Institute / Interactive Media · Technology & Software / Lone Moon Studio / Gear Automata

Gear Automata

齿轮纪元

What it is

An industrial mod series for NetEase's Minecraft China Edition. The first title is a steam railway: players lay track wherever they click and drive their own steam trains.

Why believe it

Gear Automata
9vintage locomotives you can drive in the game

2026-10-27 · Drawing

Where it stands

Released

2026-10-29 · Release
1.3.7 passed review and went on sale in the NetEase component store.

Titles
Gear Automata · 齿轮纪元 / 铁路大亨 / 蒸汽纪元 / MC 蒸汽铁路模组
Status
Released
People
  • leadKaiwen LiuProduct and game design
Derivatives
—
Follow-up
—

Key images

Overview: the station yard from above, in game
Overview: the station yard from above, in game
Interface: the Gear Automata terminal in game
Interface: the Gear Automata terminal in game
Interface: two-point track laying in game
Interface: two-point track laying in game
In use: a train crossing the valley viaduct
In use: a train crossing the valley viaduct

Highlights

  • 2026-10-25VersionRailway prototype 0.8 working: two-point laying that tells level curves, straight slopes and curved slopes apart, and builds bridge decks and piers on slopes.
  • 2026-10-27Release1.3.7 submitted for review with a 71-second video. The automated performance test passed; the cross-platform conflict check flagged one texture name, and the fix goes into the first patch after approval.
  • 2026-10-27DrawingPromotional images v4 (36 files) and 5 short showcase videos finalized; the game has 9 locomotives you can drive.

Drawings, versions and releases

  • 2026-10-24VersionRail transit v1 test package: the generator's track-continuity self-check passed on all 289 random routes.
  • 2026-10-25VersionRailway prototype 0.8 working: two-point laying that tells level curves, straight slopes and curved slopes apart, and builds bridge decks and piers on slopes.
  • 2026-10-25ReleaseSource code committed to git and tagged v1.0.0-rc1; laying track, round trips and reloading a save all pass in game.
  • 2026-10-26DrawingFirst promotional images and store copy; Kaiwen wrote the store copy, with the tagline “Pick start and end, lay the rails, drive!”
  • 2026-10-26ReleaseFinal 1.3.0 package tagged. After play-testing, Kaiwen decided not to submit that night and to build full free track laying first (lay where you click, branches become switches, a platform makes a station).
  • 2026-10-27Release1.3.7 submitted for review with a 71-second video. The automated performance test passed; the cross-platform conflict check flagged one texture name, and the fix goes into the first patch after approval.
  • 2026-10-27DrawingPromotional images v4 (36 files) and 5 short showcase videos finalized; the game has 9 locomotives you can drive.
  • 2026-10-29Release1.3.7 passed review and went on sale in the NetEase component store.
Evidence chain · 10 records
  • 2026-10-24VersionRail transit v1 test package: the generator's track-continuity self-check passed on all 289 random routes.
  • 2026-10-25VersionRailway prototype 0.8 working: two-point laying that tells level curves, straight slopes and curved slopes apart, and builds bridge decks and piers on slopes.
  • 2026-10-25ReleaseSource code committed to git and tagged v1.0.0-rc1; laying track, round trips and reloading a save all pass in game.
  • 2026-10-26DrawingFirst promotional images and store copy; Kaiwen wrote the store copy, with the tagline “Pick start and end, lay the rails, drive!”
  • 2026-10-26ReleaseFinal 1.3.0 package tagged. After play-testing, Kaiwen decided not to submit that night and to build full free track laying first (lay where you click, branches become switches, a platform makes a station).
  • 2026-10-26SupersededTwo-point laying replaced by free laying: after playing 1.3.0, Kaiwen said start-and-end detection made manual laying impossible, so it became lay where you click, extend from the ends, and branch into switches.
  • 2026-10-27Release1.3.7 submitted for review with a 71-second video. The automated performance test passed; the cross-platform conflict check flagged one texture name, and the fix goes into the first patch after approval.
  • 2026-10-27DrawingPromotional images v4 (36 files) and 5 short showcase videos finalized; the game has 9 locomotives you can drive.
  • 2026-10-29TestKaiwen tested 1.3.7 on a phone: performance is fine. Stress tests with several trains and long consists are not done yet.
  • 2026-10-29Release1.3.7 passed review and went on sale in the NetEase component store.