Aces Game Studio

Aces Game Studio (ACES) was an American video game developer based in Redmond, Washington, owned by Microsoft Game Studios. It was founded in 1988 under the name Bruce Artwick Organization Limited (BAO Ltd.) at Champaign, Illinois, by Bruce Artwick, creator of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Microsoft Space Simulator and also co-founder of Sublogic.[1]

Aces Game Studio
Formerly
  • Bruce Artwick Organization Limited
    (1988–1995)
  • Microsoft Simulation Group
    (1995–2002)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1988 (1988) in Champaign, Illinois
FounderBruce Artwick
DefunctJanuary 22, 2009 (2009-01-22)
FateDissolved
Headquarters
Redmond, Washington
,
U.S.
Key people
Shawn Firminger (studio manager)
ProductsMicrosoft Flight Simulator series
Parent

Following the purchase of BAO Ltd. in December 1995, Microsoft renamed the studio to Microsoft Simulation Group, moving employees from Champaign, Illinois, to the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, where it became part of its Games Group division, which at the time was also co-owner of DreamWorks Interactive.[2] The studio continued to develop its simulation games, acting as the developer of the Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator series. The group had also assisted Kuju Entertainment in developing Microsoft Train Simulator.[3] With the launch of the first Xbox console, the group was moved to Microsoft Games (later renamed Microsoft Game Studios) in 2000 and renamed to Aces Game Studio in 2002. They worked with Stormfront Studios to develop Blood Wake as a launch title for the Xbox in 2001.[4]

In the following years, Aces led development on the next three iterations of Microsoft Flight Simulator, including Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight (2004) and Microsoft Flight Simulator X (2006).

As part of a move that cut 5,000 jobs at Microsoft, Aces Game Studio was closed on January 22, 2009.[5][6][7]

In October 2009, Rick Selby and Kathie Flood, alongside other former members of Aces Game Studio, launched a new studio, Cascade Game Foundry, for the development of simulation games.[8]

Notable alumni of Aces include Rod Fergusson, who after Aces worked at both Epic Games and The Coalition as one of the lead designers in the Gears of War series.[4]

References
  1. "BAO Ltd. history to date". J.H. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  2. "Microsoft acquires Bruce Artwick Organization Ltd". Mrgr. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  3. Ibata, David (June 29, 2001). "Simulator aims to put railroading on fast track". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  4. Klepek, Patrick (December 7, 2019). "'Gears 5' Director on His Career of Salvaging Game Development Trainwrecks". Vice. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  5. Takahashi, Dean (January 23, 2009). "Microsoft's game studios take a beating in layoffs; flight sim studio closure confirmed". venturebeat.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  6. Ocampo, Jason (January 23, 2009). "Microsoft Confirms Aces Closure". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  7. "ACES Game Studio". GameSpy. Archived from the original on January 12, 2006. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  8. Alexander, Leigh (October 13, 2009). "Aces Studio Vets Launch Cascade Game Foundry, Will Focus On Simulation". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2019.


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