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Gran Turismo 5

331K views 4K replies 287 participants last post by  joeblow 
#1 ·
The granddaddy of console sim racing is back and due out on November 24th, 2010. Check out this excellent custom hype video for the release!




An incredibly detailed write-up on the final retail release, courtesy of GTPlanet:
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler  
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
Quote:
GT5 RETAIL HANDS-ON





****

[FIRST UPDATE: Game gently warns that "Install of game data can take up to 50 minutes". See you somewhat later then, I'm going to do something useful



It took 40 minutes. First bunch of installed data is actually 6.4GB, but we have already learned that game will continue to install (decompress) the data during playtime. And off we go


# FIRST REAL UPDATE:


I drive with G25.

Clutch users, rejoyce! Clutch works, same style as GT5:prologue, no official support, you still have to press triangle before the race, but the beauty is here.


Physics are fantastic. In the line somewhere between cruelty of Academy TT Demo and Prologue. My first ride was Trial Mountain with F40, S1 tyres, all aids OFF (ABS on 1), Professional setting. I spun on lap 2, went into Pause Menu and found out about new addition in Quick Options - Interior View Angle.


Now we can adjust view angle to Standard, Narrow and Narrower.






Map Size can be adjusted, unfortunately, no option to turn-off the HUD yet.


Prior to the race start you can choose Depletion of Tyres/Fuel


# UPDATE FIRST AND HALF



Regarding PHYSICS - the Professional / Standard is gone. I referred to Professional in my previous update as an AI setting in Arcade. However, physics are "Professional" with everything OFF - it seems that new assist "SKID RECOVERY" actually determines the complexity of the tyre physics.


I've just tried RX-7 on compound previously known as N2 (marks N, S and R are also gone - now we have Comfort, Sports and Racing, while only Racing have option to be Intermediate and Rain - logical, since Racing are slicks without grooves) on Indy Road and actually it is damn close to one I remember from Academy TT demo. Although there is no way to compare (demo is out of function) I can safely say that all hard-cores will be very satisfied



From my first byte at physics and overall options - and all at this point have been into Options and Arcade modes only, I'm heading to GT Life now - driving with force feedback wheel (my current FF strength is 5) is more refined than in Prologue and/or Academy TT Demo, yet it is more complex but feels more natural. Please notice that physics elaboration is very sensitive matter, but at this point all who were impressed with Prologue Spec III physics update and TT Demo physics later, will be satisfied.


Notice that ABS-off is now refined to death, lock-up is made very impressive and I really starting to like the journey that lays ahead



# SECOND UPDATE


First to say that sound is greatly improved (I have a large 5.1 setup). Best sound is from the roof-cam (no hood cam, it's final), while tyre sound is refined additionaly. Spund of impact is vastly improved when you bump into other cars.

NO MULTISCREEN OR LAN OPTIONS SO FAR.



No new tracks in Arcade so far. No Sienna too (probably opens after Kart test).

GT Life mode. - spoiler alert, highlight for content:

You can choose design of your racing suit (only once per save) and then design your My Life space (backgrounc color, profile picture (from the PhotoModes, interesting??), you can choose from 12 beautiful sceneries for the Home Wallpaper and edit your Welcome Message.


When in Used Car/Dealership garage, every car (all in Used Car are Standard Models) have a Demo. During the demo you can watch the car being auto-piloted on the test track with great motor sounds due to track configurations - and car story being displayed as an roll-on txt. Despite many members will later find evidence to contrary, I have to admit that during Demo Drive, for instance Nomad Diablo/Plymouth Cuda/Callaway C12 looked very ok. Standard cars looks way better than I expected, but far from complexity of Premiums.


Also, Demo Drive is dome on some special Test Course (probably Cape Ring, not sure at this point), and cars go uphill, downhill, slow and fast, in order to catch the sound and variations of the engine sound (Doppler Effect presented there is amazing). And I assure you that Diablo/Cuda/C12 (oh the V12
) all sounds freaking beautiful. Driver in Demo Drive will sometimes make a small mistake, force skidding or even drifting - which is a nice touch.


Before going to Licenses you have to purchase a car. Purchasing a car in some colour gives you the Paint Item for that colour (for body or rims).


Now heading for the Licenses. Expect additional updates soon.


UPDATE SECOND AND HALF


OK, all National B Licenses done (10 of them), all Golds.


Nothing particulary challenging, but it was fun to see some licenses from the times of the very first Gran Turismo in the new era
All licenses are done with Premium cars as expected.


Notice that Skid Recovery is permanetly on and it can't be set to off for al N-B Licenses. Other assists can be turned off, but you have to do it manually for every new License. Some things never change in he World of Gran Turismo
Also notice that quantity of OSD data during in-cockpit is noting short of fabulous
Position, map, current time, prize times, best time, all gauges, split-times... My dear Lord. Polyphony sticks to the roots of 15 years ago



For all Bronzes in N-B you get legendary Demio Sport '03. For Silver and Gold you get (spoiler alert): OFC Concept '07 and ZZ-S '00.


Notice that winning all N-B with Gold will get you to Lv. 4 and unlock Kart, JG Nascar and Top Gear Special Races (ones with appropriate level).


Also, N-B 10 License hosts 16 cars on track, so that one question is also settled pretty much.


Will come back soon, I have to do further search into some options now.

# THIRD UPDATE


I have to say that I will go into actual career structure until I finish all Licenses, so my initial focus will be based around that segment.


I have just finished golding of National A Licenses - it was a bumpy ride



First, rally is awesome. Period. Will make deeper explorations of the physics tomorrow, but from what I've experienced today, physics in all aspects of the game is nothing but phenomenal. It is difficult to explain, but with every new corner and movement of the car you get the idea you've learned something new. Some tiny bit, some small idea about something, but important and meaningful. During process of golding N-A it was 1997 ll over again, with some familiar licenses in different setting, all up to One Lap Magic finale.


Golding N-A will rank you directly to Lv.7. Bronze prize car is mm-R Cup Car '01, while Silver and bronze are (spoiler alert): Atenza Concept '01 and 4200 R Concept '89.


Somebody asked about 16 races (as seen in both final One Lap Magic races in Licenses section so far) being mixture of Premium and Standard models. They are in fact, I took a moment to pay attention, but - you just don't see the difference during race. On my set - and I'm using an 50" plasma - all Standard cars look like a Prologue cars in-race. It is more-less visible in the replay, but overall I think PD did a very decent job in mixing the two breeds.


One thing was surprising to me since I race without Race BGM (without music during race) - when you pass the License and Bronze/Silver/Gold trophy appears - followed by crew scene (as in GT4) - there is no corresponding in-game music. In order to hear those special tunes (when obtaining the trophy, after race screen or fail-screen) you have to enable Race BGM. Bu then you have to listen to the music durng License test and that is just a no-go for my concentration
Tomorrow I'll try to bypass it by recording an empty MP3 track and by enabling Custom soundtrack - and setting Custom track as Race BGM - but it is a strange workaround (if it will work).


There are 189 songs in total in Soundtrack Library of the game, including glorious selection of Classic music, but there is no "Moon Over the Castle" to be found anywhere. It will be a shame if it does not appear later (maybe after Ending Credits or something, only time will tell - since fan-editing of the intro-movie pretty strongly implied that it is edited for MOTC).


One tiny but beautiful spoiler here, regarding option previously introduced in Tourist Trophy game: you can change the number on the race cars, including 4 types of letters and numbering - from 1 to 99.


Another spoiler about acquiring cars and other items in the game: you can win different kinds of items, such as car-tickets, horn vouchers or Paint Items (probably some other types later). So, instead of winning an actual car, you get a "Ticket" for it. You can then decide to use the Ticket (or any other type of voucher) for yourself of gift it to the friend. Very nicely executed community/RPG/Pokemon feature



In Practice mode (Settings options for car are available if you have "settable" parts) you can run Free Run, Drift Trial or One Make Races which I find great. NOtice that game has it's own logic about Race Starts - on some tracks they're Standing, on others Rolling. I presume once the Online options become available we'll be able to choose desired option for Private Lobby races. But both Arcade and GT Life mode have predetermined ways of starting the races.


