Multiplayer is officially released!

Thank you to everyone that provided feedback during the test phase this week, it was extremely helpful! This is a HUGE update, with all of the new multiplayer features, plus a boat load of improvements and bug fixes on top for good measure! The test branch has been disabled and you will be automatically moved to the normal release. More tests will happen in the future so keep your eye out!

V0.83 Update Notes:

New Features:

-Multiplayer is finally here! All back-end and supporting systems for multiplayer, plus a whole bunch of rewriting of existing features to make them work online is now complete! Supporting local and online multiplayer for up to 8 of your friends and foes! There is a lot of new features here, so check the bottom of this post for a more detailed look at everything multiplayer related!

-The first multiplayer mode "Hot Lap" has been added to the game, with more modes coming soon, plus I am open to any further ideas for fun game modes to play with your buddies!

-Regular more frequent updates will now resume as well!

Changes:

V0.83b

-Chat messages have new sound

-New best time messages now have their own unique sound

-Added 2 second cooldown to chat messages

-Automated sending late joined clients level data to avoid "players not ready" message

-Added compression to livery data, much larger liveries can now be used in multiplayer

-Added compression to track data, much larger track files can now be used in multiplayer

-New best time messages now only show each users latest best time to stop filling up the chat window

V0.83c

-Resetting to track now also resets wheel/suspension

-When a livery is copied it will now update its assigned chassis and body to the current loaded vehicle

-Streamlined new track creation menus

Bug Fixes:

-Fixed daily jam skip practice button being bound to back button (so it skips practice when trying to go back from the pause menu)

-Added some further protections to the daily jam system to catch rare instances of strange timer behavior

-Fixed rare case of spamming buttons causing overlapping menus when exiting out of race mode

V0.83b

-Fixed daily jam sequence playing if playing multiplayer directly after playing daily

-Fixed being unable to play multiplayer again if you left a match, played singled player, then tried to play again

-Fixed mode info menu stealing controller focus

-Fixed mode info menu getting stuck open

-Fixed vehicle jitter in lobby

-Fixed host vehicle slowly moving up or down in lobby

-Fixed being able to send blank messages in chat

-Fixed multiplayer UI showing up in photo mode shots

-Fixed change camera and other input working while chat window is open

-Fixed open chat button making noises and getting/losing focus while driving

V0.83c

-Fixed vehicle x-ray view staying on if you pause and leave game while its enabled

-Fixed photo mode camera getting stuck if opening it while in FPV

-Fixed vehicle sometimes losing wing when choosing a new body

-Fixed HBMini wing staying on when losing body

-Fixed rolling drag not engaging after tapping brakes if no other input is touched

-Fixed birdseye camera not being oriented correctly during race intro animation

-Fixed leaderboard "no entries found" message getting stuck on in rare instances

-Fixed current rank display showing old vehicles rank after changing vehicle if connection is bad

-Fixed track preview not showing extreme elevation on nationals tracks correctly

-Fixed rare instance where copying an object in the editor would cause a soft lock if it overlapped too many objects

Multiplayer Features:

-Both global online and local(LAN) are supported for up to 8 players (this number may be increased later on depending on how things go)

-For now only join via code matches are supported, however a server browser is absolutely a possibility in the future, I just dont have the player count to support it right now. The code system however means that you do not need to be Steam friends to join games, so you can send your join code to anyone to play with them. This means organizing multiplayer sessions on discord or facebook or whatever you want will be easy and accessible to everyone. This also ensures there is no risk of the game ever getting "shut down" if I can no longer afford servers. Multiplayer will always be available for as long as the game (and Steam) exist!

-A full in game chat is supported, making is easy to talk trash, organize races, and help the host decide what to play next! This system is also used for real time notifications to all the players, like showing when a player gets a new best lap.

-ALL game tracks are supported, you can race on any community track, any of your own private tracks (even if they aren't uploaded to the community), and any of your unlocked campaign tracks. Have your buddies hop in and help you test your new tracks before you upload them!

-The first game mode available is called "Hot Lap", this is effectively the standard game where you freely race for best lap times, including functioning leaderboards, but with your friends! In this mode there will be no collisions, and everyone will still spawn in the normal start box (but custom session marker respawn points still work). As you race everyone's best lap times will be shown in the lobby leaderboard for everyone in the group, and there will be notifications any time a player gets a new best lap time. Leaderboards still work and update in real time, so you can all compete for leaderboard spots together! This mode also functions great as a free mode, allowing you to organize and host your own races using whatever methods you want (IE. mimicking the way your local RC club handles races, points, laps or timers, etc.)

-More game modes are already in the works, including standard competitive timed racing modes inspired by real life rc as well as more arcade friendly lap style races. The host of the match will have total control over game modes, enabling collisions, setting lap count or timers, allowing for practice sessions before starting the race, etc. and again, every track in the game will be available to play in all these modes!

-Photo mode is still fully supported! Show off your groups custom liveries and vehicles in a virtual car meet and get some cool squad pics!

-Movement and prediction net code is extremely complicated, especially with physics like this game has, this is something I will continuously be working on and improving.

-Everything here is a work in progress, and I am very open to feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future multiplayer game modes! So let me know what you would like to see! Come join the official discord and lets race together! - https://discord.com/invite/4DdPrpMfRG

-Hondune