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*9th December 2009* - News
Gran Turismo 5 Update - Crashing Cars and Trading Paint
We take another spin through the Tokyo Game Show demo of Gran Turismo 5, focusing on the new damage model.
When we last took a seat behind the wheel in Gran Turismo 5, we were playing the demo that Sony had on display at this year's Tokyo Game Show. It was an interesting setup: attendees had the chance to play the game from within an actual car while using a Logitech steering wheel peripheral. Fast forward a couple months and we've just had another look at Gran Turismo 5 at a Sony event in New York City. While the demo is the same as what we saw at TGS--sans the full car, unfortunately--spending a bit more time with the game has given us the opportunity to pick up on some subtleties we missed last time. And by that we mean we smashed cars into a wall at full speed to further test the new damage model. But let's not nitpick, shall we?
First, let's talk about where we were racing. The track in this demo is the Tokyo r246 circuit, a winding bundle of urban streets guiding you past a series of nondescript office buildings and verdant parks. According to a Sony rep, this track features an easter egg of sorts: one of the buildings along the side of the track is Sony Computer's Japanese headquarters. It was an interesting factoid, but we were more interested in the cars. More specifically, we had our eyes set on how those cars show damage--a feature new to the series.
The conclusion we came away with is that the damage depicted in GT5 focuses more on the gradual wear and tear of a car rather than a sudden, catastrophic loss of parts after a huge wreck. Here's an example: we took our Subaru Impreza WRX and bumped into a wall at a pretty solid speed. Rather than witnessing the crunch of shattering headlights and other various debris, the front fender of our car began to sag on one side, dangling farther down as we traded paint with more cars in front of us. We thought that was the extent of it, but at the next sharp turn we noticed that the doors on our car wouldn't latch shut anymore, comically popping open and closed depending on the momentum of the car.
This is the sort of damage you can expect from the vehicles in GT5. You're not going to see significant chunks of the car go missing, but you will see an authentic level of wear and tear like paint scuffs that occur only on the spots where you hit a wall, or parts of the exterior that gradually separate from your car as your reckless driving jostles out the few screws holding them on.
It would certainly be cool to see a smashed windshield after a massive head-on collision, but the simple fact of the matter is that Polyphony Digital is more focused on attention to detail rather than spectacle. That, combined with the restrictions that auto manufacturers place on what sort of damage can be shown in their vehicles (smoke and fire is a big no-no) means you won't see any huge wrecks. But no matter where you stand, it's hard to against the fact that the damage that is in the game is done well.
It's also worth noting that the damage model will be a little different depending on whether you're in a production car or a racing car. We tested out a Subaru Impreza WRX equipped for WRC events, and a stock Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. The Subaru showed more pronounced damage than the Mercedes, though the latter was hardly flawless when we were finished taking it on our impromptu demolition derby. The reason for this ties back to the concerns of the auto manufacturers in the game. They're more open to showing heavy damage on cars that you'd never see out on the road, while those cars you can go and buy at a dealer are going to be scaled back a bit. It's not exactly an ideal concession in terms of consistency, but it's hard to say how much of an impact this will have on the overall experience until we see how it works in the context of the full game.
All that being said, Gran Turismo 5 is still a driving game--not a crashing game. So it's nice to see that the driving model in GT5 is just as tight as ever. Little details like the way the camera angles downward when you perform a sharp brake from the cockpit view highlighted our experience, while the distinction between the light and grippy Subaru and the v8-powered SLS AMG was easily discernible and provided a much different experience.
At this point, Gran Turismo 5 is looking terrific. The usual kinks apparent in an in-development game were nowhere to be seen, but that might not be much of a surprise considering how long the game has been in development. The North American release is currently scheduled for next summer.
http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/granturismo52/news.html?sid=6242643&mode=previews
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More on Gran Turismo 5’s Head Tracking
December 9th, 2009 by Jordan
Other than my article on Gran Turismo 5’s mysterious head-tracking feature, it hasn’t managed to get much press (though, admittedly, it’s only been mentioned once). However, it’s back in the spotlight once again after a Kotaku editor tried a GT5 demo with a Sony representative. Although the demo did not include head-tracking itself, the Sony rep tried to describe how its implemented as best he could:
The other stand-out feature I was told about was head-tracking. The game will support the PlayStation 3 camera, the PlayStation Eye. While one wasn’t hooked up at today’s event, it was explained that the device will track a player’s head movements. The goal is for the depth-of-field focal point far down the track to shift, matching your head movement. What you look at will be appear more clearly, in theory. So as you look a little to the right, the right part of what you see beyond your car may come more sharply into focus. But the car itself won’t turn with your head, of course.
The Sony rep explained that Polyphony’s goal is for players to feel like they are experiencing what real racers see. He noted that the feature was still a work in progress and couldn’t offer more details about how it works. From his gestures, I suspect the head-tracking will be responsive more to leans than to head turns, the latter of which obviously would make it hard to see the TV.
