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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! STARDEW VALLEY’S ERIC BARONE!

From humble beginnings to indie video game sensation.

THE RISE OF COZY GAMING FINDING COMFORT IN VIRTUAL WORLDS

Within the gaming industry, the notion of ‘cozy gaming’ has definitely been on the rise lately.

CONSOLE GAMING: WHICH IS BETTER?

If you’re trying to decide between PC gaming vs console, we’ll break down each part of the debate to help you decide what’s best for you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Chie Tumang

WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jacob Fox

Josh Susak

King 5

Kristi’s Blog

Max Freeman Mills

Tom Marks

Chie Tumang

SPECIAL THANKS

Brian Bringas

Leo Javier

Kianne Xavier Hecita

Exclusive Interview with Eric Barone, Creator of the Indie Video Game

Sensation: Stardew Valley

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The Rise of Cozy Gaming: Finding Comfort in Virtual Worlds!

The Evolution of Nintendo from the 80’s to the Present!

12 Cozy Games that you Should Try

Artist of the Month, April Edition! See who’s featured

Q.

To make the readers more familar with yourself, who are you?

My name is Eric but on the internet I usually go by ConcernedApe. I’m 24 years old. I grew up playing the A SNES classics like Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Earthbound, and of course, Harvest Moon. I also have fond memories of old PC games like King’s Quest and Hero’s Quest. When I was in high school I was mainly interested in making music and art. I played guitar in a couple of embarrassing bands and spent a lot of time making my own electronic music. I didn’t know it at the time, but I think those experiences are what really set me down the path to making my own video games.

Before Stardew Valley was released!

Q. What is Stardew Valley exactly?

Stardew Valley is a “Country Life Simulator” with a lot of RPG elements. I like to say “Country A

Life” because I want to emphasize that the game is not only about farming but about a lot of other things too. If I ever achieve my grand vision for the game, farming will be just one of several different “professions” you could choose, and each one would be complex enough to be a whole game in itself. The overarching plot, though, is that you are living near a country town and making a new life for yourself while getting to know the locals.

FUN FACT

Eric developed Stardew Valley alone, he created the pixel art, coded the game, written the music SuperNintendo(SNE

Q.

What program are you using to make the game?

Stardew Valley is written in C#, using the XNA framework. The graphics were made in Photoshop and Paint.NET, and the music/SFX with Propellerhead Reason. A

Q.

How much do you think the game will be once it’s released?

Probably around $10. A

Q.

Since the game is based off Harvest Moon, which was your favorite one?

Back to Nature, for Playstation. I even roleplayed as Basil on a Harvest Moon Minecraft server, A lol I also just want to say that while Stardew Valley is heavily influenced by Harvest Moon, MY MAIN GOAL IS TO ADD NEW AND ORIGINAL FEATURES TO THE GENRE, EVENTUALLY EXTENDING IT WELL BEYOND A SOLE FARMING EMPHASIS.

Q. Will Stardew Valley be on any other platforms besides Steam? (Example: Desura)

Yeah, I understand that my game will probably not get on Steam unless I release an alpha version A and promote it like crazy, so I am focusing on getting an alpha released on Desura. Then I will continue to update the game in response to players’ feedback. Hopefully, if enough people like Stardew Valley they will help me spread the word and get it on Steam.

If Stardew Valley is a success, I would also like to eventually release it on Xbox. One of the nice things about the XNA framework is that it allows you to develop for PC and Xbox simultaneously, so you really don’t have to do much work if your game already runs on PC.

SPOILER ALERT! It was indeed successful

Q & A with ERIC BARONE before

Q. What made you actually want to make your own game?

I love making video games because it allows me to do all the things I enjoy (making music, drawing, A programming, and writing) and combine them into something that will hopefully be fun and memorable to others. There’s almost no limit to what you can create with a video game. It feels really liberating to know that. Video games still give me the wonderful feeling I had as a child, that you are peering into another world full of mysteries and possibilities and If I could create such a world for others, one that really excites the imagination, I’d be very happy.

Q.

