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GT5 Prologue private races and voice chat in the works
In the comments section of his most recent post on the PlayStation.Blog, SCEA producer Takau Imasaki mentioned that in-game voice chat and a private race setting will be available for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in later updates. Now this news comes in as semi-official as it was not part of the original post, but was made in response to a reader's question. Imasaki wrote, "Private races with buddies and in-game chat are all in the works... but will not be ready from day one. Will keep you posted on the progress!" We're hoping Mr. Imasaki makes sure that promise is kept. While we won't be seeing these additions by the time Prologue drives its way home with us, we're still anxiously awaiting to hit the GT racing circuit nonetheless. These new features are definitely great, but we can live without them for just a bit longer. [Via CVG]
A duet of glorious Gran Turismo 5 Prologue TV ads
If you don't watch a lot of TV then you might miss these Gran Turismo 5 Prologue commercials. Or they're only airing in Europe. Or if you do watch a lot of TV and see these, you might want to see them again. So here are two TV spots for the upcoming driving simulator -- and they look spectacular. The second one can be found after the jump, because we don't want to put too much awesome up front and overwhelm you. Plus it's a lot longer.
[Updated] Gran Turismo 5 Prologue pre-orders reach 1 million in Europe alone
[Update: finding the news slightly suspicious, we had our very own European blogger, Jem Alexander, double check the number with SCEE. They confirmed it to be true. So there you have it!]It's not every day games go "platinum" before they're even released. Generally, this occurs with huge titles, but even taking that into account it's an uncommon feat. Factor into that the notion that a game whose title explicitly states it's a Prologue to a full game ... and it's nearly unbelievable. But in Europe alone, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has achieved just that: one million pre-orders.What we need to remember is that the pre-order number is not only for Europe alone, but also just for the Blu-ray release of the game -- not the downloadable version. If half of the people who intend to purchase the game pre-order it and the other half download it, well, this is going to be huge. Add America and Japan into the mix and we've basically got the best-selling PS3 title to date; at least, that's what we're assuming will happen. What about you?
GT5 video interview reveals little DLC, no car damage
Takau Imasaki, producer for Gran Turismo 5 at SCEA, recently talked a bit about the upcoming US release of the game. Slight tweaks are being made to make it a more user-friendly title for the Western audience. By releasing this trial game, Prologue will serve as a testing ground for Polyphony's first real foray into online gaming. They're trying to "catch up to Microsoft in that regard," they said. Car damage? It will eventually happen in the series, but not until the designers are able to "perfect" it. Don't expect it any time in this series of GT games. Also, because users are already being charged for this early preview of the full GT5 experience, there won't be much DLC in Prologue. That would be a little mean, no?[Thanks, Patrick!] [Update: Clarified wording.]
GDC08: Logitech unveils Gran Turismo wheel
Want the perfect prologue to sim racing's most-distinguished brand? Tack another $150 onto that $40 download, as Logitech has unveiled the official, and pricey Driving Force GT racing wheel. Engineered specifically for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (but compatible with GT4 and GT5 on PS2), the Driving Force features requisite force feedback, plus a new 24-position realtime adjustment dial (see -- it's red!), so you can fine-tune the brake bias, traction control and damper settings on-the-fly. Brake bias? Damper settings? Just point us to the boost button!The Driving Force GT wheel is "expected" to ship in May.%Gallery-16517%
GDC08: More Gran Turismo 5 Prologue screens really rev up our engines
Click for high-resolution image. Every time we get a glimpse of GT5, we can't help but feel overly giddy for more. Luckily, Sony's Three Speech blog really cranked out the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue screens today with more shots of tracks, cars, and the pit. The environments look so spectacularly life-like it's almost scary. We wouldn't want to crash in such a real simulation; it's just simply too much of a scary thought. Despite our crash-phobia, we're really looking forward to getting in this game's driver's seat and burning up some rubber. GT5's March-April release is just too far away. [Thanks Clayton!]%Gallery-4885%
Yamauchi chats Gran Turismo 5, his own personal garage
With the advent of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, a lot of people are wondering how many of the features will make it into the final version of Gran Turismo 5. One would expect all of them, but here's what was gleaned in a recent interview: more cars in a race, global community connectivity, increased drift control, better competitor AI, and a veritable car encyclopedia.Kazunori Yamauchi's own garage is nothing to scoff at: a souped up Nissan 350Z, Honda S2000, Mercedes SL55, a Porsche GT3, and two Ford GTs. Two! Lucky man.[via Videogaming247]
Gran Turismo Prologue headed to Europe in March
European release dates are usually up in the air until someone announces a big delay, or some kind of issue causes a game to get a much later release than its Japanese or American counterparts. Sony has promised that Europe will see a release of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue sometime in late March. No price or solid release date, naturally, but it's still interesting to see the game almost upon us. The US release date is still tentative, but aiming at a mid-April launch. When we get more solid confirmations, we'll let you know!
