GrowBud News

[p]Hey growers! Quick update addressing feedback from the community:
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• [p]Reduced RPS event frequency (we heard you!)[/p]
• [p]Added alternative options to skip minigames in stage events[/p]
• [p]Improved coin toss randomisation[/p]
• [p]Sped up minigame animations (RPS, Shell Game)
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• [p]Fixed plant tags appearing too close to camera on wider aspect ratios[/p]
• [p]Fixed Gene Expressions UI issues in fullscreen mode[/p]
• [p]Improved Home button positioning across different screens[/p]
• [p]Better onboarding indicators for item usage
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• [p]Crane game increased to 30g per play (balancing against harvest rewards)
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[hr][/hr][p]Also in this update: We've clarified the Steam store page description to better explain what GrowBud is - a desktop companion that rewards you for focusing on real work, not a traditional idle game.

We're listening to your feedback as we head towards full release. Keep the reports coming![/p]

[h3]Your New Desktop Companion 🪴[/h3][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]GrowBud is out now. It's cannabis farming that runs as a sidebar on your desktop while you're working, playing games, or just chilling on your computer.[/p][p]Your plants grow faster when you're focused in other apps. Instead of demanding constant attention, GrowBud rewards you for doing your real work. Check in during natural breaks, make some decisions, watch your plants thrive. It's productivity gamified. But there's always something to do.[/p][p][/p][h3]What's Actually In The Box[/h3][p][/p][p]Grow 20+ authentic cannabis strains with stylised visual personalities. Each strain has unique growing characteristics and genetic potential. You'll navigate random encounters during growth cycles - some helpful, some challenging, all affecting your harvest outcome.[/p][p]Harvest amazing bud. Star ratings from 1-6 determine quality. Unlock Golden Status on strains by mastering their genetics. The better you care for your plants, the better the results.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Genetically enhance your plants. Unlock gene expressions that modify growth speed, care requirements, yield potential, and more. Build the perfect genetic profile for each strain.[/p][p][/p][h3]The Clubhouses & Activities[/h3][p][/p][p]When you need a break, head to the clubhouses:[/p]

• [p]Play blackjack - test your luck against the dealer[/p]
• [p]Spin the wheel-of-fortune - win mysterious prizes[/p]
• [p]Master the crane game - win items and customisation options[/p]
• [p]Complete orders - fulfill dispensary requests for rewards[/p]
• [p]Tackle club challenges - two progression systems (Grow Club for quality mastery, Bud Club for yield efficiency)[/p]
• [p]Find hidden items - scattered throughout your experience[/p]
• [p]Purchase care buffs - vending machine upgrades to improve plant care[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Expand your operation. Manage multiple grow houses simultaneously. Customise each one with different themes and aesthetics. Scale from a single shed to a full cultivation business.[/p][p][/p][h3]Who This Is For[/h3][p]Remote workers. Freelancers. Students. Anyone who spends hours at their desktop and wants something running alongside their workflow that doesn't steal focus. If you've ever wanted a desktop pet that rewards productivity instead of punishing you for having a life, this is it.[/p][p][/p][h3]The Cannabis Angle[/h3][p]We're treating cannabis strains like the pokémon of the plant world - complex genetics with heritage hybridised to create unique variants. This is horticulture themed around interesting plants. The game doesn't suggest smoking or getting high. It's classy presentation of an interesting subject.[/p][p]It's a fantasy game at the end of the day. Just happens to be about plants.[/p][p][/p][h3]What's Coming Next[/h3][p]Full transparency: we prioritised getting the core experience polished for launch. Level 3 club challenges didn't meet our standards, so they'll arrive in a free content update in the coming weeks along with:[/p]

• [p]Additional localisation support (French, Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish LATAM)[/p]
• [p]More stage transition encounter events[/p]
• [p]General polish and balance improvements[/p]

[p]The game you're buying today is complete and feature-rich, but we'll keep improving it.[/p][p][/p][h3]Who Made This[/h3][p][/p][p]We're Make Games Play - a small South African indie studio of lecturers and former students. GrowBud is our first original IP, a zero-budget passion project built during nights and weekends. We've put a lot of love into making something that respects your time while giving you small accomplishments throughout your day.[/p][p][/p][p]Launch Price: $6.99 Current Languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish Coming Soon: French, Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish (LATAM)[/p][p][/p][h3]Available Now![/h3]