A

For the final question, if the game becomes a huge success, can we expect more games from you?

Yes! I like to think of STARDEW VALLEY AS A “FIRST STEP”

I’ve learned a lot about making games in the process, and I would love to apply what I’ve learned to grander and more wonderful things!

Stardew Valley was released!

It has been 12 years since this interview. As of 2024, Stardew Valley has sold 30 million copies, and its creator says it’s “thriving more than ever” Stardew Valley creator reveals the farming sim is “thriving more than ever” and has sold 30 million copies!

SUMMER SALE Steam

APRIL 14-22

GAME ROOM’S

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

APRIL 2024

PINATAPANG

Pinatapang was created by Chie Tumang to give appreciation to her Ivatan roots. “Pinatapang” in Ivatan means connected to represent the inspiration behind the design of the typeface as well as the courage of Ivatans. Inspirations were taken from Batanes’ rock formation, the Yuvuk, and Ivatan artist Jaypee Fortez.

Batanes Rock Formation

These formations are found along the coastlines of the islands and are composed of columns of rock that have been shaped by the forces of wind and water over millions of years.

Yuvuk is a farming container for women used for keeping, handling or transporting farm products. The artistic cone- shaped basket is carried with a strap suspended and hanged at the back.

The Rise of Cozy Gaming:

Finding Comfort in Virtual Worlds

Coziness can take on many forms, and everyone has their favourite cozy experiences from time to time. To some, coziness means kicking back and binge-watching their favourite show after a long day of studying. To others, it means snuggling up in bed after a refreshing bath, finishing the day with a few pages from their favourite novel. What do all these moments have in common?

CONTENTMENT, COMFORT, AND WARMTH.

and laid down the foundations for coziness in the industry to prosper. Being someone who has previously played a wide range of genres, I always see myself being pulled back to cozy games, enamoured by their charming messages which, in my opinion, have been getting increasingly harder to find amidst an industry recently plagued with money-grabbing AAA titles, gachas, and grindy games. As a university student, cozy games also provide the perfect chance to wind down after a laborious day at the Maughan Library, while not feeling that I have to spend all evening devoting myself to the game, creating a healthy work/play balance.

Within the gaming industry, the notion of ‘cozy gaming’ has definitely been on the rise lately. Over the past few years, especially since the pandemic, this niche collection of games has proven to be immensely popular, with both novice and experienced gamers alike looking to get into the coziness and only continue to gain further traction. Essentially, developers of ‘cozy’ games take these core feelings of coziness found in our everyday lives and translate them, be it through captivating storylines, aesthetic artwork, or positive messages into playable experiences. What I have noticed is that many games considered ‘cozy’ have actually taken ideas from games developed 10-15+ years ago, back when the phrase simply didn’t exist – classics you may recognise like ‘Animal Crossing: Wild World’, ‘Nintendogs’, ‘Viva Piñata’, ‘The Sims’, and the ‘Cooking Mama’ franchise were all quite popular, albeit marked as ‘simulation-type’ games rather than ‘cozy’. These games have definitely contributed to the success of cozy gaming today [

In this article, I’ll analyse the main characteristics found in cozy games, the key decisions that developers make during production, and how this has led to much larger adoption from players across all consoles and all genres.

SIMPLE TO PICK UP, EASY TO MASTER

In most cozy genre games, I’ve observed a common trend: they intentionally maintain simple learning curves, allowing players to progressively enhance their skills while ensuring a high degree of engagement and interactivity. Thanks to their easy-to-understand controls and overall freedom, these games readily immerse players with minimal effort. Players of all skill levels, whether they’re newcomers, returning after a break, or working through their Steam Summer Sale backlog, can enjoy these games.

“Stress levels tend to remain consistently low in cozy games, a stark contrast to other genres that frequently induce spikes in stress levels.”

FEELINGS OF HAPPINESS, SAFETY, AND POSITIVITY

Unlike many other games that can feel repetitive or burdensome, cozy games prioritize creating positive player experiences. They avoid the grind and intense skill-testing elements found in multiplayer-focused titles and discourage time-consuming gameplay. Instead, cozy games focus on fostering player satisfaction after each session.

