"When farming sim Stardew Valley first came out back in 2016, most of us saw it as a modest indie hit, offering charm, wit and a beautiful little world. Ten years later, this tiny indie has sold nearly 50m copies. If you haven't played it yourself, you've probably seen someone playing it on the train (or, in the case of one of my musical theatre castmates, in the dressing room between scenes)."
"While developer Eric ConcernedApe Barone now has a small team to help with periodic updates, the original game his first was all his own work, from the distinctive pixel art and animations to the soundtrack that has since toured the world in concert. Unable to get a job after university, he'd started his own project inspired by the Harvest Moon series."
"The ability to pursue a romantic relationship with other townsfolk is a key part of the game's popularity as demonstrated by the thousands who tuned in to a video from Barone revealing the identities of two new marriage candidates and the fact that all potential spouses are available to the player character regardless of gender has helped the game garner a dedicated queer fanbase."
Stardew Valley, released in 2016 by solo developer Eric Barone, has sold nearly 50 million copies and become a cultural phenomenon. Originally inspired by the Harvest Moon series, the game rejuvenated the entire farming and life simulation genre. Barone created everything himself, including pixel art, animations, and soundtrack. A key factor in its popularity is the inclusion of queer romance options, allowing players to pursue relationships with any townsperson regardless of their character's gender. This inclusive design attracted a dedicated queer fanbase and inspired a thriving modding community that continues creating new features and stories for the game.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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