From the archives: This interview was originally published 10 years ago this month in PC Gamer #293 (UK, July 2016), shortly after the release of Stardew Valley. Developer Eric Barone reflects on the transformative journey of creating a game that would soon capture the hearts of many. At the time, features like multiplayer were still on the horizon, and Barone was just beginning to grasp the profound impact Stardew Valley would have on his life and career.
Within a year of development, Barone had a nearly finished game in hand. However, as his vision expanded, he found himself repeatedly revisiting and reworking substantial portions of the project. “When you reach that point where you need to redo it all, it feels disheartening—especially knowing you’re in for another year or more of work,” Barone admits. “That happened to me several times.” The journey took a precarious turn when he faced the near cancellation of Stardew Valley due to a catastrophic computer crash. Without any backups, Barone feared the worst but managed to salvage his work by hastily acquiring new hardware, a stroke of luck that would ultimately allow him to continue his dream.
Harvest time
“In retrospect, it feels almost surreal that it all worked out,” he reflects. “The entire development process was so haphazard. It was the epitome of indie development: no professional polish, just figuring things out as I went along, with code that was as scrappy as it gets. I’m almost embarrassed for others to see my code!” Despite this chaotic beginning, Stardew Valley’s meteoric rise to success tells a different story. Drawing inspiration from cherished childhood memories, Barone crafted a game that resonates deeply with PC players, particularly those who longed for a title reminiscent of the console-exclusive Harvest Moon from nearly two decades prior. Barone acknowledges that his motivation stemmed from the realization that the absence of such a game on PC indicated a demand among players like himself.
Barone’s initial expectations were modest, yet the overwhelming global reception of Stardew Valley has left him pleasantly astonished. The positive feedback from players has exceeded his wildest dreams. “My wildest dreams have come true, and I’m in this whole new world,” he exclaims, reflecting on the fruits of his labor.
This success is a testament to Barone’s determination, self-taught coding skills, and the resilience he demonstrated throughout four years of uncertainty. When asked what fueled his perseverance, he states, “I just really wanted to be a game developer. I had told everyone I was making a game—friends and family alike—so there was a lot of self-imposed pressure to prove myself.” With peers already securing jobs in the industry, Barone felt the weight of expectation. “If I’d failed and had to start from scratch, it wouldn’t have been an ideal way to launch my career. I had put all my eggs in one basket.”
With the backing of Starbound publisher Chucklefish, Barone’s ambitions for the future include introducing multiplayer support, console ports, and a plethora of unannounced ideas that he is eager to unveil. He also plans to attend gaming expos this year—a first for him. “My wildest dreams have come true, and my life has completely changed in just one month,” he concludes, embodying the spirit of a creator who has truly arrived in the world of game development.
