Toronto through the eyes of a raccoon - Canadian creates new video game

A new game, now being developed by a Toronto resident, will allow people to virtually walk the streets of the city during lockdown... as a raccoon.

"People like raccoons," says the game's creator. — Everyone in town has a raccoon-related story."

Jason Leaver, 43, is a filmmaker. But since all the movie sets closed down back in the first wave of the pandemic, he decided to get into game development. The debut game is called Trash Panda — it's not final yet.

The point of the game is simple — make a mess and find something tasty. Users will play as a raccoon, wandering around Toronto neighbourhoods and knocking over trash cans, some of which contain food. Leaver already has ideas for further development. He says he wants to make the raccoon "disgustingly Canadian," so perhaps the character will strut around in a tuxedo.

"I've actually been working on a little raccoon with artificial intelligence," shares Leaver, "so he'll be kind of your nemesis. You might want to compete with another raccoon that's also knocking over trash cans."

The game is currently in beta testing, but users are already leaving rave reviews. Since Leaver is new to video game development, he considers it a hobby. According to him, the game will be free or cost $0.99 CAD.

The raccoon was chosen as the main character for a reason. Toronto has a very long "love and hate" relationship with these adorable pests. In 2015, Mayor John Tory declared war on raccoons by spending $31 million CAD on garbage cans that the animals can't open. This year, residents have been asked to avoid encountering raccoons by any means possible because attacks on humans have increased. Raccoons are primarily dangerous because they carry rabies.

Whose side will the player be on? On the side of the raccoon who wreaks havoc? Jason Leaver, like a true director, left the question open.