Development Updates
Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, has discussed the differences between his indie hit Stardew Valley and his anticipated follow-up, Haunted Chocolatier.
Barone announced Haunted Chocolatier in 2021, but ongoing work on Stardew Valley has slowed progress. In June, Barone admitted feeling a bit repetitive mentioning he was still working on the project, stating that remains the reality of indie development.
Action RPG Focus
In a recent interview, Barone outlined what to expect from Haunted Chocolatier. Set in a more metaphysical locale, the game leans significantly more toward an action RPG style than its predecessor.
“It is still what I call a town game,” Barone said, “But it’s more of an action RPG — the main focus is more about adventuring, finding equipment and getting more powerful. There are monsters, there are boss fights. It's for the people in Stardew Valley that go into the mines. That's what I do, honestly.”
Attention to Detail
In June, Barone noted that he is carefully refining every aspect of Haunted Chocolatier to ensure core mechanics feel seamless, clear, and intuitive.
He highlighted the recipe book for crafting chocolates as a specific design challenge requiring substantial iteration.
“To me, it’s not a simple task, as I torture myself over every last detail,” he said. “This is a UI you will be using fairly often, so it has to be perfect. You need to be able to accomplish your goal with the minimal number of clicks. There needs to be just the right amount of data presented to the player... All of this typically requires me to iterate on something several times before I’m satisfied with it.”
Release Strategy
Barone also explained his hesitation to show too much of Haunted Chocolatier early in development, preferring to reveal a fully realized product rather than risk shifting expectations.
Team Expansion
Haunted Chocolatier currently has no official release date, alongside the upcoming Stardew Valley 1.7 update, which features delegated team support.
“Well, part of the reason why I've expanded my team a little bit is so that hopefully I can spend more time working on Haunted Chocolatier,” he explained, noting that he acts in a creative director capacity for updates while focusing primarily on the new title.
He added that while he eventually becomes heavily involved in updates like version 1.7 to ensure every aspect meets his standards, the structural shift has allowed for a greater focus on Haunted Chocolatier.
“It is difficult because it's hard to shift gears, I guess. If I'm thinking about Haunted Chocolatier, it's difficult to be like, 'Okay, I'm going to one day of the week or two days of the week work on Stardew Valley.' That's not how my brain works. I'm all in one thing or the other,” Barone said.
Development on Haunted Chocolatier continues as Barone balances ongoing oversight of his previous massive title.
