Shortly after sacking/laying-off/transitioning-out 28% of its in-game advertising staff at Massive, Microsoft is going to buy a Canadian game developer called Big Park.

According to Venture Beat, Microsoft moved 'more than 3,000' people into the challenging world of job detection. This is part of the 5,000 redundancies planned by the company.

In terms of the acquisition, neither Microsoft nor Big Park are talking about the money involved. They are both, however, talking about talent and reporting.

The Vancouver company was founded in 2007. According to, well, itself: "Together, the founding team has over 80 years of experience in the PC and video game industry. Some of the hits they have produced and overseen include blockbuster franchises such as: Need for Speed, FIFA Soccer, NBA Street and SSX. These games have received numerous awards, delighted millions of consumers around the globe and generated revenue in excess of five billion dollars."

Talking of those founders... they are: Wil Mozell, Erik Kiss, Hanno Lemke and Don Mattrick. Yes, 'that' Don Mattrick; none other than Microsoft's Senior Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division.

We wonder how the guys and gals at Ensemble are feeling today.