When do you get the itch to play Stardew?

[Magically Clueless]

As a moderator, I read pretty much everything; nothing is greater than seeing the bold titles go away! But I haven't played Stardew in a while. I've had my fair share of hours-- I've been playing since the game came out in 2016, and it's the game on Steam I have the most hours in, since I no-life the game every time a new update comes out.

There are some things I need to do still, especially end-game ones, and there are some Steam achievements I can go for since it would feel SO GOOD to have that as a perfect game on my profile. Buuut.. I just get distracted by other things and I don't make the time to play the game. ):

Reading in here though, sometimes you guys have conversations that make me go MAN I wish I knew what y'all are talking about LOL. I really enjoy strategy conversations here and it makes me want to try different things, so that's how I start getting the itch to play. I want to be able to participate!

What about you guys? When taking a break from the game, what makes you jump back in?

 

[LoveElliotsHair]

I don't understand, "taking a break from the game".

My daughter gave me the game for Mother's Day 2020. It was the perfect way to spend during the pandemic. I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't played. I play on Steam on my Macbook. I can listen to an audio book or listen to a podcast while I play and that makes me feel less guilty about playing games.

She also got me a Switch for Christmas and it has Animal Crossing on it, but I don't understand it at all. SO, I don't play anything else.

What else do you play that keeps you away from Stardew Valley?

 

[Lew Zealand]

Um, yeah. So I'm writing a thing in one of the other sections here and by necessity I need to start a new game for it. Otherwise I usually start a new save when a major update comes out or I want to try out a min/max strategy because, well:

sometimes you guys have conversations that make me go MAN I wish I knew what y'all are talking about LOL. I really enjoy strategy conversations here and it makes me want to try different things, so that's how I start getting the itch to play. I want to be able to participate!

That right there. There's an active thread now with some excessive strategerizing which contains words I've heard before but in configurations and gyrations completely alien to my experience on this planet.

I like words and they are my friends, but they seem to be getting mixed up in unfamiliar company and I'd like to know how they got there.

 

[benjellyman]

I haven’t played much recently, but the game is still great.

 

[PookieDoodle]

I haven't really taken a break either. But I will create a new farmer. I'm on my fourth one so far. I create a new farmer when I feel like I'm not making anymore progress or I want to change the storyline. But each time I've gone farther when creating a new farmer. My last playthrough was 13 years. I doubt if I'll ever finish. I'm too scared too. I've read about others completing and getting perfection. I wonder if they'd be like me and sit there like, ok now what.

 

[CryogenCrystals]

Honestly, even though mobile has no 1.5 update... I gotta say, mobile is the reason I play so often. It is just so darned convenient. I have my iPad/tablet pretty much anytime I'm sitting. Doesn't matter if I'm watching TV, or just sitting anywhere surfing the web, Stardew's is at my fingertips, its app icon looking at me as I scroll through the screens lol.

And, I can do that without having to dig out and plug in the laptop, sit at a desk, or be tethered by bulk and cords. The Bluetooth controller sits there on the coffee table too, taunting me. I'm a PC and Linux gal mostly (though I do have a Mac) and even though I have a super slim tablet PC, it just isn't as convenient as an iPad with a super long charge the others can't possibly match. I can take my iPad with me all day and not worry about plugging in, so Stardew at the doctors office, the dentist etc. If I have to sit down at my desk in front of the computer to play, I play less, I don't know what to say about that, it just is what it is. Less comfortable than the couch or my favorite chair. Console is tethered to the wall and no save file access, no thanks. Even having to plug in my tablet PC to play is annoying lol. So, the irony is, the tablet PC is twice the cost of the iPad and it doesn't get much use unless I have to do power-sucking program stuff (e.g., Photoshop, video editing etc.) or need a very large screen. Even then I cast my iPad to my TV and switch to Bluetooth controller. At least the tablet PC will last longer with lighter use (my mom still has an 8-10 year old ipad of mine, running fine for web surfing, the other devices just don't last as long). And, Stardew icon staring up at me, innocently... "play me.... you know you want to."

