So, better late than never, SuperTuxKart 0.8.2 beta has been released! This new version is the result of months of work from the SuperTuxKart team. Please note that this is a beta only, and we know that there are still some bugs around which we intend to fix before the 0.8.2 release (see our bug tracker for a list), but no major ones that would prevent you from enjoying the game.
If you download the beta, we are mostly interested in any kind of feedback, particularly about the graphical side of thing. Please let us know if it works just fine, or if you had to disable certain features to make it look good. Report bugs in our tracks (URL see above, but please check that it has not been reported previously).
New Rendering Engine
This update hauls the new graphical engine “Antartica”. The highlight of this new engine is the improved light and shadow rendering which makes STK 0.8.2 looks much better than previous versions. It is worth noting that this new engine requires OpenGL 3.1, and although the graphical settings can be changed to achieve playable FPS, the minimum GPU supported is HD 3000.
Improved Maps
The old “Island” and “Jungle” maps have been replaced with improved “Gran Paradiso Island” and “Cocoa Temple” maps respectively. These maps are gorgeous, and are hopefully an example of the quality of maps added in the future.
Prerequisites for Online Multiplayer
Online accounts have been added to prepare for online multiplayer. Although online multiplayer isn’t ready yet, the STK team did state that it “will be our main focus once the release is done”. Your account will also allow you to connect achievements and stay in touch with your friends.
Updated Physics, Grand Prix Editor
The new version includes many more new features – we still need to assemble the full list. But it includes different kart physics, based on this year’s GSoC work, random Grand Prix, a Grand Prix editor and more.
How To Play
You’ll have to build the game from source because this is a beta release. Alternatively, you can download pre-built binaries for Windows and Mac.
Update: We now have a combined 32/64 bit linux binary online: sourceforge.net/projects/supertuxkart/files/SuperTuxKart/0.8.2-beta/supertuxkart-0.8.2-beta-linux.tar.bz2/download.
