From the ashes of Ensemble Studios, Robot Entertainment is formed

[Shadowstorm]

A number of veterans from the famed Ensemble Studios have formed Robot Entertainment, including founders Tony Goodman and Bruce Shelley.

Details on the studio's current projects are unavailable, and it's unclear whether Robot Entertainment will maintain a focus on the PC realtime strategy genre in which the Ensemble team specialized, or try new arenas.

I'm hoping these guys will make another kick ass RTS for the PC space. I'll be keeping an eye out for more news of this. I'm really fond of Ensemble Studios; they were one of the greats.

Source (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22133).

Also, here's a post (http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/01/29/bruce-shelley-says-farewell-to-ensemble-in-final-blog/) submitted dated Jan. 29th summarizing the information posted on the now closed Ensemble Studios blog that I think is worth a read.

[ThievesAmongUs]

Personally, I hope they stick to their roots for the first game, and branch out after that. But regardless, I wish them all the best.

[mister slim]

If I remember correctly, they're contracted with MS to provide some support and/or DLC for Halo Wars.

[Widgetcraft]

Well, if they do plan on putting out an RTS on the PC, they should probably stay far, far away from the release date of Starcraft 2 or any expansion packs that Blizzard might release.

[Xydarc]

Well, if they do plan on putting out an RTS on the PC, they should probably stay far, far away from the release date of Starcraft 2 or any expansion packs that Blizzard might release.
Why? With the way Activision is fucking with SC2, I'd buy an Ensemble/Robot RTS over SC2 any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[violent]

Why? With the way Activision is fucking with SC2, I'd buy an Ensemble/Robot RTS over SC2 any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Or both. That's probably where I'll end up.

[MagGnome]

Hopefully we see great things from these guys, and hopefully they decide to develop for the PC.

[Xydarc]

Or both. That's probably where I'll end up.
If I ever pick up SC2, it'll be as a bundle. I refuse to support Activision's money grab.

[Ten19]

If I ever pick up SC2, it'll be as a bundle. I refuse to support Activision's money grab.
Except it's not some faceless decision of Activision, rather, Blizzard themselves who have said that there will be the primary game, and the rest of the content will be considered expansions, which I suspect will be priced appropriately so.

Keep in mind each expansion will be a FULL single-player campaign. Very much like Brood War and the Frozen Throne, both of which no one really seemed to have any qualms with paying for.

I'd hardly call that a "money grab" or that they're "fucking with" StarCraft 2.

[Xerxes]

Hey I have an idea. Let's trash an established name and form another studio, and name it something generic, like Robot. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Sorry, but that's just what it looks like.

[Xydarc]

Except it's not some faceless decision of Activision, rather, Blizzard themselves who have said that there will be the primary game, and the rest of the content will be considered expansions, which I suspect will be priced appropriately so.

Keep in mind each expansion will be a FULL single-player campaign. Very much like Brood War and the Frozen Throne, both of which no one really seemed to have any qualms with paying for.

I'd hardly call that a "money grab" or that they're "fucking with" StarCraft 2.
I thought that they were releasing SC2 as three separate games, one for each race. Has that changed?

[Ten19]

I thought that they were releasing SC2 as three separate games, one for each race. Has that changed?
They're releasing the first game which has the Terran single-player campaign (though you can play the other races in multiplayer), and single-player campaigns (full-fledged long ones) for the other two races as expansions.

They've also alluded to adding new content (units? gear?) for the other races in each expansion as well.

[MagGnome]

My main problem with that is in Blizzard land, expansion packs are $40, hardly cheaper than a full release. Thus Starcraft 2 ends up costing at least $130.