Update 11 - Hardcore game mode, changelog viewer, battery degradation and more!

Hardcore game mode:

For all of you who've beaten the game many times a new mode is now available - Hardcore! Hardcore mode, which only becomes available once you've beaten The Run, features 3 stages rather than 10. They are very long and the timer ticks only 5 seconds before not one, but two aliens show up chasing you. The idea behind the game mode was to have a tough challenge from the very start of a round, without the usual build-up present in The Run, yet make it still possible to beat it. Right now Hardcore is quite fun and beating it is highly satisfactory, but it is also in experimental phase, meaning that some things could be changed over time based on your feedback. Please let me know your thoughts about it, and I'm looking forward to seeing hardcore gameplay videos and end-screen captures!

Ingame changelog viewer:

The game now lets you see what's new in every update, directly from the database. If the game was updated, a notification in the main menu will lead you to the latest changelog, where you can read about the update. Other than what's new, you can browse changelogs of every previous update, all the way up to 21st November 2012 when development on Switchcars started.

Battery degradation:

Based on a forum suggestion, recharging electric vehicles now reduces their battery capacity with 1/6 ratio. The more the vehicle is recharged, the less capacity it has, however repairing the vehicle will restore the battery to a new state.

Disposable Power Bank powerup:

Another forum suggestion is a new kind of powerup that effectively provides instant refuel which also changes the power source and prevents it from being refueled again. Disposable Power Bank is very useful as a last resort in very tight situations.

Drogue Parachute powerup:

This active powerup lets you brake hard by deploying a parachute behind the vehicle. It's particularly useful at avoiding obstacles at very high speeds, such as when in a Land Speed Record Vehicle.

New sound effects:

Electric propeller vehicles now have their own drone-like sound. The most common examples are the older generation flying cars in 2030's and 2040's. Crash sounds have been expanded with 9 new ones, making action moments feel more dynamic and less repetitive. Light and heavy jets got improved engine sounds, as well as heavy propeller vehicles, all having gradual acceleration rather than being maxed out immediately.

Lighting effects:

When entering or exiting dark caves, the game will simulate eyes adapting to a new brightness level. Leaving a cave will cause a bright flash, whereas entering a cave will make you see almost nothing but darkness for a moment. Shooting and explosions now light up caves slightly. Thanks to another community suggestion, all vehicles now turn on headlights (and brake lights when braking) in dark or foggy environments. Traffic can also flash headlights as a warning if you're in its way.

Alien Younglings got Teleport:

With Teleport found naturally in them, younglings have become a very tactical asset. As with vehicles, using the teleport will hurt the animal, however riding the animal itself will have it regenerate health. With calculated use they can be a life-saver, but at the same time the Younglings are very fragile. As usual, there have been many more smaller changes to the