In terms of participatory elements within Stardew Valley as my game media text I can draw on several concepts within Raessen’s analytical participation framework in terms of interpretation, reconfiguration and construction.
Firstly in terms of Interpretation of Stardew Valley are largely focused on a persons particular playstyle and wants which stems from that persons individual playstyles and backgrounds. For example I play it in a such a way that I maximise use of automation from crops and sprinklers and then further to maximise profits by turning crops into wine and aging them, selling everything as i make or find it. In comparison a close friend of mine hoards everything she comes across and prioritises raising pigs and collecting truffles as a method of creating income ( I kid you not she has 2 chests filled with iridium quality truffles). furthermore the meaning that I draw from playing Stardew valley is as a escape from as the game puts it the hardships of life to something simpler and more relaxing as an escape from what’s going on which is further compounded by having no coercion within Stardew valley at all in fact all updates and extra concepts are completely free and the game itself only costs $17 on steam for a game easily worth $70 in my opinion
In terms of reconfiguration, the game allows you to be able to not only choose the farm type you begin be it a open plain, a beach, in a forest or even filled with rivers it also allows you to decorate build the farm as you want altering its layout and choosing to include objects from a selected list within the game. From this you can build large plots of just crops, or huge fields of grass for your hoards of animals to graze on, with paths and statues connecting everything or just simple open fields.
For Construction there are currently a multitude of mods that exist for it, including mods that create a elevator for skull cavern, unlock a tractor to make farming quicker and easier and a whole expansion to the game with new buildings, areas and characters, all supported by ConcernedApe the creator.
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