After 300 years, I've added additional rules to the subreddit. Now if there is anything worrying in the sub, you'll have more specific rules to point to.
If you have any questions about the current rules or you have suggestions for additional rules not covered here, feel free to comment below.
Since I've seen some comments in other posts in the past about moderation, I just want to reiterate some stuff:
The subreddit is very slow, but it has a lot of eyes on it. There's currently no demand for additional moderation, but when a rare rule-break happens, it can appear glaring and jarring that it's still up. Thank you for reporting it and we'll take care of it ASAP.
It's OK for people to speculate before the game comes out. These posts are on-topic and ripe for discussion. If there are too many of these types of discussion posts without much variation, I'll consider a megathread.
I've nuked disrespectful arguments in the past and similarly I've removed comments that vague about others (e.g. "everyone in this thread is garbage") so from now on keep in mind this is included in Rule 1. Sometimes discussions get heated and that's fine, but avoid calling each other names and making rude assumptions.
It's OK for people to be disappointed that the game is taking a while to come out, and these comments don't cross Rule 1. Similarly, it's OK to comment that games take time to make. Just be respectful to each other and disengage if you feel a thread is going in circles.
Sensitive/controversial topics don't include things such as someone's identity. However, if people debate about the existence of said identity, that goes into rule 1 territory, so please keep this in mind. This isn't the place for that.
This is just a subreddit for a video game that isn't out yet, so please keep things lighthearted and assume good faith where you can.
Outside of rules, there's a few more post flairs now. You're required to use a post flair when you make a post from now on. Please let me know if there's any additional flairs you think should be added!
p.s. this isn't a sign about progress with HC or anything, just needed to finally add rules to the sub
Hi, I wanted to make a post that details everything we know about Haunted Chocolatier. Any post that asks about these questions will be removed and redirected to this post (of course, if you want to discuss these topics, you're allowed to). If you want clarification on anything, you're more than welcome to ask here!
I'll add to this post over time or provide adjustments if needed.
First thing's first: ConcernedApe has a FAQ he made himselfherewith answers to a lot of your questions! Other statements on this post have been made via ConcernedApe's Twitter or on the Haunted Chocolatier Blog.
Common Questions
Release date? - None so far, and one is unlikely to be announced anytime soon
Platforms?
- PC on launch, but other platforms will be a focus afterwards
Languages?
- English on launch, but localizations will be a focus afterwards
Multiplayer?
- Unlikely. If it comes out, it'll be similar to Stardew Valley's (source)
Price?
- Not more than Stardew Valley's price (~15 USD, price depends on country) (source)
Other Game Relevant Questions
What IS the game?
- An action-RPG with a more focused combat system, but also has plenty of "town game" elements. The focal point of the game is around a chocolate shop.
Exploration/world?
- The world itself is bigger than Stardew Valley's (source) and with a greater combat focus, we're also getting bosses and more intuitive combat gameplay.
Romance?
- Yes! The exact system is unclear though (source)
We get it, he shouldn’t be pressured. But in reality, most of the fan base is really great and patient, and if you see a one-off comment of someone being impatient, you can just comment back to them and there’s no need to make a whole post about it. I would like to petition to the mods to ban these types of posts, they are getting old fast. All in favour, say AYE
After watching Salmence’s HC prediction video where he talks about HC potentially having perpetual winter, I was thinking it might be a bit static. UNTIL, I realized this could actually be really interesting if there were different weather winter types.
For example, there could be heavy blizzards. There could be a cutscene where you help a villager stuck in the storm. I think that could be why there are socks, belts, pants, and shirts ( a more varied closet); so that the more you bundle up the more immune you are to the blizzard’s effects. Freezing rain as well. Sleet and snow squalls would be unique. Snow squalls are brief, intense snow showers with strong gusts of wind. So in HC this could be a windy type weather, whooshing sounds in the background. The weather would be a nice way to add cutscenes and show insight into other character’s lives.
The weather could also add buffs or debuffs potentially. Like with freezing rain, when it falls to the ground irl it glazes the ground in a sheet of ice. So maybe in HC it adds a slow debuff which you can negate with clothing, rings, or maybe even chocolate (perhaps the chocolate has effects too). Also, there could be hail, and it could lower defense for you and enemies. But you can regain def with rings or eating chocolate.
On top of that, there could be unique monsters that come out based on the weather. For example maybe snowmen monsters or polar bears.
apologies if the formatting is weird I’m writing this on mobile.
BlizzardHail (Some round ice chunk animations in the background)Freezing rain (ground could glisten a bit when the drops hit the ground. Also hoping there icicles in game!!)Sleet
“Yep. I’m still working on the game. Feels kinda dumb posting this same thing over and over, but that’s the reality.
