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Gran Turismo documentary 'Kaz' premieres on Hulu January 22nd
If you were wondering exactly when and where you'd be able to watch the Gran Turismo documentary, we have the answer. On January 22nd, Kaz: Pushing the Virtual Divide will make its way into your home via Hulu streaming. PlayStation is hosting a round-table discussion with the filmmakers and Kazunori Yamauchi himself via its Twitch.tv channel that day, too. Need an incentive to tune in? Well, during the broadcast, you'll have a chance at winning $1,000,000 -- in Gran Turismo 6 bucks, of course. Now if you'll excuse us, we need some time to ponder why Sony didn't debut the film on its own streaming video service.
Gran Turismo documentary 'Kaz' exposes series' enigmatic creator (video)
To celebrate 15 years of Gran Turismo, Sony is releasing a documentary about the obsessions of series creator Kazunori Yamauchi. Kaz: Pushing the Virtual Divide chronicles Yamauchi's creative process via interviews with car makers and journalists, all keen to heap praise on the mastermind. While the trailer (embedded below) does get a little bit heavy-handed -- with slightly dodgy comparisons to Magellan, for instance -- it's nice to see an influential game designer's work in the spotlight. We don't have a release date, but it coming out near GT6's December 6th launch doesn't seem too far-fetched.
Gran Turismo 6 coming to PS3 in time for the holidays, creator has PS4 version 'in mind' (video)
Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi has announced that the series' next racing title will arrive later this year, with a demo scheduled to appear this July, ahead of a holiday launch. Expect a heady 1,200 cars to make the new edition, with 33 locations (and 71 layouts) to drive them around. Polyphony Digital has developed a new game engine for Gran Turismo 6, one that "pushes the limits of the PS3," but the incoming game might make another appearance on the incoming PlayStation 4. At a 15th anniversary event at the Silverstone racetrack in the UK, Yamauchi teased to IGN that they had a PS4 version "in mind, but for this holiday season, we thought it would be best for users to release on [the] PS3." Gran Turismo remains Sony's most successful franchise ever and has sold over 70 million copies to date. Sony adds that we'll hear even more about the sequel at E3 -- likely alongside a next-generation console we can see.
Kid-focused Gran Turismo for Boys could become GT5 feature
It's been over three years since we first sighed 'awwwe' to Polyphony Digital's plans to develop a kindly, gentler racing simulation with the kid-friendly Gran Turismo for Boys. Now series mastermind Kazunori Yamauchi has come forward about the project, and in a recent CVG interview commented that Gran Turismo for Boys is still coming, though perhaps as an included feature in Gran Turismo 5 rather than a standalone game. Gran Turismo for Boys was first revealed in November 2004 by Yamauchi as a way to hook preteens on cars, sort of like candy cigarettes, but since then there's been little said about the effort beyond the occasional footnote to let the world know that the project hadn't been run over. Tykes shouldn't get too excited yet, however, as Yamauchi admits that his team is currently spinning wheels working on GT5, and have little time to spend on side projects. Still, with the game's release about a year off maybe he'll find time to include the child dedicated feature -- and keep us from throwing a tantrum.
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue producer reveals online features
The latest Famitsu magazine (via 1UP) features an interview with Gran Turismo 5 Prologue producer Kazunori Yamauchi where he discussed the upcoming racer's online aspect.Prologue will feature integration with PlayStation Home, where you can reach the top menu of the game from inside Home (and vice versa, you can reach Home through Prologue). Each player will have a page that loads with background imagery. Yamauchi plans to also include a friends list here and a weather feature so that "other players will know which geographic location you are in and how the weather is there."No downloadable cars or courses will be made available. Yamauchi plans for 40 cars and four courses with eight different layouts to make it to the final game. Save data from Prologue can be carried over later to the non-prologue Gran Turismo 5 for use. Sixteen-car races are being planned for offline mode, but that number may drop to 12 for online play.Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is due out in Japan this October.
Gran Turismo creator on Motor Trend's Power List
Motor Trend's 2007 Power List has been released and a surprised face has emerged on it -- the creator of Gran Turismo, Kazunori Yamauchi. The list chronicles those who make a significant impact on the automotive world. While many of us agree that Gran Turismo is an excellent title that did wonders in the realm of racing simulation, to hit the Power List is an incredible feat. Yamauchi secured a spot at #29, ahead of faces like the CEOs of Honda and Ferrari. The gaming world applauds you, Mr. Yamauchi, you've moved video games another step toward being a fully legitimized source of entertainment.
