Ubisoft, Gameloft Vets Form Independent Studio

Former employees of Ubisoft and Gameloft are launching a new independent studio together in Montreal called Trapdoor Inc. The studio hasn't yet announced what its first title will be, but it is currently working on an original IP for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Though its debut went somewhat unnoticed, Trapdoor opened its doors in August, founded by Ken Schachter. Previously, Schachter worked as studio manager of Gameloft's Montreal branch for three years. Prior to that, he was chief technology officer at American Apparel. Alex Charbonneau, who previously served as a game designer at Ubisoft Montreal for over two years, now works as Trapdoor's lead game designer. His resume also includes positions as game designer and lead game designer at Gameloft Montreal. Schachter and Charbonneau's past shipped titles include FarCry 2, Shaun White Snowboarding, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Brothers in Arms, Asphalt Urban GT, Midnight Pool 3D, Racing Gears, and more. Notably, the studio makes sure to mention that it uses the International Game Developers Association's (IGDA) credit standard for giving proper credit to those contributing to its future games. "We are a bunch of friends who got tired of working for big companies," says Trapdoor's official site. "Even though we loved our experience in these places, it never quite felt like home. We know that if you are a developer, you know exactly what we're talking about."