I know it’s taking a long time. A big part of that is that I am being very thoughtful about every aspect of the game. The things in the game which the player will be interacting with or using very often need to be “perfect”. They need to be seamless, clear, intuitive, satisfying, aesthetic.
Lately, I’ve been revisiting the recipe book for making chocolates. As with many things in the game, I’ve iterated on this many times, each time bringing it closer to its final form. To me, it’s not a simple task, as I torture myself over every last detail. 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: not so much as to be overwhelming, but not so little as to be trivial or mundane. And the way that this data is laid out on the page is crucial… If the data is all clustered together, it will be disgusting to look at. The data needs to be grouped into compelling, intuitive and easy to read/understand groupings. It needs to look appealing and intriguing. And this is just the bare minimum, that players will likely take for granted. If all of that is accomplished then the player is now comfortable while perusing the recipe book. But I want more than just comfort. I want to delight the player. All of this typically requires me to iterate on something several times before I’m satisfied with it.
And it’s a big game. So there are many things for me to fuss over.
But, this is what it will take to make a game I’m satisfied with.
Side note… please excuse me, but I don’t like to share too many screenshots, or even talk about the systems in too much detail, while the game is in development. Partly, it feels like I’m serving a half-baked bread. I would rather serve a fully baked bread. Also, I know that many parts of the game will likely evolve and change before release, so if I reveal them early, I risk disappointing players if the final product does not match their expectation. Fortunately, I’m in a position where I don’t need to market the game, so I can take my preferred approach.
Was playing stardew and was at the feast of the winter star. Doing the usual going around talking to everyone to get friendship points. Gus’s dialogue was unusually long and went on a rant about making candy which I found odd. I know he is also the chef type in the game with his homemade fritters etc. Do we think Gus could be the center of haunted chocolatier or included in someway? Idk just seemed odd to me!
i don’t have a pc yet (being 16 and also not having the money) and i hate playing on mobile cause it hurts my hands eventually, so i solely play sdv on mobile. i’ve been reading every update for haunted chocolatier and i sooooo so so badly can’t wait for it to come out!! and i hope, of course after its released on pc (and maybe console first? idk) that it’ll be released on mobile too! i’ll buy the damn thing even if it’s 20 dollars!! i just love sdv so much so i know another concerned ape developed game will be awesome
There are videos on YouTube of a supposedly leaked song from the HC soundtrack called Pristine Snow and as much as I like the song (or clip of the song) I don’t understand how something like this gets leaked when there’s only one developer. Is this real or did someone just make it up?
Edit: CA showed it off in a livestream and people uploaded it haha I wish he would post the full thing on his yt channel
I wonder what the story and gameplay will be like *all the time* in Haunted Chocolatier.
I watched this show called Romantics Anonymous on Netflix, which is a heartfelt story about an anonymous chocolatier who is quite reclusive due to struggles with anxiety from being seen, yet she creates extraordinary chocolate. There are brilliantly thought out chocolate combinations, and an emphasis on how chocolate can bring people comfort on their hardest days.
Things like this make me wonder about what kinds of chocolate we’ll be able to make in Haunted Chocolatier, what dynamics will be at play among characters, and what effects our chocolate will have on the world around us.
What kinds of things do you wonder about Haunted Chocolatier?
One thing I love about stardew valley is how it handles the prismatic shard. Like this super rare and coveted mineral that actually feels worth its scarcity. There’s different ways to get it but they all have low chances so it still feels really good when you actually get one, and it’s more than worth it with all the things it’s used for. (Obviously there are items that are actually rarer, as in have a lower drop rate, but the prismatic shard is usually the most sought after). I really hope there’s something similar in HC, in fact it’d be cool if there’s an even more late game/rarer item as prismatic shards definitely get a lot less exciting in the late game. I think it could feel even more worth it too as it will probably have multiple uses and one could be putting into a powerful chocolate recipe so it doesn’t lose as much value once you’ve used it for its other intended purposes. What item would you guys want to see that fits this and what would you want it to do?
Barone: Whoa, that's crazy. In 10 years there'll be a few more updates, which just make the game even more what it's supposed to be. […] Yeah, in 10 years, who knows? That's crazy. Hopefully Haunted Chocolatier will be out and maybe by then there'll be some new Stardew Valley IP stuff going on too. […] So if there's going to be a Stardew Valley 2 or a spinoff game or some related thing with Stardew Valley, then that's going to require my full attention. So maybe this would be after Haunted Chocolatier comes out, which will hopefully- In 10 years, Haunted Chocolatier will be out. Maybe there'll be some new Stardew Valley project that's out even in 10 years.
