Software:The Trap Door (video game)

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The Trap Door
Developer(s)Don Priestley
Publisher(s)Piranha Software
Composer(s)David Dunn (Commodore 64)
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release1986
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

The Trap Door is a video game published for the ZX Spectrum in 1986 by Piranha Software and ported to the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 by Five Ways Software.[1] It was written by Don Priestley and based on the United Kingdom children's television show of the same name.

Gameplay

thumb|left|240px|Gameplay

In Trap Door, the player takes control of Berk, who must perform tasks for "The Thing Upstairs", a never-seen entity who lives in the upper floors of the castle where Berk works. In order to help him complete his task, Berk must make use of the many objects lying around his part of the castle as well as the creatures that emerge from the trap door. Berk is assisted by Boni, a talking skull, who provides hints when picked up. He is also somewhat hindered by Drutt, Berk's pet who loves eating worms, as well as The Thing's impatience which manifests in form of a time limit for each task.

Gameplay is largely based around puzzle-solving and the use and manipulation of the many objects littered around Berk's chambers. Berk will also need help from some of the strange creatures that lurk in the caverns under the trap door and these creatures can often be as much a hindrance as a help (as well as downright dangerous). Once Berk has finished taking advantage of a creature's "assistance" he also has to find a way of making sure it goes back down the trap door.

The game has two different skill levels: "Learner Berk" and "Super Berk". The difference is that "Super Berk" mode includes flying ghosts that appear a set time after each task is announced. The ghosts hinder the player's progress by attacking Berk, sending him spinning into another room if he does not manage to avoid them.

Tasks

Over the course of the game, The Thing asks Berk four meals:

  1. A can of worms that must be collected once they come through the Trap Door
  2. Crushed eyeballs which grow as plants and must be squeezed in a cauldron using a pogo stick monster
  3. Boiled "slimies" that must be collected in a swamp in the cellar and boiled in the cauldron using a fire-breathing monster on wheels
  4. Fried eggs which must be acquired by hitting a bird with a suppository-shaped projectile

After each meal is done, Berk must deliver it upstairs using a dumbwaiter.

Once all four meals have been delivered on time, Berk must clean up the castle by shoving every monster - including Boni and Drutt - down the Trap Door; if the game is in "Super Berk" mode, The Thing will then send down a safe as a reward, which Berk must crack open to complete the game successfully.

Development

To promote the release of The Trap Door, Piranha Software partnered with Computer Gamer magazine to run a contest wherein readers submitted recipes for the Thing Upstairs, and 25 winning entrants received a copy of the game.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Crash88% (Spectrum)[4]
CVG35/40 (Spectrum)[3]
Sinclair UserStarStarStarStarStar (Spectrum)[5]
Your Sinclair9/10 (Spectrum)[6]
Computer Gamer19/20 (Spectrum)[7]
Awards
PublicationAward
ZX ComputingMonster Hit[8]
Sinclair UserSU Classic
C+VGC+VG Hit

The game was runner up for the 'Best Original Game' of the year award at the 1987 Golden Joystick Awards.[9]

Reviews

  • Jeux & Stratégie #43[10]

Legacy

The Trap Door was followed by a sequel in 1987 called Through The Trap Door, also written by Priestley and published by Piranha. This sequel is a multi-level platform game in which the player can switch between controlling Berk and Drutt.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Inlay of The Trap Door". https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/zxdb/sinclair/entries/0005388/TrapDoorThe.jpg. 
  2. ↑ "The Trap Door Competition". Computer Gamer (Argus Specialist Publications) (19): 40. October 1986. https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gamer_Issue_19_1986-10_Argus_Press_GB/Computer_Gamer_Issue_19_1986-10_Argus_Press_GB#page/n39/mode/2up. 
  3. ↑ Metcalfe, Tim (November 1986). "C+VG NOV Software REVIEWS: Trap Door". Computer & Video Games (EMAP Publishing) (61): 39. ISSN 0261-3697. https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-061/CVG061_Nov_1986#page/n37/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ "Reviews: Trapdoor". Crash (Newsfield) (33): 122. October 1986. ISSN 0954-8661. https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-33/Crash_33_Oct_1986#page/n121/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ Taylor, Graham (September 1986). "Arcade Review: Trapdoor". Sinclair User (EMAP Business & Computer Publications) (54): 49. ISSN 0262-5458. https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-054/SinclairUser_054_Sep_1986#page/n48/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ South, Phil (October 1986). "You stupid BERK! - The Trap Door". Your Sinclair (Sportscene Specialist Press) (37): 62–63. ISSN 0269-6983. https://archive.org/stream/YourSinclair37Jan89/YourSinclair/YourSinclair10-Oct86#page/n63/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ "The Trap Door". Computer Gamer (Argus Specialist Publications) (19): 42–43. October 1986. https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gamer_Issue_19_1986-10_Argus_Press_GB/Computer_Gamer_Issue_19_1986-10_Argus_Press_GB#page/n41/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ "The Trap Door". ZX Computing (Argus Specialist Publications): 54–55. November 1986. https://archive.org/stream/zxcomputing-magazine-1986-11/ZXComputing_1986_11#page/n53/mode/2up. 
  9. ↑ "Golden Joystick Awards". Computer & Video Games (EMAP Publishing) (66): 100–101. April 1987. ISSN 0261-3697. https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_066_1987-04_EMAP_Publishing_GB/Computer__Video_Games_Issue_066_1987-04_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n99/mode/2up. 
  10. ↑ "Jeux & stratégie 43". February 1987. https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-43/page/72/mode/2up. 
  11. ↑ "Preview: You Can Be a Berk II". Crash (Newsfield) (45): 140. October 1987. ISSN 0954-8661. https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-45/Crash_45_Oct_1987#page/n139/mode/2up. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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