Welcome to KarBOOM!

KarBOOM

KarBOOM is a car-crashing game with a multiplayer focus. The idea is simple: stay in the arena. Variety is added with mutators and game modes to change the rules of play, bots, online multiplayer and shoulder-to-shoulder multiplayer. The simple controls mean up to 4 players can play on one keyboard. Gamepad support means up to 8 players can play on one computer. Add bots or go online for up to 48 cars smashing each other around the place!

So far, all of KarBOOM's features are free, as KarBOOM is in a state of "open alpha". Check out the downloads page on IndieDB to find KarBOOM is a small free download that requires no installation. Files on IndieDB are checked for viruses before being made available to the public. Offline play and all its features can be played as much as you want with no need to create an online account. The KarBOOM Open Alpha is also freely available on Desura, which handles automatic updates and hosts a huge catalogue of indie games.

So what do I need an online account for?

A standard online account lets you use the forum. KarBOOM is in open alpha -- that is, current versions are freely available to the public, but it's not feature-complete. I could really use your feedback so I know what features need improving, what bugs there are, and what cool stuff should be added to the game!

A premium account is an upgraded version of the standard account, and it lets you play KarBOOM online against other players. I also plan on adding a few extra features available only to premium accounts (like an online profile, letting you share replays and custom levels when the replay and level editors are finished!). Accounts are automatically upgraded to premium accounts as soon as they are created, for now.

Get in early and play KarBOOM! Get involved in the official forums and help me make KarBOOM reach its full potential. Check the announcements forum to see what's new, and follow me on Twitter so you never miss news, screenshots, or updates.

So what's in store for KarBOOM?

I regularly get requests from KarBOOM users, and there've been all sorts of requests I wouldn't have thought to add normally. These requests have helped me compile a to-do list. While its contents are subject to change, here are the biggest changes that are planned:

Car soccer: Throw a ball in there, add some goals and team-play, and I have a feeling this will be the most fun way to play KarBOOM. I like soccer.

Level editor: A level editor is planned for KarBOOM's near future, and is currently in development. Levels will use very little data, so players can easily share levels with each other and load custom levels for online games.

Save and share replays: Replay mode will get reinstated along with new features, making it more interactive. This includes features like rewind, slow-motion, and scrubbing. Later on users will be able to save and load replays. When the level editor is complete, replays will include level information -- this means if you are watching someone else's replay and you like the level in which it is played, you will be able to save that level for your own games later on.

Race mode: It is a car game, after all. While the details are not finalised, the idea of a race mode making it into KarBOOM has been very popular indeed.

How can I support KarBOOM?

Tell your friends about it, tell me if you have any ideas for improvements or if you've found any bugs, and follow KarBOOM on IndieDB or Desura! IndieDB -- the Indie Games Database -- is a great way to find indie games and interact with their developers and other gamers. Desura is a great way to buy and download games -- it has a huge catalogue with an indie focus, and benefits from having the same backend (and thus community and information) as IndieDB.