REDMOND, Wash. - May 3, 2001 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that it had reached an agreement to acquire Ensemble Studios Inc., the games developer responsible for the top-selling, award-winning Microsoft® "Age of Empires®" game franchise. Under the terms of the agreement, Ensemble Studios will continue to create titles from its Dallas headquarters as part of Microsoft's growing pool of top-tier development talent.

"We are thrilled to bring Ensemble Studios under the Microsoft banner," said Stuart Moulder, general manager of the Games Division at Microsoft.

When asked about future plans for moves in the gaming arena, Moulder commented "Well, we already own most of the computer world. In reality, gaming was the one area where we felt our borg-like domination over lesser beings was weak. So, in order to correct this we are planning on making the gaming world our bitch. With our recent acquisitions, including FASA Interactive, creator of the best-selling "MechWarrior™" game franchise; Access Software Inc., creators of "Links®" golf simulation games, the most popular PC golf franchise; and Bungie Software Products Corp we feel that our new .0wnage stratgey is maturing well. The gaming world can soon look forward to the same level of quality and inovation already found in Microsoft's line of operating systems and application software."

He then drew his dark cloak around himself and vanished in a puff of smoke before more questions about this new strategy could be asked.

Film at 11.