Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone developed the farming simulation Stardew Valley by himself. Since its release, the title has been a constant favorite. A fan recently got the chance to show the developer his game save on YouTube – and is praised for his clever idea.
How did this opportunity arise? Barone was a guest on the Tigerbelly podcast on YouTube. There, he had a conversation with Bobby Lee, a stand-up comedian and actor. Lee is a huge fan of Stardew Valley. So much so that he even asks his interview partners out of the blue if they have played the farm simulation (via YouTube).
Additionally, it is already visible in the menu that he has invested over 400 hours in his save file.
When he is allowed to show Barone his farm, he becomes visibly tense. He stutters several times and also says that he is totally nervous. After that, he presents his daily routine and what he has to do on his farm. Even then, he stumbles over his words repeatedly – even though he has no reason to.
Barone is impressed by the player
What impresses about the farm? The player shows how he makes as much money as possible. He possesses heaps of diamonds in 5 buildings and barrels in which wine is made from an ancient fruit. The latter is one of the most valuable items in the game that can be sold. This way, he can quickly acquire a lot of money.
As a result, the player has amassed a proud fortune of over 58 million gold.
What does Barone say about the game save? The developer wonders why the player has two Infinite Blades. He suspects that the player might always have access to a sword when he goes left or right in the quick selection.
Lee clarifies: He has two Infinite Blades, one with the enchantment Crusader, and one with the enchantment Bug Killer. This way, he deals more damage against all the monsters he encounters in the Skull Cavern.
Barone is visibly impressed by this and reveals that he has never seen anything like it. Then, the entire podcast team starts cheering and laughing. The developer adds that not even he had thought of that and is very impressed. Lee is so happy about it that he would almost cry.
In conclusion, Barone says: ‘I mean, it looks amazing. I think you’ve gotten the most out of it, you’ve achieved perfection on this farm.’ There couldn’t be a greater accolade for the fan.
The developer of the indie game, unlike the player, isn’t focused on money at all. He swears that he would never charge money for a DLC. This makes him even more likable: ‘I would never charge for DLCs’ – Developer of popular Steam game voluntarily lets go of a lot of money