In other words, it would seem to suggest that GT5’s camera movement will be more subtle and intuitive rather than exaggerated and abrupt, which is a very good thing.
http://www.gtplanet.net/more-on-gran-turismo-5s-head-tracking/
*8th December 2009* - News
Lucas Ordóñez Talks About GT Academy
December 8th, 2009 by Jordan
When Lucas Ordonez won the first GT Academy, we all knew he had a lot of expectations riding on his shoulders. He would be given the opportunity to enter a 24 hour endurance race with world-class drivers and sim racers everywhere watched closely as he lived the dream. Since then, we’ve seen him win races and fight for the FIA GT4 driver’s championship around the world. He made it look all too easy, but as this latest interview shows, his accomplishments are the result of a lot of determination and hard work.
If you’re eligible for GT Academy 2010 – which begins in less than 10 days now – you’d be wise to take Lucas’ advice if you want to follow in his footsteps! Keep reading for the full interview…
Q. How did you first get involved with GT Academy?
LO: “I was with some friends and we were looking through a motor sport magazine and I saw an advert from PlayStation and Nissan for GT Academy. I have always been a big motor sport fan and had a little bit of racing experience. I thought if I can train myself to be quick on Gran Turismo then I might have a chance.“I already had a PS3, but I went straight out to buy a steering wheel and pedals for it as I thought that this would help. I was really determined and I put in lots of hours of practice and developing my skills on the Gran Turismo game. I ended up being the second fastest in Spain and racing in the national finals and I won my place at Silverstone. There I was, driving the Nissan GT-R and the 350 Z at Silverstone…amazing!
Q. How did you find the GT Academy at Silverstone?
LO: “I was very surprised by how tough it was from the fitness angle and by the level of the other competitors. It was really hard work. But the driving was amazing. Driving the 350 Z in a three-way ‘dog fight’ was incredible.”Q. Did you think you would win?
LO: “After the first couple of days I was down around sixth position and at that time I really thought it was going to be tough. But when we got to do more driving, especially in the last two days, I just really worked hard and my confidence grew. I had some good luck but I also think I handled the pressure well , and I won.”Q. How did it feel when they announced that you were the winner?
LO: “When they said that Lars and I had won it was an amazing feeling. I couldn’t believe it. But then, almost immediately, Bob Neville [owner of the RJN Motorsports Team] was talking to me about strategy, the car and the races we were going to do. Then I had to do lots of media interviews and thenNissan were talking to me about my contract. So after two minutes, I suddenly already felt like a real, professional racing driver!”Q. How was the switch from the 350 Z road car to the full race car?
LO: “Our first drive of the GT4 car was at Cadwell Park in the North of England. It is a great track, very narrow but a real up and down circuit and we learned a lot about racing and overtaking there.“There is a massive difference in terms of driving between the 350 Z GT4 and the road car – particularly in the gearbox and the suspension set up. The GT4 needs to be ‘driven’ a lot more. The gearbox is very stiff and one little mistake with your revs can cause a disaster with the engine. The road car is far more forgiving and you have room for errors, but in the GT4 car you have to concentrate 100% for every second as one mistake and it can be all over.”
Q. You eventually secured your race licence and headed to Dubai for the 24 Hour race. How was that experience?
LO: “I worked so hard in the run up to Dubai, particularly on my fitness. I was absolutely determined to show everyone that I was capable of carrying on racing even after Dubai. I was so focussed on therace. All my friends were asking me what the city was like, but I honestly don’t know as everything was concentrated on driving.“Doing 250km/h at night on the long straight in the GT4 car was truly amazing. I was really surprised and happy with my lap times because I wasn’t so far away from Johnny Herbert and I think I showed everyone that I was professional.”
Q. What happened next?
LO: “Well that was the prize. I had raced in Dubai. But I did ask Nissan if I could carry on racing somehow. It was a tough three-month wait, but then I got the call and it was a great surprise that I would be racing in the European GT4 Cup with Alex Buncombe.“When we won our first race in the fifth round at Zolder it was an incredible feeling. I was just thinking about everything that had happened in the last year – from playing the PlayStation to this, and I started crying! The team and Alex were all so happy. It was the best feeling of my life.”
Q. How has your life changed? Did you finish your studies?
LO: “I did pass my MBA in January. It was hard work but I had to study at the same time as preparing for Dubai but I am very pleased that I did it.“The biggest change in my life has been going from being a student going to university every day to now going to lots of other countries and travelling a lot. I have done many interviews with the media which is very different. At the same time, I still need to stay focussed on my racing and so I train very hard in the gym and I am also busy looking for personal sponsors. This is the real life of the racing driver!”
Q. What next?
LO: “I am going to help out at Silverstone for the GT Academy and then I hope to be racing with Alex again in the European GT4 Cup. We have an unfinished job to complete, but this time in the new 370 Z.”Q. What would you say to someone who is looking to compete in GT Academy?
LO: “The whole thing is tough. But for me racing cars was my dream, so it was great. Anyone taking part has to be prepared for a real 360 degree change to their life. You have to have total dedication and be prepared to make sacrifices. Lars, who won with me, was a great guy and he was a good driver, but I just don’t think he was focussed enough and he ended up not being ready torace.“On the other hand, driving on Gran Turismo is great fun. So I would recommend that everybody gives it a go even if it is just to see how quick you are compared to other people. You never know!”
