so tired of this terrible saving mechanism

[VEE ☆]

i DO NOT understand why in casual, chill games they force you to play an entire day to save. HOW is that casual energy? like i dont understand. its 2023 you have the capabilities to make your game have a save game at any time feature. this is so ridiculous

and yea sure i should have looked it up before buying this game. but like why is this even a thing in SO many farming games? im so sick of this. I just want to be able to pick up a game and put it down. that is like the essence of casual.

at least give a game option for it. make it like FREEDOM mode where you can save whenever and then DAILY mode where you can only save every day for people who actually like that

why are you punishing us I dont get it. please update the game with a better saving feature, please. its so stressful this way. :/

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EDIT 052923: I apologize for the emotional tone of this post, I did write it when I was very frustrated by the saving mechanism. I hope that no devs or anyone working on the game was hurt or insulted by my words. im sure you all are working super hard on this game, you already have and it shows! the game is so so beautiful and such a unique concept. i want to play it SO badly which is why I got so upset about how the saving works! I am sorry this post is a little intense, but i still very strongly feel it would make the game better if there was a more casual saving option for people.

A few people in the replies have suggested a system which will create a temporary save when you exit the game. then when you return, you can come back to the same place but then the save is auto deleted. so perhaps that could be a solution for everyone?

if you do not change how saving works, I understand it is your game and your choice. but I truly feel it would help a LOT of players, esp those with busy lives or other things that make it hard to commit to playing full days in this game.

I was very frustrated also because this seems to be a common theme in farming type games like this and I just dont understand it because to me it is not casual at all, and I thought these games are supposed to be relaxing and casual. It feels more punishing than relaxing to me. anyways, if you read this, thank you, and i am sorry if I hurt anyone.

[Steve]

I guess its 'each to his own' but I prefer this method. if I save the game mid-day then when I come back to it I can't remember what I've done or not done that day. I find it much easier to save at the end of the day. Maybe they'll add an option for you to save anytime? I'd have no problem with that as long as it's optional.

although how you find it "so stressful" is utterly beyond me. it's a video game, relax

[Cryptyr]

If this is stressful, I can't imagine what it's like being you and playing The Sims.

[VEE ☆]

Originally posted by Steve:

I guess its 'each to his own' but I prefer this method. if I save the game mid-day then when I come back to it I can't remember what I've done or not done that day. I find it much easier to save at the end of the day. Maybe they'll add an option for you to save anytime? I'd have no problem with that as long as it's optional.

although how you find it "so stressful" is utterly beyond me. it's a video game, relax

its stressful because if i dont feel like playing anymore, but the day is not over, i feel obligated to play the rest of the day so i dont miss out on that day and then it sucks cause im not into it but just making myself play so i dont waste the day. and then i dont feel like playing the game anymore because i cant just play for like 5 min and be done . then i start not playing as much anymore because i dont know how long ill be able to focus (i have adhd) . ive tried sooo many times to play stardew and i never get very far because eventually i just get defeated by how the saving works. x.x

I really think an option would be best so the game can suit both people who benefit from the daily saves and those who benefit from any time saves

[VEE ☆]

Originally posted by Floki:

If this is stressful, I can't imagine what it's like being you and playing The Sims.

i havent played the sims in a long time but im pretty sure you can save whenever? so i dont remember it being stressful i would just play however long i wanted and then put it down . i do remember like last year i picked up sims 4 and i was making a character but i spent like an hour on it and i wasnt finished but then i had plans and had to leave, and there was no way to save my character work in progress so that was really frustrating cause i spent sooo much time on him. -.- but the actual game i used to play 2 and 3 a lot and i remember having a lot of fun, used to play with my sister a lot.

[mutantbeth]

a day is literally 15 minutes at most and theres no time limits so u can go to sleep whenever you want to.

[Xufiie]

Originally posted by VEE ☆:

i DO NOT understand why in casual, chill games they force you to play an entire day to save.

They aren't forcing you though. You can go to bed and save anytime. You can't blame the devs when you putting unnecessary stress on yourself.

