On Stardew Valley’s tenth anniversary, we not solely spoke with creator Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) in regards to the sport’s current and future. We additionally went out into the neighborhood to learn the way Stardew Valley has modified the lives of gamers, from on a regular basis followers to in style content material creators. Right here, we have shared three tales from Music Farm creators, speedrunners, and modders about how Stardew Valley has influenced them. And we have interspersed tales from followers who say their Stardew Valley expertise helped them overcome private challenges, overcome grief, and join with family members.
Solutions have been very frivolously edited for size and readability.
“For the previous 10 years (my spouse and I) have been taking part in Stardew Valley on our farm on and off, every time co-op was launched, and we at all times come again for extra. 1,000 whole hours performed It is so timeless. I really like all the pieces in regards to the sport, the music, the characters, all of the creatures, the animals, and most of all, the story. It is acquired a lot coronary heart and actuality for my spouse and I. We purchased it for consolation, for enjoyable, and for nostalgia. I play it with my finest good friend and his spouse, and we’re virtually 40 years previous. “I’ve a number of shirts.”u/Spepol
“That is the consolation I can at all times depend on when instances are robust. On a tricky day, I hearth up a saved sport and spend numerous hours fishing, farming, adorning, and many others. till I really feel higher (and it at all times works).” –u/WildMoonChild0129
“This was the primary online game I felt I may really share with my younger youngsters. Though it contained an grownup story, I knew it might be fully over my head. We performed collectively in the lounge, everybody on their very own gadgets, and we chatted your complete time about how the melons would are available and the way annoying Clint was. I informed all of the chickens that my daughter’s I named all my cows after my classmates. That pale after some time, however after listening to Symphony of the Seasons on the town final 12 months, they had been already youngsters and all three of the perfect songs. We began doing harmonies for elements (I like taking part in bass strains, beep beep beep) and so they at all times say it is our particular pleasure and so they cannot think about sharing it with anybody else however us.” –u/Sad_Hovercraft_1367
“That is principally what’s retaining me sane all through my most cancers remedy! I really feel like ConcernedApe is a part of my medical workforce presently.”
“I used to be identified with a really aggressive however treatable most cancers final February and have gone via grueling chemotherapy, numerous hospitalizations, 2 main and 4 minor surgical procedures, and am at the moment on my eleventh of 16 rounds of immunotherapy… I needed to take virtually 5 months off work (now again to part-time!), so I spent a number of time in mattress taking part in Stardew!
“I’ve almost 2,000 hours within the sport and have completed a number of small problem runs via remedy. I am at the moment on farm quantity 4 within the Shade Run Problem.” — Based mostly on the colour of the dyeing pot, solely pink/orange/yellow/inexperienced/blue/purple gadgets may be bought. My purpose is to earn 1 million gold and enhance the farm with that colour theme.
“I have been via a hellish time in my life over the past 12 months, however my farmer is secure and pleased within the Valley and that provides me power.” –u/Pink the Wolf
Maru Blue Eyes
Within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marble Blue Eyes all of the sudden discovered herself with a number of time on her fingers. Her job was deemed pointless and he or she was made unemployed.
With some free time, she turned to Stardew Valley. Her husband noticed her play extra and advised she attempt streaming it. At first, Marble Blue Eyes wasn’t certain if she actually wished to do that. However at some point she went to a live performance. She did not even inform him she was doing it.
“This was by no means deliberate,” she says. “On the time, I wanted one thing that might make me really feel like I had a function.”
Malblueeyes has been a long-time fan of Stardew and has been taking part in since 2017. This was very completely different from the video games she had performed earlier than and was her first true useful resource administration/simulation sport.
“There have been a number of moments the place I simply sat there and thought, ‘Oh my god, I am having a lot enjoyable and I am not petrified of something.’ So I simply thought, why cannot I really like a sport as exhausting as I make it?”
On the stream, Malblueeyes simply began taking part in casually. Then, to make her supply somewhat extra targeted, she began a “problem farm,” a farm that tries to attain a particular purpose underneath very restricted situations, comparable to rising just one crop or elevating solely animals. She began gaining followers on Twitch. Whereas many in her viewers appeared to simply be there for the great vibes, she says many individuals had been first-time gamers and had questions on how she achieved sure issues within the sport.
