Eric Barone and Stardew Valley
Known as ConcernedApe, Eric Barone fully developed the famous game Stardew Valley, taking care of all aspects of his creation. Eric created the game after facing job rejections following his computer science degree in 2011. As a child, he was influenced by his mother’s artistic leanings and his father’s technical background. Inspired by the Harvest Moon series, Eric began developing his game. The project expanded from a modest endeavor to a significant undertaking. Eric followed his instincts throughout the production process and employed a research-based approach. In 2012, Stardew Valley gained attention through Steam Greenlight. The announcement included an official trailer and a dedicated website providing updates.
Evolving from Harvest Moon Homage
Originally planned as an homage to Harvest Moon, Eric expanded the project to address the series’ shortcomings by introducing missions and crafting. Before Chucklefish chose to release Stardew Valley in February 2013, Steam Early Access provided access to the game, which Eric believed was already busy and unsuitable for focusing on Stardew Valley. With Chucklefish’s support, he developed a new website. However, it took him another three years to release a game that looked as rich and feature-filled as Eric had envisioned. Eric works part-time as a doorman and relies on his girlfriend for support.
During development, he refined Stardew Valley, dedicating countless hours to pixel art using Paint.NET and programming in C# with the Microsoft XNA framework. He also used Reason for sound effects and music. Eric’s ability to work independently enabled him to bring his imaginative concepts to life and grant players the autonomy to shape their gameplay. He aims to provide unlimited endgame content, unlike the Harvest Moon series, allowing players to enjoy the game as long as they desire. In this endeavor, Eric strives to create a unique atmosphere that aligns with his beliefs. He achieves this by eliminating animal slaughter elements and incorporating local inspirations from the Pacific Northwest into the virtual environment.
Personal Connection
Stardew Valley‘s storyline emphasizes themes of resistance to capitalism and the significance of the local community. The game explores personal challenges and difficulties that players can relate to in their own lives. Eric took his time to create cutscenes and write dialogue to deepen the characters. He designed Stardew Valley as a relaxing and serene experience, minimizing excessive clicking and prioritizing personal fulfillment over profit maximization. Despite his deep commitment to Stardew Valley, Eric maintained anonymity by adopting the pseudonym ConcernedApe.
Being an introvert, he saw art as a means to connect with others and express himself. His intense focus and game-centric lifestyle strained his relationship with his girlfriend. Valuing his independence and self-sufficiency, Eric taught himself everything he needed to know and resisted seeking help. Despite facing challenges and moments of doubt, his discipline and passion kept him motivated. In moments of low motivation, Eric would often procrastinate by browsing Reddit. When encountering a captivating idea, he dedicated himself to turning it into reality before the inspiration waned. He aimed to seize and manifest his concepts promptly.
Eric’s Approach to Stardew Valley’s Release
As anticipation for the game’s release grew, Eric addressed the topic in April 2015, expressing his desire to release Stardew Valley, but stressed that he would proceed with implementing the idea only when he was entirely satisfied with its level of completion. He recognized the scale of the project and its status as a work in progress. In November 2015, Eric offered an update on the game’s release date, revealing his progress in finalizing the single-player component while simultaneously working on the multiplayer aspect. After considering various perspectives, he changed his mind and decided to release the single-player version first.
Once Eric had the single-player version ready, he was confident that any further delay in releasing the game would be unjustifiable. The months leading up to the game’s release proved to be the most challenging for him. He almost gave up on the project, as playing the same game every day for over four years tested his perseverance. During that time, Eric admitted to feeling bored and tired of the game and questioned its quality. As the sole creator, Eric lacked objective feedback. However, his confidence in the game started to surface as he approached three Twitch streamers to act as playtesters. Even though Eric encountered a severe bug in the game just a day before the scheduled release, Eric stayed up late to rectify the issue. Finally, he launched the single-player version of Stardew Valley in February 2016. The game received critical acclaim. As of January 2020, the number of successfully sold copies of Stardew Valley across multiple platforms exceeded 10 million. Eric’s accomplishments garnered recognition, and he was named one of the top ten developers by Gamasutra in 2016. Instead of slowing down after the game’s release, Eric’s workload increased. In August 2017, Eric recognized the need for a vacation and embarked on a national park tour.
