Ensemble to Develop a MMORPG?

[Tia]

According to an article (http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/632/632967p1.html) on gamespy (http://www.gamespy.com) Ensemble are looking for a server architect for an MMO.

Doesn't seem like enough to really tell, but an MMO from Ensemble on the X360 might be interesting.

[Tricky Thumb]

I not really sure what they could do with the genre really... Maybe they're going to use the technology for some type of RTS instead..

[Evil Avatar]

Unless they are using the POV from the Age of... games, I'm not interested. Another generic first-person POV Fantasy RPG just doesn't cut it any more.

If they leverage the technology that they have and use a top-down view like a 3D Ultima Online, then I would buy it in a second.

[KNOTE]

Well I was very interested in SOE's Sovereign, the MMP-RTS. If this is attempting the same thing, I'd be even more interested. The "Age" games rock.

[Ernst_Jager]

You will see multiple MMO's on this next generation of consoles. Really it is the next evolution in console gaming I think. Sure they have had limited ones like Phantasy Star but a big High profile game similiar to EQ or WoW could potentially rake in loads of money with a monthly fee or really put the 360 on peoples radar if it was free with the Live monthly costs.

[Edwin]

Typo in the articl title. It should be Ensemble.

[netcraazzy]

if it was free with the Live monthly costs.

I'd say that is pretty doubtful. MS views LIVE as a service all by it's self kind of like what gamespy did with gamespy arcade. PSO still required the monthly fee for xbox and I'm not counting on anything changing for 360.

Edit Oh, and live isn't monthly as far as I know. It's just a once a year fee, at least that's how they bill me.

[XenonCJ]

3 words : World of Empires =)

[Tia]

Well they been talking of an "MMO feature" in AoE3. The home city will serve as a persistent world avatar. Something like a ranking system that actually has an effect. Your city will gain levels and become stronger or something like that.

Anyway, who knows maybe they are pounding ways to build on that to a full featured MMO.

[Frogleg Special]

Since when you got an idea that Ensemble would make an X360-oriented MMO?

I thought once Microsoft asked Ensemble would make a game for Xbox, but Ensemble wouldn't and remained satisfied by remaining making PC games. This might a MMO directed for PC and X360, with that "whatchacallit"/game.NET scheme, but to think that it's going to be an X360-focused MMO is going too far.

[Tia]

Take a deep breath. Now read the article.

Microsoft, who owns Ensemble Studios, hasn't commented on whether or not the developer is actually crafting an MMO. However, it is known that it is interested in getting as much content and MMO games as it can for the Xbox 360 and already has an agreement with Square Enix to bring Final Fantasy XI to the 360.

Was that hard?

[Liquidize105]

What would an Ensemble MMO look like?

I agree that it has to be top-down.