Also, Karts should be driven only with force feedback strengthen up to 10
Those babies are fun as hell while physics of the tires surprisingly shows it's manners on the best imaginable way. Online Karts will be great fun for clean drivers.


This will wrap-up my updates for today, will continue to update tomorrow, notice that RDK will probably unlock Lv.20 and Extreme level, so stay tuned to his thread in order to find out details - of course, if he decides to share them and spoil surprises



Thanx to all who stop by and read, good night ladies and gentleman drivers


# FOURTH UPDATE


At this update I'll try to tackle some issues from yesterday, with focus on some questions I found interesting and some elaborations regarding various parts of the GT5.


With physics being most important in my book, I understand that some observation from tomorrow were somehow misleading. So, here are the further impressions.


I drive with G25, no assists except ABS (1), and no clutch (although it works as previously mentioned). I have no idea about limitations of sequential shifters on G27 (as witnessed in Prologue and TT demo), none of my friends have it and I can't try it at this point. I also have a Fanatec 911 GT3 RSV2 Clubsport waiting to be mounted, but until my new rig comes that baby will not start it's GT5 life.


As I mentioned yesterday, most important issue in physics is disappearance of STD/PRO distinction. Instead, GT5 introduces new driving-aid, Skid Recovery Force, which somewhat limits car lateral movement allowing for easier control. I presume it also applies some kind of steering buffer for controller users, but I haven't try the game with the pad so I can't elaborate further. As said before, all license test in N-B and N-A divisions comes with SRF enabled and I presume it can be disabled by progressing into higher tiers of Licenses - as logic of the licenses determines, since by advancing you can turn-off almost every assists (or the appropriate test turns it off as mandatory).


My physics impression comes from driving stock RX-7 (N2), stock M3 (S1) and racing Castrol Supra (R1) on dry surfaces. GT5 physics is the most advanced physics any any GT game to date, more complex than Prologue, demanding as Academy TT physics, but much more subtile and profound. Tire-snap is now logical, you can feel the surface, suspension and weight on tires and you can perfectly determine what is going on with the tire-grip. I'm impressed with modeling of suspensions - feel of the road is phenomenal and in every moment you know what your car is doing through the force feedback effect delivered on the wheel.


You have a constant idea what your car is doing and you just know when you did something wrong. It is very difficult to explain by words, but all variables that determines the feel of the car on particular part of the track are linked perfectly. You just know when you're going over the top, when the line you've taken will not be good or when you've applied the wrong steer. Also, greatest improvement is done in realms of racing cars, where Kazunori finally reached the levels of his only inspiration, Yu Suzuki's masterpiece F355 Challenge. Sense of speed through corners is now perfect. The insane level of grip and power of race cars has been finally toned down, and feeling of having an ultimate driving machine now comes from ability to steer perfectly, to have control of throttle and brakes, to feel the suspension and to have time to prepare for next maneuver. Refinement in this area is the most important to me, because in all previous GT games I had problems with insanity of race cars. Now everything is in place as it should be, and I love that aspect most.


Of course, in days to come, GT5's physics will be analyzed as no driving-game physics ever was. I expect many criticism, searching for flaws, comparisment with "this game" or "that game", but I have strong impression that physics in GT5 is the most refined physics ever introduced in virtual world - as long as "physics" is determined by the feel of actual driving, feel of tires, feel of suspension, weight transfer, engine momentum and actual feel of steering. Sense of speed, grip, weight and car-performance is just logical and natural - and that is what matters most.


I tried to drive without ABS on both stock cars mentioned above, but even G25 pedals are not up to that task
Although overall effect of non-ABS braking is more refined than in Prologue, brakes needs to be approached with great attention. Actual tire-lock is easy to be done and I really have no idea how will users of DFGT/DFP drive without ABS if wanted
. Watching braking without ABS in replays finally looks logical and natural and later afternoon I'll be doing much more research in that particular field. On the other side, driving a Castrol Supra on R1 without ABS was totally different from stock-cars, I could tackle braking more efficiently and I presume that mechanical setting (tire compound, suspension, brake power distribution) have lot to do with the overall immersion of the non-ABS braking.


One of the most common questions was one regarding the sounds. GT5 have drastically improved sounds over Prologue in every way. I started a Demo Drive for F430 and it sounds much better than in Prologue, as well as all cars I've driven. Notice that sound changes when driving in cockpit, as I mentioned yesterday best (loudest and clearest) sound is when driving from the roof-cam. However, it is logical to be as that, because the sound of the car from outside and from inside is not the same, as in real life. In the sound department I really love the way in which Doppler effect have been implemented during replays. It shines in surround setting and everybody who got any kind of surround system will enjoy probably the most realistic interpretation of audio-design in virtual racing from "spectator" point of view.


Speaking about replays, they're much more complicated in execution than in previous games, with much more option on disposal. You have 2 interior views focused solely on driver (not sure about that view being available for STD cars) and animation of the driver and interior lightning is just phenomenal.


More serious drivers will love the fact that fuel depletion is now inter-connected to the power of the engine, it's aspiration and way of driving. Although I didn't research it yet in any longer race, menu clearly says that driving more aggressively, with revving into red-area and such will consume more fuel. I hope I'll have time to tackle both tire-wear and fuel-depletion today and it is clear it will add whole another dimension for online racing. I have no idea about brake-fade and such but I'll share any insights as soon as I realize them.

Slipstream has finally been reduced to normal levels and I can't wait to go online and try it in real races. Insane slipstream does not exist anymore and it is noticeable from few licenses that includes slipstreaming. Slow drivers will not be happy, fast drivers will finally get a deserved on-track advantage for their skill outside the straight.


Shirakawa Akira made some interesting questions that deserves serious answer


SHIRAKAWA Akira


- Can the car be stalled?

- Are bad shifts harmful or have they been correctly dealt with?

- Can the clutch be burned or otherwise damaged?

- Does the clutch slipping point change with modifications or wear?

- Is it possible to choose the amount of fuel in the tank before race start?

- Is it possible to know in detail tire temperature data with the data logger, meaning not only each tire as a whole, but in separated sections? (usually in PC sims outer, middle, inner portion)

- ...or better, what exactly can the data logger do/analyze?

- Can tire inflating pressure be changed and checked?

.



Answer to them is mainly negative or still unknown
. GT series was always different from PC simulations and it is very clear that Kazunori's vision is different from one of hard-core PC simulations. I still have no idea about execution of mechanical damage and I presume that Extreme races (unlocked after Lv. 20) will offer more answers in this area. But it is safe to presume that some features such as clutch wear, separate sections for the tire-wear and tire-pressure will stay out of the GT world for time being. As for amount of fuel and functions of the logger, I have no idea yet. I'll take a notice when I tackle them.


I don't know anything about Qualifications process since I didn't go into A-Spec races yet.

PPT values are nowhere to be shown (maybe in A-Spec races?) and if they're still in, they could be part of the online portion of the game. As for yesterday, connecting to PSN haven't prompt any update or allow that menu for Community features becomes available. As I noticed yesterday, I am getting the same message as other members with the game about some functions "Not being available in this Version of the game". It is very safe to presume that players with connection to PSN will get some serious update as servers go up (on 24/11, as being announced on official web) that will unlock or make visible all community/online features.


Somebody asked about tuning and adjusting process being available in Practice mode - it is. You can take any car in Practice mode, tune it there, do Free Runs, Drift trials or do One Make Races. Unfortunately, legendary Test Track is nowhere to be found, together with 0-400, 0-1000 tests. Maybe I didn't search enough.


