• Home
    • About OnlineRaceDriver
  • Racing Game Car Lists
  • History of Racing Games
  • Wheels & Pedals
  • Esports
  • Trackipedia Race Sim Track Lists

OnlineRaceDriver

Sim Racing News, Tips and Guides

  • Forza
    • Forza Motorsport 7
    • Forza Motorsport
    • Forza Horizon 4
  • gran turismo
    • Gran Turismo Sport
    • Gran Turismo 7
  • iracing
  • rFactor
    • rFactor 2
  • GRID
  • RaceRoom
  • Assetto Corsa
    • Assetto Corsa Competizione
  • DiRT
    • DiRT 5
    • DiRT Rally 2.0
  • Wreckfest
  • Automobilista
    • Automobilista 2
  • ATS
  • ETS 2
  • F1 2020
    • F1 2019
  • KartKraft
  • Project CARS 3
    • Project CARS 2
  • Test Drive Unlimited
    • Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
  • More Driving Games
    • Overpass
    • MotoGP 20
    • SnowRunner
    • RIDE 4
    • Spintires

KartKraft Closed Beta Applications Now Open

March 27, 2016 By Andy ORD Leave a Comment

Black Delta has started sign-ups for its KartKraft closed beta run.

Formerly known as KartSim, KartKraft made an early appearance at last summer’s Gamescom. A late 2015 to early 2016 release window recently shifted to a definitive June 4th, 2016. The closed beta news states that this delay will now give the developers time to comprehensively test the game ahead of the revised launch date.

Adopting the new schedule, Black Delta’s intention is to involve the community in order to garner opinion as well as report on, for example, any bugs that might be discovered along the way. After a first round of beta testing, the company aims to periodically expand the number of invitations over the next couple of months. If the development and testing schedule holds, this will ultimately lead to a fully open Steam Early Access period that will begin in June.

Closed Beta Registration

KartKraft beta registration comes with a few requirements, which we’ll outline below.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To register, a Windows dxdiag text file needs to be uploaded to the site. Directions for creating the file are included on the KartKraft page. Once that is done, a slightly long questionnaire has to be completed. Applicants must supply some demographic information as well as a Steam user name. The process includes several pages of tick-box questions on game-related aspects such as these:

  • What hardware you use (e.g. Fanatec ClubSport Wheel, Logitech G29, Thrustmaster T300, Xbox 360 controller…);
  • What games you play (Automobilista, DiRT Rally, Project CARS…);
  • What factors you consider important in games (physics, competitive AI, force feedback, on-line play…).

On completion of the form, you’ll be thanked for having signed up and should quickly receive an e-mail to confirm registration for the closed beta. If nothing arrives, do check your spam folder! Our sign-up receipt arrived moments after completing the process, though it was filtered as a junk message.

Kartkraft will start to send out invitations to the beta programme next week.

Lots of Promise

With the involvement of a number of racing-related companies that include Alpinestars, Arai, Momo and Sparco on the apparel side and Maxter Kart Engines on the mechanical one, KartKraft looks to be strong in terms of cosmetic authenticity. We’ll not read too much into the presence of those company names just yet but driven by Unreal Engine 4, KartKraft certainly appears to have its visual aspects nicely taken care of.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Gamers and fans of the sport alike should appreciate customisation of their driver, kart and race team. It’s a sign that regardless of any potential ‘sim’ leanings, Black Delta haven’t forgotten the game side either. We’re not personally fixed to the race-to-earn (or grind!) side of racing games, but it’s a canny decision on the design front. After all, such built-in progression has played a part for years in the massive sales successes of Turn 10 Studios and Polyphony Digital as well as the recently divisive games of Milestone. On two wheels or four, unlocking content by racing is a staple of the genre by now. Combined with customisation, we imagine this will play a big part in the appeal of this kart-specific game and partly due to that kart-only nature, prove to be a welcome, even valuable feature.

At this point, however, we’re most keen to see the results of Black Delta’s physics work. KartKraft has had a huge gestation period and we’re naturally eager to learn whether so many years of development and the inclusion of laser-scanned circuits have resulted in the ‘hyper-realistic’ game that is promised.

