Mon, Mar 15, 2010 | 08:12 GMT

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Ensemble: “We were simply too expensive”

Ensemble Studio’s inability to hit deadlines or budget restraints led to its downfall, long-time staffer Paul Bettner said at GDC last week.

“The reality is that every single game we shipped took twice as long as we said it was going to take, and cost twice as much to make,” he said.

“Microsoft is a public company, they answer to their shareholders, and we were simply too expensive.”

Bettner added that a “workaholic” culture also contributed to the outfit’s demise.

“I watched this happen and I did almost nothing to stop it. As an employee, and later as a manager, I didn’t take a stand. I just kept hoping for that next high,” he said.

It was announced in September that RTS stalwart Ensemble was to close after the completion of Halo Wars.

Thanks, Eurogamer.

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