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TGS 2009: Interview: Gran Turismo 5's Kazunori Yamauchi
During Tokyo Game Show last week we crashed Polyphony Digital's studio and chatted up Kazunori Yamauchi about ... Gran Turismo 6? Wait -- what? Just watch the interview.Selected excerpts below:Joystiq: Are there any plans to bring Gran Turismo PSP's "Party Mode" to GT5?Yamauchi: I'm glad you noticed that. What we really worked hard to make the PSP portable fun and interesting is in those types of details. Obviously, these are ideas we worked hard on and they will be carried over in some form into GT5.In Gran Turismo, with its ten years of history, the people that who good at playing the game are really, really good at playing the game. Of course, there are a lot of first-time players that want to get into the game, and it was a major theme for us to develop the game so it would be easier for them to get into it. With the party races and these game modes we've developed for the PSP, we've come to one solution for that aspect.
Gran Turismo 5 international release likely early 2010
Sony announced a March release for Gran Turismo 5 at Tokyo Game Show last week, a release window that was specifically targeted for the Japanese market. However, don't expect a surprise 2009 release (sorry Amazon!). "I don't think it's going to be that different for US and Europe," Polyphony Digital head Kazunori Yamauchi told journalists at a GT5 event last week. "Marketing is still discussing their issues," which is the reason why a specific date hasn't been pegged yet for those markets.Yamauchi then went on to list a befuddling list of features that should ship on the disc next year. GT Mode will return with all the features of classic GT games, like the garage, the car dealer, the tuning shop, and license tests. However, more exciting are the new features, such as a brand-new physics model that includes damage and deformation for all "normal" cars. Hybrid and electric cars are going to be added to the livery, too, with over 950 cars available on the disc. There will also be over 70 variations of over 20 locations to race through.The online features have been expanded to include both text and voice chat, with support for lobbies and private rooms. There will be online photo albums and online replay albums as well; with the ability to export replays to YouTube. Gran Turismo TV, the video service introduced in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will also be expanded with a brand new UI, progressive downloading (so you can watch the video content while it downloads), and the ability to export these videos to PSP. While this may seem like the kitchen sink of features, Yamauchi teased, "we have much more planned."Considering it's been five years since the release of Gran Turismo 4 on PS2, fans of the franchise are expecting only the best, if not more.%Gallery-71410%
Overheard@TGS: At least someone's happy ...
While rushing to make an appointment to get hands-on time with Crackdown 2, we overheard two Microsoft exhibitors discussing the reception of the recently released Forza Motorsport 3 demo.Microsoft Rep #1: "Seems like a lot of people like the demo."Microsoft Rep #2: "Yeah, well we really like that GT5 release date!"With Gran Turismo 5 launching in 2010, it looks like Forza Motorsport 3 won't have much traffic to contend with when it launches this October. And boy, is Microsoft happy about it.
TGS 2009: Gran Turismo 5 coming to Japan in March 2010
Announced just now at the second -- that's right, the second -- Sony press conference at Tokyo Game Show, Gran Turismo 5 will be coming to Japan in March 2010. Series creator Kazunori Yamauchi announced the launch window without specifying any other regions. We'll pester Sony and Polyphony Digital all this week for more info. Promise.%Gallery-71410%
60 FPS trailer for Gran Turismo PSP is sharp and smooth
We've seen pieces of media for Polyphony Digital's impossibly good-looking racer Gran Turismo PSP -- though no videos have offered looks of the game running at 60 FPS. We're not sure why a video game would need sunblock that powerful, but we -- what's that? Oh. Frames per second. We see. Eurogamer's Digital Foundry has assembled a lengthy gameplay clip running at 60 frames per second -- though you may need to download a special version of the video from the site to truly see all those frames. The big brains over at DF also break down how the game's buttery-smoothness is scientifically possible, which more or less dismisses our "Elfin magic" theory out of hand. Click here to watch the video. %Gallery-71409%
Kazunori Yamauchi talks Gran Turismo, promises car transfers
Who knows when Gran Turismo 5 will ever come out? While some are suspecting a surprise early launch for the game, Polyphony Digital's penchant for long development time has us suspicious. In the interim, there's one reason a PS3 owner will want to check out Gran Turismo on PSP (besides the fact that it's portable): the ability to transfer cars from the PSP game to the upcoming console game. That should be incentive enough for collectors to try and "catch 'em all."The video also details the various Ad-Hoc multiplayer modes: Standard, Party, and Shuffle. Although a mode named "Party" makes us Gran Turismo with green shells, the franchise isn't toning itself down for casual gamers just yet: this mode simply balances the playing field by sending more skilled players farther behind. No lightning bolts? Boo.%Gallery-64985%
First Gran Turismo 5 screenshots released
Click to embiggen. You know you want to. It's still hard for us to believe that Gran Turismo 5 is actually getting closer to completion. After years of teases and updates to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Polyphony Digital has finally released the first ever official screenshots of the upcoming retail game.The screenshots aren't particularly revealing. In fact, nothing was quite as telling as the game's trailer from E3 this year. Also, the screens look terrific -- but don't be surprised if they resemble Prologue quite a bit.In addition to the first ever screens of Gran Turismo 5 for PS3, SCEA has also provided brand new real screens (unlike the renders provided earlier this year) of the upcoming Gran Turismo for PSP. %Gallery-71410%%Gallery-71409%
Rumor: GT5 listed for Q4 2009 release (update)
The time of arrival for Sony's gorgeous racer, Gran Turismo 5, has been one of gaming's greatest mysteries. However, if a recent pamphlet supposedly handed out at GamesCom 2009 is legit, this ancient riddle might just have a solution -- according to the leaflet, the game is coming in "4. Quartel 2009." Now, we don't exactly sprechen sie den Deutch, but we're fairly sure that translates to "Q4 2009."A bare bones version of the game was demoed at GamesCom 2009, and it will most certainly be the belle of the ball at Tokyo Game Show 2009 -- but we're an impatient lot. We've contacted Sony to see if they can shed some light on the rumored brochure, and the sweet, sweet GT5 release date details contained therein. Update: A SCEE representative confirmed the brochure is legitimate. However, considering recent trends, we still have our doubts on if Sony can deliver on such a (surprisingly) quick release.[Via GTPlanet, Thanks, Marius!]
