Combat Cars

Overview

Up to eight players race, picking up items like lasers, mines, oil slicks, and speed boosts to fight their way to the front. There are three different categories of items: offense, defense, and speed. You can carry all three types at the same time as they are activated by different button presses.

Game Modes

Custom race is the standard way to race, choosing how many players, how many CPUs, how many races, and what kind of items: normal placement, random placement, all boost, or none.

Meteor survivor has the same options as custom race, but meteors are falling from the sky and will explode when they hit the ground. If hit by a meteor, your car is out of the race, so who completes the most laps without getting hit is more important than who crosses the finish line first (there is also an option to change the meteors to stun only for a more standard race).

Infection mode has players race for one lap, then the player who comes in last is infected and must try to infect the other players.

In Battle mode, there is no racing. Instead, items are placed randomly around the screen and players are out to hit each other with lasers and mines to either be the last one standing or score the most points hitting other players.

Controls

Xbox Controller:

• A Button: Gas/Confirm
• B Button: Brake/Reverse/Cancel
• X Button: Use Defense Item (if held)
• L Button: Use Offense Item (if held)
• R Button: Use Boost Item (if held)
• Start: Pause Game
• Left Analog Stick/D-pad: Steer

Keyboard Left:

• Spacebar: Gas/Confirm
• L: Brake/Reverse/Cancel
• K: Use Boost Item (if held)
• J: Use Defense Item (if held)
• H: Use Offense Item (if held)
• P: Pause Game
• WASD: Steer

Keyboard Right:

• Numpad 0: Gas/Confirm
• Numpad +: Brake/Reverse/Cancel
• Numpad 6: Use Boost Item (if held)
• Numpad 5: Use Defense Item (if held)
• Numpad 4: Use Offense Item (if held)
• P: Pause Game
• Arrow Keys: Steer

What's in the Demo?

• Local Multiplayer for up to 8 players.
• 4 game modes: Custom Race, Meteor Survivor, Infection, and Battle
  
• 12 tracks using several different environments
• Basic game options such as full screen, sound levels, input device

Development Status

Currently working on the single-player Adventure mode. Drive around a map where all four tracks of a single cup are present, talk to NPC racers to compete in challenges to earn points to qualify for the area's tournament. 

There will be a separate area map for each cup (4 tracks each) with progressively harder challenges, such as target practice or winning a race with special conditions.

Achievement list is currently a work in progress. In the demo, it is possible to see achievements appear at the top of the screen when unlocked. The list is incomplete and there are more to come.

Total tracks will be 20 (5 cups of 4 tracks each). Only 12 are in the demo and some of those don't have proper scenery in place. Currently working on making more tracks.

Currently have 6 different car models to choose from. There will be at least 8. Not sure how many total there will be, but there is room for many more.

Graphics, sound effects, and music all need to be improved. This is what I've been able to make on my own. So I may need to invest in some help there.

Check out the YouTube channel to see active development!

Work Completed (not in current demo)

Time Trial mode: race solo against the clock where all items are speed boosts. Saves top five best track times and single best lap time for each track.

Grand Prix mode: race in all four tracks of a single cup to earn a gold, silver, or bronze trophy. Maximum of 4 human players, will fill remaining 8 players with bots.

Credits

So far this game has been the sole work of me, Clayton Grange.

Please feel free to help the project by donating or sharing on social media.