Hello everyone!
It’s been a while since I shared any video footage of the game… so here you go!
Joja Corporation is all set up in town:
I also made a new Stardew Valley logo:
I’ve been working on more, but this is all I have to share for now… Thanks for reading!
-Ape
Hi everyone!
So, as I said in the last update, I’m working on the main story-line for Stardew Valley. My aim is to create an overarching narrative/goal that will give players a stronger sense of purpose in the game world.
The main story-line in Stardew Valley centers around an old, overgrown community center:
Some say it’s an eyesore… others say it’s haunted.
This building was once the heart and soul of Pelican Town… a place for citizens to gather, socialize, and collaborate. But that was long ago, In a bygone age when the valley was more isolated from the outside world. Now, the community center is in shambles, a forgotten relic of the past…
Maybe this newcomer can restore these old ruins to their former glory?
The community center is divided into six areas… the Pantry, the Art Studio, the Fish Tank, the Vault, the Bulletin Board, and the Boiler Room. To repair each area, you’ll need to complete a number of “bundles”:
Each bundle consists of a selection of items and corresponds to a unique aspect of the game. They are designed not to be “grindy”, but rather to encourage players to explore the various facets of Stardew Valley. 
When you’ve completed all the bundles for an area, that area will be restored and a permanent, positive change will happen in the valley (a new area might become available, for example).
If I do decide to include Joja Corporation in Stardew Valley, here’s how it will work: If you don’t fully restore the community center within 2 years, Joja Co. demolishes it and builds a mega market in its place.
I am still fiddling with this, and ultimately I will base any final decisions on whatever is the most fun. Even though I’m referring to it as the “main story-line”, there’s still tons of goals and things to do that don’t involve the community center.
On a side note, I also expanded the forest area by a lot… added a lake and some other features:
Thanks for reading!
-ConcernedApe
Done with festivals, now I have to think long and hard about how I want to proceed with the Joja Corporation storyline. I do think that having overarching goals to work towards is important for creating a sense of purpose. And I want to make sure that every step along the way is fun, with satisfying milestones to reach and exciting rewards to discover. This is the sort of thing where proper planning is essential.
Here’s a few more screens from the festivals:
Haunted Maze (The strange hermit who lives in the forest set up the maze alone. He wouldn’t let anyone near it until nightfall. What kind of uncanny power is at work here?)
Stardew Valley Fair (Play carnival games! Set up your own grange display and try to win the judging competition! Have your fortune told! Win Star Tokens and trade them in for rare prizes!)
Slingshot game from the Stardew Valley Fair:
I also expanded the town map by nearly 400%! The buildings have some more room to breathe, and I added some new touches to make Pelican Town more interesting and alive.
Things are coming together. I am really excited! Hope you are all enjoying your summer.
Thanks for reading!
-Ape
Hi everyone.
Lately I’ve been working on festivals. Festivals can take place in any area, and there are at least two per season. You’ll have the opportunity to visit shopping booths, take part in games & activities, or express your romantic interest in someone. Here’s a couple screenshots and brief descriptions of some of the festivals I’ve either completed or are planning on. Any of these ideas could change before release.
Egg Festival – Everyone gathers in town for a celebration of new life after a long winter. The festival concludes with an egg hunt.
Flower Dance – The townsfolk congregate in a secret meadow to feast and socialize. The young people pair up and participate in a time-honored tradition, the “Flower Dance”. It’s your chance to show a special someone that you care… just hope that you don’t get rejected!
Luau – The summer luau is one of Stardew Valley’s most beloved events. The beach is decked out with tropical adornments and a huge buffet is provided for everyone to enjoy. The Regional Governor makes a special trip each year to see what the valley has to offer… something that Mayor Lewis takes very seriously. The highlight of the luau has to be the potluck soup… a huge, simmering cauldron full of ingredients provided by the community.
Dance of the Midnight Jellies – On a warm summer night every year, the midnight jellies pass through Stardew Valley on their long migration home.
Harvest Fair – A celebration of the harvest season. Artisans, farmers, and craftspeople alike prepare exhibits to show off their hard work from throughout the year. A panel of judges awards medals to those with the most compelling displays.
I’ll leave the rest for you to discover on your own.
Things that still need to be done:
Festivals (50% finished)
Married/Family life
Joja Corporation storyline (I might cut this)
Finalizing game progression (making sure you can acquire all items, prices make sense, etc.)
Tying up loose ends (taking everything that is only finished 95% all the way to 100%)
Polishing
Testing
More polishing!
More testing!
Thanks for reading!
-ConcernedApe
Today, I’d like to showcase some of the music in Stardew Valley.
