Microsoft Lays off entire ACES studio

[Timmo]

http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/947/947737p1.html

US, January 23, 2009 - Microsoft has confirmed the closure of Aces Game Studio, the internal development studio responsible for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Flight Simulator is one of the company's oldest product lines, stretching back more than 20 years. The closure came amidst the company's first major layoffs in its history, announced on Thursday. Approximately 5,000 Microsoft employees will be laid off; around 1,400 were cut immediately, with the remainder to but cut over the next 18 months.

In a statement, Kelda Rericha of Edelman, Microsoft's public relations firm, said that the decision was made within Microsoft's Internal Entertainment Business "to align our people against our highest priorities."

The closure of Aces marks the shuttering of another major developer within Microsoft Game Studios. Since September of 2007, the company has shut down FASA Studio (Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, and Shadowrun), announced the closure of Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires), and Carbonated Games (Hexic HD, Uno). In addition, Bungie, the studio responsible for Halo, left Microsoft Games Studios and became an independent studio, though Microsoft does maintain an ownership stake in it.

Does this mean the end of the Flight Simulator franchise? According to Rericha, "We are committed to the Flight Simulator franchise which has proven to be a successful PC based game for the last 27 years. You should expect us to continue to invest in enabling great LIVE experiences on Windows, including flying games, but we have nothing specific to announce at this time."

[Michael]

Well if they do do another version of FS, it'll be a half assed job by their Xbox department who won't have a clue how to make a sim.

[Ian Warren]

Last paragraph , I wonder - excuses the pun but its still in the air with the Flight Simulator franchise .

[Timmo]

It is a shame, but I agree with Jon from Flightsim.co.nz's sentiments: last time he checked, Flightsim still worked on his PC! So, if anything, this maybe the impotus that some developers need to really get stuck into FSX (i.e. some were holding off as they felt FSX was a interim version of the sim)

With no new version on the horizon, we need to use and tweak what we have.....FSX gives us that potential and that potential is only just being realised.

[Ian Warren]

Exactly it ! Tim , we have the canvas , its time now to build on it .

[greaneyr]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jan 25 2009, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Exactly it ! Tim , we have the canvas , its time now to build on it .

Good point Ian.

Flipping the moods around from the last couple of days, the good thing about this is it gives developers a static product to improve. Developing add-ons for FS was a bit like buying a new digital camera. I could buy this model now and pay this much, or I could wait 6 months for the newer model to come out and pay a bit more. Or I could wait another 6 months after that for the newer model to have dropped in price... Or I could.... (and so it goes on). Likewise, "do I develop for FSX, or do I wait for FS11 to come out?". It's not a problem anymore, so we can work to it.

It will allow time for necessary hardware to become affordable too - a much needed gap to allow us to breathe, which isn't something we've had for a LONG time in flight simming.

[creator2003]

http://nzff.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9132 topic already covered at this link

[Bazza]

I was quite surprised when I woke up this morning to see the world was still revolving and life was still going on.

This is the Global Financial Crisis really hitting home...