KartKraft Features

Gathering details between Black Delta’s blog posts, videos and the latest KartKraft ‘closed beta’ announcement hints toward the following:

  • Multiple race classes from starter karts to full 100MPH (160km/h) machines;
  • Build a team – buy a kart, create a team and race;
  • Unlock larger team headquarters, decals, drones and RC cars;
  • Dynamic kart modelling, including chassis flex and moving bodywork;
  • Fully animated driver;
  • Wet weather (falling rain and damp tarmac);
  • Minimum of DirectX 11 rendering;
  • Oculus Rift VR support.

KartKraft is a PC-only title that will initially be released on Steam. Don’t feel left out just yet if you’re a console player though as plans are afoot for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions!

Raised Expectations

Though the gaming world is hardly overwhelmed with kart-racing simulations, what we do have is very good. Especially when it comes to at least convincing behaviour of the machinery, the benchmark is surprisingly high.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s going to be fascinating not only seeing what Black Delta has created but also running it alongside titles like PiBoSo’s Kart Racing Pro and the kart classes of Reiza Studios’ Automobilista Motorsports Simulator for comparison. Can KartKraft match its visual advantage over those simulators with equally appealing force feedback, the ‘direct’ feel of a kart and tight racing on and off-line?

We hope to answer some of that soon!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Blog, FeaturedContent, Karting Games, KartKraft, News, pc, Simulators Tagged With: black delta, kart, karting, kartkraft, kartsim, pc, sim

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Latest Videos

The Nissan Proto Z and Racing Conversion in Project CARS 3 Power Pack DLC

Project CARS 3 Power Pack DLC and Update 4 Out Now

There's a new circuit, various game improvements, and four new paid cars to … Watch now

A new iRacing 2021 Season 2 Video Preview demonstrates the new damage model coming to more cars

iRacing 2021 Season 2 Video: New Damage Model For More Cars

An iRacing 2021 Season 2 video preview has revealed more cars will move onto the … Watch now

Forza Horizon 4 Hot Wheels Legends DLC Released

Forza Horizon 4 Hot Wheels Legends DLC Released

Leaked at the start of February and mentioned in the monthly Forza stream and … Watch now

MotoGP 21 Announced for Release on April 22nd 2021

MotoGP 21 Announced for Release on April 22nd 2021

The simulation of the top level of motorcycle racing will be available on next … Watch now

New Wreckfest Reckless Car Pack And Free Update

New Wreckfest Reckless Car Pack And Free Update

More crashing and smashing from developers Bugbear Entertainment, with a new … Watch now

Forza Horizon 4 is coming to Steam on March 9,2021

Forza Horizon 4 Is Coming To Steam On March 9

In a move to boost the PC popularity of the game, Forza Horizon 4 is coming to … Watch now

More Videos

Popular Posts

  • The rFactor 2 Car List
    The rFactor 2 Car List
  • Complete Official Wreckfest Car List
    Complete Official Wreckfest Car List
  • The rFactor 2 Track List
    The rFactor 2 Track List
  • The Automobilista 2 Track List
    The Automobilista 2 Track List
  • Assetto Corsa Competizione Car List
    Assetto Corsa Competizione Car List
  • How to perform stunts in MX vs ATV Alive
    How to perform stunts in MX vs ATV Alive
  • How To Install Mods For Assetto Corsa
    How To Install Mods For Assetto Corsa
  • The Full Assetto Corsa Competizione Track List
    The Full Assetto Corsa Competizione Track List
  • Full RaceRoom Racing Experience Car List
    Full RaceRoom Racing Experience Car List
  • The Complete Project CARS 3 Track List
    The Complete Project CARS 3 Track List

Subscribe to the weekly ORD Newsletter and never miss Sim Racing news

* indicates required

View previous campaigns.

Powered by MailChimp

Useful Links

Sim Racing Game Car Lists
Sim Racing Game Track Lists
The Best Sim Racing Wheels For Beginners

Categories

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

© 2021 Hot Mod Media · Design & Marketing TWOTW · Disposable Media · FPSPrestige · OnlineRaceDriver · Patchwork Kitchen · HotModGaming · The Guitar List · Rescars · Rescogs

Go to mobile version