Barone Eric

Eric Barone, professionally recognized as ConcernedApe, is an American creator known for developing the immensely popular video game Stardew Valley. Barone, who holds a computer science degree, was responsible for every facet of Stardew Valley's creation, from its programming and art to its musical score. He initially developed the game as a way to hone his programming skills after graduating college and struggling to find employment, with the intention of adding it to his resume.

After Stardew Valley's release in 2016, Barone continued to update the game independently for several years before forming a small team to assist with ongoing development. He is also a musician, having played in various bands and composed the soundtracks for his games. Barone is currently working on his next video game project, Haunted Chocolatier, while still supporting Stardew Valley. His contributions have earned him significant recognition, including a spot on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Washington, Eric Barone's passion for farming simulation games, particularly the Harvest Moon series, began in his youth. Although he played music and was part of various bands, his initial career path did not involve game development. After graduating with a computer science degree in 2011, Barone began creating Stardew Valley in 2012 as a personal project to improve his coding abilities. He dedicated himself to the project, working long hours for four and a half years, handling all aspects of design, programming, art, music, and writing. During this period, he lived frugally, with his girlfriend Amber Hageman providing financial support while he worked part-time. The game was initially released on PC and later ported to other platforms, eventually selling tens of millions of copies.

Beyond his work as a game developer, Eric Barone is also a composer. He released the original soundtrack for Stardew Valley in 2016. His musical creations have been further recognized through orchestral albums and live concert tours, such as "Symphonic Tale: The Place I Truly Belong" and "Stardew Valley: Festival of Seasons." Barone has also ventured into other creative mediums, co-authoring "The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook" and collaborating on board game adaptations of his game. His musical compositions are frequently featured on public radio programs dedicated to video game music. Barone's artistic endeavors extend to other projects, including early games like "17CF Quest" and "Air Pear," and the comic series "Wumbus World."

Barone is actively developing his next major video game project, "Haunted Chocolatier," which is described as having a greater emphasis on combat than Stardew Valley. He has stated that he is coding and designing almost every element of this new game from scratch. In addition to his creative work, Barone has engaged in significant philanthropic activities. He has funded upgrades for a campus garden at the University of Washington Tacoma, supporting food donations, and made substantial contributions to the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust. He has also provided financial support to the MonoGame project, demonstrating a commitment to supporting open-source development.