Merry Christmas from Gran Turismo!
The team at Polyphony Digital made this short video (starring Santa!) to wish everyone Merry Christmas. But don't expect Rudolph and his red nose in this vid. No, Santa's driving away in a new car. And it looks awesome.[Thanks, Jeffrey M.!]
GT5 Prologue scores third place in Japanese charts
You know times have changed when the top three spots in Japan's software sales chart are no longer occupied by traditional fare, but rather a miasma of Mario mini-games, a balancercise board and a glorified automotive demo. Gamasutra runs down last week's top ten, highlighting Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 5 Prologue which made its debut in third position with approximately 116,000 units sold. Professor Layton bully, Wii Fit, found itself parking off in second position with 124,000 units after having switched places with Mario Party DS and its 180,000 attendees. Nintendo proved the overall wii-ner, with six first-party titles accounted for in the chart -- in fact, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue was the only game not to be found on the Wii or DS. The two systems are expected to enjoy continued good fortune in the hardware sales chart due for release tomorrow.%Gallery-4884%
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue speeds into Japanese storefronts
It would seem Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has made its launch in Japan and to the lauding of many a critic as an excellent game. Er, partial game. Well, we aren't entirely sure how to classify it, but it's launched in Japan. If you're really good at reading Japanese (or lines of question marks as this Firefox browser insists on showing), you can probably glean some more information from the listing, but as far as we can tell, it's totally a different language and we, like, can't read it.There seem to be planned updates through the new year already. It is great to see such continued support for the game. Hopefully we'll get our hands on it soon enough and see how poorly we actually drive. According to simulation.
Gran Turismo creators make actual car interior
Did you know that Polyphony Digital, makers of the world-renowned Gran Turismo series, actually works on real cars? In fact, they're responsible for the multiple function display of the upcoming Nissan GT-R. These displays are typical of modern airplanes, but is being utilized in Nissan's posh car.CNET goes through the details: "there are 11 user-definable display panels, its components (gauges and meters in both analog and digital display mode) being arrangeable according to the user's needs and taste." This technological piece of overkill could only come from Polyphony, with their thorough knowledge of both technology and cars.This isn't the first time Polyphony has worked closely with car manufacturers. It also produces simulation movies for car manufacturers, most likely using the same technology used in the Gran Turismo series.[Thanks, w.c.!]
Joystiq interviews Polyphony Digital's Kazunori Yamauchi
During TGS, we had the opportunity to visit the studios of Polyphony Digital and meet with the man behind the Gran Turismo series, Kazunori Yamauchi. We had just finished watching a demo of their video-on-demand GTTV service – which was announced during a Japanese-press only event at TGS the preceding day – and got to poke around their studios (check out Gamespot's fancy video tour) before sitting down with the man himself. We talked about GTTV (of course), the current status for Gran Turismo on PSP, how they reached the elusive 1080p goal, and if their PSP/PS3 connectivity ideas are any better than a rear-view mirror. %Gallery-4884%Thanks for taking the time to meet with us and show us the game and your studio. It's very much appreciated. Could you explain the rationale behind releasing GT5: Prologue before releasing the full Gran Turismo 5?So there's basically two reasons behind GT5 Prologue. First one being, as we move with the franchise to a new generation of hardware, the PS3‚ and trying to extract the maximum out of it and being comfortable, it's already taken us three years to get to a point where we're almost happy with what we're delivering on the system.
Gran Turismo 5: your new car dealer?
In addition to causing mouths to drop and tongues to roll on the Tokyo Game Show floor, Gran Turismo 5 has some pretty big plans, it seems. Polyphony Digital's Kazunori Yamauchi spoke about his vision of the future of GT5, as well as confirming the game's ability to hold a steady 60fps while delivering full 1080p content. Yamauchi also expressed his relief at rumble returning, as he felt it was crucial in games like these. What we saw at TGS, the new My Page and TV Mode, were the big hitters and demand a little more discussion.The My Page is fairly straightforward, adding a personal element to the gaming experience. You get to customize your car on display as well as the background. That's all fine and dandy, but the top of the screen has a band that really brings in the online capabilities of the game -- worldwide weather forecasts and an interactive buddy list that shows your friends as glowing dots on a globe, akin to the users spotted using folding@home. The TV Mode is where things get interesting. This channel will allow you to see car-sporting events rarely seen, like the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (now called Super GT). Car manufacturers will get video content to you through this mode as well, but Yamauchi won't stop there! He plans to ultimately allow virtual test drives of the manufacturer's cars, with a real dealership spokesperson in the "passenger seat" telling you about the car via voice chat. If you decide to actually buy the car, for real, that can all be done through the Gran Turismo dealership -- you'll still have to go and pick up your new car though. Strange stuff, huh? Would you buy a car based off of a virtual test drive?