“For those who’re a Twitch streamer, you’re feeling strain to know one thing,” she says. “And though I performed Stardew for 1,200 hours on Xbox, I shortly realized that there was lots about Stardew that I did not know. So I began growing a problem farm that might pressure me to face facets of Stardew that I did not find out about earlier than, or that I would not actually contact on if I did not need to. So, identical to unlocking the Joja Warehouse, that is my problem. It is turn into a staple on the farm as a result of I’ve by no means completed it earlier than and it was stunning. So among the best methods I’ve discovered is to not need to unlock Joja, however not less than have the ability to see what it is prefer to unlock Joja.
Considered one of Malblueeyes’ first problem farms was referred to as “Floja,” the place she unlocked Joja just by rising flowers and elevating cash. That is an exercise that we’ve not completed a lot of in Stardew Valley to this point. She had a good time and went on to do varied problem runs. In the future she had one other thought.
“One evening I used to be sitting and watching a stream of one among my associates making an attempt to think about a problem farm. It was somebody’s birthday in her chat that day, so I used to be simply hanging out and thought, ‘Oh, what could be enjoyable? It will be enjoyable to create a Blissful Birthday Farm.'” So every time somebody says it is your birthday whereas chatting, it is my birthday. Simply go to the farm and prepare for somewhat occasion. So I believed. “However what actually makes this farm stand out, aside from only a desk and flowers?” That is once I considered the flute block. That was the start. ”
Stardew Valley contains “flute blocks”, that are blocks that may be positioned on this planet and play a particular be aware when a personality passes via them. By combining these strings, gamers can design little melodies that play whereas strolling. Malblueeyes wished to make this Blissful Birthday track, however she admits she’s not a musician. Though she will be able to learn music, she can’t establish the notes by ear. So she sought assist on-line, making an attempt to determine which sound to start out with. That is when she found Music Farm. The Music Farm is a farm devoted to taking part in elaborate tunes as you roam via a maze of flute blocks unfold throughout the map.
“I took Blissful Birthday Farm, rolled it up and threw it away, as a result of who desires Blissful Birthday once I can do one thing greater? And I spent 12 hours making ‘He is a Pirate,’ and that was my first music farm.” “He is a Pirate” from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” soundtrack And I used to be very pleased with that. And now once I look again, I feel, oh, it was horrible. Oh, it was so dangerous. It was horrible. However on the time, it was like the good factor I would ever completed. ”
With some encouragement from associates, Malblueeyes confirmed the viewers Music Farm. And everybody liked it. So she began making extra. As she improved her abilities, she ultimately opened up Channel Factors redemption incentives to permit viewers to request songs, and was quickly flooded with quite a few requests for all types of complicated songs.
“And I am going to determine a approach to do it,” she says. “I at all times informed folks, ‘Give me per week.’ No, generally I would sit there for hours after a stream to determine it out and make it work. After which within the subsequent stream, I would say, ‘Your farm is completed.’ Accomplished. Let’s watch it collectively. ‘And folks liked it, and I liked it. And I’ve by no means felt so energized in a neighborhood. ”
Malblueeyes has been away from Twitch for almost two years, however throughout that point she was nonetheless constructing a music farm and posting on TikTok. She could not assist herself. She began streaming once more in November and is pleased to be again locally after a much-needed hiatus.
“Making others pleased makes me pleased,” she says. “And I do not assume I’ve ever completed something that made folks as pleased as after they requested Music Farm and I made it. Individuals simply liked it and I liked it.”
“It helped me get via the stress and isolation brought on by COVID-19. It is enjoyable to clear my head and see how a lot gross sales I could make on the finish of every 12 months. It is a terrific sport.” –u/onebluephish1981
“It allowed me to grieve for 2 canine that handed away inside a 12 months.” –u/spookychick12
“Stardew got here out proper earlier than I graduated from highschool. On the time, I used to be overwhelmed with the strain of deciding what to do with my future. Though I did not get into my dream program at my dream faculty, I acquired into a terrific faculty and wanted to resolve on a serious instantly. I used to be consistently reminded that my childhood was virtually over and what occurred subsequent may have an effect on the remainder of my life.
“Then I discovered this cute farming sport that jogged my memory of the time I spent in Harvest Moon: A Great Life. For the primary time, I did not have to fret about my future, worrying about stocking the neighborhood middle with the precise gadgets or guessing what items my villager associates would respect. Then I discovered ConcernedApe I learn the story of how he too began this chapter with the door closed…and he selected to open the window. That began me down the trail of pursuing sport growth. I by no means thought there was one thing so particular about this artwork kind that I may create my very own worlds the place others may chill out, problem themselves, or simply escape.