All the music in Stardew is made using a piece of software called Propellerhead Reason. To make a song, I first create/tweak all the instruments I am going to use:
Then comes the composition… laying down each note in a “sequencer” (With plenty of copy & paste):
For Stardew, It’s important to me that each song enhances the atmosphere of the current scene. I tried my best to capture the “essence” of each season… hopeful spring, energetic summer, melancholy fall, and lonely winter. I use a lot of banjo, strings, harp, mallets, and flute to evoke the natural wonders of the valley.
Each season has multiple songs that play randomly. Seasonal songs don’t loop over and over again whenever you are outside… instead, ambient seasonal soundscapes fill the void between songs.
Fall. A somber time of mystery and beauty. The sun, low in the sky, paints golden light onto the tumbling leaves :
Winter. Lonely, cold, and majestic. Great frozen monuments loom in the distance:
Spring. A time of hope and fresh beginnings. The sweet smell of honey and nectar wafts overs the green hills:
Summer. A happy time of year when plants and animals alike are bustling in a frenzied dance of life-energy:
Beyond the seasonal tunes, there’s plenty of music having to do with character events and festivals:
And of course… some strange music to be heard deep underground:
I am now working on festivals. I am able to use a lot of the same code/scripting as the event cutscenes, which is great.
Happy easter, everyone:
Thanks for reading/listening!
-ConcernedApe
Hi everyone,
It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update. I’m still absolutely working on the game and making progress every day! I haven’t posted anything in a while for several reasons. For one, I’ve been working on stuff that would either be a spoiler or just plain boring to share. Secondly, I spent a short period working on a side project in addition to Stardew (I am now back to working on Stardew exclusively). Lastly, I’ve been spending less time on the computer and actually making time to relax and partake in leisure activities… not only to enjoy life but also to make my time developing Stardew more productive (so that when I do sit down to work I am more focused).
Here’s a couple screenshots:
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments (stardewvalley @ gmail)
Thanks for reading!
-Ape
Hey, I know it’s been a while since the last update. The main reason is that I’ve been working on stuff that really isn’t that interesting or suitable for sharing (e.g. writing character dialogues). But development is still progressing as usual!
I know earlier this year I estimated that the game would be done before 2014. Well… I have to say that I will probably not be able to meet that estimate anymore.
I’ve always been a little uncomfortable giving release estimates for Stardew. It’s stressful to build up hope for a specific release date, knowing that I might have to disappoint everyone by pushing it back. And i’m definitely guilty of being a little too optimistic about development timetables. Ultimately, though… I think most will agree with me that a slow-cooked, polished game is better than a rushed, quick release.
Now it may seem, from previous updates and screenshots, that Stardew Valley is very polished and ready for release. The truth is that I mainly post screenshots of things that I am proud of, which usually happen to be things that are mostly finished already. I typically don’t post screenshots of things that look incomplete… things that still require some development time. This, of course, will give the impression that the game is more complete than it actually is.
How complete is the game? Well, there are still a couple of features that I haven’t even begun yet… but, they all should be relatively minor in terms of development time. Other than that, there is a lot of polish and fleshing-out to be done before it’s ready. There are also some technical (i.e. not involving actual in-game content) things which I *might* need to do before release.
So, while the game is definitely “mostly done”, there are still plenty of things that need to be finished before I am comfortable releasing it. I am still working as fast as I possibly can without compromising on the quality of the game (and also while maintaining my own sanity, for those of you who saw me playing Terraria on Steam recently :p ). Thanks to all of you for being so patient, compassionate, and supportive during this process… I really do appreciate it!
Anyway, enough with the boring stuff!
Here’s a quick look at all the characters you can date/marry (minor spoilers in the form of character bios ahead):
Abigail
Abigail lives at the general store with her parents. She sometimes fights with her mom, who worries about Abigail’s “alternative lifestyle”. Her mom has the following to say: “I wish Abby would dress more appropriately and stop dyeing her hair blue. She has such a wonderful natural hair color, just like her grandmother did. Oh, and I wish she’d find some wholesome interests instead of this occult nonsense she’s into.” You might find Abigail alone in the graveyard, or maybe out in a rainstorm looking for frogs.
Haley
Being wealthy and popular throughout high school has made Haley a little conceited and self-centered. She has a tendency to judge people for superficial reasons. But is it too late for her to discover a deeper meaning to life? Is there a fun, open-minded young woman hidden within that candy-coated shell?