I didn't try all surfaces yet (rain, snow..), report on that comes later today. Many other advanced options as variable weather and such will probably be introduced in Endurance races (wherever and on whichever Lv. they are) and in settings for still unavailable online races (Private Lobby and races settings).


Also, I couldn't find an option to create a point-to-point track in Course Maker and it remains to be seen will it unlock on some point.


I have a PSEye and I'll be post impressions of headtracking later today.


In the end, I will conclude with overall impression of the Graphical User Interface. As always, GUI created by Polyphony Digital is the most beautiful in the genre and beyond. Everything is designed to insane level of logic and beauty and navigating through menus with great music in the background (lounge and jazz selection is perfect) is a treat of its own. Shortcuts are also welcomed again and although many new users will loose themselves in the beginning, it has to be noticed that complexity of the game structure is almost perfectly executed through GUI.


This concludes this update, I'll be tackle other issues in the early evening (around 18:00 CET).


Thanx for reading.



# FIFTH UPDATE (18/11)


OK, back to business. This update will tackle many small things and bits I've came across, as well as many questions made in this thread.


But first, I'd like to explain the issue encountered yesterday, when I realized that BGM sounds/music for winning a license-trophy (bronze, silver or gold) are being muted if you have Race BGM muted.


I presume it will not be an issue for 95% of future GT5 players, but all Legacy Players (respect
) and all other players that tend to race with Race BGM set to OFF (as everybody should, but hey - De gustibus non disputandum est
) will probably find it annoying. For solving of that problem you'll need an empty MP3 or VAW file (GT5 will only accept 48, 42 and 20.05 sample-rate files) uploaded to your PS3 music Library, in separate folder. Once uploaded, you go to GT5 Options/Sound menu and then choose User BGM (for Race BGM). You then choose the empty file and make it play random in loop and then set the Race BGM to 100. Voila! License-winning music is there and our favorite Japan Guitar-Rock tunes will play happily in the rhythm of spinning awarded Trophy



After you're done with Licenses, you just turn off User BGM and disable Race BGM in order to save precious RAM streaming-bandwith. And trust me, GT5 needs it.

One of the most repeated questions is about changing rims on Standard cars. No, Standard cars can't have their rims changed. Period. Forever. Sorry guys, but there are more than 200 Premiums waiting to have their rims changed, and I guess it is lots of dirty hands to be washed after only that number. Imagine 1031, no hands can sustain so much degreaser and soap
And no, really no, Standards do not have interiors too.


Another important issue - particularly to all members of GTP Registry League, as Sjaak asked me - is that save files are really copy-protected, period. You can't copy them to memory stick and that is it.


Interesting thing regarding save file is that it actually tracks Days of your GT Life career - which is nowhere else to be found in GT Life. Number of days spent in Career Mode - as one of the foundations of RPG-esque GT system of all previous games - is now gone from display. But, those interested in Old School Values will still be able to find it by pressing a triangle in XMB section of Game Save Data for GT5 save file.


Although I have PSEye camera and I went through set-up procedure in Options menu, I couldn't get it to work during my License/Arcade races sessions. I have no idea where is the problem, I'll try to mess with the options tomorrow. Interesting thing is noted in Online Manual (notice that paper manual that comes with the game is nothing but informational - everything you need to know about the Sea of Options is available in in-game Help Manual) regarding Headtracking - it will not be available in races with pit-stop enabled. And no, I still haven't race almost any race in GT Life career mode (only 1st Lv. of Kart Challenge) because I'm still golding Licenses.

Drift mode (in GT Life mode only to be found in Practice section at this moment) can be executed as Section or Full-Lap drift. I can't wait for first serious drift videos of all great drifters there, it will be a treat.


Unfortunately, I just didn't have time to make further exploration of the physics, except during License tests. But, everything I said in previous updates is still valid, rally is a real treat, while overall feel of racing on dry surfaces is great. I will just expand my thoughts regarding execution of the physics/vehicle characteristics/tire modeling, by saying that GT5 provides unprecedented variety of feels for different cars, as never before. Racing 512BB on Rome Track (and Rome track is great I must admit) is totally different experience than racing new Infinity. I know it is logical to say "it is totally different" - they're totally different cars in any mean after all - by it is also not easily explainable by words. Everything we know about feel of the cars from previous games has been rewritten, so to say - torque, weight, lateral movement, way of braking, accelerating - everything is so unique to each car, as never before. Exploring the whole universe of different types of cars will now have a whole new meaning.


At this point, no Network functions has been made available yet, so I still don't know anything related to online, multiplayer, community, GT Anywhere options, Museum (it is part of Network options, as stated in Online Manual section of the game), YouTube upload, Item Sharing or Car Exchange (and yes, we all have to wonder what "Car Exchange" will be
).


And in the end of impressions, I have to admit that graphics will occasionally slow down in large-field races, but it is nothing that can ruin anyones experience. Please, do not jump to this now, it is very rare, it lasts very short and it is just not so important with everything in scale
Also, some shadow-cast could be strange, but with level of overall details and everything it is expected. After all, it is only 256 RAM of dedicated graphics CPU, our mobile phones probably have better graphic CPU these days
So, nothing to be rally picky about in my book.


And now onto questions, I apologize to all whose questions will be left unanswered, I will try to anwser them in some future updates.

G25 wheel related

- clutch works (I presume it will work with G27 too, but I have no idea will the paddles work on G27)

- no steering lock in any option I have found so far

- I have no idea yet about Tuning-Menu allowing to adjust Steering Degree (as in QTS of Prologue)

JumpAce asked about all tire and compound types. There are Comfort (N), Sports (S) and Racing (R) tires, and with porchasing Racing tires you're given both Intermediate and Rain compounds. Additionaly, there are Dirt and Snow tires for rally races.

Quick rundown for various:

- Karts can be raced on any road track

- no new diesel cars found (except 120d and Pegueot LM)

- no Stunt Arenas yet (probably never in GT5 by my opinion, but you never know with Kaz
)

- brand of the Mercedes SLS model is surprisingly - Mercedes-Benz



I found Jay Leno's name in Credits. Hm. Any thoughts?


Oh, and one very important thing for the very end - almost forgotten in lights of news - there is no Rewind
Thank you Kazunori-san, ありがとうございました.


This concludes my fifth update, more updates tomorrow evening. Thank you for reading!



# FIRST Q&A UPDATE


Good morning people.


I have collected many quotes of questions and opinions from last 20 pages and I'll answer them here during my early morning coffee break.


So, we start with my favorite so far:

C.D
not a word regarding damage (which will likely blow) yet, you've got to be ****ing kidding me. Further proof that all of the guys who've gotten the game early are just a bunch of clowns hired by Sony to do viral marketing for the game and build up hype.



Staff Edit - This member just got banned for this post (along with a history of poor behavior - this kind of attitude will not be tolerated - Scaff



Thank you for your nice words sir, it is always welcomed to have such a high-profiled marketing analyst around here. Please notice that your humble opinion regarding implementation of damage can't be answered easily by Clowns because GT5 is a huge game, with slow progress-curve and there is many things to be opened or discovered that can't be done in week of playing.


However, thank you once more for your distinguish approach to the matter.


My second favorite:

alilsneaky
The amar guy could very well be, he doesn't have to be ofcourse, but jesus ****ing christ the way he hypes the game is a bit obnoxious, it's like watching a toy commercial...


I want to see framerate while racing, proof of screen tearing or lack thereof, word from PD on vsync , news about the resolution, how good is the vibration function on the controller in gt5 (was usually awesome in ps2 games but most ps3 games seem to have something akin to my cellphone to save battery power), how is split screen? how long are loading times if you don't install the game and most of all proper IN RACE footage of car damage without the stupid arcade mode excuse.