“It is nonetheless an enormous a part of my life. I acquired all my associates to affix it, included the principle overture in my marriage ceremony, went to see each live shows, and even acquired to fulfill the nice man himself in New York. I by no means forgot to thank him, and so many different farmers, for the affect he had on my life.” –u/TinyBoatDev
“After I began taking part in, I used to be in faculty and had simply met my associate. Now we’re grown adults with a house and a 18-year-old son. I can not wait till he is sufficiently old to play with me!”
“Truly, I’ve a confession. I have already got a child save on my Change as a result of the infant at all times tries to press the button whereas I am taking part in. To this point, the infant hasn’t made it previous the primary day as a result of all he does is spin round, open the pause menu, and attempt to throw away instruments. Nevertheless it’ll be there for him when he is prepared!” –u/Pyramid Head Love
Richatton
Stardew Valley streamer, speedrunner, and world file holder Richatton did not begin out taking part in the sport with massive ambitions. When she went reside for the primary time within the new 12 months, because the clock was turning 2021, she wasn’t even planning on turning into a streamer.
She first determined to attempt streaming after taking part in the then-latest 1.5 replace of Stardew Valley, due to a suggestion from a streamer good friend. Richatton had performed Stardew Valley earlier than and had the Yr 8 information, however he described himself as extra obsessive about League of Legends on the time. Her stream managed to draw a number of viewers. In the future, some speedrunners confirmed up on her stream and advised she attempt it out. So Richatton shortly accomplished his batch of fish and appreciated it a lot that he began operating frequently.
Presently, Richatton is the world file holder for reaching stage 50 within the mines, has over 15,000 Twitch subscribers, and has performed over 8,000 hours of Stardew Valley itself.
“I stated to my husband, ‘I need to take a break. Are you able to watch the infant? I’ll go for a velocity run,'” Richatton stated. “And I got here again upstairs and noticed him and thought, ‘I simply set a world file off-stream. Do you assume persons are going to be mad at me?’
Nobody was mad at her. Lichatton says the neighborhood that has shaped round Stardew Valley is likely one of the finest issues in regards to the sport. She discovered it to be particularly pleasant in the direction of ladies, in contrast to different on-line gaming communities. Speedrunning particularly has seen a rise within the variety of ladies on leaderboards in recent times.
“Stardew Valley is a really supportive neighborhood. My neighborhood normally has a number of trolls, so I’ve by no means had any trolls on Twitch or something like that. However they discuss to one another’s communities, so it is like persons are bouncing round from one place to a different, like all my associates are both associates with Haboo (one other record-holding Stardew Valley speedrunner) or associates with different folks.”
Speedrunning Stardew Valley has modified over time, particularly via main patch updates, Richatton explains. Patch 1.6 was particularly stunning as a result of quantity of content material that was added. “Let me provide you with an instance,” she stated, providing an instance that actually may not make sense to somebody who hasn’t performed Stardew Valley but, however ought to instantly click on for avid gamers. “Group Middle, beforehand you needed to improve your own home for 10,000 gold and 450 wooden to get two gadgets in a single bundle, however now you do not have to improve your own home, which suggests you want much less cash and issues change lots.
“Even mining has modified lots, and that is form of the basis of the battle. We used to run in earlier patches, however then we discovered you could get golf equipment at stage 5, so while you kill an enemy, you get an opportunity to climb a ladder, so all the pieces modified and altered drastically.”
Presently, Richatton is engaged on what she describes as a Stardew “randomizer” {that a} good friend created. When you choose a letter of the alphabet, the randomizer provides you an in-game merchandise and also you play to see how shortly you may get that merchandise in a brand new file. “It is virtually over. We’re in Z. So, in Z, she drew Zuzu Metropolis Categorical, the poster you get on the movie show crane sport.”
Richatton’s future ambitions embrace rising the time he takes to achieve the one hundred and twentieth stage of mining. She additionally hopes to ultimately play via the sport with mods, as she has by no means performed it with mods earlier than, regardless of spending hours immersed in it.
“The perfect factor I have been capable of do due to this sport is that my husband and I had been capable of go to (Summer season Video games Dan Fast) just a few years in the past, and it was a really, very rewarding expertise.”