[p]We've been hard at work expanding GrowBud's depth and polish based on your feedback! This substantial update introduces a lot of new content, polish, and much more engaging gameplay.[/p][p][/p][h2]Stage Transition System[/h2][p]Plants now face challenges and opportunities as they transition between growth stages - plenty of bonuses to be had. Some events offer luck-based minigames like the coin toss.[/p][p][/p][h2]Clubhouses & Activities[/h2][p]Each club now has a physical space to hang out in. View challenge progress, strain mastery and purchase goodies at the Grow Club Vending Machine or win prizes at the Bud Club Crane Game.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]Items[/h2][p]Nutritional items, such as Kelp Extract added to the watering can, or Super Soil added to the plant container, can enhance your plant's growth cycle and increase yields. These items can be attained at the Vending Machine or the Crane Game.[/p][p][/p][h2]Grow House Customisation Expansion[/h2][p]Unlock Japanese or Corrugated Industrial themed grow houses with matching doors and details. Customise walls, pots, lights, and fans independently for unique grow space aesthetics. Some equipment upgrades enable new mechanics, such as the Mist Fan.[/p][h3]Seasonal Content[/h3][p]Try out the new gift-wrapped pot with Christmas lights and snow particles. [/p][p] [/p][p][/p][h2]Window Sizing & Fullscreen[/h2][p]We've added a few width options to the settings while we work on support dynamic resizing. There's also a new full-screen option. [/p][p][/p][h2]Quality of Life[/h2][p]Drag-to-Water: Watering can now supports quick-drag watering[/p][p]Polish: Enhanced visual effects and audio feedback throughout the game[/p][p]Spanish Localisation 🇪🇸: Spanish translation now available[/p][p][/p][p]Wishlist now and join our growing community.🪴[/p]

[p]Based on valuable feedback from our players and our own observations, we've polished and refined the experience to make your first steps into cannabis cultivation more engaging and intuitive. This update focuses on improving pacing, enhancing UI clarity, and streamlining the overall gameplay loop.[/p][p][/p][h2]UI/UX Enhancements[/h2]

• [p]Restructured Grow State Interface: New stage progress dots and time estimation give you better visibility into your plant's development cycle
  
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• [p]Enhanced Button Interactions: Refined Grow and Harvest button styling with satisfying particle effects for better visual feedback
  
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• [p]Improved Strain Information Display: Strain names and details are now more prominently displayed in your grow houses, with enhanced strain tag viewing and time-to-harvest estimation[/p]
• [p]Refined Text Scrolling: Smoother horizontal text scrolling throughout the interface[/p]
• [p]Tooltip Toggle Setting: New toggle option with improved timing, giving you control over tooltip behaviour[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Gameplay Pacing Enhancements[/h2]

• [p]Faster Progression Start: Plants now begin at the vegetative stage, getting you into the core gameplay loop more quickly[/p]
• [p]Accelerated Time Flow: Time progression has been sped up for a more engaging gameplay experience[/p]
• [p]Refined Recovery Mechanics: Improved recovery button to better encourage strategic plant switching[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Control & Feedback Improvements[/h2]

• [p]Percentage-Based Light and Fan Controls: Sliders now display clear percentage values instead of hours, making photoperiod management more intuitive for all players
  
  
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• [p]Incremental Visual Feedback: Light and fan visual effects now scale smoothly with slider adjustments[/p]

[p][/p][h2]Reward System Expansion[/h2]

• [p]Enhanced Club Challenge Rewards: Complete challenges to earn gold, bonus stars, and unlock new strains including the exotic Malawi Gold landrace
  
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[p][/p][p]Thank you for your continued feedback as we refine the cannabis cultivation experience! The demo is available during Steam Next Fest - wishlist now to stay updated on our progress towards launch.[/p]

[p]We've been listening to your feedback from the demo and are excited to bring you major improvements just in time for Next Fest![/p][p][/p][p]Major Features[/p]

• [p]Orders & Challenges System: Fulfil customer orders and complete challenges to earn rewards and progress your grow operation
  
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• [p]Streamlined Onboarding Experience: Redesigned tutorial gets you growing faster with a more intuitive introduction to the game's systems
  
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• [p]Bud Count Harvesting: Harvest yields now measured in bud count instead of weight, giving you direct control over which buds to sell at harvest time
  
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• [p]Grow House Customisation: Personalise your grow space with customisable lighting equipment and plant containers for better visuals and expression
  
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[p][/p][p][/p][p]Balance Changes[/p]

• [p]Rebalanced achievement and harvest reward earnings for better progression pacing[/p]
• [p]Adjusted reward distribution to complement the new orders system[/p]

[p][/p][p]Improvements[/p]

• [p]Refined carousel drag controls for smoother navigation[/p]
• [p]Improved Mac trackpad scroll sensitivity[/p]
• [p]Performance optimisations during game initialisation and save operations[/p]
• [p]Additional ambient theme music tracks[/p]

[p][/p][p]Visual Refinements[/p]

• [p]Enhanced volumetric lighting and time-of-day atmosphere[/p]
• [p]Updated visual elements and icons across multiple systems[/p]

[p] [/p][p]Thank you for all your feedback during the demo! We're committed to making the best cannabis cultivation experience possible. Try out these new features and let us know what you think![/p]