Stardew Valley
The Supernatural And Mysterious Nature Of Creativity
We spoke with Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone about the game’s 10-year anniversary, the difficult art of managing creativity and unexpected celebrity, and how Haunted Chocolatier – though still far from release – fits into his plans
Eric Barone is wearing a faux shearling-lined corduroy jacket as he sits in an office chair. The Stardew Valley creator has worn this particular piece of clothing so often that it’s become part of his signature look. People in the comment sections of YouTube videos point out whenever he wears something different, just because his fans are so used to seeing him in it.
The fact that people recognize Barone by what he wears is a testament to the popularity of his work. Online, the developer isn’t always front-and-center when it comes to how he interacts with fans. He also goes by the alias “ConcernedApe,” and fans know him as his avatar, pixelated art of a slightly deformed creature with rosy cheeks. Despite this, the popularity of his work has superseded any possible anonymity to a point where he has become one of the most recognizable creators in the world of video games – and people know his favorite jacket.
Even if a person hasn’t played it, it’s entirely likely they’ve at least heard of Barone’s game, Stardew Valley. It is one of the most popular indie titles of all time, having sold over 41 million copies across all platforms, according to a two-year-old post from the creator. The English-language subreddit dedicated to the game has more than 1.2 million members. It has also inspired one of the largest modding communities in the world, with roughly 30,000 mods on NexusMods. It’s available to play in twelve languages and has been ported to all major platforms.