Staff Edit - This member just got a warning for this post - this kind of attitude will not be tolerated - Scaff

I don't hype the game, sorry. I am just making an subjective overview of the game from my personal perspective. I'm not payed to do review here, all I want is to share some of my initial feels and thoughts to people who are members of this community. I am sorry if you find that offensive by any mean, it was not meant to be that way.


As for issues you describe, I stated in my last update that I've encountered some occasional slowdowns, but nothing important in my book. Screen tearing will probably be experienced in some point, but I haven't seen any on my set. I read on NeoGaf that V-Sync is probably off for GT5 because of technical reasons, but until Digital Foundry posts their report I will sustain to comment on that because I do not have sufficient technical expertise not equipment. If it means anything to you, GT5 is graphically the best racer I have ever seen, so take that as a hype, or just as an subjective opinion. I am aware that many people will find their complaints, but while they complain about this or that, they could better improve their driving skills instead of counting frames. There is no perfection oh hardware with 256MB of graphic-CPU, but it is also the main reason why I find final result even much more impressive.


As for controller, I haven't play with it, I use the wheel only, sorry. I will try split screen later today. I instal the game immediately, so I can't tell about loading times for non-installed game. But yes, loadings are longer than in Prologue for instance, but still noticeably faster than in "other games". You can find answer regarding showcasing of the "damage" in answer above, cheers.

eSZee
I think that it's the same sort of situation as going up to Jack Nicholson and asking him to give you his take on the current state of the LA Lakers.



Antonisbob
I wonder if the Diesel Le Mans cars have better fuel efficency than the gas ones?


Maybe they will have, since game clearly states that fuel depletion will depend upon engine type (although it does not explain in further) and way of driving.

krishy_123
..what replay options are available? Also when you said there is no Rewind, did you mean like how GRID/Forza etc have a gameplay rewind function or did you mean replay rewind?


There are many replay options, but I still didn't found time to actually explore replays from technical POW (logger, replay save, exporting to USB stick, attachment to messages in XMB maybe, and so on). I'll do many of such technical explorations today afternoon.


And by REWIND I meant gameplay rewind, yes.

GeeTeeR
There better be Moon Over the Castle somewhere in the Japanese version, or I'm cancelling my Chinese version import.


At this point we know that Official GT5 Soundtrack CD is announced for Japan and it will be available from Dec 22. CD lists "Moon Over The Castle GT5 Version" as the first song - and we can safely presume it will be opening title song for Japanese game - but there is no MOTC on my PAL game, nowhere to be found among 189 tracks listed in Music directory. It is shame, I agree.


Here you can find info about GT5 Soundtrack Album and track listing for both CD's (site is on Japanese):
http://www.getchu.com/soft.phtml?id=696143

cicohipe
But when games like (That Microsoft one) and others are allowing rim changes plus body kits and more, it definitely seems like this game should have them included.


You can change bodykits, rims and such on Premiums, so technically those things are included. To compare, "other games" even remotely do not have many of features of GT5, so it basically comes down to what is more important in driving genre. Answering to that question is pretty much subjective thing, but GT5 obviously have change of rims, bodykits and such, together with plethora of other features that none other game I know can tackle in one complete package.

blue cat
Do you have any idea if the G27 shift lights will work, and if the face buttons are all programmable? i know you only have a G25 atm, but any wheel info is welcome.


No idea about G27 lights, but I have serious problems in configuring my G25 to all the functions of the game
It remains to be seen will G27 allow mapping of extra-wheel buttons to different functions, from my experience when testing G27 with Prologue, game was mapping all 6 extra-buttons as same function.


I will also be testing parallel usage of controller and wheel in the same time later today, so it will be part of technical update.

StogyBear
Can you drive the standard and premium versions of the same car and see if there is a difference in the feel. Or actually just any standard car to see if the car feels different than the premiums. I feel like the standard cars have been overlooked I just want to be proven wrong lol


Since I only do Licenses at this point, I haven't use any cars except Premiums. But will try that also later today in technical update, stay tuned.

MaruchanSoup
He hasn't mentioned anything about damage



Because I haven't encountered any, look at the first answer


88c-v Racer
Would you be able to shed any light on what can be customized if anything besides the rims? Also, can all street cars get the Race Mod?


Selected Premiums will be able to get the Race Mod, but I have no idea which ones, I know that first car I bought - MX-5, Premium - can't have it
From what I saw, you can add front and side aero-kits, rear spoilers and change rims, but availability of those procedures is limited by car-to-car basis.

slipp3h
Hope you're able to get head tracking working later, I would really like to hear more about this feature. Any idea why it doesn't work on tracks with pit stop?


Have no idea why it will not work with pit-stops enabled, Game Manual says so. I also can't understand why Headtracking does not work for me, will check on that too. However, friend of mine told me it could be inter-conected to 3D option, which will be a bummer if true, since I do not have 3D set. Will explore this to.

LeGeNd-1
No splitscreen



2-player split screen is in, there is no option to have multi-screen.


This is multiscreen, as in GT4 for example:



Justin
Do you have to take pics from the replay or can you access photo mode via the pause menu while on track?


You can't access it during the race, you have to finish the race in order to have replay at your disposal and then use the PhotoMode feature.

Hanako787b
lol.. I just realized I forgot how long the replay recorded during the 24 hours races on GT4, I think I remember seeing it as being full after about 2.5 hours... does anyone else remember that... I actually would hope to have all those long races recorded,:


There was no full-race replay in Gran Turismo series since the first game (it was the only GT so far that could "record" the replay for up to 99 laps, we tried it in fact, back in 1998
). Game Manual points out that "some of the replays can't be saved by full length due to length of the actual race" but it remains to be discovered how much data RAM can sustain.


This concludes this session, I'll be making Technical Update later today, thanx for reading!

few additional answers:

sinbad
Can you drive ANY car on the courses made at the Kart Environments in the Course Generator?


While in Course Builder game allows you to test tracks - even those labeled with Kart - with choice of cars, so I believe it will allow it. I haven't actually save any tracks yet, only made few tests of overall possibilities of the CM.

TheCracker
Just one question for you. I know it's what everyone has really been waiting to hear confirmed. Do standard cars have reverse lights?


I really don't know, I'm driving cockpit-only (bumper on STDS). But will check


objp
Anything about the AI? Hopefully they're not totally stupid like they have been in past GT games.

Regarding AI, here is my answer to same question I made on NeoGaf forums:


Before answering I have to elaborate on this.


I am a 100% clear racer and I try to drive racing simulations as I would drive the car in RL. I also do not tend to exploit the physics and tracks (going crazy over kerbs, going off-track and over shortcuts, passing on impossible places and so on).


Said that, I was amazed with AI in GT5: Prologue because it was the most convincing AI that I ever witnessed in any video game. Of course, during Mission test you had to make few dirt moves in order to pass the tests (especially on One Lap Magic tests on Pro physics), but if you'd settled your own race with 20 laps and then try to race 100% clean - including taking no shortcuts and such - it was a breathtaking race experience.


I know many people didn't dig Prologue's AI, although I can't understand why.


I find AI of GT5 advanced over Prologue, especially in blocking procedures. Also, AI drivers make mistakes and they fight among themselves - which makes for some great moments. However, they will brake on time if you're in front of them (no more GT-GT4 bumping), when you pass they'll try to regain position on the very fair manner and so on.


In short - in my personal book, GT5 have the best AI routines I've ever seen in genre so far.

objp
Also....how come you can't drive without ABS? I've never had a problem with brake lockup in any racing sim with my G27. Makes me question the whole physics write-up when you can't even slow the car without the game holding your hand.


I never said I can't drive without ABS, I just said it is very difficult to drive without, although I also pointed out that actual non-ABS braking is more refined than in Prologue.


