Why Stardew Valley’s Creator Hated His Game

Summary

Eric Baron spent 4.5 years developing Stardew Valley alone, inspired by his artistic mother and technical father. Despite hating his creation initially, the game became a massive indie success. His journey involved learning diverse skills, working odd jobs, and relying on his supportive girlfriend Amber. After numerous setbacks and self-doubt, Eric's persistence paid off as Stardew Valley sold millions of copies, earning him both wealth and recognition.

Takeaways

• 😀 Eric Baron spent 4 and a half years developing Stardew Valley, working solo on all aspects of the game.
• 👨‍🎨 Eric's parents inspired his diverse skill set, with his mother's artistic influence and his father's technical guidance in programming.
• 🎵 Eric's musical interests and experiences, including forming a band, contributed to his multifaceted approach to game development.
• 🌾 Stardew Valley was initially a passion project, inspired by the Harvest Moon series, which Eric and his girlfriend Amber both enjoyed.
• 💻 Eric chose to build the game engine from scratch using Java and C#, showcasing his dedication to a hands-on development process.
• 🖌️ He created all the pixel art and composed the music for the game, reflecting his comprehensive involvement in the project.
• 🏡 Financial struggles and a period of living with his parents motivated Eric to complete the game and avoid a conventional 9-to-5 job.
• 🤝 The partnership with Chucklefish provided publishing support and resources, which was crucial for Stardew Valley's success.
• 🚀 Despite initial doubts and a near-instant success, Eric's persistence paid off as Stardew Valley sold 500,000 copies in the first two weeks.
• 🔄 Post-launch, Eric continued to support the game with bug fixes and updates, demonstrating his commitment to the player experience.

Q & A

How long did Eric Baron spend developing Stardew Valley?

Eric Baron spent 4 and 1/2 years developing Stardew Valley.

What was Eric's initial reaction to his own game before its release?

Eric Baron thought his game 'sucks' just a few days before releasing Stardew Valley.

What were some of the skills Eric had to learn to make a game by himself?

Eric had to learn coding, composing music, creating art, and more to develop Stardew Valley.

What inspired Eric to learn programming at a young age?

Eric's father encouraged him to follow his interest in computers and offered him a reward for coding a program that generates the Fibonacci sequence.

How did Eric's musical background influence his game development?

Eric's musical background influenced his game development by allowing him to compose all the music for Stardew Valley.

What was the significance of the Harvest Moon video game franchise in Eric's life?

The Harvest Moon franchise was significant as it was a shared interest with his girlfriend Amber, and it inspired Eric to create his own version, Stardew Valley.

Why did Eric decide to make a game during his job search?

Eric decided to make a game to improve his job prospects by having a notable project on his resume.

What was the original name of Stardew Valley and why was it changed?

The original name of Stardew Valley was Sprout Valley, but it was rebranded to Stardew Valley soon after.

How did Eric manage to continue working on Stardew Valley despite financial difficulties?

Eric managed to continue working on Stardew Valley by living rent-free with his parents, having Amber support them with her jobs, and later by taking a part-time job as an usher at a theater.

What was the turning point for Stardew Valley in terms of public interest?

The turning point for Stardew Valley was when it was officially greenlit by the community on Steam Greenlight, which led to increased public interest.

How did Eric feel about the game just before its launch?

Eric felt that the game was not good enough and was sick of working on it just before its launch.

What was the initial sales target for Stardew Valley and how did the actual sales compare?

Eric was hoping to sell maybe 10 or 20,000 copies at most, but by the end of the first 2 weeks, he had sold 500,000 copies.

How has Eric's life changed after the success of Stardew Valley?

Eric became a millionaire multiple times over, but he chose to live a modest life, continuing to live in the same house and drive his old car until it gave out.