Stardew Valley and its speedruns without end modified Richatton’s each day life. She now has an enormous viewers, new targets to attain, new associates, and followers she by no means imagined. However whereas she loves each speedrunning and streaming, she additionally simply loves Stardew for what it’s.
“Stardew has at all times been one of many video games that acquired me out of adverse days,” she says. “You possibly can have a foul day at work and are available residence to a contented Stardew world the place you possibly can farm, do no matter you need, and simply hang around. That is a type of video games that has at all times been part of my life and could be very particular to me.”
“I have been taking part in for somewhat underneath two years now, and it is my favourite sport on this planet. If I do not play for a month, I get caught in a rut of taking part in nonstop for hours each day. I really like adorning the home and farm, happening dates with Haley, and noting everybody’s beloved items, all meticulously recorded in a spreadsheet. It is also nice to like what good folks make. ConcernedApe has created an incredible sport that I’ll without end rave about. ” –u/ks_wizard
“I began taking part in this sport after my stepfather all of the sudden handed away and I used to be left in an odd limbo eight years in the past throughout a trip. I do not keep in mind how far I acquired on the farm that week, but it surely was a relaxed, stress-free environment the place I did not have to consider actual life. I had been taking part in Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons and had been which means to play it in some unspecified time in the future, but it surely holds a particular place in my coronary heart and brings me some calm construction and luxury that I wanted that week.
“Since then, we’ve got constructed a number of farms, however now we’re again to our first farm, besides to attempt to good it the primary time.
“For me, this sport is the right cozy sport to maintain coming again to. I’ve no intention of repaying (ConcernedApe) for the psychological stability and leisure he gave me for simply $15 (technically extra since I attempted to throw more cash at him and acquired it on each platform I personal).” –u/get_hi_on_life
“As somebody who has struggled with habit and the bottom factors in my life, Stardew has been a really wholesome escape for me. It has been a enjoyable distraction throughout my restoration and every time I felt like reaching small targets in gaming. The music was at all times soothing and soothing, and I liked what ConcernedApe needed to say in regards to the roots of gaming’s creation and what it means to folks all around the world.” –u/wicky knee bar
“It introduced me and my bride nearer collectively.
“She began taking part in on the suggestion of her youngsters. One evening I stunned her. I purchased the sport, created my persona, and created a web based sport for the youngsters to take part in.” When she realized it was me, I used to be fairly shocked to say the least. Cozy video games will not be my factor, however now that I’ve reached perfection as soon as and began just a few extra farms and tried some pariahs, it is turn into a nightly ritual for her and me to play collectively.” –u/piperdon
“As a first-time mom, this sport was the primary time I felt joyful. After I had my first baby, I had a very exhausting time. In hindsight, it could have been postpartum despair, however on the time I did not know what was fallacious with me. My husband ultimately satisfied me to obtain this sport. It introduced me pleasure throughout a troublesome time. I began taking part in this sport 5 years in the past. Years later, I nonetheless play it lots, and once I’m not taking part in it, I am most likely watching Stardew Valley-related content material.”On YouTube I simply accomplished my fifth 12 months of taking part in, and this sport will at all times be particular to me. ” –u/Phyrgianhalfcad
Devin Hedegaard
Devin Hedegaard went to highschool for accounting…and ended up creating some of the in style Stardew Valley mods of all time, and ultimately engaged on Stardew Valley itself.
Hedegaard (aka FlashShifter) had no actual expertise with mods when he first began taking part in Stardew Valley Expanded. He stated he tinkered with Photoshop to create avatars and discussion board signatures, and created customized maps in Advance Wars and StarCraft. He began taking part in Stardew when it launched in 2016, however did not uncover its modding neighborhood till he was laid off in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the time, he says, there have been solely about 800 to 900 mods obtainable for the sport, in comparison with greater than 28,000 mods obtainable at the moment. nexus mod. Hedegaard downloaded a bunch of them and appreciated them a lot that he began instructing himself the right way to make his personal. He discovered the right way to code, create pixel artwork, compose music, and create maps. All of this finally led to Stardew Valley Expanded, a large growth for Stardew Valley that provides “28 new NPCs, 58 places, 278 character occasions, 43 fish, a reimagined vanilla space, three farm maps, a reimagined world map to replicate all of the modifications, new music, questlines, objects, crops, festivals, and different additions.”
Why increase the already huge Stardew Valley?