Non-ABS driving heavily depends on car you're using. I had almost no problem at all with JGTC Castrol Supra, but I had serious sensitivity-problem with stock cars, such as M3. At this point I haven't developed enough finesse in my foot to sustain more than 3 lap of concentration for non-ABS driving since it asks for serious concentration - especially when battling AI on Professional AI setting.


G25 pedals are more stiffer than those on DFP/DFGT wheel, but even with them you have to be extremely careful while applying brakes, because it is very easy to lock them and go into spin. It was the main point of my elaboration of that particular issue. However, it is probably a matter of time-investment into skill itself, together with additional investment into some hard sponge (for DFP/DFGT users respectfully).

PlayGT5tilludie
Are you able to catch a slide (oversteer) using your G25 and actually perform a drift?


Yes. You will soon find out that physics is in fact very refined Academy TT Demo physics - as I stated earlier. Refinement now includes work done especially in the field of tire-grip and feel of the weight-transfer on the steering wheel. If you can imagine complex physics as those in Academy Demo with proper grip and skid-snap included, you'll have the picture


#SIXTH AND FINAL UPDATE


Italy, France, UK and USA are getting the game as I type (thanx to people at Neogaf that are sharing their view on game as we speak, especially to all good friends and members of GTP - Goldrusher did a spectacular OP there, congratulations mate
)) - and I'll be slowly concluding this overview, since this weekend is obviously going to be an big information blowout.


Thanx to all that followed this update, thank you for your support, Thanx to GTP admins in keeping this thread civilized - I know it was not easy in days of great tensions - I am pleased if this overview help anyone in his wait to GT5.


This update will tackle few technical issues I find important in my book, as well as details of my personal overview of PhotoMode and Replay.


Final Q&A of some questions raised today will conclude this final update. So, let's start.

2 Player Split-Screen


Based on traditional Memory Card Battle of first Gran Turismo game, 2-player split screen have been with us for 13 years. However, there are some issues I find strange.


You can choose cars from your favorites, Portable Garage (that is the section where PSP cars will transfer) or game initial bunch. Only 2 game-views on disposal (bumper and above the car) no matter you use Premium or Standard cars. However, it has to be said that graphics in 2PSS looks nothing short of single-player, from HDR lightning to details around the track.


Problem is that you can't view replay after the race
I know it is not funny, but since there is no replay, you can't save it too. I really hope PD will include option to have and save replays in 2PSS races, since I presume zillions of players will race GT5 casually on split-screen.


You can choose to race up to 99 laps (as in Arcade race settings), but there is no option for tire-wear/fuel-depletion. Splitscreen is horizontal, with no option to go vertically (as in GT3 or GT4 for example).

PhotoMode


Today was the first day I used photomode and I'm nothing by amazed. Being more than avid photographer in real life, I have to admit that GT5 graphics and options for taking photographs are simply stunning. I did some examples and posted them below and I presume the future will showcase what marvel of graphic/lightning engine have PD create.


Photos from Race Photo can be done on max resolution of 1980x1080 while photos from Photo Travel (limited to Premiums only) can be processed up to 8MP. Both modes are equally amazing and it is all that really needs to be said. I don't want to spoil surprises, so I can say that future will probably soon bring us some fan-made car magazine made entirely from GT5 photomode - and it will looks stunning, I'm sure.


Photos are processed fast, you can save them to HDD (game forces 500MB of HDD space for initial PhotoMode purposes) and later export them to XMB (into separate folder). From XMB you can save them to memory stick, directly print to printer or send in PSN messages. There are also many Gallery options in the game, but I will not explain them now - those interested will be able to see for themselves.


Average size of 1080p photos is around 250kb and those (MP ones around 600-700kb.


You can access PhotoMode directly from replay too, and there is Walk option which I find great. You can literally walk around the whole circuit - probably even around all Nordschelife - like your walking on foot. You have 3D camera (as in FPS games) fully enabled, and you can take pictures of whatever you want in any time. I can presume one of the first videos on that subject will be GT5 Nurb Walk
It could also come handy in order to study configuration details, but that is something that only few will do anyway. But it can be done. Props to PD.


Here are the examples of PM settings with no particular adjusting the options (1080p Race Photo in 16:9):














Default made photo in Race Mode (1080p, 1.4:1)




And below the thumbnails are the links for PhotoTravel photos (8MP) including my starting Chrystal White MX-5.











Various Technical


I didn't have time to mess with my PSEye, so nothing about Headtracking at this point. Will post that somewhere else later, after I spend some time in further investigation of options.

Wheels users will certainly appreciate that GT5 also supports parallel functionality of G25 (probably G27 too) wheel and controller (controller can be forced to Slot 1 through in-game XMB) in the same time. Having both connected, you have all functionalities of the wheel during the race and all functions of controller in all other menus (replay, PhotoMode, GUI navigation..). Great move for comfort of G25 users, as already seen in Prologue.

Replay Files can also be exported to XMB and there you can copy them between your PS3 profiles (on you local console). You can also export them to USB (where they produce one big mess of unreadable files and directories). Until network functionality are enabled, I don't know nothing about direct YouTube upload or similar. Notice you can't attach Replay files to PSN messages, you can only attach photos from photomode you've exported to XMB.


There is no FFW/REW options in replay itself, nor lap-skip option.


For the end, here is the "empty VAW" file that I use to bypass lack of BGM effect during Award sequence of License Tests - problem I tackled in previous updates. It is 64MB VAW file without any actual volume. It will be useful to all that race without music during racing and still love to hear the license-award music after getting the trophy.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zu02f92yhfilm2o


And that is it regarding this overview of GT5



Now onto fast Q&A:

Starfirebird
I

Can the Standard cars post times to the Leaderboards?I was just curious about this as i'm big into hotlapping/tuning.



You can choose both Favorite, Arcade (game stock) and Portable (PSP transfers) cars for local Arcade Time Trial. Have no idea will Network offer additional online TT and under which conditions.

socomplayer2
1. Do cars accumulate miles like in gt3 and gt4?


2. Can you rally any car? I would love to build my own rally cars like in the older ones.



Yes they do, and overall aspect of philosophy of "ownership" has been greatly improved. Will not go into details because of spoiling the expereince



Rally tires will determine that and I presume they're available for majority of models (except Karts and probably some more).

deki
If you have played Enthusia on PS2 before could you tell me how its car physics compare to GT5?


Enthusia was the best PS2 racer in terms of physics - I agree - and in my personal opinion GT5 excels it in every way.

DaveTheStalker
Regarding bitrate, didn't GTPSP require some sort of ridiculus hoops to jump through in order to use personal music? Amar would you please clear up this bitrate issue?


Yes, I was thinking about sample-rate, I have already corrected the OP and added VAW file to download that I've used for that issue. Thanx for noticing


analog
The question is what did you mean by "once per save"? Does it mean you can only choose it once and then it's the final choice or that you can choose differently on another occasion?


Only ONCE and you can't change it on your save. If you want to change it, you have to delete the save and start all over again


SlipZtrEm
1. Would you say license tests are harder or easier than previous games?


2. When viewing a replay and heading into Photomode, is the camera free-roaming, or is it tied to the camera angles/locations in the replay itself?:



I have finished first 3 Tiers with golds and I find them challenging equaly with GT4. Some were easy (rally, as always
), some were boring (start-stop, 01 N-A is particulary frustrating from cockpit-cam), One Lap Magic were great. If you're skilled driver they'll be great challenge as always before.


As for PM, there is Free Roam (Walk) camera - and it is great. It floats somewhere around 1,5m from the ground, it is fully free and I expect to see great photos of many details of the game because of it. Also, there are fixed cameras in RacePhoto, number depending on particular track-position of the car.

alilsneaky
Wouldn't it make sense for PD to use the Hard disk for replays?


I don't know about that, maybe it uses HDD, I don't know. Manual says replay-length could be limited, so I presumed they're using RAM. Further evidence about that is there is no Split-Screen replays (maybe after update, but no at this point).

