AGRONOM News

First and foremost, we’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the AGRONOM Alpha Playtest! Whether you played, streamed, created videos, or simply added our game to your wishlist—your support and feedback genuinely mean the world to our small indie team. Over 5,000 enthusiastic Martian farmers joined us, sharing countless valuable insights!

We openly acknowledge that the playtest build was an Alpha version, filled with bugs, rough edges, and plenty of areas needing improvement. Thanks to your valuable insights, we've clearly identified the strengths we should lean on, as well as the weaknesses we need to tackle immediately.

We've read ALL of your feedback left on our review form, here on Steam, on our Discord server, and many other platforms. So let's dive deeper into the specifics!


You loved the concept of automating your Mars farm with robot helpers! Yet, you rightly pointed out that creating intuitive AI-driven automation is far more challenging than the traditional conveyor systems seen in games like Factorio or Satisfactory. You're absolutely correct! However, here's why we're committed to this path:

• Robots as Companions: Mars is lonely, but your robot helpers ensure it never feels empty—many of you shared touching stories of bonding with your robot companions!
  
• Specialized Helpers: Each robot has unique skills and tasks. Balancing these specializations adds depth to your strategy. We're even considering introducing a fifth robot type for better task distribution!
  
• Mars Environment: The challenging Martian weather and terrain make traditional conveyor systems impractical. Robots adapt and optimize their routes—perfect for unpredictable conditions.

You identified key issues in automation:

• Unclear how to start the first automated production chain.
  
• Lack of visible feedback in automation tasks.
  
• Unclear operational radius of buildings (e.g., storage outside HUB radius).

Here's how we're actively addressing your feedback:

• Clearer, more intuitive tutorials for setting up automation.
  
• Informative production interfaces showing assigned robots and their locations (already partially implemented!).
  
• Expanded HUB functionalities with better visualization.
  
• A comprehensive Automation Dashboard showing the status of robots, buildings, and resources at a glance.

[h2]Your improvement suggestions we're already working on[/h2]
Enhanced Flexibility in Priority Management
In the future, you'll gain more precise control over your automation setup. For instance, we’re currently thinking about a feature allowing players to bind specific robot helpers to designated HUBs. Each robot will have clearer and more predictable responsibilities.

Thanks to your feedback, robot AI is already significantly improved—no more frantic dashing across Mars; robots now thoughtfully complete each task before moving on.

Reduced Micromanagement through Improved User Experience
To streamline your experience and reduce micromanagement:

• Comprehensive Tooltips: Hovering over resources or products displays clear, intuitive information about their entire production chains.
  
• Visual Task Indicators: Improved indicators clearly showing task statuses, ongoing processes, and robot assignments.
  
• Unified Dashboard: A central dashboard summarizing operational status of robots, resources, and production buildings at a glance.

Selective Time Acceleration During Storms
You suggested accelerating game time by 2-3x to minimize downtime. Here's our planned approach:

• Storm-Only Fast Forwarding: Selective time acceleration specifically during Martian storms.
  
• No General Acceleration: AGRONOM focuses deeply on immersive first-person automation rather than rapid pacing.

We're delighted by how much love you've shown our robot helpers! Your fan art, screenshots, and kind words have motivated us immensely.

Based on your suggestions, we’re currently working on:

• More expressive animations and richer sounds to make robots feel alive.
  
• Petting animations—because everyone deserves robot cuddles!
  
• Robot customization options (once base visuals are perfected).
  
• Naming robots with a random-name generator provided by your favorite Martian grandpa, Gramps Makar.

Additionally, we're exploring unique robot languages, enabling robots to express emotions and interact naturally!


Thank you for your kind words about AGRONOM's visual style! Even though many assets were unfinished, your excitement showed us we’re on the right path.

Here's what we're improving:

• Varied Martian landscapes and environmental storytelling (sneak peeks in Devlog #9!).
  
• Visible player body and animations coming soon (meet Rusty!).
  
• Adding a Jump mechanic? If we get 25 more comments asking for jump, we'll officially add it to our roadmap!

Your enthusiasm encouraged us to continue collaboration with audio specialists:

• More diverse background music.
  
• Adjusting repetitive sounds to be softer.
  
• Expanding sound effects library (including delivery drone audio!).
  

• Building mechanics: Improved cable connections already updated!
  
• Greenhouse management: Environmental controllers with clearer interfaces soon.
  
• Infinite vegetable production: Carefully evaluating your ideas here!
  
• Map/Compass: Considering detailed Mars terrain map.
  
• Side Quests: Interact with neighbors, fulfill special orders, and earn exciting upgrades!
  
• Technical Issues: Optimizing performance, fixing bugs, and enhancing stability continuously.
  
• In-game Encyclopedia: Detailed descriptions of constructions, resources, lore, and characters coming soon.
  

You clearly let us know that the user interface and tutorial system were among the weakest aspects during the playtest—and guess what? We totally agree! That’s why we're actively working on completely revamping these systems right now.

Here’s exactly what we’re working on, and what’s coming soon:

• We're fully redesigning the logic behind the Cargo Station to make exchanging resources, completing quests and orders, and using the shop more intuitive and user-friendly.
  
