38 Studios has purchased Big Huge Games from THQ, adding a huge chunk of quality real-time strategy and role-playing talent to their roster and saving the developer from imminent closure. In March of this year, previous owner THQ threatened to close the studio following losses of $191.8 million in the previous financial quarter. Then came the layoffs. With the purchase, 38 Studios acquires all of Big Huge's intellectual property, development tools, and works in progress, including RPG legend Ken Rolston's upcoming role-playing game.

"It's always about team," said 38 Studios Founder and Chairman Curt Schilling. "The highly regarded developers at BHG, including leading role-playing and real-time strategy design teams led by Ken Rolston, are a perfect complement to 38 Studios' staggering array of talent. Big Huge Games is a phenomenal team and, culturally, a natural fit."

Big Huge Games will be integrated into 38 Studios, but will continue to operate out of Timonium, Maryland.

Having been eagerly awaiting Ken Rolston's RPG project since it was first announced in 2007, this is welcome news indeed. A feel-good story in a time of industry turmoil. Besides, how often does a star starting pitcher manage to get the save?

One was for the Wii, and was called God: The Game. Taking elements of Zelda, The Settlers and...Animal Crossing, it looked pretty cute, even if some of the art below looks a little too Zelda and a little too Animal Crossing.

The other looked more ambitious. Called Ascendant, it was intended to be an epic fantasy RPG title for the PC, 360 & PS3. It appears Ascendant was a little further along than God: The Game, since it has screenshots and even a rough, rough cut of a trailer (which you can see below), but like the Wii title, it looks to be clutching its visual inspiration - in this case Fable - a little too close to the chest.

With the studio either up for sale or on the verge of closure, though, both of these projects have been cancelled. You can take a look at the art assets and screenshots below.

On the subject, we've heard from sources that several companies are in discussions to purchase the studio from THQ, in a move that would save Big Huge from closure. While most remain undisclosed, we heard that one of the companies in the running is 38 Studios, retired baseball star Curt Schilling's development house.

When contacted for comment, 38 Studios stated that "it does not comment on rumors".

Neither THQ nor Big Huge have formally confirmed the layoffs, but according to the links the tipster sent, it looks like at least 45 people were lost in last week's rumored bloodbath. Their pictures are missing from the cached page and their bio pages have been removed. If this is the case, the staff has shrunk from 125 to 80.

I've emailed Big Huge's PR, but, this doesn't sound like the kind of thing they really want to talk about right now.

Yes. Huge. Cute.

A few weeks back THQ announced that, if a buyer for the studio had not been found within 60 days, it would be shut down. Well, we're only 15 days into that 60, so come on, THQ! Have a little faith!

We've yet to hear confirmation from either THQ or Big Huge, so stay tuned.

Big losses at Big Huge [Develop]

Sources close to the studio say that Big Huge Games, developer of the Rise of Nations series and Catan for Xbox Live Arcade, has been given notice by THQ, which has intentions to close the studio within 60 days. Official response from THQ is that the publisher informed the Timonium, Maryland-based Big Huge Games that it plans to close the studio if a buyer is not found "in the near future."

Big Huge Games was working on an unannounced Wii game and a role-playing game designed by former The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion designer Ken Rolston.

THQ also notified two other development studios that they will be "spun out as independent companies."

California based Heavy Iron in Los Angeles and Incinerator in Carlsbad were let go by the publisher today, part of THQ's previously announced cutbacks. Both studios were responsible for creating titles based on Pixar properties, including The Incredibles and Wall E from Heavy Iron and Cars from Incinerator Studios.

Heavy Iron is doing the same thing (although I'm not sure if they are retaining all employees).

THQ reps call the actions "unfortunate but were necessitated by the difficult economic environment." It has plans to layoff nearly 600 employees or about 24% of its total workforce, in order to cut costs by $220 million in its fiscal 2010.

The publisher confirmed earlier this month that it had laid off approximately 100 employees at its Champaign, Illinois quality assurance facility.

Update: An Incinerator Studios employee contacted us to add clarification to THQ's official announcement, writing that the developer will be "under contract with THQ to complete both our current projects" adding that "All THQ Incinerator employees are being offered a position with the new studio." He implied the same was true for fellow studio Heavy Iron, noting that he was "not sure if they are retaining all employees."

According to the source, the footage that was leaked on Sunday represents an "absolutely archaic build, and doesn't even come close to representing what the game is or where it's going" calling it "orders of magnitude better" than the footage suggests.

When THQ announced the project, opting not to name the Rolston-led RPG, it planned to release the game on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Neither developer nor publisher has had much to say about the game since then. We've contacted THQ for comment.

We're excited to finally pick up AOEIII if Ensemble is adding some more diversity into the mix. It's tough to get into RTS without our inherent, racist tendencies driving our obsession.

I can only hope that one of those unnamed dynasties includes an opportunity to control the Kiss Army, as the band did release an album named Kiss Dynasty in 1978, not long after selling out Budokan Hall in Tokyo five times over. Maybe that's a stretch.

