The RETRORONTO Report #8
📅
Monday, June 2, 2025
🌤️
Partly Cloudy 15C
📅 Monday, June 2, 2025 🌤️ Partly Cloudy 15C
This is The RETRORONTO Report, your go-to source for all the latest happenings and updates in the evolving city of Retroronto!
Climbing up the (Game) Summit
Custom signage for Retroronto designed as part of the complimentary package included with the indie booth at XP Summit.
Retroronto is set to have a major presence during Toronto Video Game Month, with appearances at several events as part of Toronto Games Week, taking place June 12–18. The retro life-sim has been steadily gaining momentum since its Steam debut one year ago, and June is shaping up to be its most significant month yet.
The headline appearance comes via the XP Game Summit Indie Game Showcase, where Retroronto was selected as one of 15 indie games (out of over 100 submissions) to be featured on the show floor. The game’s participation at XP Summit marks a full-circle moment for Starspray Studios Ltd., having attended the event last year after winning a raffle ticket.
In addition to XP Summit, Retroronto is aiming to take part in Giant Video Games, the large-scale projection event that kicks off Toronto Games Week. If selected, the game will be displayed on the towering façade of the Canada Malting Silos, placing a Toronto-centric game directly into the city’s skyline, a fitting pairing for a title so deeply rooted in local identity.
The game is also scheduled to appear in The G.R.I.D., a curated playtesting event offering in-depth feedback from players and designers alike. Earlier this year, Retroronto received valuable insight from its showcase at Toronto Game Expo, and The G.R.I.D. will serve as a chance to build on that momentum.
Finally, Retroronto is going to be taking part in the Seriously Fun Showcase, which highlights games with educational, political, or cultural relevance. While lighthearted in tone, Retroronto explores themes of affordability, work-life balance, and urban living in a city that is as challenging as it is beloved. Its inclusion in this showcase suggests the game may be tapping into something more than nostalgia, positioning it as a potential tool for conversation and reflection.
With three public showcases and one giant projection opportunity all taking place in a single week, June will be a pivotal chapter in Retroronto’s development. The team will be spending the month preparing for these appearances and processing player feedback to guide the game’s continued evolution.
-Rory Schwartz, Lead Editor
Demonstration of new phone menu.
Pause From Your Pocket
Retroronto residents now have a new tool in their digital pockets: a retro-styled Phone Menu that replaces the old pause screen with a nostalgic, Nokia-inspired interface. Designed to echo the early 2000s city vibe, the phone keeps players grounded in the era while providing a surprisingly robust suite of features.
Players can now access a map, task list, settings, controls, and even a bug report function that links directly to the game’s Discord. The update is both functional and era-appropriate, reflecting how mobile phones were just beginning to shape urban life. While smartphones were still years away, this 3310-style device offers just enough utility to feel modern without breaking immersion.
Street reaction has been mixed, but entertaining. One citizen claimed, “It’s got buttons! I hope we never go past this, it’s perfect.” Another added, “I dropped it in a sewer grate and it still works, stronger than my will to live.”
Whether they love it or not, players better get used to their new digital companion: the city’s calling.
-Nicola Bishop, Writer
NPCs and dialogue now work all around the city.
The City Speaks: Locals & Tasks
Retroronto’s streets just got a little livelier. The new update introduces interactive NPCs who now populate the city’s overworld. Some offer everyday musings or offbeat remarks, while others reflect more serious realities, such as panhandling.
Alongside the chatter, tasks have been added to help players navigate life in the big city. What began as a guided tutorial has now become a playable mission, accessible by speaking to an NPC near Union Station. In addition to the demo task, players can now take on assignments tied to landmarks across the city. These tasks offer structure while laying the groundwork for deeper story arcs in the future.
More than simple objectives, the landmark-based tasks serve a dual purpose: education and exploration. They encourage players to move through Retroronto with curiosity, connecting them to the city’s history and design. As development continues, feedback will determine how these systems evolve, whether they become core content or optional learning paths for the civic-minded commuter.
Markus Gibbs, Reporter
Where citizens say what’s on their mind, and we print it anyway.
City’s Changing, But So Are We
By Janelle M., 29
I’ve lived downtown my whole life and I’ve never seen so much change so quickly. Condos pop up like mushrooms and rent’s a joke now. Still, there’s something about walking the street at dusk that reminds me why I stay. It’s messy, but it’s ours.
Let the Kids Play Outside
By Derek L., 41
There’s not enough green space left where kids can just be kids. Every patch of land feels like it’s being fenced off or paved over. We need to make sure the next generation gets to grow up with the same parks and rec we did… or better.
Transit a Puzzle, Not a Plan
By Riya S., 22
I take public transit every day and it’s like rolling the dice with your schedule. Delays, short turns, mystery reroutes… makes getting to school feel like a game of chance. We deserve a system that works as intended, not one we have to work around.
Classifieds
MISSING: ONE (LEFT) ROLLERBLADE
Last seen near the Harbourfront skating trail. Black, size 9, aggressive inline. If found, please return as my right calf is getting suspiciously stronger than the left.
SEEKING ARCADE RIVALRY
Must be willing to lose gracefully (or not) at Dance Dance Revolution, Time Crisis, and occasionally air hockey. Preferably someone who brings their own tokens. Trash talk welcome, but only in jest.
PART-TIME JOB: PIGEON DISRUPTOR
Downtown café seeking brave soul to gently shoo away increasingly organized flocks of pigeons. Must be comfortable making eye contact with small birds. Pay negotiable. Free muffin included per shift.
TRADING TOKENS FOR TRIVIA
Got a stash of pre-2005 TTC tokens and a weird amount of Toronto transit facts. Let’s swap stories for coins. Bonus points if you know what "Russell Carhouse" is without Googling.