[Tetonka]

One save a day keeps the exploits away.
I don't know (yet) if there'll be any of those elements in RoP, but making you replay a whole day after failing something keeps you from being reckless and exploitative.
As a simple comparison from Stardew Valley, there's a certain danger in exploring the mines, going deeper and deeper, going for 100 levels of the Skull Cavern. If you die and lose your valuables, you'll have to redo the day. It's good. It keeps your head straight, makes you plan ahead, manage your risks. Imagine you could save anytime. It would take away so much of the challenge, of the danger, of the appeal. It hurts to mess up, it punishes you for redoing something. To me, that's good.

In comparison: Wylde Flowers saves automatically, constantly. If you mess something up, it's already too late to fix it. Forgot to hand in a quest before nightfall? Too late. Forgot the time and about to faint? That's your lot then.

Saving only at night simply is a staple in the genre, and I'm pretty sure it was implemented here with respect to the game's predecessors. I prefer this system to the two alternatives above.

[VEE ☆]

Originally posted by Tetonka:

One save a day keeps the exploits away.
I don't know (yet) if there'll be any of those elements in RoP, but making you replay a whole day after failing something keeps you from being reckless and exploitative.
As a simple comparison from Stardew Valley, there's a certain danger in exploring the mines, going deeper and deeper, going for 100 levels of the Skull Cavern. If you die and lose your valuables, you'll have to redo the day. It's good. It keeps your head straight, makes you plan ahead, manage your risks. Imagine you could save anytime. It would take away so much of the challenge, of the danger, of the appeal. It hurts to mess up, it punishes you for redoing something. To me, that's good.

In comparison: Wylde Flowers saves automatically, constantly. If you mess something up, it's already too late to fix it. Forgot to hand in a quest before nightfall? Too late. Forgot the time and about to faint? That's your lot then.

Saving only at night simply is a staple in the genre, and I'm pretty sure it was implemented here with respect to the game's predecessors. I prefer this system to the two alternatives above.

that is valid that you like the system ofc. but it just doesnt work for everyone. i dont want to be punished. i dont really want a big challenge i just want to play a casual and fun game. i know some people wish for a challenge but i dont. i play any game i can on casual if achievements are still unlockable. im just trying to chill. life is already enough of a challenge for me lol i dont really want to be frustrated or upset in games when i already experience that enough irl ! the tags for the game include relaxing and cozy. to me, that means a certain experience i guess.

i just wish if these types of games are going to have this type of saving feature, to at least offer an alternative for a more relaxing experience.

Originally posted by Xufiie:

Originally posted by VEE ☆:

i DO NOT understand why in casual, chill games they force you to play an entire day to save.

They aren't forcing you though. You can go to bed and save anytime. You can't blame the devs when you putting unnecessary stress on yourself.

then i would lose a day and things that could be done during that day. i do not want to do that, i want to play every day fully. if i wish to use the day fully, yes the saving system does force me to play until it is over. im not blaming devs im asking for an alternative ?

[LyaranTirel]

Originally posted by VEE ☆:

Originally posted by Floki:

If this is stressful, I can't imagine what it's like being you and playing The Sims.

i havent played the sims in a long time but im pretty sure you can save whenever? so i dont remember it being stressful i would just play however long i wanted and then put it down . i do remember like last year i picked up sims 4 and i was making a character but i spent like an hour on it and i wasnt finished but then i had plans and had to leave, and there was no way to save my character work in progress so that was really frustrating cause i spent sooo much time on him. -.- but the actual game i used to play 2 and 3 a lot and i remember having a lot of fun, used to play with my sister a lot.

Let me put it in a simple way
Saving only on sleep is a GOOD mechanic that has been proven by trial. It's the most time-effective. for many reasons
It prevent players from abusing saving/reloading mechanics.
It's short enough that if there is a bug or mistake you can just reload the day while prevent players from saving OVER those mistakes they only realise too late.
At the same time it's long enough to actually HAVE mechanics that could be abused by the save/reload mechanics.
It's an action distinct enough that every player can identify as saving without thinking if they forgot to save or not

Old games like Harvest Moon had a diary besides the bed you could use to save at any time of the day, but it didn't save on sleep. What usually happend is sometimes players forgot to save the game and lost many days of progress.