SuperShouden
Q: Can you choose the gender of your driver?.


Unfortunately, no
Would be nice and fair, I agree.

Duck
About licensing:

does licensing unlock races as in gt-gt4, or just gives you xp to reach the actual level required to race in?



No, Levels determine everything - from availability of the cars (you can purchase cars depending on your Lv and wallet status) and availability of races in A/B-Spec and Special Races.


Also notice that A-Spec and B-Spec have the same races in Tiers.

zod
I don't know if this was asked/answered somewhere before, but are there manufacturer events in GT5?


I haven't find them in Dealership and in Tuning Shop (as in previous games) so I presume the answer is no.


That would be it, this concludes my initial overview of Gran Turismo 5, I hope all of you will get the game soon and that obviusely imminent update for unlocking Community and Online features will come ASAP.


See you online soon, thank you for support and reading.


Regards!

***THE END



Here's a feature list (thx NeoGAF ):

Quote:
CARS

over 1,000 cars (800+ Standard, 200+ Premium)

new brands include Ferrari, Maserati, Bugatti, Lamborghini, McLaren, Tesla, Red Bull Racing

new series include NASCAR, WRC, Super GT, karting

TRACKS

more than 20 tracks (more than 70 layouts)

new real circuits include Top Gear Test Track, Daytona, Indianapolis, Monza

new fictional circuits in London, Rome, Madrid, Tuscany, the Alps, the High Fens

OFF-LINE

single race, split screen, time trial

license tests, championships

A-spec & B-spec

car tuning, washing, and collecting

8 MP photo mode

GTTV (compatible with PSP)

ONLINE

up to 16 players in a race

private rooms, lobbies with up to 32 players

spectator mode

text & voice chat

photo/replay album

YouTube replay upload

time trial rankings

OTHER FEATURES

cockpit view for Premium cars

damage & roll overs (all cars)

day-night cycle

dynamic weather

track creator / editor

skidmarks & reverse lights

smoke from tires, sparks fly from rollovers, dirt accumulates

high and low-beam headlights to flash slower cars

dynamic crowds attend the events

TECH

up to 1080p 60fps

up to Dolby 7.1

custom soundtracks

PlayStation Eye headtracking

3DTV support (gameplay & 3D photo mode)

OTHER INFO

all cars bought in GTPSP and GT5P can be transferred to GT5 for use in Arcade Mode

trophy support

Adrian Newey was involved in a way

Sebastian Vettel did voice work

~~~~

Reviews
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler  
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Destructoid - 10/10
Quote:
On the other hand, the new weather, lighting and particle effect additions are welcome and greatly appreciated. Some of Gran Turismo 5's biggest "wow" moments come from these new visual tweaks. Watching snow blow onto and over my windshield was so lovely that it was almost distracting. The way a night time fog soaks up headlights looked impossibly realistic. Streetlights shine on a glossy, wet street, and later raindrops streak by as you hit 200 mph. Later, in the desert, dust kicks up in a rally race. High beams catch the dust, with the tops of the surrounding trees barely lit by the setting sun. The work Polyphony Digital put in the small details goes a long way toward making you feel like you're really driving in these locales. Realism can sometimes be sterile, but these accents on top of already realistic locales and cars makes Gran Turismo 5 one of the most visually pleasing games ever released.

.

.

Even beyond the 1,000 cars, dozens of track variations, countless modes, gorgeous visuals and mountains of options, Gran Turismo 5 has something more that speaks to the world's car lovers and racing fans. The level of care taken by the people at Polyphony Digital shines in every aspect of this title, and this makes for a racing game that truly has no parallel. Gran Turismo 5 is a massive love letter to those that love cars. This is their dream videogame.
Eurogamer - 9/10
Quote:
The moment Gran Turismo 5 clicked for me, I was tackling the tarmac rally stages in Special Events. These point-to-point time trials take place on twisting country roads crossing the rolling landscape of Tuscany.

At the intermediate level in the rallies, the game whipped away my habitual crutch, the racing line guide that traces the best line through every corner. But that wasn't the half of it, because these rally stages are never the same twice. They're procedurally generated by the Course Maker system - one of innumerable gadgets and modes that developer Polyphony Digital has crammed into this bewilderingly eclectic release.


I couldn't even restart and painstakingly learn the track, because it wouldn't be the same track. So I watched the road, listened to the pace notes and felt my Impreza countersteer out of bends and buck over bumps, taking my heart in my mouth with every blind crest.


Suddenly - after two days' play - I wasn't playing a sim racing game any more. I wasn't learning a litany of trackside cues and cornering rhythms I might as well perform with my eyes shut. I was driving with the seat of my pants on the open road, feeling a powerful car under me, mapping the next bend with my intuition.

This is an experience I'd always longed for, something I'd glimpsed parts of in Project Gotham 2's Nordschleife Nürburgring or Test Drive Unlimited's untamed roadmap - but never so vividly, and never with such profoundly realistic handling.


For me, this is the Holy Grail of driving games. And yet it's one throwaway and all-too-brief event tucked away in a corner of Kazunori Yamauchi's sprawling empire of digital motorsport. I could quite easily have played GT5 for dozens of hours and written this review without even knowing it existed.

That, in a nutshell, is everything that's extraordinary and infuriating about this vast, mad, once-in-a-lifetime game.
ign - 8.5/10
Quote:
At times, Gran Turismo 5 is genuinely jaw-dropping - indeed, it can be the kind of game that makes you want to drop your controller and grab some random passer-by just to show them what marvels it's capable of. Madrid and Rome's street tracks are, like the returning London track introduced in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, uncanny recreations of their inspiration, and while Indianapolis and Daytona don't have the same dazzle they're told with a comparable authenticity.

.

.

Racing online, once you get to it, is perfectly stable, handling up to sixteen cars with few issues. Options are admittedly limited with no way to deviate from straight-up racing, but when the handling's as good as Gran Turismo 5's it's hard to find complaint.

.

.

There are other positives too. Separate online rooms can be created, allowing you to mine deep and set up different experiences from a 30 lap race around Le Mans with no assists to a simple two-lap blast around the Autumn Ring. It's sad, then, that it's all wrapped up in a muddled menu system that a code system that's archaic and far from user-friendly, displaying an ignorance of recent developments throughout the racing genre.


And that's an accusation that can sadly be levelled squarely at Gran Turismo 5's overall single-player offering. Once more it's a lifeless grind through a series of races where it's more often than not simply a case of having the right machinery beneath you rather than a test of any real driving skill.
joystiq - 4/5
Quote:
I love cars. Not as much as Yamauchi clearly does -- and few people probably do, really -- but I can appreciate the attention to detail lavished on every aspect of simulating the handling and look of the game's autos. GT5 is akin to a car-obsessed billionaire letting you come over to his mansion and take his cars for a spin, only you have to wear white gloves so you don't leave any fingerprints on them. All the layers of game design varnish that makers of other racing games have applied to make them accessible and visceral are stripped away, revealing what can only loosely be called a game. It's a true simulation, and more than the g-forces of taking a turn at high speed or the impact of crashing into another driver, I felt cold, hard calculations and algorithms.
sixthaxis (no score yet)
Quote:
But it's the A-Spec mode that'll take up most of your time with Gran Turismo 5, and for all the right reasons, it's brilliant. Effectively split into five series (again, locked until you rank up) each series offers up a collection of events which range from one off races up to a full championship, and whilst we've already mentioned that entry requirements aren't always as intuitive as you'd like, they ensure that the player dips in and out of the garage enough to sample more of the game's vehicle range that they might normally limit themselves to. Yes, it's great fun to save up for your first Bayside Blue R34, but by the same token grabbing a Yaris for the Vitz Race means you can try for that gold too.

.

.

It's a remarkable flexibility and a welcome, relaxed attitude that permeates throughout the entire game. The player really is able to put whatever they want into Gran Turismo 5 and get it right back - be that hours of dedicated racing a day or just the occasional dip into the online multiplayer, which is expanded well beyond the simple notion of racing.

.

.

Online racing is - you'll be glad to know, lag free. In fact, it's a fussless experience, a breeze to set up, offers the same great sense of speed of single player and is slick enough to warrant some serious investment down the line. Gran Turismo 5 goes beyond just racing, though, with a Facebook-like messageboard (albeit with Twitter like 140 character limits), a log of all your achievements, a section for email and another for gifts, which is where you'll be notified if someone has sent you a car ticket, or a tuning part or a paint colour.

.

.

So, Gran Turismo 5: finished, complete, perfect. Right?


No, not quite, but it's pretty damned near close. Gran Turismo 5 is essential gaming for race sim fans, something that will grow with you the more you play. Sure, there's some visual issues here and there and the game's UI is fussier than it needs to be, but as a racing game, which is presumably the reason everyone's buying the game for, it's unmatched, unrivaled and as comprehensive as you could have ever hoped for. It's unfair to score the game at this point, though, we're barely a quarter of the way through A-Spec and less through B and it has continued to get better every step of the way.



But it doesn't matter anyway - just go and buy it.

Check out this thread for crazedmodder's excellent, detailed impressions of several premium steering wheels.



Cool collector's edition:

Quote:



For $100 you get:


The Gran Turismo 5 game

1:43 Scale model by Kyosho of a 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V

300 page car-lovers guide

Keychain

5 downloadable bonus cars

A huge GT5 Box
Incredible videos:

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler  
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) E3 2010 trailer:




Real life vs. GT5:




Awesome pics:














Even more pretty pics!

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler  
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)





















]