Obituaries
THE HONOURABLE LEONARD “LEN” HALPERN (1934-2025)
Former city councillor and longtime civic advocate Leonard Halpern passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 91. Known for his blunt speeches, corduroy suits, and passionate defense of municipal transit, Halpern served his ward for nearly three decades. He was instrumental in blocking an infamous tunnel proposal in the early '90s and championed park revitalization projects before it was trendy. Though retired since 2003, he never stopped writing letters to the editor or calling into radio shows. He is survived by two adult children, five bicycles, and a very opinionated cat named Metro.
REST IN PEACE TO BRENDA OKOYE (1934-2025)
Brenda Okoye, a behind-the-scenes legend in Toronto’s transit history circles, died unexpectedly last week after a short illness. Brenda was a postal worker by day, but by night, she was the city's foremost collector of transit memorabilia, from mint-condition transfers to obscure streetcar schematics. She was known to give walking tours of defunct loop stops and once single-handedly documented every fare increase since 1972. Her meticulously labeled basement archive will be donated to the city archives (pending family review). She is remembered fondly by fellow enthusiasts, local historians, and many bus drivers.
Events
PUBLIC TRANSIT PETTING ZOO
Ever wanted to touch a streetcar? Climb aboard a retired bus? Take photos of a decommissioned subway car? TTC is opening its yard for a rare family-friendly open house. Transit staff will guide tours, answer questions, and let kids honk old horns (within reason). First 100 guests get a limited-edition vintage transfer magnet.
NEIGHBOURHOOD KARAOKE CLASH
Local pride hits a high note at this high-stakes karaoke tournament. Represent your postal code in a battle for the Golden Mic Trophy. Judges will be scoring on passion, crowd energy, and adherence to late-90s power ballad traditions. Sign-ups open at 6pm. No entry fee, but bring your own tambourine.
HISTORICAL ALLEYWAYS WALKING TOUR
Join local historian Petra K. for a backdoor stroll through some of Toronto’s most storied alleyways. From bootlegger routes to graffiti landmarks, this unofficial tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the city’s forgotten corners. Cash donations appreciated. Sensible shoes and curiosity required.
Changelog
Changes/Fixes:
- Fixed bug where “full hands’ feedback would be given every time when grabbing items from fridges
- Fixed some areas where door sounds wouldn’t play or get interrupted
- Fixed previous bug where players could keep items produced during minigames
- Fixed bug where players could open pause menu while map was open
- Player name and look now reset when going back to main menu
- Updated text during Demo sequence to mention item swap controls
- Target arrows should now point at home apartment after 8pm (if they’ve leased an apartment)
- Fixed crowd spawn previously existing but were invisible
- Adjusted some Demo objective texts
- Fixed target arrow sprites showing up over interior environments on occasion
- Fixed Demo bug where players could deposit more than asked and not advance the sequence
- Changed access to map through the new Phone UI
- Gym fetch quest for retrieving a soda is now a ‘Task’ players can engage in
- Made some small adjustments to the overworld (moved old town hall up a bit from the street)
Additions:
- Added a “Closing Time” Feedback at 8pm
- Added overworld NPCs that randomly spawn all around the city, either as generic dialogue or beggars
- Added 3 overworld NPCs that give the player the ‘Landmark Hunt’ task, which enable a few landmark places to discover and learn information about
- Landmarks now have several lines of dialogue about it’s history and cultural significance, only during the ‘Landmark Hunt’ task
- Created an overworld NPC that now starts the Demo Task sequence for leasing an apartment and getting a job
- Replaced pause menu with a new ‘Phone’ UI, with a new ‘Tasks’ selection, revamped ‘Controls’ section, and Map access
- Updated game HUD to always show inventory, instead of only when gaining or swapping items
- Phone ‘Tasks’ menu updates with Tasks available to player when given by talking to certain NPCs. Otherwise will show “No Tasks Available”
Removals:
- Removed ‘Day Count’ in base UI to make room for Money and Inventory UI
Got feedback, questions, or concerns about the development of Retroronto? Join our discord server below!
EDITOR’S NOTES
What’s up?
This month of June quietly marks a full year of development on Retroronto… a milestone that, in retrospect, feels both sudden and hard-earned. Around this time last year, I brought on our original coder, Dor Zairi, launched this devblog in earnest, and started attending networking events to share the project with the world. Back then, the game barely had half a map. No minigames. No pedestrians. No traffic. Not even a main menu. Just a rough, barely playable prototype sparked by a passion project I began in 2022.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Retroronto is the most fully realized game I’ve ever had the privilege of building. I wish I could pause and celebrate, but this month? It’s going to be intense. Back in April, I was sweating over presenting at just one event. This June, we’re booked for FOUR! All in the span of a single week. So if July’s update ends up being lighter on new features, I hope you’ll understand. Our post-event updates will likely focus on bug fixes and polish, just like after Toronto Game Expo.
To you, yes, YOU, the one reading this devblog: thank you. I don’t say it enough, but your time and interest mean the world to me. I often wonder how necessary these monthly entries are, how much they matter in the grand scheme of things. But if you’re here, reading this, then that’s enough proof that it matters to someone. You don’t owe me anything of course, this is just what I do as your local indie dev, reporting in from a pixelated version of the city we love.
Alright, back to the grindstone. There’s a lot to prepare, and some big days ahead. As usual, stay tuned!
Cheers,
- Sean Browning
P.S. I took part in Toronto Game Jam in May and created an online shopping simulator, check it out here!
Disclaimer:
The names, classifieds, obituaries, and events featured in this publication are entirely fictional and not associated with any real people or entities. While the content is loosely inspired by the development of Retroronto, it is largely embellished for the sake of engagement and fun. The goal is to present the city and its progress as closely to a newspaper as possible. Please don’t take it all too seriously!