• Next, we’ll focus on visuals: brand new, cohesive UI elements are coming, crafted entirely from scratch to perfectly match the cozy atmosphere of AGRONOM.
  
• The building menu is also undergoing significant reconsideration. We're committed to maintaining gamepad convenience, while also greatly enhancing the user experience for keyboard and mouse players. Comfortable gameplay on all devices remains our top priority!
  
• And of course, we haven’t forgotten your justified feedback about huge walls of tutorial text. Trust us, we didn’t like them either! 😅 So we're working hard to ensure tutorials become smoother, more natural, and seamlessly integrated into gameplay. Instead of endless reading, we’ll enjoy clear hints and subtle, organic learning experiences woven directly into the game itself.
  

Our small but passionate team embarked on an ambitious journey, and your feedback has become our guiding star. Automating a farm with charming robot helpers deeply resonates with you, and this fills us with pride and excitement!

We have plenty of work ahead, but your enthusiasm inspires us every step of the way. Let's shape AGRONOM into the game you'll truly love.

Thank you again for being amazing playtesters! Together, we're creating the best automation game filled with adorable robots and cozy Martian adventures!

Don't forget to join our friendly community on Discord to share your thoughts and ideas.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2893250/AGRONOM/
With love,
The AGRONOM Team 🚀🤖🌱

This month has been incredibly inspiring for us and for AGRONOM! We launched our Announcement Trailer, which has already surpassed over 200,000 views! Our warm and supportive community is also growing steadily (if you haven't joined our Discord yet—now’s the perfect time!). Additionally, we ran large-scale playtests involving over 5,000 participants, providing invaluable feedback. We're carefully reading, analyzing, and integrating your suggestions into our development process. We'll soon share detailed insights on how your feedback has directly impacted the game’s evolution, so stay tuned!

We also launched a fantastic new website where you can pet our robots (yes, really!) and subscribe to our newsletter for all the freshest updates.



[h3]Cargo Platform is now Cargo Station![/h3]
We’ve updated the Cargo Platform to Cargo Station to better reflect its significance. It's now the first building you'll encounter on your empty plot, helping you kickstart base development.

The Cargo Station is the central building of your plot! It connects to a big delivery network across Mars. Through this station, you can send and receive cargo, making sure your base always has what it needs to grow.

Installed by the AgroNova Corporation long ago, our Cargo Station was left unused, becoming partially damaged over time. It's one-of-a-kind—you can't build another, and there's only one on your Martian base! Rusty uses parts from these ruins to help rebuild the station and start developing your base.

Every Cargo Station has a built-in generator providing a steady, reliable source of energy. It's not incredibly powerful, but more than enough to support the initial development of your Martian base. Below, you can check out the concept art for the redesigned Cargo Station—let us know what you think!

[h3]Concept Art of Mars Environment[/h3] We're beginning to diversify our Martian landscapes—especially around Gramps Makar’s plot and its surroundings. Enjoy this early glimpse into the future beauty of our Martian environment!



[h3]Builder Robot Animations[/h3] Our robots have been getting a lot of love, and it makes us happy to see your enthusiasm! Check out the incredible new animations of our Builder Robot—what a character!

[h3]Robot Assembler[/h3] Here's the machine you'll use to assemble your trusty robot helpers. Pretty cool, right?



[h2]Enhanced 3D Models[/h2]
We've been working extensively to refine our 3D models. Previously, in our trailer and playtests, you saw basic "blockout" models—simplified versions for faster prototyping. Now, we're ready to showcase near-final models with richer details and textures. Buildings are looking more vibrant and engaging than ever!

Check out the updated Universal Compartment, complete with intricate wiring and buttons.

Here are improved models of the Cooking Station and Composter.

And introducing, for the first time—the Geo Scanner! The Geo Scanner is a quest-related item that will help you discover hidden secrets on Mars—things you were not meant to know!


This month, our landscape received significant optimizations:

• Material optimization from a singular heavy-load material to a layered and blended approach.
• New engine updates enabling height-based blending between layers, greatly enhancing visual realism.
• Transitioning to the updated engine version also enabled us to use Nanite technology, allowing for displacement maps that create much more realistic and dynamic terrain.

We're also working on visualizing new environmental concept arts. Check out these fresh screenshots straight from the game:



We've completed programming the storyline for our playtests, a prequel introducing Gramps Makar and Auntie Masha. Following the release, we quickly deployed two updates to support playtests and have now moved on to new challenges—like redesigning and updating the logic and interfaces of the Cargo Station.



We’ve developed and integrated a compelling prequel narrative for AGRONOM. In this prequel (featured in playtests and soon in our Demo), you'll experience events several years before the main storyline. Step into Rusty's shoes for his first field trial under Gramps Makar’s supervision. Help Auntie Masha manage her farm while she's delayed on an interplanetary trip—especially with AgroNova Corporation eagerly awaiting their cut of the harvest!

This prequel lets you explore Auntie Masha’s farm, while in the main game, you'll build your own base from scratch on Gramps Makar’s land.