~~~~


Lastly, anti-fans of the game and/or the system seem to find their way to this thread. Here's a recent moderator post from page 60 after he had to deal harshly with some of them. Hopefully that cuts down on off-topic bickering or blatant trolling that we've seen in here.
 
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2 23
#477 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by number1laing /forum/post/17504666


Just FYI, the head guy at Turn 10 did the exact same thing at E3. In fact he was even more blatant about it.

There was that stupid phrase... but Turn 10 seems much more humble. Especially when you consider how far they have come in only THREE titles. Just imagine what Turn 10 could turn out with the time and budget of the GT series.


GT4 effectively had you racing against and AI that had no idea you were even there and on top of that had no dmg allowing you to bounce off things and keep going without any penalty. Thats pretty arcade/game of it.
 
#478 ·
Honestly, does it really matter? Each company is going to talk up their game. Dan says, "Definitive." Kaz says, "Expect perfection." Dan says, "the torch has been passed." Kaz says, "not really like a simulator."


I'll answer my own question. No, it really doesn't matter.
 
#479 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankJ.Cone /forum/post/17505097


There was that stupid phrase... but Turn 10 seems much more humble. Especially when you consider how far they have come in only THREE titles. Just imagine what Turn 10 could turn out with the time and budget of the GT series.


GT4 effectively had you racing against and AI that had no idea you were even there and on top of that had no dmg allowing you to bounce off things and keep going without any penalty. Thats pretty arcade/game of it.

GT4 is one of my fave games ever. You have to look at the AI as just baseline times. Like every race is a time trial. As for bouncing off... ehh what can you say, just don't do it.


Forza 3 has surprised the hell out of me. It's way, way, way better than I thought it would be. It's just a little bit different style from GT4, no question about it.
 
#480 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by number1laing /forum/post/17505185


GT4 is one of my fave games ever. You have to look at the AI as just baseline times. Like every race is a time trial. As for bouncing off... ehh what can you say, just don't do it.


Forza 3 has surprised the hell out of me. It's way, way, way better than I thought it would be. It's just a little bit different style from GT4, no question about it.

Hate to say it, but I'm enjoying F3 quite a bit as well. Great way to tie me over until GT
 
#481 ·
Driving Force GT arrives about two hours ago. So I put away CoD:MW co-op and set it up.


I recently tried to buy a cockpit and found the one I want is sold out until late november (This was early oct) so i bought a sturdy but compact desk and made some additions to it to hold my Microsoft wheel for NFSS.


Now my wheel experience is limited. I had a FF wheel AGES ago on my PC, the Fanatec Wheel on my original Xbox and then the Microsoft wheel for the 360.


So I removed my Microsoft wheel and pedals and unboxed the Logitech. I first noticed the Logitech wheel is larger in diameter but with a thinner grip.


The wheel mounted snugly with little effort, I was actually surprised since there is very little surface area on the clamps.


Since the only wheel I have used for years is the 360 one I will compare it to that.


Starting with the pedals I found them very small compared to the MS wheel. The gas pedal is practically tiny in comparison and the brake pedal is much thinner. The big difference here though is that the gas pedal has almost no resistance at all... it was hard to stop at say 50-60% pedal distance for the start of a race. This was difficult to get used to after using the MS pedals.


The brake pedal on the other hand is just great with decent resistance at the beginning that gains resistance as you get to the bottom. Nice improvement over the MS wheel which has decent resistance but never changes.


Now the MS wheel only has paddle shifters and they work great. You can easily have your hands on the wheel and reach them without having to move your grip. The Logitech has buttons instead of paddles however... I foud it impossible to hold my hands where I am confortable driving and use the buttons without re-adjusting my grip.


But thats OK as I found it was better to use the sequential shifter attached to the unit. It responds to the slightest movement and it felt natural to use. While the MS paddles work very well, I did enjoy having the shifter to use.


Now on to what really matters, the force feedback. The MS wheel is very.. I guess smooth is the best work to describe it. When you over steer in Shift and Forza with the MS wheel it pulls away steadily making you pull it back until you control the turn. The Logitech wheel seems to grab over and over.. Hard to describe but it seems instead of pulling the wheel away smoothly it "pulses" away over and over until you correct your turn. It feels like when you are on the rumble strip in Shift or Forza 3... Only it's when you are on smooth tarmac. I am going to pick Shift up for the PS3 to compare; this might just be how GTP handles FF and not how the wheel itself does.


Now to the biggest difference... and one I did not notice for an hour. I was racing along, picking different tracks and comparing the experience and finding it mostly the same, if a little choppier in turnes with the different FF when I took my Corvette Z06 onto a windy road. All of a sudden I found myself passing the turn radius of the MS wheel. I had not needed to on the previous tracks, you really have no need to be going beyond 270 on anything without hairpin "S" turns. But once I was using a car with a loose back end, going faster than I should on a road with "S" turns I found myself using the superior turning radius of the Logitech (not 900, but probably 720) and WOW it really felt cool spinning the wheel to correct an over steer.


So far it's a fun wheel to use, well worth the $99 Amazon got from me. I really look forward to using it with Shift as I can remember quite a few tracks where the 900 degree wheel will come in handy.
 
#483 ·
Says GT on the box
Here is what they look like.
 
#487 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shape /forum/post/17514164


Yuck. I'd glue some paddles to those buttons!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcjasonb /forum/post/17514732


those look a lot like the Fanatec's paddles. yuk.

There is nothing wrong with those buttons, they work fine.


I got my DFGT the day they were released to replace my DF Pro & it was a big improvement.

These are not the high end wheels here guys, When I got my G27 it really made the DFGT feel bad & I could never go back to it but it's 3 times the current price of the DFGT so it had better be a lot higher quality wheel!
 
#488 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMoose /forum/post/17515752


There is nothing wrong with those buttons, they work fine.


I got my DFGT the day they were released to replace my DF Pro & it was a big improvement.