Full press release, in English, after the jump. Michael McWhertor

"Age of Empires III" Expands Into the Eastern World This Autumn

Big Huge Games to develop second expansion pack for massively popular Games for Windows franchise

LONDON —18th May, 2007 — Pack your bags — "Age of Empires III" is heading east. Microsoft Game Studios, Ensemble Studios and Big Huge Games Inc. today unveiled the first details about "Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties," the second expansion pack for the top-selling "Age of Empires III" that arrives on Microsoft Windows XP- and Windows Vista -based PCs this autumn. The expansion pack will introduce gamers to Asian civilisations, a host of new gameplay features, and a new developer that will provide a unique spin to a classic favourite.

Players will experience firsthand the rich and historical influences of Asia while commanding their units and expanding their empire in the Eastern world. The latest expansion pack will be the first "Age of Empires" title developed by Big Huge Games, the development studio responsible for the incredibly popular real-time strategy franchise "Rise of Nations ."

"We're honoured to have the opportunity to develop 'Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties' with Ensemble Studios and confident that the innovation of both teams will deliver an exciting experience for fans of this franchise," said Brian Reynolds, chief executive officer and creative director of Big Huge Games. "We feel that the in-depth experience of Big Huge Games in the real-time strategy genre, combined with the solid reputation of the 'Age of Empires' franchise, will result in something fresh and unique for gamers."

In addition to the introduction of playable Asian civilisations, the expansion pack will provide new content and several new gameplay elements that include new ways of winning and trading, random map styles that feature remixes of classic "Age of Empires" game styles, and 15 new Asian "Wonders." The introduction of these features will coincide with the basic core gameplay of "Age of Empires III" that gamers have come to know and love. "Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties" will also ship as a Games for Windows title with easier installation, improved reliability and support for key Windows Vista features, including the Games Explorer and Parental Controls.

"The success of 'Age of Empires III' has given us the opportunity to expand the gameplay further and offer a fresh perspective through this expansion pack created by Big Huge Games," said Bruce Shelley, lead designer, Ensemble Studios. "We're delighted to have them work on this project with us and certain that they will deliver a great addition to the franchise."

"Age of Empires III," which launched in October 2005, is one of the fastest-selling titles in the franchise's history, placing gamers in the position of a European power struggling to explore, colonise and conquer North and South America, roughly during the time period of 1500 to 1850. The game has garnered numerous awards, including GameSpy's 2005 Top Ten PC Games of the Year and PC Gamer's Editors' Choice. It has sold more than 2 million copies to date and is currently among the top-selling titles for Games for Windows. In addition, the first expansion pack, titled "Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs," was released for the game last autumn.

Images and more information about "Age of Empires III" are available at http://www.agecommunity.com and http://www.ageofempires3.com.

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About Big Huge Games

Founded by four veteran game developers who together have brought strategy gamers such classic hits as Rise of Nations, Alpha Centauri , and Civilization II , Big Huge Games is a video game studio focused on cutting-edge technology and aimed at mass-market game development. Big Huge Games founders Brian Reynolds, Jason Coleman, David Inscore and Tim Train continue in the tradition of creating inspired and innovative games for PC and next-generation consoles. Creating games that have received numerous "Game of the Year" awards and accolades, Big Huge Games is headquartered in Timonium, Maryland. For more information about Big Huge Games, please visit http://www.bighugegames.com.

About Ensemble Studios

Ensemble Studios (http://www.ensemblestudios.com) is one of the world's premier entertainment software developers. Ensemble Studios is known for its blockbuster "Age of Empires" and "Age of Mythology " game series, as well as the upcoming "Halo Wars." Ensemble's titles are distinguished by the highest-quality art and gameplay dynamics applied in familiar historical settings, and appeal to hard-core gamers and mass audiences. Ensemble Studios is based in Dallas, Texas.

Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox and Xbox 360 video game systems, the Windows operating system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games), including such franchises as "Age of Empires," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon "; Xbox and Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com), including such games as "Gears of War" and franchises

such as "Halo," "Fable ," "Project Gotham Racing " and "Forza Motorsport "; and MSN Games (http://www.games.msn.com), the official games channel for the MSN network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "Hexic ."

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Big Huge president and COO Tim Train said, "We've wanted to do an RPG for years and I think we have a great direction that will knock everyone's socks off. THQ's ability to create and grow new intellectual properties, and their reputation for fantastic developer support, made them the ideal partner to bring our dream game to market."

THQ, Big Huge Games Partner For Rolston-Led RPG [Gamasutra]

While BHG may be more well known for their real time strategy output, including Rise of Nations, they've apparently had a RPG brewing for several years and tapped into Rolston's expertise. Even though he threatened to retire from the game game last year, Rolston explains "Tim and his army of visionary charmers came along with a strikingly original and cunning concept for a console RPG...so now I'm back in the harness and chomping at the bit!" Rolston then neighed with delight and was fed an apple as part of his contract.

With Bethesda's Morrowind and Oblivion a part of Rolston's pedigree and BHG's upcoming Xbox Live Arcade game Catan due to hit sometime this year, don't be surprised to see the unannounced title hit the 360 when it's officially revealed. Michael McWhertor

Veteran Designer Ken Rolston Joins BHG