“Nicely, the way in which I see it, Stardew Valley is already good as it’s. You do not want any mods to take pleasure in Stardew Valley. I fell in love with model 1.2 of Stardew Valley, and it is all Eric’s (Baron, creator) work. It is fully Eric’s personal work, it is all his personal, and you’ll see what the sport did for me. An enormous mod for that. However once I began eager to increase Valley, what I went into with it was, I wished extra NPCs, I wished extra places, I wished extra crops, I wished extra machines, I wished extra quests, and perhaps a full meal with a cocktail on the facet. There have been some potato-focused mods as nicely. It took a number of work, however I used to be pushed by my love for the sport, my love for the neighborhood, and I had a number of dedication and pleasure for the sport typically, which fueled my need so as to add to all the pieces I’ve completed.”
Stardew Valley Expanded was first launched in 2019, and on the time included 30 new character occasions, three new places, and a number of other base sport map redesigns. Hedegaard supposed to cease there, however the MOD started to blow up. It turned so in style that he could not go away it alone. So he made it even greater. He was engaged on model 1.15 of the mod when his life all of the sudden modified.
“My automotive was stolen and I used to be in massive bother. I did not have theft insurance coverage, so I used to be caught within the gap. To not point out, I nonetheless had all my scholar loans to repay,” Hedegaard explains. “I am identical to, ‘What am I going to do?'” I used to be modding full time, and whereas I used to be making somewhat cash doing it, it was simply sufficient cash to pay for meals and lease, not sufficient to repay my scholar loans or purchase a brand new automotive. I like Christmas and I like shopping for Christmas presents for my household and associates. It is like, “What are you going to do?” What are you going to do? ”
That is when Hedegaard did one thing shocking. He contacted Barone and requested him for a job.
“I used to be identical to, ‘Each shot I do not take, I’ll miss.’ So I went to the workplace and so they stated, ‘Yeah, do you need to rent me?’
That is completely different very It could sound loopy. Mr. Hedegaard already knew Barone. He stated they’d performed collectively three or 4 instances earlier than and referred to as them “acquaintances” at that time. We each lived within the Seattle space, so he did not fly all around the nation to do that.
What’s much more stunning is that Barone accepted the thought. He informed Hedegaard he had to consider it. And just some days later, Hedegaard acquired a job supply.
“I do not forget that day fondly. It was among the best days of my life,” he says. “In that second, my life modified. My life had already modified once I first began taking part in Stardew Valley. It modified once I first launched the mod. And it modified once more that day when Eric employed me.”
Hedegaard was employed by ConcernedApe, LLC to work on the following replace for Stardew Valley. Hedegaard was additionally capable of full model 1.15 of Stardew Valley Expanded, which he thought of a “completed” product. He continues to supply bug fixes for the mod as wanted and can replace the mod to be appropriate with a future 1.7 replace as soon as it’s launched.
However aside from that, he is at the moment fully devoted to Stardew Valley itself. He says the sport, its creator, and the job he at the moment holds and loves have modified his life in the easiest way attainable.
“I feel that is what I used to be born to do. It is like my future, my future,” he says. “I’m Joja Corp. I wasn’t going to be an accountant and go to downtown Seattle in a go well with and tie, as a result of I used to be beginning to really feel like, “I do not need to do that anymore.” And you recognize what? Eric gave me that letter, and it modified my life. What he created, what he labored for, working with this workforce, all the pieces Stardew Valley has given me. A part of my development course of is wanting to offer again to the neighborhood and the world and proceed to create. I really like seeing folks pleased, I really like seeing folks play this sport, I really like seeing folks come collectively.
“…I really feel like as time goes on, an increasing number of persons are going to play it. No, even 20 years from now, there’s going to be tens of millions extra individuals who know this sport. The loopy factor is, it has been 10 years since Stardew Valley got here out. The primary 12 months, the second 12 months, some folks had youngsters, they’d infants. And eight years later, these youngsters at the moment are taking part in Stardew Valley. The following era of gamers are going to play Stardew Valley. It is loopy. Eric and I and all of us are taking part in Stardew Valley. “My workforce, we perceive how a lot Stardew Valley means to folks. That is why we need to do proper by our neighborhood at each flip and in each attainable method. And like I’ve stated earlier than, I need to give again all of the love and happiness we acquired. ”
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter at videogameaddicted. Do you will have any story ideas? Ship it to rvalentine@videogameaddicted.com.