These are not the high end wheels here guys, When I got my G27 it really made the DFGT feel bad & I could never go back to it but it's 3 times the current price of the DFGT so it had better be a lot higher quality wheel!

i wasn't talking bad about the DFGT. it's pretty sad though that the paddles on the $100 DFGT are just as good as the paddles on the $200-$500 Fanatec wheels. that was my biggest complaint about the Fanatec, well aside from all the actual reliability problems i had with it.


sure they work, but it really stinks when you like to grip the wheel at 10 and 2 and have to move your hands to shift. i just really like the giant paddles on the G25/27. but like you said the DFGT is a third of the price.
 
#489 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcjasonb /forum/post/17515874


sure they work, but it really stinks when you like to grip the wheel at 10 and 2 and have to move your hands to shift.

I've got the same wheel as shown in the picture above and basically drive with my hands at 9 & 3. The wheel is kind of small so the difference between 10 & 2 is not that much. My thumbs go over the two spokes (@ 9 & 3) and I use my middle fingers to shift while my others fingers grip the wheel.
 
#491 ·
So the GT cost me $360. I liked the 900 degrees of rotation so much I just ordered a $360 Fanatec so I could have it on both systems.
 
#492 ·

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankJ.Cone /forum/post/17516747


So the GT cost me $360. I liked the 900 degrees of rotation so much I just ordered a $360 Fanatec so I could have it on both systems.

cool.
 
#494 ·
Grand Turismo 5 demo is coming to the PSN next week , U.S. release looks to be summer 2010:
Quote:
In a recent interview, SCEA Associate Producer Hinojosa-Miranda, gave a slight hint at Polyphony Digital's western release schedule for the highly anticipated racer. While showing a short presentation for GT5, he confirmed the Japanese release was still set on March 2010, but the most valuable info was this...


Sony are eying a Summer 2010 western release.


Is this a confirmation? No. But it is a release schedule, which is very good news for PlayStation 3 owners wanting to play the critically acclaimed series' next instalment.


For those who can't wait until next Summer, fear not... A demo for the game will be hitting the PSN next week.
 
#497 ·
 Gran Turismo Academy is the demo time trial contest Sony is setting up (announcement video) :

Quote:
On 17th December exclusively via the PlayStation store, we will be launching the GT Academy 2010 Time Trial. The time trial will be the only way into this year’s Academy, and if you’ve got what it takes it could be the start of a life-changing journey.


Last year the GT Academy programme unearthed a real driving talent in the form of Lucas Ordonez from Spain, who after winning the GT Academy went on to drive for the Nissan PlayStation race team and take an astonishing second place in the GT4 Championship – all in his first season!


This time around the Academy is even bigger and better, and competition is bound to be pretty fierce – perhaps best of all though for Gran Turismo fans, it will be the first opportunity to get a hands-on taster as to what Yamauchi-san and his Polyphony team have been carefully crafting and polishing at their Tokyo base.


Qualify in the top twenty within your country and you will be invited to a national final event, where you will pit your wits against the best Gran Turismo drivers in the country. If you make it from there only then will you join the elite 20 that will be taken into the GT Academy 2010.




Only the two best drivers will make it out of this 5 day test of nerve and skill. From there will follow an intensive driver training schedule from which we will select our one GT Academy ace.


The time trial features the stunning Nissan 370Z in two guises. Firstly a blisteringly fast, race-tuned monster and secondly an only slightly less fearsome non-tuned version.


The 370Z is the most recent of the new range of cars wearing the famous ‘Z’ brand revived by Japanese manufacturer Nissan. The car has been specially chosen for its challenging but hugely entertaining rear-wheel drive dynamics and the time trial should allow GT novices and veterans alike to get a real idea of what its like to get to grips with this sensational car


To enter the Academy racers will have to post their best overall leaderboard times negotiating a specially created section of a new Gran Turismo 5 circuit. This best time will be a composite of two separate runs – one with the tuned vehicle and the other with the non-tuned version.


You will have the opportunity to keep refining your overall best time from the launch of the demo right up until the close of this time trial stage at 24.00 CET on 24th January 2010.


To give a flavour of what the GT Academy is all about, check out this trailer.


The GT Academy will run in the following countries:


* UK

* Ireland

* France

* Switzerland

* Italy

* Germany

* Austria

* Denmark

* Norway

* Finland

* Sweden

* Spain

* Portugal

* Netherlands

* Belgium

* Australia

* New Zealand


However gamers in countries not mentioned on the list need not fear as there will be a special Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge for them to get to grips with it, too.


If you want to keep up to date with what’s happening with GT5 and the GT Academy 2010 keep checking back on the PlayStation.Blog and also check out the following links.

www.gran-turismo.com
www.facebook.com/GTAcademy
www.twitter.com/GTAcademy


GT fans get ready to start your engines!

Here's a FAQ from GT5Planet on the contest:

Quote:
# The demo will be available to download for free by on December 17, 2009 in Europe, Australia/NZ, and North America. Availability in local PSN Stores in other regions -- including Japan -- is not yet confirmed. However, you can easily create a new account on your PS3 associated with any country, so it will technically be available to everyone simultaneously.


# You will only be able to download the demo between December 17, 2009 and January 25, 2010. After that date, the demo will be playable indefinitely, but it will no longer be available to download for others who missed out.


# This is a demonstration of Gran Turismo 5 and its new physics engine -- it is not just a new track or car inserted within the world of GT5: Prologue.


# The demo will feature one variation of a new track in Gran Turismo 5 and two cars: a stock and tuned version of the Nissan 370Z. Winners will be determined by the fastest combined time with the two cars. In other words, your fastest laps in each car will be added together, and the fastest total time wins.


# If you’re from one of these countries, you will get to compete for a chance to race with Nissan via the GT Academy driver search program. If you’re in the United States or Canada, you win…two tickets to the Indianapolis 500.


# GT Academy competitors will try to set the fastest lap in their respective country. The top 20 fastest laps recorded in each country will be invited to a national final where, according to the official press release, another new track will be used to host the second round of the competition. The fastest driver from each national event will move on to Silverstone to experience GT Academy -- an intensive 5-day program (you can watch last year’s GT Academy finals here).


# You must be over the age of 18 and you must have never held a national or international racing license of any kind to be eligible for GT Academy.


# It is not yet known if Gran Turismo 5’s new damage engine will be shown off in this demo.


# The tires visible in the rendering of the tuned 370Z in the demo appear to be mounted backwards, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Looking at the tread pattern, the tires can be identified as Yokohama ADVAN A048s and -- sure enough -- according to their TireRack description, they can be mounted “inside-out” to prolong their life. Why Polyphony Digital would choose to render the tires this way, however, remains a mystery.

Here's a real-life video of the demo track for those wanting a head start on strategizing their approach.
 
#498 ·
Really looking forward to this demo even if it's limited a bit. It'll at least give us a good idea of what GT5 is going to look like and for the most part play like. It's only up for a month so even if you don't care to be super competitive and compete for the GT Academy prize, it's still there and will be free to all for a short time.


NOT liking the summer 2010 time frame for the full US release. Neither Japanese region nor US region got a set date and I'd wager if it were pushed back some.
 
#501 ·
Click on 'HD' for best results of this direct feed video of the trial demo. Even though the vid is lower rez than the game itself, it's looking fantastic!


Update on crash physics... they are only adding it to the game because of American gamers who asked for it. The rest of the world doesn't care about it apparently:

Quote:
Interestingly, the Polyphony Digital delegate who led me through the demo said that the only reason crash damage exists in the game is because of mountains of requests they've received from American gamers. The vast majority of content requests they get from European and Asian players is for more authentic cars and tracks. Only Americans, it seems, are fixated on busting up their virtual vehicles. He also added that, according to their research, most players who want to see realistic damage including issues that affects performance and handling end up turning it off after just a few races. They say, man, thats cool, then switch it off because it makes the game too hard. Seems like a lot of work for a feature that ends up being used by so few people.
 
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