Stardew is just so darned relaxing, though waiting for 1.5 (now started over again) is becoming tougher. I have it installed on my PC and can easily transfer my game, but again, convenience is king for me apparently.

 

[Dr. eeL]

It's refreshing to find Ms. Magic returning to her old haunt. I try to play one day of game time every day, but often fail. I do spend lots of time thinking about the game and the valley, in order to keep coming up with new Middlewalk chapters. 24 so far. I don't know how I do it.

 

[Worblehat]

I've been mostly on a break for a while now (though still checking forums, obviously). I'm in the final phase of just waiting an extra year to accumulate the money for the clock, all other Perfection goals achieved. This is tedious and the result is a foregone conclusion, so I'm not very motivated to actually play.

I'll probably start playing more when I decide on a compelling idea for a second save. A different map is a given (probably Beach), but I have to figure out what goals and restrictions I'll set to make it interesting. Maybe mods, though the endless threads (mostly in Help & Bug Reports, where they're explicitly not allowed; sometimes even here in Game Discussion) where people say "I'm playing with mods and my game doesn't work, help!" don't make that option look very appealing.

 

[Dr. eeL]

I think that it must be doubly hard for Ms. Magic to, "Jump back in'" because she put so much emotion, creativity, and her dreams into writing all those chapters about Sebastian and the valley. Many of the end-game accomplishments are about efficiency and acquisition, which for story tellers is somewhat like eating oatmeal without milk, sugar, and raisons. I'd recommend playing other games, and just do Stardew at a very slow pace like a persistent little mouse trying to climb Mount Everest.

 

[Rhiannon]

Interesting question. I think two times ago, I got pulled back in because of a FB mention somewhere. It didn't last long and I moved back in to other games. But then release 1.5 came out. I noticed it on Steam and did some reading to find out what the changes where. I was astounded at how massive it seemed. Some of the new features were irresistible and have kept me interested for months now. I also hadn't decorated my home and with the two extra rooms that were empty, I figured it was time. So downloading showcase pics for ideas and getting things arranged took me a couple of weeks (in between farming of course). Finding out how to see my completion percentage has also kept me going as has my list of current things I want to do. It keeps growing! My RL has been pretty insane the past couple of months especially and this game has been a wonderful way to get my mind off of things for a few hours at a time.

 

[nicodeux]

What gives me the itch to play Stardew Valley ?

Mostly the desire to fulfill objectives.

Objectives that I set to myself, like re-arranging my farm or trying specific constraints for a new farmer. For example, I was playing my fisherman farmer (who makes most of his income by selling fishes or fish products like (aged) roes) and I had stopped to do some foraging. As I picked up more and more items, I noticed that I was almost out of time for my fishing window. Since I was obviously so interested in foraging, I decided to create a new farmer focused on that and making profit from foraged/season items.

But also objectives suggested by wandering on these forums, especially strategy discussions or valley showcases that are a really great source of inspiration.

 

[MissDandy]

Well, I live out in the country beside a farm and near a little town (sounds kind of familiar right?) And sometimes I have to take a long trip into the city. When that happens, I hate it so much that when I get home I'm just like ahhh... I am so glad I don't live in the city anymore. It totally reminds me of Stardew Valley and it makes me want to play it as soon as I walk in the door. That's mainly what brings me back into it.

I work at the local grocery store in my town, and sometimes I do stock. It makes me think of Shane and sometimes (most of the time) that makes me want to play it when I get home. (It actually kind of looks like Stardew Valley at my house too, so I really just want to be playing all the time.)

 

[ISSsloth]

I usually want to play stardew because I'm listening to the soundtrack, which isn't the best for me because I mostly listen to the soundtrack when I'm studying or about to fall asleep.