Gran Turismo 5's cars caught getting crunched on video
The Subaru Impreza that's zipping around the track in a GamesCom video captured by Gamersyde has certainly seen better days, but its suffering is our reward: we actually get to witness the yes-it's-finally-happening real-time car damage taking place in Gran Turismo 5. Sure, it still might not look quite right (there's something about the cars seeming really lightweight) but it's a good start. Of course, there will always be those who won't be satisfied until "The Real Driving Simulator" lives up to its name and features drivers being thrown from their cars during crashes.Head over to Gamersyde to view the video.[Thanks, Colin!]
Gran Turismo 5 will (finally) crush, flip those lovely cars
There have been some big PlayStation-related announcements today: the PS3 Slim, a PS3 price drop and now the Gran Turismo series is really, seriously, finally incorporating visible car damage. On the official Gran Turismo 5 site, the latest spec sheet for the game touts that its physics model "completely renders deformation from crash." Not scratches, not scuffs, but deformation. (Backing up what we saw in the E3 trailer for the game.) The site also reveals that, in what seems to be an attempt to make up for the absence of spectacular crashes, cars will flip and even land upside-down in reaction to collisions. Of course, all of this will be for naught if a simple bump -- the kind that, in GT5 Prologue, pushes cars aside like they're made of balsa wood -- instantly totals other autos and sends them flying to the moon. We don't think we can wait until GT7 for that to be fixed. [Image]
New screens of Gran Turismo PSP are impossibly hi-res
Folks, this is huge. Clearly, someone at Sony meant to send out new screens of Gran Turismo PSP but accidentally distributed some from Gran Turismo for the PSP2! Oh, wait. No, they're actually just shots from the PSP version, only rendered out at 3840x2860 resolution with all sorts of post-processing going on. While staring at a sexy Corvette ZR-1 gets our pulse up, we can't help feeling like these "screens" are just a tad disingenuous. Just compare the galleries below and see if you don't come to a similar conclusion.%Gallery-69309%%Gallery-64985%
Gran Turismo PSP box art revealed
The PlayStation Europe blog has revealed that an image floating around the Internet earlier today is the official box art of Gran Turismo PSP. The art is reminiscent of other Gran Turismo titles, showcasing a beautiful vehicle -- in this case the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 -- on a classy, dark backdrop. Yes, boxes (click for a bigger shot of the art) aren't breaking news, but we help to reveal art as a service to our readers. What kind of service? Knowing what a game looks like means you are less likely to have to interact with a grumpy video game store employee. Unless, of course, you are an grumpy awesome video game store employee, in which case we think you're just swell. Gran Turismo PSP is scheduled to hit stores on October 1 on UMD and the PSN. %Gallery-64985% [Via VG247]
LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo in action on the PSP Go
Across the Atlantic, the folks at Fase Extra got their hands on Sony's PSP Go and a couple of games recently -- LittleBigPlanet and Gran Turismo, specifically. Lucky for us, Sony Spain allowed them to grab some video of each game, that we've now conveniently dropped for you after the break.Here's the thing: We've got another three months or so until the release of PSP Go, and, ya know, it's really pretty. So, while entertaining, these videos do little more for us than tantalize our already over-tantalized mind grapes. Thankfully though, three months should be plenty of time to put away, um, a lot of extra change for the $250 handheld.
Citroen concept car gets driven around UK, impresses Londoners
French car maker Citroën drove its "GTbyCitroën" concept car from the perpetually "coming soon" Gran Turismo 5 around London streets recently. It toured the the real-life version of a street track from the game and, wouldn't you know it, people everywhere were going nuts. Busting out cameras, mouths agape staring while the car rumbled past -- it's as if they'd never seen such a purty car before. Oh right! That's because they haven't ever seen the car before, because it's still a concept, unveiled at last year's Paris Auto Show as a collaboration between Polyphony Digital and Citroën. We have the full video after the break, but as you might imagine, it's not exactly nailing apexes and drafting opponents so much as slowly winding around pedestrian-filled British streets. With any luck, we'll have a more ... erm ... action-oriented video of the car soon for your viewing pleasure, as it'll be making an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this coming weekend.
