Trapdoor (company)


Trapdoor Inc. was a Canadian video game developer based in Montreal. Founded in August 2008 by Ken Schachter, the company developed Warp and co-published Polytron Corporation's Fez, both in 2012. A third title, Heist, was cancelled mid-development. Trapdoor dissolved in December 2012.

History

Trapdoor was established in August 2008 by Ken Schachter, formerly chief technology officer for American Apparel and later studio manager of Gameloft Montreal. By October that year, the company also employed former game designer at Gameloft Montreal and Ubisoft Montreal, Alex Charbonneau, as lead game designer. Trapdoor stated that they would strictly follow the International Game Developers Association's developer crediting standard in their upcoming games. Their first game would be an original intellectual property for personal computers, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. By May 2011, Trapdoor employed 15 people, with Schachter managing the studio.
In November 2010, it was announced that Trapdoor had signed a publishing agreement with Electronic Arts for their game, which was announced to be Warp. Warp was first released for Xbox 360 in February 2012, and Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 3 the following March. Trapdoor announced in March 2011 that they would co-publish the Polytron Corporation-developed game Fez. Fez was released in April 2012 for Xbox 360. A third title, codenamed Heist, entered production in early 2012, but was cancelled six months into development.
Trapdoor was quietly disestablished on 16 December 2012.

Games developed