Maru
Growing up with a carpenter and a scientist for parents, Maru acquired a passion for creating gadgets at a young age. When she isn’t in her room, fiddling with tools and machinery, she sometimes does odd jobs at the local clinic. Friendly, outgoing, and ambitious, Maru would be quite a lucky match for a lowly newcomer such as yourself… Can you win her heart, or will she slip through your fingers and disappear from your life forever?
Leah
Leah lives alone in a small cabin just outside of town. She loves to spend time outside, foraging for a wild meal or simply enjoying the gifts of the season. She’s a talented artist with a large portfolio of work… yet she’s too nervous to display it to the public. Maybe you can give her a little confidence boost?
Penny
Penny lives with her mom, Pam, in a little trailer by the river. While Pam is out carousing at the saloon, Penny quietly tends to her chores in the dim, stuffy room she is forced to call home. She is shy and modest, without any grand ambitions for life other than settling in and starting a family. She likes to cook (although her skills are questionable) and read books from the local library.
Sebastian
Sebastian is a rebellious loner who lives in his parents’ basement. He is Maru’s older half-brother, and feels like his sister gets all the attention and adoration, while he is left to rot in the dark. He tends to get deeply absorbed in computer games, comic books, and sci-fi novels, and will sometimes spend great lengths of time pursuing these hobbies alone in his room. He can be a bit unfriendly to people he doesn’t know. Could a charming new farmer cultivate the wasteland of his heart? Who knows?
Josh
Josh loves sports and hanging out at the beach. He is quite arrogant and brags to everyone that he is going to be a professional athlete. Is his cockiness just a facade to mask his crushing self-doubt? Is he using his sports dream to fill the void left by the disappearance of his parents? Or is he just a brazen youth trying to “look cool”?
Elliott
Elliott lives alone in a cabin on the beach. He is a writer who dreams of one day writing a magnificent novel. He is a sentimental “romantic” with a tendency to go off onto flowery, poetic tangents. When he can afford it, he enjoys a strong beverage at the saloon. Could a humble farmer such as yourself be the inspiration Elliott is looking for? There’s only one way to find out…
Harvey
Harvey is the town doctor. He’s a little old for a bachelor, but he has a kind heart and a respected position in the community. He lives in a small apartment above the medical clinic, but spends most of his time working. You can sense a sadness about him, as if there’s something he’s not telling you…
Sam
Sam is an outgoing, friendly guy who is brimming with youthful energy. He plays guitar and drums, and wants to start a band with Sebastian as soon as he has enough songs together. However, he does have a habit of starting ambitious projects and not finishing them. Sam is a little stressed about the impending return of his father, who has been away for years due to his line of work.
Here’s another long overdue development update!
Fishing
The most recent thing I’ve been working on is fishing. I’ve added:
Here’s a video sneak peek:
You’ll also notice a new on-screen display in the upper right, which includes a snazzy new money dial to make your profiteering a bit more satisfying (sparkles, coin sounds, flying profit/loss indicators, you name it).
I’ve also added item quality (for select types of items), fertilizers, sprinklers, wells, little indicators when a “maker” is ready to be harvested, and the ability for your bee houses to produce flower-specific honey if they are close enough:
Fertilizers can increase the quality of your crops, make them grow faster, or retain moisture so you don’t have to water the soil as often.
Contrary to what one might think based on the low update frequency, I am working hard on the game every day. It’s just a lot of work for one guy, and my main focus is on developing… so unfortunately the updates get neglected sometimes. Anyways, thanks for reading!
-ConcernedApe
I’ve been working on farm animals:
More Info
Some animals (e.g. Dairy Cows) are intended to be kept only for their milk/wool/etc, some (e.g. Hogs) only for their meat, and some (e.g. Chickens) for both!
You can “inspect” animals to see info about their mood, hunger, affection towards you, etc.
Keep your animal happy (and maximize production) like so:
Happy animals produce more valuable products!
I’ve also been working on some secret “farm events” that I won’t reveal!
Thanks for reading 🙂
-ConcernedApe
Fruit Trees:
Fruit trees are a long-term investment for your farm. They don’t need to be watered, but they are expensive to buy, need a lot of space, and require a full year of growth before they’ll produce any fruit. However, once it’s established, your tree will provide you with juicy morsels every day during its fruiting season!
What will you do with your new fruit?
Sell it?
Cook with it?
Give it to your sweetie?
Throw the pungent little thing into an oak barrel and spend the winter guzzling strong wine? (don’t do that)
I’ve added new areas and expanded some other ones substantially… including redrawing everything on the beach and adding seagulls & flowing water!
Here’s a couple new screenshots:
These pumpkins don’t actually come from space but it looked compelling anyways—> 
