New Features Guide

Each major new release of Carball sees the introduction of new features. If you have experience playing Carball and just need to know what is new in the latest release, this guide is for you. The highlights of gameplay features new to version 2.6 are described bellow. Please refer to our Detailed Guides for more through information regarding these features.

New Vehicles and Skins

Carball now offers you a choice of four different vehicles, the Buggy, Big Wheel, Bullitt and Spectre. These vehicles are of slightly different shapes and sizes. This has a subtle effect on how they handle and how they interact with the rest of the game. None of the vehicles are definitively better, faster, etc. In all likeliness it will take you a few games to get used to the new vehicles and determine any preferences.

New skins are now available for your choosing in the normal manner. You may want to try out some of the cell-shaded skins.

Please note that the Bullitt can use only one skin, the default classic skin.

New Power Up

With the latest release there is a new power-up, the Portable Repulse Field Generator. The repulse power-up will temporarily place a shield around you car. This shield repulses the ball and other cars. In addition it reduces damage inflicted by incoming weapons. Also, please see the Portable Repulse Field Generator entry in the next section.

Alt-Fire

That is correct, Carball now has an Alt-Fire mode for all of the power-ups, save for the Repair Kit. You can activate a power-up in Carball using the Alt-Fire mode just like you would use the Alt-Fire mode of a weapon in a normal Unreal Tournament 2004 (UT2004) game by using the secondary fire button. The default configuration for secondary fire is the Right Mouse Button.

Repair Kit

There is no Alt-Fire for the repair kit as it is activated immediately.

Nitro Boost

Alt-Fire for the Nitro Boost is a high jump straight up.

Pocket Rocket

In Alt-Fire mode, you can guide the Pocket Rocket using a new cross-hair that will appear on your screen. You only have a few moments to guide the rocket. It explodes with less power in alt-fire mode.

Flip-Mine

If you use the Flip-Mine in Alt-Fire mode, it will shoot straight forward and stick to the object it hits. One it has stuck to a target, you can detonate it by pressing primary fire.

Goo Pile

By using Alt-Fire mode you can lob the goo pile ahead of your vehicle. Hold down the Alt-Fire button and then depress it to lob the goo. The longer you hold it, the further it flies, although there is a range limit.

Invisibility

Use the Invisibility power-up in Alt-Fire mode and you will be able to see the currently selected inventory item of your opponents for a limited amount of time. You will still be visible.

Nuke

The Nuke can be dropped behind your vehicle using Alt-Fire mode. If you drop the Nuke in this way it will detonate 5 seconds latter or when it is run over by a car or ball, whichever happens first. It explodes with half power in Alt-Fire mode.

Portable Repulse Field Generator

An Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) will shoot out from the front of your car if you use the Portable Repulse Field Generator in Alt-Fire mode. If a car is hit by this pulse, it will be unable to drive for several seconds.

Spider-Mine

Drop the Spider-Mine in Alt-Fire mode and it will chase only the ball, not other players.

New Control Considerations

As of version 2.6 of Carball, significant changes have been made to the default controls and all players are advised to check their control configuration before playing.

The Right Mouse Button is now set by default to activate power-ups in Alt-Fire mode.

The Carball custom controls now include "Next Inventory Item" and "Previous Inventory Item" entries. You can bind whatever keyboard or mouse functions you wish to these entries. Please remember that the Carball Zoom In and Zoom Out functions are still tied to the regular UT2004 "Next Weapon" and "Previous Weapon" functions (which are by default bound to the Mouse Scrollwheel).

HUD Improvements

Improvements to the Heads-Up-Display (HUD) have been made. A three-dimensional arrow (called the HUD arrow) now appears on your HUD and will point to the current location of the ball during the game. By using the in-game menu you can change this back to the traditional circular radar ball locator. Just check the the "Revert to Radar" checkbox and the HUD arrow will be replace by the traditional radar.

The in-game menu will also allow you to change your perception of your own vehicle while using the invisibility power-up. If you check the "Use Invis HUD Indicator" checkbox in the in-game menu your vehicle will appear to you as a translucent red or blue car while the invisibility power-up is active in primary mode.