Gran Turismo plays with our hearts
Gran Turismo 4 is the one game on PSP that can't decide whether or not its cancelled or not. Producer Kazunori Yamauchi recently went on record saying the PSP version of Gran Turismo 4 still exists, and will connect to the PS3 "similar to how a PC connects with a cell phone. I still can't comment though." What does that mean? Will you be able to upload ringtones to your PSP? And why?I hate this cat and mouse game Sony seems to be playing with this game. Considering how Gran Turismo HD looks to disappoint, I might be done with this series altogther. That is, until they finally release Gran Turismo for Boys (that's a real title, I'm serious).[Via IGN]
Dubious rumor: Gran Turismo HD to ship without cars or tracks
Clearly, it's the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard of. In fact, the mere suggestion that a premier racing game would be released without vehicles or courses (arguably two of the most important elements in such a game) is so beyond what is defined as "ridiculous", things like tap dancing unicorns and flying kangaroos can actually gaze at said suggestion through a telescope. That reason alone is worth marking this story as a rumor, though it's certainly not the only one. If we're to believe the forum-posted translation of the latest interview in Famitsu, Kazunori Yamauchi has big plans in store for his beloved automotive franchise -- big plans composed of teeny tiny transactions.Gran Turismo HD will supposedly see release in two versions. The first, entitled Gran Turismo HD: Premium, amounts to nothing more than a demo of, you guessed it, Gran Turismo 5. The 30 included cars and two undoubtedly exciting tracks are rendered in pristine PS3 glory and are meant to give you a solid idea of what Yamauchi and friends are putting together for a full release in 2008. Two more tracks and 30 extra cars can be purchased and downloaded for this version. If you prefer purchasing a full game instead of an extended prologue, perhaps Gran Turismo HD: Classic would be more your speed. Or perhaps not.Though the Classic moniker may stem from the fact that you're getting a high resolution PS2 game, you may distinctly recall the original game actually giving you hundreds upon hundreds of cars for your $50. Not so with this version. Every car and every track may be purchased and downloaded from Sony's online network. The interview mentions a price of 50-100 yen per vehicle ($0.43 - $0.85) and 200 - 500 yen per track ($1.71 - $4.26). Being generous and sticking to the low end of the scale results in $408 spent if you want all 750 cars and all 50 tracks (roughly what you got in Gran Turismo 4). Moving up on the scale approaches values that surpass what you paid for the PS3 (newsflash: a lot) to begin with.Is any of this true? 1UP's Luke Smith points to a more utopian quote (his version actually gives you one car!) by Sony's Phil Harrison that seems to match up with this story: "Imagine Gran Turismo shipping on a disc with one car and one track. And then you can browse, online, a dynamic circuit of vehicles that's growing every day because either the car manufacturers are adding new vehicles or we're adding new vehicles. And you can see a specific-type car that's being called up and say, 'I think I'll play with that one. Let me download and play it.'" Seems more likely that the quote created the story. Until Sony confirms (unlikely) or denies it later this week, consider this an entertaining vilification of the microtransaction and nothing more.
Gran Turismo producer flatters -- PS3 blushes, overheats
A new site has opened up in Japan called PlayBeyond. Think of it as a site for the PS3, where some of the biggest game talents have lengthy interviews about the new console and pretty much flatter the heck out of it. While IGN did a good job of summing up the interview with Gran Turismo producer Kazunori Yamauchi, we can at least tell you what each nine-minute segment is about. Graphics (resolution jump, HD) will surprise gamers with finished products Real life physics can be worked into games, along with hundreds of bystanders watching a race Online network or networking... will turn into something new the whole world can understand and get in on Viewable distance -- able to see hundreds of meters ahead in a race now instead of thirty or so Gran Turismo will change and evolve, sending new car data across the network almost daily Not only able to race against others over the network, a community of sorts will form PS3 as a television revolution, changing what is meant when we ask "what's on tv?" Games and movies are on equal ground with the PS3 -- no more excuses of "it's just a game"... finer details and programming are necessary. (So this weeds out the shoddy games? Hmm.) Yamauchi closes by saying he wishes to change the world with his games and the PS3 is the tool to cause such a revolution Wow! Now that's flattery. We'll have to see how Gran Turismo's latest incarnation turns out and if any of these points are realized. Surely some will, but a revolution? Wasn't there another system claiming to be a "Revolution"? That's different, but hey. Check out the story on IGN if you want a little more detail on any of the points, though there's not too much else to scrape from it unless you understand Japanese and watch the PlayBeyond interview.