Q. What tips can you offer to people just setting out on the online time trial stage of GT Academy 2010?
LO: “Driving is the same as most other sports. You have to keep practising. I think I played pretty much every day on the online stage of the game. People just kept getting faster so I was always watching the leader board to see what I had to beat.“Another tip would be to start working on fitness as soon as possible. If you make it to Silverstone it is really important. You have to be confident in yourself that you can give it a go and that it is what you want to do, but you still have to work very hard. The instructors at Silverstone are watching you all the time. Finally, I would say just get on to the GTAcademy time trial and play, see how it goes and good luck! It is definitely worth the hard work. But if you don’t make it, at least you will have fun trying!”
Learn more about Lucas at his official website.
http://www.gtplanet.net/lucas-ordonez-talks-about-gt-academy/
*7th December 2009* - News
Gran Turismo in a Classic BMW E30 M3
December 7th, 2009 by Jordan
In what appears to be the exceedingly awesome Studie store in Japan, you can get behind the “wheel” of a classic BMW E30 M3 and play Gran Turismo 4. The store, which looks to be a specialist in all things Bavarian, has fitted a Logitech Driving Force Pro (yes, it’s begging for a G25) in front of the drivers seat and mounted a Sony Bravia flat-screen right onto the hood. While I admit that it does feel a bit superfluous to see such a revered race car converted into a gaming rig, it’s bringing a lot more fun and enjoyment to people than if it was sitting there locked up – even if it doesn’t move like that Audi TT at GamesCom. Check out all the pictures of the store at Gawa, and thanks to “Enzo” for sending this in!
http://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-in-a-classic-bmw-e30-m3/
*5th December 2009* - News
Gran Turismo 5’s Nurburgring on Video
Some rare video has emerged from Finnish gaming magazine Pelaajalehti who has shared raw footage from their tour around Polyphony Digital’s studio. The part that’s getting the most attention is Yamauchi’s 3-minute demonstration of the Nurburgring Nordschleife in what’s described as the company’s primary “cockpit” where they “check the driving physics of the car while developing the game”. As we can see from the beginning of the clip, Yamauchi digs through many different options -- a close-up shot would have been amazing, but it’s hard to make anything out from what we have. Regardless, you’ll still get a good look at how the IS-F handles, though Yamauchi’s smooth driving makes it look quite easy (much like when he drove the real thing).
I’ve included the other clips below -- they’re fun to watch, but I found one tiny revelation particularly interesting: Polyphony Digital has actually expanded to a second studio down the street from their headquarters, which is completely dedicated to writing the online code for the game. Considering how important this functionality will be, that’s very encouraging news. Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
*4th December 2009* - News
What We know about the GT5 Demo
http://www.gtplanet.net/the-gt5-demo-and-gt-academy-2010-what-we-know/#more-4516
*3rd December 2009* - News
GT Academy 2010 Launches December 17th With Downloadable Time Trial
http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/12/03/gt-academy-2010-launches-december-17th-with-downloadable-time-trial/
*1st December 2009* - News
A Retrospective Look at Gran Turismo
http://www.gtplanet.net/a-retrospective-look-at-gran-turismo/
*29th November 2009* - News
More Gran Turismo 5 Damage, NASCAR Details
http://www.gtplanet.net/more-gran-turismo-5-damage-nascar-details/
{To be Updated}
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This section will be here to analyse the sales of Gran Turismo 5. I will be doing a weekly comparison between Gran Turismo 5 and Gran Turismo 4 sales (e.g. Weeky GT5 versus Week 1 GT4 & so on). Obviously this section will remain inactive till the game is out!
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Summary Fact Sheet:
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Thank You:
MetalGearSolid_4ever
Thank you for telling me how you made the section banners for your official threads. The Google Picasa tool was a boon and for the first time I was able to create such banners with ease on my own, thanks for telling me how to use it, I hope I surprise you & make your proud by the way I have used this tool!
Euphoria14
Thank you very much for the wonderful advice you gave me, from how to make the section headings look cleaner to other small pieces that combine together to make the biggest difference. If there was ever a medal in quality control, you would get the gold one!
Carl2291
Thank you for impeccable quality control and idea's that definitely made the content of the thread increase. The links you gave me were very helpful and I hope to partner with you again in the future!
CGI-Quality
Thank you for your advice CGI on how to make a great official thread!
Kantor
Thank you for inviting my dog Jerry (!) into the thread, he loves you & your valuable advice!
MaxwellGT2000
Thank you Maxwell for approving this thread & for stickying it!
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Some Thoughts From The Handsome Jerry:
Last Words From Darthdevidem01:
Its been a pleasure creating this official thread. Its my first one, so it may not be of top quality, but I have put hard work & passion into it. The journey was tough and spanned over 4 days, it was hard to not have any CAPS in the thread too, but in the end I am pleased with the final product. Most of all its been an honour to make the Official Thread for Gran Turismo 5, a game which defines the word perfection, a racing experience that will inspire generations to come!
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