Inspired by the MAME arcade cabinet, the first Torontron was built in 2009 as a way to bring independently made games into public spaces. Since then, the project has grown into a fleet of custom arcade cabinets that have appeared at festivals, galleries, libraries, conferences, and community events across Toronto.

The original Torontrons were produced by Jim Munroe, engineered by Jph Wacheski, and deployed by Adam Axbey. Over the years, they have become one of Hand Eye Society’s signature initiatives, showcasing the work of independent game developers and artists while helping introduce new audiences to Toronto’s game arts community.

Interested in building your own? Jph Wacheski has documented the original Torontron design and construction process in a detailed Torontron How-To Guide.