Qore leak reveals new PSP Metal Gear and more
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/qore-leak-reveals-new-psp-metal-gear-jak-and-daxter-and-more/'; In a leaked interview in the June issue of Qore, Sony's John Koller revealed new game announcements Sony is set to make at its E3 2009 press briefing. Among the titles mentioned are (a previously revealed) Jak & Daxter PSP and a re-emergence of Gran Turismo for the handheld -- first revealed when the PSP was announced. Koller also mentions a new Metal Gear Solid for PSP is in the works, which may be the subject of the current Kojima Productions countdown nonsense (seriously, stop). Also, around the 15 second mark of the leaked Qore video, footage appears that bares a striking resemblance to Warhawk -- but (as comments have pointed out) the ship appears apart of the Jak & Daxter footage reel. Other clips include footage of LittleBigPlanet and Jak & Daxter. Let's hope, for Sony's sake, this video doesn't encapsulate the lion's share of announcements the company was planning for June 2. Incidentally, crack out those bingo cards and a big red marker ... you have a few things to cross off.
Polyphony opens real-world Gran Turismo Cafe
Polyphony Digital continues to work diligently on things that aren't Gran Turismo 5 or Gran Turismo PSP. Their latest project is the "Gran Turismo Cafe," located at the Twin Ring Motegi race circuit in Japan. We're not sure how one would describe a cafe based on the popular race sim other than "realistic."Don't expect exclusive access to Polyphony's upcoming projects at the cafe. Instead, those that attend the cafe will be able to play Gran Turismo 5 Prologue at one of three play booths. Boo.
Logitech presents in-game Gran Turismo 5 Prologue challenge
Players of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue are being asked to "take the Logitech Challenge." It may sound like a soft drink marketing gimmick from the '80s, but it's actually a three-week, in-game competition that could net you some sweet Logitech gaming gear.Beginning tomorrow, March 18, the Logitech Challenge is a series of three lap time based events set on specific courses with an equally specific car selection to choose from. At the end of each week, Logitech will record the top three lap times; third place will win a Logitech Driving Force Wireless wheel and V470 Cordless Laser Mouse; second place will receive the wheel and a set of Logitech Z-5 speakers; come in first and you'll get the wheel, mouse and Logitech Audio Hub speakers.Additionally, five random participants from each week will be selected to receive Driving Force Wireless wheels. Full contest rules can be found here; Logitech is extending a 10% offer at its online store for the duration on the event -- type in coupon code "challenge 09".
Rumor: Gran Turismo 5 on track for holiday '09 release in Europe
Despite what series creator Kazunori Yamauchi had to say to us on the topic during E3, Spanish newspaper El Financiero quotes SCEE executive James Armstrong as stating that Gran Turismo 5 (the full, real deal – not Prologue 2 or some-such) will be released in Europe "by Christmas 2009." This is, of course, concerning a series that's been historically fast and furious loose with release dates.GTPlanet – which is part of the chain of custody on this rumor – speculates that, if true, we could see a summer 2009 release for GT5 in Japan and a late 2009 / early 2010 launch in the West. This scenario would certainly follow the staggered roll-outs of previous Gran Turismo titles to a (Model) T. [Via Evil Avatar]
Rumor: Gran Turismo 5 coming Christmas 2009?
There have been a few varying dates thrown around concerning the release of the full version of Gran Turismo 5. However, here comes the most specific one we've heard yet -- in an article in the Mexican financial publication El Financiero, SCEE's James Armstrong was quoted as stating the following: "the new version of Gran Turismo, which will at Christmas." Because the article is talking about the Spanish market, we are assuming the date applies to Europe only, but no other information concerning the highly-anticapted driving simulation was given. Note that back in July, Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi told our sister site Joystiq the game "might not even roll out before 2010," so we wouldn't get our hopes up. Take a look at the original article here (or the translated version here).[Via GTPlanet -- thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Pfft, 1080p? Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, in 2160p
What happens when you take four PS3 systems, one copy of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, and a Sony SRX-110 projector and put them all together? Well, you get one incredible GT experience. At the 10th Anniversary Party in New York City, Polyphony Digital ran an interesting experiment, where they were able to render the game in a glorious 2160p resolution. That's four times the resolution of the current maximum standard for HDTVs: 1080p.The application is surprisingly simple. Each PS3 is dedicated to rendering one part of the enhanced 2160p image, with each PS3 rendering one full 1080p image. When combined, all four images turn into something that would make videophiles cry.That wasn't the only fun and games at the event. No, Polyphony also ran another experiment with 4 PS3s: they were also able to create a 240 fps experience. Each PS3 would render alternating 60 frames per second, so that the end result would be blisteringly fast. At that point, we doubt the human eye would be able to appreciate such fluidity.So, guys -- how 'bout you stop partying and making amazing 2160p tech demos, and uh -- you finish Gran Turismo 5? Please?[Via PlayStation Boards]
