June was a bit of a hassle, but not without results. Let Hanaa 0.4.0 be proof of that.

Amid smaller fixes, this release brings three major updates.

First, the problematic old winter track has been replaced with a new one: "Maaliskuu." It's shorter, easier, and features wider roads than the other tracks. But its slippery surfaces still pack surprises if you get too comfortable.

Second, inactive cars now disappear instead of lingering as ghostly distractions. This change goes a long way toward making the game visually cleaner and more readable during races.

Third, track surfaces now have distinct physical and audiovisual properties. That means your car will behave differently depending on what it’s driving on—expect changes in traction, particle effects, and sound based on the terrain. It adds a whole new layer of variety to every race.

Looking ahead to the next release, I’ll likely spend time refactoring and polishing the project under the hood. Up until now, I’ve been focused mostly on gameplay, but the technical debt is starting to pile up. To keep things sustainable and prepare for new features, some cleanup is due. In parallel, I’ll be exploring ways to clarify track borders, since it can still be tricky to tell when a car goes off-track. Surface properties will also need some tweaking, and track editing tools are high on my wishlist to streamline content creation.

Thanks for playing, and stay tuned!

New / improvements:

• TRACKS: Introduced a new "Maaliskuu" track, replacing the old winter track.
• GRAPHICS: Ghost cars no longer clutter the view, inactive cars now disappear cleanly.
• GRAPHICS: Visual polish update, including enhanced post-processing effects.
• PHYSICS: Track surfaces now have distinct physical properties. Expect slippery ice, sticky mud, and everything in between.
• UI: Numerous subtle UI tweaks made in preparation for future features.
• UI: Smoother transitions into and out of races.
• AUDIO: Terrain types now influence sound, adding variety alongside physical behavior.

Fixes:

• Resolved an issue where collision detection failed during the aiming phase. No more getting stuck on lamp posts.
• Cars no longer nudge dynamic objects while aiming.
• Goal post colliders have been fixed.

Known issues:

• Controller reconnection is currently (still) unreliable.
• Car rolling audio still needs significant tuning.
• Certain spots on the "Syyskuu" track have lighting glitches. The cause is still a mystery for now.