joja or community?

[Lydia3.3]

I’ve just started a second world to get closer to Shane haha, i was just wondering the pros and cons of doing Joja? the villagers all hate it, right? and Pierre’s shop is struggling and Penny always says that things went downhill since they moved in, however, a few people work there, like Shane, and Pam goes there all the time. Thoughts?

 

[PoppyForPenny]

The joja route can be useful if you have a plan for your game that doesn't include certain aspects of gameplay. For example, if you only want to grow flowers, or only wild seeds, or not have any crops, or no animals. I find it more difficult without the little rewards for each bundle, and obviously, it's much more expensive.
Instead of Clint closing on Fridays to hang out at the community center, Pierre's remains closed on Wednesdays. And instead of the joja mart becoming the theater, the community center does, which I don't think fits as well by the fountain and playground.
If you haven't done remixed bundles a few times, I wouldn't necessarily do the joja route yet.

 

[Lydia3.3]

The joja route can be useful if you have a plan for your game that doesn't include certain aspects of gameplay. For example, if you only want to grow flowers, or only wild seeds, or not have any crops, or no animals. I find it more difficult without the little rewards for each bundle, and obviously, it's much more expensive.
Instead of Clint closing on Fridays to hang out at the community center, Pierre's remains closed on Wednesdays. And instead of the joja mart becoming the theater, the community center does, which I don't think fits as well by the fountain and playground.
If you haven't done remixed bundles a few times, I wouldn't necessarily do the joja route yet.

out of curiosity, what would happen to the greenhouse on the farm? would it still become a greenhouse or not?

 

[HaleyRocks]

JOJA. Villagers don't change scedule, you can still complete bundles and chase after rewards, save for a last one before getting the Joja membership, you can buy autopetters at will (they are a very rare drop in Skull Caverns, otherwise), the Movie Theater lies in a more convenient place, J-Market is still around and is open many hours in a row till 23:00 (plus it sells sunflowers cheaper) and your "Perfection Trophy" not only is decorative, but produces Joja cola daily, on top.

There are no serious changes or nasty side-effects, for choosing any side! Junimos still work for you, from huts and all NPCs are the same!

Pro tip: Make sure to complete the Bulletin Board bundles too, before going Joja. Grandpa's evaluation skyrockets! Just leave one last, tiny bundle undone, before buying the membership, from Fish Tank bundles ideally; choose one the reward of which you don't need/like.

 

[Ereo]

out of curiosity, what would happen to the greenhouse on the farm? would it still become a greenhouse or not?

yes, instead of completing several bundles for the juniors, for each room you pay Joja. You get the same big rewards.

honestly, the difference in late game is negligible. Some schedules are slightly different, but the villagers won’t hate you.

 

[Maxima]

One of the best pros of Joja for me is the easy access to the Auto-petter. I love that thing, makes farming with animals so much fun and easier, but it's hard to get it in the CC route. Joja is also is more efficient with how you can easily buy your way through the progress, if you're good at earning your G.

The cons though is mostly story-wise (I play for the story so it's enough for me to stay away from Joja lol). Joja doesn't have the narrative charm where you're helping to rebuild the town and support the citizens. Also for aesthetics, CC is looks better and blends well with the town's design than the Joja warehouse.

In the grand scheme of things though, neither route locks you out of anything major. You'll still progress to achieve perfection, and experience fully experience the game. So just choose based how you want to play the game, Efficient or Narrative-driven, and have fun.

 

[FilthyGorilla]

I always recommend the cc route the first time you play through the game, after that however, it's just up to personal preference.

While joja is objectively a bad entity in the world of SDV, we only really get benefits from siding with them, even on the community scale in some ways.

1. The theater is in objectively a better location
2. Clint works all week instead of taking off fridays
3. Buyable autopetters
4. Faster/easier possible completion
5. it doesn't drive pierre out of business and him not opening on wednesdays like with the cc is just counteracted maybe a couple months later by getting that eventual key to the town
6. You get a shop that has more open hours than pierres for seeds

 

[morris]

Personally, I would recommend Joja. It’s overall better all around.

 

[Shinnn]

I’ve just started a second world to get closer to Shane haha, i was just wondering the pros and cons of doing Joja? the villagers all hate it, right? and Pierre’s shop is struggling and Penny always says that things went downhill since they moved in, however, a few people work there, like Shane, and Pam goes there all the time. Thoughts?

The village won't be angry if u choose the joja route they all bought the membership remember ? However I would recomend the Joja route if you are needing progression and community if u want the whole experience. Joja is not really bad because if you think about it , it is just normal bussiness so it is up to you.

 

[Shinnn]

out of curiosity, what would happen to the greenhouse on the farm? would it still become a greenhouse or not?

Yeah it will still become a green house if u r wondering.

 

[Ereo]

Personally, I would recommend Joja. It’s overall better all around.

That sounds like something a manager for Joja would say!

