Thanks for the comments guys. I crashed after I finished the jam, so I didn't have a chance to respond.
Yes, in its current state, as a prototype, it doesn't have a lot of AI or items to use, but that's mainly by virtue of time. At the moment, the main reason you would use the gift mechanic is to block an AI from using a boost. The AI originally threw items constantly, but I toned that down so people would have the opportunity to actually gift and replace items.
If I had the time, netplay, a larger item pool, and more AI code would have greatly improved this.
It's the standard arcade racing formula, except you now receive presents instead of items. You can open presents to get an item, or you can gift a present to knock an item from another player's hands. It adds a layer of strategy of when to gift and where. Have fun!
