Retroronto v049 July Update

July's update brings some major improvements to the way players experience life in Retroronto. Following feedback gathered during Toronto Games Week, this release focuses on improving the opening moments of the demo and creating more opportunities for players to engage with the city around them.

A new phone call system has been introduced, with the player's dad now checking in throughout the early game to provide guidance and tasks. These calls help introduce key parts of city life, from finding an apartment and printing resumes to getting a job, managing finances, and keeping up with rent payments. Beyond helping new players understand the basics, this system lays the groundwork for future phone interactions and a more connected world.

The city has also expanded its NPC interactions through new task-based encounters. Residents may now ask for help finding items, provide directions around the city, or challenge players with questions about Toronto's history and everyday life. These additions have also pushed the dialogue system further, allowing conversations to branch, track objectives, and provide different rewards such as money, items, and stat improvements.

This update was shaped heavily by the project's recent showcase appearances during Toronto Games Week, where Retroronto was featured across several local events and playtesting opportunities. The feedback gathered throughout the week continues to influence development as the city moves closer toward a more complete and polished experience. Thank you to everyone who continues to play, share feedback, and support Retroronto's growth!

🕹️ Play the demo:

https://starspray-studios.itch.io/retroronto

📰 Read the full devblog:

https://www.starspraystudios.com/devblog/retroronto-report-20

📣 Join the Discord:

https://discord.gg/KyCAE4YRaS

CHANGES/FIXES:

• Demo Sequence has been broken up into 6 different tasks that will reward the player when finished

• Landlord NPC now shows up after 4 weeks

• Manager NPCs now evaluate player's individual stats before hiring them

• Adjusted positions of Fridges in 6/9 Stores

• Interior Locations now don't show outside environment anymore, and pause all traffic and pedestrian activity

• Resume Screen when using computer in Library has been graphically changed to include both player stats and work experience. You can no longer scroll through options and switch between screens.

• Changed camera to snap back to player when exiting the map

• Changed dispensers in Jimmies and Two Pizzas to not show their fill meters unless a minigame starts

• Fixed a bug where players could name their characters as long as possible, going beyond the UI bounds

• Fixed a bug where changing your name would also reset it to blank

• Fixed a bug where players could toggle on the game map during character customization

• Fixed a bug where toggling on and off the game map while indoors would re-enable the overworld building colliders

• Fixed a bug where interacting with landmark places would lock the camera on them even after leaving them

• Fixed a bug where if the player eats food while they're slowed from hunger, they stay slowed indefinitely

• Fixed a bug where places become active after opening phone map through phone (not quick map toggle, works fine)

• Fixed a bug where using the map after interacting with taxis, would activate taxi dialogue in other instances

• Fixed a bug where the numbers in the timer during a minigame would be invisible after doing a prior minigame

• Fixed a bug where bars would be open as late as 7am, now close at midnight instead

• Fixed a bug where the player would no longer be tired after midnight

• Fixed a bug where dispensers in work minigames wouldn't enable arrows correctly

• Fixed a bug where holding boxes in coffee and pizza minigames would enable target arrows at cash registers

• Fixed a bug where cash registers in work places would show target arrows when player holds items

• Fixed a bug where buying items in food places would sometimes show the player carrying nothing in their hands

• Fixed light sprites on coffee place at night

• Fixed a bug where the player wouldn't wear a hat in the overworld after buying and wearing one

ADDITIONS:

• Weekly Status UI has been added, which shows up when the player sleeps, showing the current Season, Month, and Week, as well as the amount of weeks left before player has to pay their rent.

• Added Fetch NPCs to the overworld, asking the player for a specific item in exchange for a random reward (money, stat increase, or item)

• Added Lost NPCs to the overworld, asking the player for directions to a specific place in the city in exchange for a random reward (money, stat increase, or item)

• Added Journalist NPCs to the overworld, asking the player their opinion on city living, in exchange for a charm stat increase

• Added History Buff NPCs to the overworld, asking the player some trivia questions about the city's history, in exchange for a smart stat increase

• Players can now submit a textbook back to the Librarian to get rid of it

• Added Phone calls, namely from Dad who will give the player tasks aligning with the newly paced demo sequence

REMOVALS:

• Removed Ripley's Aquarium to better fit game's time period