 

[Maher]

And the nicest thing about Joja? You can revenge shop there after the Pierre's Prime Produce cut scene. Delicious!

But seriously any time I start a new save, I don't know which I'll do. Trixie was going to be Joja, but Robin talked her into CC.

Paddy went Joja because he didn't want loud livestock. I still don't understand why he bought a goat.

 

[Benhimself]

Me I prefer Community Center not just because Junimos are sweet, not just because the bundles are nice little extra rewards, but also because it's.... interesting? Community Center gives you a nice variety of early game tasks to accomplish instead of just "laser in on whatever makes you the most money and repeat for a few hours". To me the quests are the entire point of the game, which is why I'm always remixed bundles, accomplish every help wanted quest possible, accomplish every special order possible, etc.

 

[morris]

That sounds like something a manager for Joja would say!

I can assure you I am simply an unbiased customer with correct opinions.

 

[Lydia3.3]

Personally, I would recommend Joja. It’s overall better all around.

nice try morris

 

[Maher]

One of the things worth noting is that restoring the CC really determines a lot about how you will build your farm. If you just want to spend all your time petting bunnies, or raising fish, and don't care about other game mechanics, like perfection or mastery, Joja gives you the freedom to double down on those inclinations.

 

[MateoOfRiverwood]

I would feel dirty somehow if I did a Joja run.
It’s silly of course. These are only pixels representing a fictional world. Maybe it’s just because I’ve spent 30 years as a programmer. I mean, I’ve never seen a skeleton in someone’s seat at work, but the beginning scene at Joja still feels Extremely Relatable.

 

[Caviar]

I’ve just started a second world to get closer to Shane haha, i was just wondering the pros and cons of doing Joja? the villagers all hate it, right? and Pierre’s shop is struggling and Penny always says that things went downhill since they moved in, however, a few people work there, like Shane, and Pam goes there all the time. Thoughts?

Don't go Joja to get closer to Shane. He quits if you marry him. Also, I will always go Community Center because Jojamart ruined the character's life before, and they came to the valley for a fresh start. There's no point in your character repeating the same thing.

 

[REtroGeekery]

Me I prefer Community Center not just because Junimos are sweet, not just because the bundles are nice little extra rewards, but also because it's.... interesting?

This is my thought as well and why I always go remixed CC. Joja just feels so boring in comparison. If you could earn Joja bucks to use in place of some of the gold by helping their research and development teams with gathering resources or something, it could be an interesting change of pace. As is, it just turns into a grind too quickly.

 

[Giant Octopodes]

Don't go Joja to get closer to Shane. He quits if you marry him. Also, I will always go Community Center because Jojamart ruined the character's life before, and they came to the valley for a fresh start. There's no point in your character repeating the same thing.

Yeah but he quits to help on the farm and work with animals, his true passion. That doesn't mean he's not connected to Joja. I definitely went Joja on my Shane playthrough on the Meadowlands, in my eyes it's perfect.
- I'm focused on raising animals, he loves raising animals.
- I'm associated with Joja, he's associated with Joja
- The farm has blue (the blue grass), he has blue (his outfit choices), Joja has blue
- Most importantly, it gives a logical reason for us to interact.

In my headcanon that character had no ill will towards Joja at all, and really went to Stardew primarily to fulfill the wishes of her grandfather. When she saw she had the opportunity to help out the town, as well as honoring her grandfather's legacy, as well as helping out her first emploer all at once? It was perfect. Just as perfect as Shane. After all, check out this epic romance:

Ahiru had noticed Shane from when she first came into town. She was around him all the time when she was popping into the Joja mart, checking in on things and helping out the town, and she couldn't help but notice him stocking the shelves in there, looking so... mysterious. Then, the great and kind Mr Morris threw a celebration, honoring her for her contributions to the town! None of the other townsfolk attended, but sure enough, standing there among the employees, there was Shane. Their eyes met, and she knew they were destined to be together. She'll never forget the first thing he said to her when she talked to him right after the ceremony: "Why are you talking to me?" What a romantic. He was right, no words were needed. Their bond was unspoken but unmistakable.

When she found out how much he loved beer and pizza, he warmed up to her. As she grew closer, she learned he loved animals and especially egg laying ones just as much as she did! And even better, he had a special connection to a rare breed with their color - the color of her eyes, the color of the grass on her farm, the color he always wore - the color of Joja. It was inevitable, they would be together, Joja-ites in heart and mind, blue chicken loving fools, forever.

____

In all seriousness I think it's worth doing a Joja playthrough at least once, and love Joja especially for any challenge runs (Ahiru is cropless, which makes the community center... tough), and especially for the meadowlands / animal focused runs (auto petters are great). Putting all those things together, I could hardly imagine going anything but Joja, and if going Joja on the Meadowlands, I can hardly imagine marrying anyone but Shane. They don't *have* to go together, but they certainly pair up nicely.