18 votes

Valley forged: How one man made the indie video game sensation Stardew Valley

Posted by talklittle
Tags: stardew valley, interviews, eric barone, games studios, profiles, developers.video game, author.sam white, source.gq, long read
https://www.gq.com/story/stardew-valley-eric-barone-profile

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Title
'Stardew Valley' Creator Eric Barone on the Game's Lonely Origins and His Secretive Next Game
Authors
Sam White
Published
Mar 20 2018
Word count
4254 words

4 comments

  1. lmn
    Link
    I wonder how many "masterpiece" level games are left partially finished because their creators lacked the ability or drive to take them across the finish line.

    I wonder how many "masterpiece" level games are left partially finished because their creators lacked the ability or drive to take them across the finish line.

    4 votes
  2. [3]
    cfabbro
    Link
    I don't personally understand the appeal of playing games like Stardew Valley. Whenever I play them I usually wind up just cheating so I can experience the content without having to go through the...

    I don't personally understand the appeal of playing games like Stardew Valley. Whenever I play them I usually wind up just cheating so I can experience the content without having to go through the seemingly endless, repetitive grind required to do so normally. But even so, I can certainly appreciate the sheer effort it took to make (especially for just one person) and the artistry of it; It is a gorgeous pixel art game and the soundtrack is incredibly well done.

    Neat article... and one that especially makes me realize I will probably never be able to make an indie game on my own, either:

    "Imagine playing the same game, every day, for four and a half years. All day. I was just absolutely sick of it, I was bored,” he says.

    No shit he was bored. That sounds like hell to me (even if the game being developed is of a genre I enjoy). So going in to Indie game development? Not for me, thanks! :P

    3 votes
    1. Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      I haven't finished it, but to me the appeal is the same appeal the game's main character finds. The goal is not the end result, it is the journey and experience along the way. The calm happiness...

      I haven't finished it, but to me the appeal is the same appeal the game's main character finds. The goal is not the end result, it is the journey and experience along the way.

      The calm happiness of achieving small goals and not feeling rushed. Often times the farm doesn't need tending too so you can go explore the town, talk to people, or just fish and enjoy the sound of the ocean.

      6 votes
    2. talklittle
      Link Parent
      I'll admit I haven't played it either. As a programmer my impression is that the game would scratch the same itch I already scratch by maintaining software. I understand the appeal, but I don't...

      I'll admit I haven't played it either. As a programmer my impression is that the game would scratch the same itch I already scratch by maintaining software. I understand the appeal, but I don't need another outlet for those impulses.

      Not to mention I'm afraid of the hundreds of hours of playtime reported by some players. I have too much on my backlog to risk getting stuck on a single title!

      The story behind the game's development is incredibly inspiring, either way.

      3 votes