Why I Stopped Playing Stardew Valley

Summary

In this reflective video, the creator shares why they stopped uploading Stardew Valley content, despite its popularity on their channel. They cite burnout from repetitive gameplay, lack of new ideas, and a desire to explore other games and creative avenues. They express gratitude towards the Stardew Valley community and explain the shift to new types of videos. The creator also addresses questions about streaming, 100% gameplay videos, and the possibility of covering other games like Slay the Spire or Slime Rancher 2. Ultimately, they share their excitement for future content and their ongoing love for Stardew Valley.

Takeaways

• 😀 The creator stopped making Stardew Valley videos after hitting 100% completion and experiencing burnout from repetitive content.
• 🎮 The primary reason for the shift in content was the desire to explore other games and expand the channel beyond just Stardew Valley.
• 💡 Burnout was a significant factor—creating repetitive speedruns and mod videos led to frustration and a lack of creative inspiration.
• 🎯 The creator felt that they had exhausted all ideas for Stardew Valley content, from speedruns to challenges, leaving little room for new material.
• 🔄 The 1.6 update for Stardew Valley didn't offer enough substantial new content to warrant a return, unlike the more impactful 1.5 update with Ginger Island.
• 📝 The creator enjoys crafting more detailed, scripted content, such as the *Moonstone Island* video, which has allowed them to explore more creative narratives.
• 📉 Streaming was stopped because it drained the creator's energy and felt unproductive compared to recording and editing, which is more efficient for their style.
• ⏳ Extended gameplay videos (like 6-hour playthroughs) are unappealing to the creator due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay, which doesn't suit their content format.
• 🕹️ Rogue-like games such as *Slay the Spire* and *Dead Cells* aren't likely to be covered, as the creator finds them repetitive and lacking in engaging narratives for video content.
• 💖 Despite moving away from Stardew Valley, the creator expressed deep appreciation for the Stardew Valley community and still watches other creators' content.

Q & A

Why did the creator stop uploading Stardew Valley videos?

The creator stopped uploading Stardew Valley videos for several reasons: they wanted to grow their channel by exploring other games, they were burnt out from repetitive gameplay, and they ran out of fresh content ideas for Stardew Valley. They also felt they had covered every major aspect of the game and didn’t find the 1.6 update significant enough to create new videos.

How did burnout affect the creator’s approach to Stardew Valley content?

Burnout made the creator feel frustrated and unmotivated. The repetitive nature of their content, such as speedruns and mod videos, felt exhausting. They described the burnout as reaching a point where they felt they had exhausted all creative ideas, leading to a desire to explore new games and fresh content.

What were the creator’s thoughts on the Stardew Valley 1.6 update?

The creator didn't find the 1.6 update compelling enough for a full video. While there were new items and features, they felt that the update was more of a quality-of-life improvement rather than something substantial like the Ginger Island update in 1.5. Additionally, they felt that most of the new achievements in 1.6 would be too basic to warrant a video.

Did the creator ever consider returning to Stardew Valley in the future?

Yes, the creator expressed interest in returning to Stardew Valley casually, particularly to explore the 1.6 update, but they made it clear that there would not be a dedicated video about it on the main channel. They might consider covering the update on their second channel instead.

What was the main reason for the creator stopping their streams?

The creator stopped streaming because they didn’t have the energy for long streaming sessions. They could only stream for about 2 hours before burning out, and their current video-making process, which involved recording for extended hours, was more energy-efficient for the type of content they wanted to produce.

Why doesn’t the creator upload supercut videos of their long playthroughs?

The creator doesn’t upload supercut videos because they believe the long playthroughs wouldn’t be interesting to viewers. Their editing process condenses footage into a more engaging format, cutting out less significant moments like grinding or repetitive actions, which wouldn't translate well into a supercut format.

Does the creator plan to cover other roguelikes like Slay the Spire or Dead Cells?

The creator does not plan to cover most roguelikes on their channel. They feel that videos on games like Slay the Spire or Dead Cells would be too fragmented and repetitive, focusing mainly on individual runs which would be difficult to make engaging for viewers. However, they are open to possibly covering Binding of Isaac in the future in a more structured manner.

What is the creator's opinion on the storytelling aspect of games like roguelikes?

The creator feels that roguelikes, while enjoyable, lack the depth for storytelling compared to other games. Games like Slay the Spire or Dead Cells are very run-based, which means the narrative doesn't evolve in a way that supports deep, engaging content. They found that the most interesting part of their Celeste video was its story-driven elements, which they feel are absent in most roguelikes.

Why does the creator plan to cover Slime Rancher 2, but only after Early Access?

The creator plans to cover Slime Rancher 2 once it exits Early Access because the game currently lacks Steam achievements. They prefer to wait for the full release to provide a more complete and meaningful experience for both themselves and their audience.

How does the creator feel about their transition to a new style of content?

The creator feels very positive about the shift in content style. They enjoy creating scripted videos with a more polished narrative, such as the Moonstone Island video, which they consider their favorite. They have found new inspiration and creative freedom by exploring different types of content beyond Stardew Valley.