Unlike other multiplayer games where poor performance can lead to guilt or frustration, cozy games provide continuous positive feedback and reinforcement. This repeated positivity can significantly benefit players’ overall well-being by allowing them to unwind and express themselves without added mental strain.

INTENTIONALLY LOW DIFFICULTY LEVELS

While all games naturally incorporate a level of challenge that evolves with player progression to enhance the learning experience, cozy games predominantly opt for a gentler difficulty curve, intentionally prioritizing feelings of contentment and tranquility over frustration and anger. Returning to the theme of coziness, game developers have recognized the existence of a distinct player base seeking precisely this soothing atmosphere, which has been notably absent from the gaming landscape for some time.

COZY GAMES YOU SHOULD TRY STARDEW VALLEY 01

Stardew Valley is an open-ended country-life RPG! You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with handme-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home?

Forget stressful leaderboards and time-sensitive missions. These games let you play at your own pace.

SPIRITFAIRER

Spiritfarer is a cozy management game about dying. You play Stella, ferrymaster to the deceased, a Spiritfarer. Build a boat to explore the world, then befriend and care for spirits before finally releasing them into the afterlife. Farm, mine, fish, harvest, cook, and craft your way across mystical seas.

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12 COZY GAMES YOU SHOULD TRY

COFFEE TALK

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The game follows a barista working in a coffee shop in a fantasy version of Seattle as they listen to the concerns of the coffee shop’s various patrons and prepare drinks. The game features an aesthetic inspired by 90s anime, pixel art, and the lofi chillhop genre of music.

Forget stressful leaderboards and time-sensitive missions. These games let you play at your own pace.

ASSEMBLE WITH CARE

Assemble with Care is a puzzle and story-focused game. Players take on the role of Maria, a traveling repair woman, as she reaches the small town of Bellariva. By helping to fix items from around the town, Maria learns about the lives of the locals, in particular, the internal struggles of two families.

12 COZY GAMES YOU SHOULD TRY VENBA

Venba is a short narrative cooking game, where you play as an Indian mom who immigrates to Canada with her family in the 1980s. Cook various dishes and restore lost recipes, hold branching conversations, and explore South Indian food in this story about family, love, and loss.

Forget stressful leaderboards and time-sensitive missions. These games let you play at your own pace.

HOUSE FLIPPER

House Flipper is a unique chance to become a oneman renovation crew.

Buy, repair and remodel devastated houses. Give them a second life and sell them at a profit!

12 COZY GAMES YOU SHOULD TRY FLORENCE

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It’s short, but deeply meaningful. At 25, Florence Yeoh feels a little stuck. Her life is an endless routine of work, sleep, and spending too much time on social media. Then one day, she meets a cello player named Krish who changes everything about how she sees the world.

Forget stressful leaderboards and time-sensitive missions. These games let you play at your own pace.

MINI MOTORWAYS

Mini Motorways is a strategy simulation game about designing the road map for a growing city. Build a traffic network, one road at a time, to create a bustling metropolis. Redesign your roads and place your motorways to get everyone where they need to go. How long can you keep the city moving?

SHOULD

Create, pack and sell your own unique sticker creations! Experience the joy of running your own cozy small business: Create stickers, pack orders and hear your customers’ stories. Time to build the cutest shop on the internet!

Forget stressful leaderboards and time-sensitive missions. These games let you play at your own pace.

STRANGE HORTICULTURE 10

Strange Horticulture is an occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel

Undermere’s dark mysteries.

Escape to a deserted island and create your own paradise as you explore, create, and customize in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons game.

Forget stressful leaderboards and time-sensitive missions. These games let you play at your own pace.

ALBA: A WILDLIFE ADVENTURE

Join Alba as she visits her grandparents on a Mediterranean island. She is ready for a peaceful summer of wildlife exploration with her friend Ines, but when she sees an animal in danger, she realises she needs to do something about it. This is truly a Mediterranean paradise if you ignore all the litter!

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