHISE AND THEY MAKING IT FAIL ALONG WITH IT CAPS LOCK ROCK!!!

evilfoxhound

23/09/08 @ 16:06

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I used it as a quote, GODofDOOMS. That makes it okay :P

Monkey_Puncher

23/09/08 @ 16:07

#10

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The only thing abusive about WOW is the monotony. Though bringing Halo kiddies into an MMO space would be akin to gaming hell "OMGZ REZ PLZ YOU FUCKING FAGZ"

Edited 1 times, most recently on 23/09/08 @ 16:07

Eraysor

23/09/08 @ 16:09

#11

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Halo would not work in its current form as an MMO. And it certainly woudln't work when it looks as ridiculous as those pictures show.

Rash'

23/09/08 @ 16:11

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Why? Simply, why? I still don't understand why they bothered with the RTS thing. Do they really believe gamers brought in on a an FPS frachise will migrate because it has the Halo name on the box? I just think MS has the dumpest first party strategy and really need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Some comedian here must be able to come up with a joke related to 360, Red Ring and Halo. Ring being the obvious common thread between them...

Edited 1 times, most recently on 23/09/08 @ 16:14

aldo_14

23/09/08 @ 16:14

#13

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Do they really believe gamers brought in on a an FPS frachise will migrate because it has the Halo name on the box?

In a word, yes.

Thunderbolt!

23/09/08 @ 16:15

#14

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jokes on you Rash,

'dumpest first party strategy' Indeed

;)

ThePissartist

23/09/08 @ 16:15

#15

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"I still don't understand why they bothered with the RTS thing."

I'm waiting for the Halo platformer.

evilfoxhound

23/09/08 @ 16:18

#16

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"I'm waiting for the Halo platformer"

Don't forget Halo Kart ;)

iokthemonkey

23/09/08 @ 16:19

#17

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The only thing abusive about WOW is the monotony. Though bringing Halo kiddies into an MMO space would be akin to gaming hell "OMGZ REZ PLZ YOU FUCKING FAGZ"

----

You'd be surprised how many players there are in WoW like that.

My favourite was the kid who ran up to me, stood for about 5 minutes and then said "u r gay" then just ran off.

ThePissartist

23/09/08 @ 16:21

#18

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"My favourite was the kid who ran up to me, stood for about 5 minutes and then said "u r gay" then just ran off."

Ha! That's hilarious!

iokthemonkey

23/09/08 @ 16:26

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The other one - which was funny - was in Star Wars Galaxies. They'd just introduced vehicles and everybody was very excited about it. I was in the desert and I saw a landspeeder heading toward me. The driver - a Trandoshan(?) (they're those reptile guys, like Bossk) - rode around me in circles for ages, stopped and announced "I'm not wearing any pants" then vanished before I could even respond.

Triggerhappytel

23/09/08 @ 16:29

#20

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Dizzy

23/09/08 @ 16:31

#21

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"How about moving FORWARD with MMOs. I don't wanna be looking at a bar at the bottom of the screen with little icons and hunting little creatures until a big enough level to hunt biggers ones. UTTER TOSS. "

I think MMOs have had this since Ultima Online.

Sometimes there are just a few way to do a certain genre. RTS certainly has not upgraded their UI a lot last 10 years. Same with FPS games. We have seen some changes in the way the MMOs make the grind less serious, LOTRO deeds and WARs quest system so there is a slow innovation.

Shrui

23/09/08 @ 16:38

#22

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In WoW I remember when my black human warrior beat another character to a mining node. He shouted "White power, midnight!" and ran off.

And yes the battlegrounds there are full of idiots. Usually on your own side and twinked to hell cause he bought a load of gold off the internet: "OMFG! u all sux azz!!11!! why do u ply??? etc etc."

I think you can apply the simple formula for tards: If you play it online, they will come.

Dafridge

23/09/08 @ 16:39

#23

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Ensemble were disbanded not because they were poor quality its because they were high quality!

Shelley said it himself that they were 'low turnover' which inevitably means that the staff were highly skilled, therefore highly paid! To Msoft that means I get good games for extortionate money or make average games for average money but increase volume. Its a no brainer for a publisher and part of the decay of the industry thats been happening for a long time.

SEVQA

23/09/08 @ 16:52

#24

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AMEN!

Tzetrik

23/09/08 @ 17:11

#25

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You really shouldnt link to Gamasutra so much, soon pretty much everyone'll know you just copy and paste for a living

RedPanda

23/09/08 @ 17:21

#26

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magic-wielding?!?!?

!?!//??

Dafridge

23/09/08 @ 17:28

#27

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Who linked to Gamasutra?

Freek

23/09/08 @ 18:54

#28

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I really can't see that MS would disband Ensemble if they really were working on a Halo MMO. Changing developers part way through a project rarely - if ever? - turns out well.

I really don't think this is true.

The project was supposedly already canceld last year. It looks verry legit, closing down a studio is probably going to bring out allot of these sort of things. Might aswell, what are they gonna do, fire you?

Chauncy

23/09/08 @ 23:38

#29

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I don't understand why they hadn't started on something Planetside-esqe. Seems like a wasted opportunity to me.

Not that it matters now of course.

Nithron

23/09/08 @ 23:39

#30

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Best part of those screenshots:

"Space Planet"

Best setting EVAR!

Skywise

24/09/08 @ 00:00

#31

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I'd love the character customization options in a Halo MMO, great idea that game!

"What colour armor shall I wear today to be unique in the game world?" :P

SilentScream

24/09/08 @ 15:33

#32

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@ EvilFoxHound: Don't forget Halo Kart!

Don't give them ideas! You should at least claim copyright.

I agree with GODofDOOMS on milking the franchise comment though.

Wasn't there news where they said they weren't going to abuse it?.. stupid

If they were clever they would just leave Halo as a TPS.

For an example Gears of War is a really popular game, but if they made a racing game from it people would go mental (i know some people would like that idea but seriously)

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