My only suggestion to you is to wait for the eventual mod that will make saving at anytime possible. As it is the saving only when sleep is not a bug or a problem. it's a feature. And not something the devs will change anytime soon

[Silvi the Bun]

I honestly wish we could save anywhere as well. It's not a huge deal, but it would be a nice QoL thing.

[Tetonka]

Originally posted by VEE ☆:

that is valid that you like the system ofc. but it just doesnt work for everyone. i dont want to be punished. i dont really want a big challenge i just want to play a casual and fun game. i know some people wish for a challenge but i dont.

Sure, I just honestly can't see what exactly you would do differently if you could save anytime. Time passes rather fast as it is, and I haven't seen much content that made me think "I wish I could save here". Maybe for trying out gifting options, but those who don't want to trial&error will check beta guides or wait for wiki updates anyways.
Don't know if you've actually encountered any situation where saving would have come in handy or if you just voiced your opinion on the general system after seeing that this is how the game saves - in case of the latter, I'd rather reassure you that this shouldn't really be a concern in this game, based on what I've seen so far. I'd have seen much more to gain from that in most other farming games. RoP seems much more laid back and straight-forward, so there probably are no actual risks, no combat, no "big unknowns".
You even know where the NPCs are at any given time, so there's not even a gamble to find out where to find your future spouse's on today's schedule or to remember the opening hours of each shop. Maybe that helps.

[CoffeePot?]

Originally posted by VEE ☆:

i DO NOT understand why in casual, chill games they force you to play an entire day to save. HOW is that casual energy? like i dont understand. its 2023 you have the capabilities to make your game have a save game at any time feature. this is so ridiculous

and yea sure i should have looked it up before buying this game. but like why is this even a thing in SO many farming games? im so sick of this. I just want to be able to pick up a game and put it down. that is like the essence of casual.

at least give a game option for it. make it like FREEDOM mode where you can save whenever and then DAILY mode where you can only save every day for people who actually like that

why are you punishing us I dont get it. please update the game with a better saving feature, please. its so stressful this way. :/

You don't have to play a full day to save. You can go to bed at any time you want to save.

As for the reason why? I assume its because the main gameplay of games like this focus on resource and time management. This is kind of what sets these types of games apart from Animal Crossing. Animal Crossing doesn't really have any object other than the objectives you create for yourself and has no management of anything. Its a decoration game thats only gated by RL time and the size of your home and you can easily exploit both.

[TamanduaGirl]

I don't like "save on sleep" but it's not a deal breaker for me. No pause usually is a deal breaker for me though. Thankfully this has p as pause. If a game has got neither then 100% deal breaker, some of us have lives and need to leave the computer sometimes mid play.

The next best thing to save is pause and leave it on till you can next play.

I wouldn't count on a mod. Any mod attempts for save any time in stardew are very unstable and buggy from what I've heard. So it may happen but it would most likely be risky to use.

As for the save scumming used as an excuse, well, save scumming the whole day is still save scumming, and not intended game play. And it was said there's no combat so it really shouldn't matter if you chose to load a save to try a different option, though so ar there don't seem to be many choices like that.

Originally posted by Steve:

IMaybe they'll add an option for you to save anytime? I'd have no problem with that as long as it's optional.

although how you find it "so stressful" is utterly beyond me. it's a video game, relax

Even if save any time was an option it wouldn't prevent you from waiting to save at days end or in the morning, only an auto save system would do that.

[barefootwalk]

This.

I don't even think this is implemented to prevent save-scumming - I mean to what end, because it distorts the Leaderboards?

It's probably just because that's the way daddy Harvest Moon and mommy Stardew did it.

The save is in json format. If you want to exploit the game, all you need a standard editor, a working comprehension of the english language, and the will to experminent a little.

But on topic: even a 'Save on Exit' would help. At least in singleplayer mode.

[Aeolyn]

Be thankful you can save... i've restarted 3 times because my game won't save. :/