Pie Trap Studios
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2020
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 2
About Pie Trap Studios
Pie Trap Studios is an independent game development and art co-development studio established in 2020 by Priscilla “Pri” Firstenberg and Chris Whitaker. Based in the Greater Seattle area, the artist-owned company combines original game development with external production services for developers and publishers. Its work centers on stylized characters, environments, narrative development, and the production systems that bring those elements into games.
Art co-development and consulting
The studio works as a specialized art strike team, supporting projects from early visual exploration through engine-ready asset delivery. Character production includes high-poly sculpting, low-poly retopology, texturing, UV preparation, rig-ready weighting, and customization systems. Environment work spans modular kits, props, level set-dressing, shader configuration, collision setup, and prefab construction.
Its pre-production services include concept art, visual development, mood boards, orthographic turnarounds, pitch decks, and interface or promotional concepts. Narrative support covers world-building, character backstories, dialogue, branching stories, script development, and sensitivity reading. The studio also offers art direction, technical diagnostics, production scheduling, pipeline documentation, and temporary leadership support for external teams.
Beyond video games, Pie Trap prepares digital sculpts for tabletop miniatures, statues, and collectible merchandise. This work supplies print-ready digital files rather than physical manufacturing. Its supported markets also include educational technology and interactive software.
Original games
Pie Trap develops and publishes Forage Friends, a cozy mobile game combining habit-building with companion-raising and gardening. Players build positive real-world routines, including walking and mindfulness, while interacting with characters and decorating spaces. The project gives the studio an original development strand alongside its client production work.
Its external portfolio includes contributions to Rawmen: Food Fighter Arena, The Walking Dead: Last Mile, Everdale, Arashi: Castles of Sin, and Dojo Islands. These assignments encompass character art, cosmetics, environment assets, and technical art, reflecting the studio’s focus on stylized visual production across different game formats.
More about Pie Trap Studios
Leadership and experience
- Priscilla “Pri” Firstenberg serves as CEO and Creative Director; Chris Whitaker serves as Chief Solutions Officer and Art Manager.
- Before founding the studio, both had spent more than 15 years in senior game development roles. Firstenberg’s background includes environment and visual art at ArenaNet; Whitaker’s includes character art, technical art, scripting, and work on Rocket Arena at Final Strike Games. These are individual career credits.
- Other named team members include Art Lead Nick Miller, Senior Game Designer Steve Williams, and Senior 3D Artist Mike Ulloa.
Production and working practices
The studio describes its approach as emphasizing anti-crunch principles and consistent project teams. Its production services integrate directly with client source control and Unity or Unreal Engine projects. Character texturing methods include hand-painted work and non-destructive Substance 3D Painter workflows.
Its careers material describes fully remote work within five hours of Pacific Standard Time, with the team primarily distributed across Pacific and western North American time zones.
Community and collaborations
The studio showcases its original game at Sakura-Con and GeekGirlCon. Its community activity has also included character-themed teas created with Seattle’s Friday Afternoon Tea, connecting the game’s characters with artisan merchandise.
Notable credits
11 creditsOffices
Where Pie Trap Studios is based
- Renton, Washington, United States
Renton office
- Remote
Remote office
About this office
Founders’ operating base and overall headquarters for a remote-first studio. Seattle references describe the same metropolitan operating location.
Open roles
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