Don't touch the cars in Gran Turismo 5, please
We're having a very hard time just choosing which Gran Turismo 5 garage image to use for this post. They're all so dynamite. We're finally catching more glimpses of cars outside of Ferarri's, which is nice since we're almost to the cars normal people can afford. Nothing quite like driving your car, or the car you'd like to reasonably get, around a track like a total badass. Since you wouldn't do that for real, right? Well, from our limited knowledge of cars, it seems these pictures feature the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, Nissan Skyline, Ferarri Whatever (does it matter? It's a flippin' Ferarri), the GT-R (fill in the gaps), an Alfa-Romero, Audi TT, BMW Z4, and some ugly maroon car. Enjoy the pictures![via PS3Forums]
Finally, some Gran Turismo 5 details surface
For those of you who've been itching to hear anything definitive on Polyphony Digital's upcoming Gran Turismo 5, we've decided to take it upon ourselves to scratch that very itch for you. From some European magazine scans posted on the internet and presumably removed, the following have been agreed upon as features confirmed for the game: All cars and tracks from Gran Turismo 4 will make their next-gen debut. After the initial release, there will be downloadable cars and tracks to enhance the experience. Four different driving views will be available. Can you name them all? All Ferrari models, including those pesky F1 racers. Some new city tracks. Online racing will be supported for anywhere between 12 and 20 drivers. During races, dynamic weather conditions will persist, forcing you to really know what you're doing. Finally, car damage. Well, that's an impressive list of features for Gran Turismo 5. It finally seems to be stepping up to the plate that competition like Forza and Project Gotham Racing set the bar on -- debatably. While many of the above features are pleasing to hear, the bit about car damage is the most intense. It will undoubtedly spark a war between people who think car damage needed to get attention in the GT franchise and those who enjoyed the game without it. Personally, adding realistic damage in a simulation will make things a lot more difficult to do. Ruining your shocks, cracking your windshield, messing up that transmission should all come into play. Sadly, that's not how it will probably work. It'll just be car damage. Ooh's and Aah's. If you can't get it right from the exterior to the interior, what's the point? Who knows, perhaps it'll be as labor-intensive as real-life maintenance conundrums.
Cockpit view confirmed for Gran Turismo 5
Simulation fans will have yet another reason to look forward to Gran Turismo 5. According to an special episode of Jeuxvideo.TV, a Saleen cockpit view will be included in the game. Fans may recall the previous reiterations included a cockpit view that was more outside the car than in, allowing you to seemingly smell the fresh air and swallow bugs while strapped to the hood. Well now, the cockpit view will actually show the components inside the car as well, giving fans a chance to check out the things one would see inside a car, like a dashboard with all the cool dials and buttons, and maybe even a few air fresheners dangling from the rear-view!
Gran Turismo HD screenshots vs. real life
If you've ever wondered when videogame images would begin to mirror real life, wonder no more. A contributor at VGchartz provides the screenies, in a side-by-side comparison for easy viewing. The team at Polyphony Digital is meticulous. Proof of their devoted work ethic is (as they say) in the pudding. Don't forget, as we reported last week, Sony recently updated the PlayStation Store with more tasty videos of this hotly anticipated title. So drop by and get some more of these delicious treats. Just be sure to have a sponge nearby to soak up the drool. And for those few PS3 owners without convenient wireless access, don't fret. We've got your Gran Turismo HD information covered. Check out our past articles here.[Via digg]
New Gran Turismo HD footage to leave you breathless
We mean just that -- it's Gran Turismo HD footage. Video, due out on the PS Store this Thursday/Friday, will show a new car: the Nissan Xanavi Nismo Z. This is true, however, don't hold your breath for any GTHD updates anytime soon -- this doesn't portend what you think it does.Sony contacted CVG with this to say about the upcoming footage: "The new GTHD video is scheduled to go onto the PS Store this Friday, May 4. It's a bespoke video that was made for Nissan at the Geneva Motorshow." Sony continued, saying there's no big announcement coming and the video is just for "funsies" (not actually a quote from them) because the download has proved so popular. Sorry guys, we'll keep our eyes open for any GT5 info... whenever it comes around the bend.
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.