This month, we aim to finalize core gameplay mechanics, enhance our 3D models, and introduce exciting new animations. We'll also simplify and improve the introductory tutorial experience based on your feedback. After fully analyzing your suggestions, we'll integrate new features—details to be revealed early next week!

And for those who read to the very end—here’s a little surprise! We've started working on a gameplay teaser! Let us know in the comments what you're most excited about and want to see! Stay tuned for more updates!

For more details, join our Discord server.
And don't forget to wishlist AGRONOM—your support truly means everything to us:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2893250/AGRONOM/

With love,
The AGRONOM Team 🧡

[h2]Hello, Martian Farmers! 🌱🪐[/h2]

We've officially closed registration for the AGRONOM alpha Playtests! Huge thanks to everyone who signed up—we granted access to everyone who requested it.

[h3]We Need Your Feedback![/h3]
Please share your thoughts, emotions, ideas, bug reports, screenshots, and gameplay videos. Your input is incredibly valuable and directly influences AGRONOM’s development. You're the first explorers of this Martian farming adventure, and your feedback truly shapes our game.

[h2]Important to Note[/h2]
This is an early game version. We’re aware of existing bugs and rough spots and are already working hard to smooth things out. Hopefully, nothing major prevents you from enjoying the game!

[h3]Upcoming Improvements[/h3]

• A completely redesigned and enhanced User Interface—clearer and more visually appealing.
  
• More detailed and polished 3D models.
  
• New animations and expanded in-game content.
  
• Improved Automation with robots.

[h3]Story Context[/h3]
This alpha test scenario is a special prelude to the main AGRONOM storyline, uniquely created for this Playtest. It’s not simply a segment of the final game—it's something fresh and exciting we've crafted especially for you!

Thank you again for your support and participation. As a thank-you, especially valuable and detailed feedback will earn you a spot in AGRONOM’s credits!

Enjoy your Martian journey!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2893250/AGRONOM/

With love,
The AGRONOM Team 🧡

[h2]Greetings, Martian Farmer! 🌱🚀[/h2]
This month has been a whirlwind of excitement and progress for the AGRONOM team. We've been laser-focused on two major milestones: the release of our Announcement Trailer and the upcoming Playtests. But that's not all—we've also made significant strides in development, particularly in refining our 3D models, creating new animations and improving map.​

Speaking of the trailer—our Announcement Trailer has already rocketed past 100,000 views on YouTube, almost entirely without media coverage or advertising! That's all thanks to you: your incredible enthusiasm, kind comments, and spreading the word. You truly inspire us, and we couldn't be more grateful. 🚀❤️

Below, we've included a couple of behind-the-scenes GIFs and a photo of the cake we enjoyed while celebrating 100k views on our trailer!



And now, it's time for something we've all been eagerly awaiting: Playtests begin on April 23rd—this coming Wednesday! If you've been thinking of joining but haven't signed up yet, now's your chance. We'll be closing registrations as soon as the Playtests kick off, opening access to everyone who's already registered. These Playtests will run for two weeks, and your feedback will be invaluable. We'll provide a form to collect your impressions, thoughts, and emotions. Additionally, we'll open an exclusive channel on our Discord server for in-depth discussions directly with the developers!

Next month, we'll be diving deep into analyzing your playtest feedback and using your valuable suggestions to improve the game further. We'll also start preparing the first open Demo version of AGRONOM, based on the alpha playtest scenario.



Looking ahead, you can expect even juicier updates in our future Devlogs (which we release monthly like clockwork)! We're preparing some stunning images of our updated 3D models and, yes, animated GIFs showcasing brand-new animations. Excited yet? We sure are!

Stay tuned, wishlist AGRONOM on Steam, and hop onto our Discord to join the conversation!

For more details, join our Discord server.
And don't forget to wishlist AGRONOM—your support truly means everything to us:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2893250/AGRONOM/

With love,
The AGRONOM Team 🧡

[h2]Hello Martian farmers and automation enthusiasts![/h2]

We’ve just hit an important milestone—our very first official Announcement Trailer for AGRONOM is now live!

Automate your Martian farm with friendly robots, build your base, master crafting, and turn a cozy settlement into a thriving colony. AGRONOM offers a relaxing yet engaging experience of resource management, creativity, and exploration on Mars!

This trailer marks a major step forward for us, as we shift our focus towards creating even more content for you. We’ll upgrade our 3D models, polish animations, design immersive sounds, compose atmospheric music, and add stunning visual effects—all to ensure the best Martian farming experience possible!



[h3]Playtests Start April 23rd![/h3]

The AGRONOM Playtests are starting soon, on April 23rd! Right now, we're finalizing our Alpha build. Be sure to sign up for the Playtest here on Steam—we're excited to hear your feedback, thoughts, and suggestions!

Meanwhile, we've already begun working on the next exciting milestones, including our first gameplay trailer and an open demo version of AGRONOM. More mind-blowing things are definitely on the way—stay tuned!

Don't forget to wishlist AGRONOM here on Steam—it helps us tremendously!

Join our Discord community to share your ideas, ask questions, and follow our Martian adventures closely:
👉 AGRONOM Discord Server

With love,
The AGRONOM Team 🧡