Back in 1998, I was enthralled by the gift of my first Playstation, with the awesome Gran Turismo. Man I had liking for that game that you could not imagine. I loved my Playstation. In fact, we bought 3 of them throughout the course of it's life. Gran Turismo 2 gave me a similar adrenaline rush, and I knew there and then that I was a GT and Playstation user for life.

A shiny new Gran Turismo 3 in a red Playstation 2 bundle in 2001 gave rise to a new desire that needed to be quenched. That very day that I saw it, I had to have it. This time, when I brought it home, my brothers all got involved and, as I was a little older then and could actually understand the inner workings of cars, I came from being addicted to the series to an overblown passionate, zealous fan. I would defend the Gran Turismo name until the end of time. A-Spec truly was, and still is, the happiest gaming experience I've ever had.

Gran Turismo 4 came in a little later and came with it more tune up options and techniques (or rather, I was just more aware by then because I had my real driver's license already) and I came from a passionate fan on the sidelines to the absolute-craziest car fanatic in the land. In fact, it was my experience with the Nissan Skyline GT-R on GT4 that coerced me into pooling everything I had (and a lot of help from my parents) for that very car sitting in my garage right now.

Then came the Gran Turismo Vision video back in 2006 that really whetted my appetite. I already knew I was going to buy a Playstation 3 ever since the rumors of the new console started, and this made me absolutely sure. In preparation, me and my brother pooled together to buy a new HD-TV (Sony 60" Plasma, top end model at the time). When the PS3 finally came out though, my passion for the console started to fade...

I was in far too much anticipation and expectation brought about by the video and was sorely disappointed by what I saw. There was virtually nothing good on the console to play at the time. Because of this, we decided not to buy the console yet until Gran Turismo 5: Prologue would come out. When it came out in March, I was still skeptical. It looked amazing, but much of the stuff I expected in a next generation GT weren't there. There was still no car damage and, according to reviewers, the online mode was the absolute shits.

My thirst for a nex-gen racer instead went to the 360 because I saw Forza 2 dominating with car damage and superior online performance. My brother bought it, and it quenched my longings for awhile, but I knew from the very moment I held the 360 controller that something was missing. I just didn't have that same passion for Forza that I did for GT.

We finally bought our Playstation 3 on June 12, 2008, to coincide with the Metal Gear Solid 4 launch. Of course, I was also a big fan of MGS4, but the reality was I bought the thing for the hope of one day getting to terms with the Gran Turismo of my dreams. GT5P satiated that hunger for a short while, as the new Logitech GT Force racing wheel was a real treat to hold and the new Nissan GT-R was a dream to drive, but my PS3 quickly faded away in the darkness after Valkyria Chronicles, Fallout 3, and MGS4 faded from my tastes. I only really bought this expensive, disappointing, bulky black hunk of *phew* for a Real Gran Turismo.

Alas, it took far longer than I expected. 2009 and still nothing. I awaited E3 with huge expectations for Sony. Instead, I saw something from Microsoft that took my breath away. Project Natal and Mylo, along with the new Forza 3 took my attention by storm. I wanted a 360 on day 1 of E3 (my brother had one, but he wasn't sharing anymore). I shopped around that very day to inquire about it. I was, at that point, abandoning GT forever.

Then, after work, I saw the Sony conference, with the first real video of Gran Turismo 5. WRC, NASCAR, and car damage, to go along with graphics that far surpassed that of the video shown for Forza 3. There it was. In 5 minutes, my interest in buying a 360 went away completely. The passion that died after the PS2 days resurrected itself in bright colors. I am seriously glad now, for the first time, that I bought a Playstation 3. I'm saving up again now for a new LED TV (I went to the store today and looked around, and omfg I didn't know that LEDs exist already) and a 7.1 speaker system to be able to enjoy GT5 at it's finest. I already bought myself a 3D TV and the surround sound. :)

Such is the passion that Sony's E3 gave me. Just 5 minutes was all I needed to relive my passion. Let us all wait with baited breath for the Ultimate driving simulator to arrive. Vive la Gran Turismo toujours!

lol lots of stuff... Well we don't have the same taste in games (concidering i've been playing games on it since winter 2007 and never have run into a dry period.) but... Gran Turismo 5 looks beyond stunning. It looks insane.

I'm also getting it. Have prologue and this game will be great.

And I will enjoy accidentally turning around on the track and crashing into you and the rest of the pack, now with damage :)

Gran Turismo is a passion. I love it so much.

don't worry, when you do that, you will witness my epic ninja driving skills and you'll miss me ;)

Very Nice Read I feel exactly the same way about the GT series!!!! $ony bless us with a 2009 release date!!!!!

This gen really does suck until GT5 comes out. I mean GT3 came out really soon after PS2 was released. This gen we'll have had to wait 3 years for the first Gran Turismo.

even if i have to wait till 2011 now, my passion is alive again. actually i'd like them to take their time at this point..

i can bet gt5 will be out at xmas if not then early 2010.

Hello

Sorry if i'm wrong but i dont remember having seen gameplay of GT5 this E3. I have just checked gametrailers and didnt see any. All i have found is the CGI Trailer they have shown.

Bye.