Anki Drive, the iOS-controlled AI-based racing game that first debuted at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, got a major app update today, adding new weapons, support items, and a new upgrade system.
Following the update, there are a total of 20 upgrades that can be used to customize cars, in categories like Combat, Chassis, Engine, and Energy Systems. The Anki Cars, which are largely self-operating and steer by themselves via Bluetooth, can be upgraded with different abilities and statistics that make each car unique.
Additional weapons have been added as well, such as the EMP, which is used by the player to shoot other cars as they race along the track. There are two new support items, the Reverse Drive and the Kinetic Brake, which allow users to do a 180 degree turn or come to a dead stop on the track.
Players are also no longer locked into specific upgrades as they were in the past and can freely choose to buy and sell upgrades.
We're proud to announce a major app update to improve and enhance Anki Drive: - EXPANDED UPGRADE SYSTEMS Enter the Garage and customize the new Combat, Chassis, Engine, and Energy Systems. Choose your path, buy & sell upgrades, and level up! - NEW WEAPONS AND SUPPORT ITEMS Arm yourself with the all new EMP, Reverse Drive, Horn, and Kinetic Brake. Remember: swipe left & right on the triggers during gameplay to switch weapons. - THE ARMORY HAS MOVED Each vehicle now has it's own set of Weapons and Support Items. Configure them via the Armory in the Garage. - EARN BOUNTIES Earn greater rewards for defeating stronger opponents. The higher a vehicle's Level, the more bounty you earn for defeating it! - VEHICLE SOFTWARE UPDATES Once updated, vehicles can use the new Upgrade Systems. All existing purchases have been refunded, and you'll get even more points for each vehicle you update in the Garage. - SMARTER AI Think you can beat the AI on hard? We sure don't… especially with our recent improvements. It's smarter than ever. Think you've got what it takes? - IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE GAME Enhancements and fixes make it even more fun to play.
Alongside the update, the creators of Anki Drive have released a few statistics on the game, which has been available for more than two months. Anki users have raced approximately 42 million laps around the track, the equivalent of 540,000 Monaco Grand Prix races. The game's AI, when set to hard, has also managed to win 9 out of 10 races.
The Anki Drive Starter Kit, which includes two cars and a track, can be purchased from the Apple Store for $199.95. The accompanying Anki Drive app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Sometimes I think about where this mostly stupid and barbaric species of ours is heading and look forward to an asteroid or a virus or israeli nukes to just get it over with and finish the job already.
Yeah, humanity can be pretty scary. Example: I was once reading comments on a news article about an interesting toy, and one poster managed to go from toys to how optimistic they are about various apocalyptic scenarios. Pretty freaky. ;)
I suppose, it's not enough that a car go fast and navigate and strategize on its own. It's got to have weapons and kill everybody else on the track.
Sometimes I think about where this mostly stupid and barbaric species of ours is heading and look forward to an asteroid or a virus or israeli nukes to just get it over with and finish the job already.
I'm going to wait until they put a camera in these cars so I can have bonnet view. THAT would be cool (and is probably already in the works).
Otherwise as it is... $200 is too much to pay for what you get. Plus the craftsmanship that goes into those cars speak "Cheap Chinese labour" to me. I'm not paying $200 so that some underage Chinese people can be overworked. If that money were going to US workers though and you have US craftsmanship go into these things... then maybe I'd be swayed.
I suppose, it's not enough that a car go fast and navigate and strategize on its own. It's got to have weapons and kill everybody else on the track.
Sometimes I think about where this mostly stupid and barbaric species of ours is heading and look forward to an asteroid or a virus or israeli nukes to just get it over with and finish the job already.
Wow, that was depressing. :rolleyes:
I'd gladly buy this just for the novelty of it but I can barely justify buying a $200 toy as a grown man having more pressing expenses.
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But yet you took the time to click on the thread and post a comment? Why not just ignore the article? :rolleyes:
Yeah, humanity can be pretty scary. Example: I was once reading comments on a news article about an interesting toy, and one poster managed to go from toys to how optimistic they are about various apocalyptic scenarios. Pretty freaky. ;)
Good point.
Sometimes I think about where this mostly stupid and barbaric species of ours is heading and look forward to an asteroid or a virus or israeli nukes to just get it over with and finish the job already.
Otherwise as it is... $200 is too much to pay for what you get. Plus the craftsmanship that goes into those cars speak "Cheap Chinese labour" to me. I'm not paying $200 so that some underage Chinese people can be overworked. If that money were going to US workers though and you have US craftsmanship go into these things... then maybe I'd be swayed.
Wow, that was depressing. :rolleyes:
I'd gladly buy this just for the novelty of it but I can barely justify buying a $200 toy as a grown man having more pressing expenses.