Fostering Community
Stardew Valley has cultivated a supportive community, and despite his introverted nature, Eric actively engaged with fans, highlighting the importance of authenticity and mutual respect. He believed that indie games create a personal bond between creators and players. Meeting Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of Harvest Moon, was a dream come true for Eric. Wada praised the continuation of the series’ legacy in Stardew Valley. Reflecting on his achievements, Eric recognized his self-belief and strong work ethic. With Chucklefish’s assistance, the four-player cooperative multiplayer feature was introduced, allowing Eric to concentrate on game development through free updates. He has ideas for future games, possibly set in the same world.
Eric’s journey with Stardew Valley exemplifies dedication and connection. As he considers future projects, he continues to develop the game, surpassing its competitors by effectively merging media and messages. Within the game’s context, players take on the roles of individuals who have become disenchanted with their corporate positions at Joja Corporation. They journey to Stardew Valley to become farmers and discover meaning in life. The game allows players to fully engage in the daily rhythms of rural existence, establish connections, create items, and care for animals, thereby becoming essential components of the town and nurturing robust connections. They partake in seasonal celebrations that unite the community. The game’s premise encapsulates that modern conveniences often disconnect us from finding significance and purpose in life. Stardew Valley critiques the dominance of faceless corporations in the modern economy, where efficiency overshadows humanity. Within this system, individuals have repetitive tasks that strip away their uniqueness. Corporate structures detach individuals from their true selves, reducing their social roles to mere functions. Their contributions seem insignificant in a society of billions.
Interdependence in Smaller Groups
In contrast, early humans formed smaller social groups where each individual’s contribution was vital for collective survival. As societies expanded, efficiency grew, but so did alienation. Individual contributions often seem inconsequential in today’s globalized world, with seven billion people. This alienation arises from prioritizing efficiency over personal fulfillment and meaningful relationships, mimicking the fast-food model emphasizing standardization and interchangeability over meaningful work and individuality. This disconnection erodes the significance of relationships and personal connections in society. In Stardew Valley, players are immersed in a small rural town where each member plays a crucial role. As farmers, their contribution to providing food becomes essential for others’ well-being. It prevents alienation and gives meaning to their lives. This concept aligns with McDonaldization, where the modern economy values standardization and efficiency. Nevertheless, Stardew Valley offers an alternative by valuing meaningful work and individuality. It underscores each individual’s importance and interdependence within a community, promoting complex interactions, deep social ties, and pivotal roles for a fulfilling life.
By rejecting the dehumanizing aspects of modern society, Stardew Valley empowers individuals to express their unique identities and make meaningful contributions to the larger group. Beyond preventing alienation, it fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. The game’s depiction resonates with human evolution, where social groups have been crucial for our thriving. The strengths and contributions of each individual provide a rejuvenating experience that confronts players with the potential disconnect from a meaningful life caused by excessive indoor isolation. Through its simulated world, Stardew Valley starkly contrasts fulfilling experiences derived from meaningful social bonds with the potential emptiness of solitary, repetitive tasks. The game prompts players to reflect on their own lives and how their actions might contribute to feelings of detachment.
Challenging Societal Constructs
The game’s strength is its capacity to evoke self-awareness and provoke critical thought about societal structures fostering alienation. By challenging the values and priorities of the modern world, Stardew Valley underscores the significance of meaningful connections, intricate interactions, and a sense of purpose. Alongside critiquing modern world alienation, the game’s power derives from its expression. By immersing players in a fabricated scenario, the game compels them to scrutinize their lives and the larger societal structures they are involved in. Unlike other media like paintings or philosophical texts, the interplay between Stardew Valley‘s message and medium inhibits complete immersion. The game reminds players that despite embodying an avatar living a purposeful in-game life, they remain fully engaged with the realities of contemporary society. They cannot escape the influence and impact of the modern world. This interplay constantly urges players to question their own lives and their alienation. Beyond contemplation, the game propels players to address their reality’s shortcomings actively. Rather than inducing despair, this aspect of Stardew Valley is uplifting, motivating players to actively strive for enhanced lives actively, not merely question them.
Bibliography
- Juba, J. (2020). How Stardew Valley Keeps Building On Success. Game Informer.
- Sickels, D. (2021). How Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, & Story of Seasons Are All Connected. Screen Rant.
- White, S. (2018). Valley Forged: How One Man Made the Indie Video Game Sensation Stardew Valley. GQ.