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Gran_Turismo.png
Logo for Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo (pro. geh-teh) is developed by Polyphony Digital for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 gaming systems. The producer for all four games is Kazunori Yamauchi. Gran Turismo is partially responsible for the US introduction of cars once available only in Japan, such as the Subaru Impreza WRX, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and the 2007 debut of the Nissan Skyline, possibly under Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti. The game has also increased US awareness of such companies as Aston Martin, Ruf, Venturi (automobile), and Alfa Romeo.
The appeal of the Gran Turismo series is largely due to the meticulous detail evident in the simulation of driving and racing the licensed vehicles in the game. Every car sounds and handles according to real-life driving impressions. Vehicle tuning is similarly realistic, suspension settings affecting handling as they do in motorsports. Although Gran Turismo has a beer-and-pretzels "arcade mode," the real heart of the series is its simulation mode, which guides the player through a circuit of increasingly difficult events; building up his cash, his skill, and his stable of cars all the while.
Although Gran Turismo is widely considered the best racing simulation (sim) available for the PSX and PS2, it is not without its drawbacks, however small. For example, the game contains no damage modeling whatsoever, partly due to licensing agreements prohibiting car damage and partly due to the fact (as observed by developers) that many collisions during normal gameplay would completely destroy the cars involved. This lack of damage modeling has prompted many players to quip, "Who needs brakes? That's what my opponent's for!" Indeed, using the AI cars as impromptu barriers is a time-honored Gran Turismo tactic. However, this does not undermine the realistic physics in simulating the actual driving.
Also, there are certain glaring vehicle omissions (despite a vehicle count of 'more than 700' in GT4), likely due to an inability to get the licenses wrapped up; there are no Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or Porsches to be found (although Ruf, which is available, builds its cars on Porsche chassis).
However, none of this has stopped the Gran Turismo series from being a wild success for Sony and Polyphony, or GT4 from being one of the most eagerly-anticipated titles of 2004 and 2005.
Gran Turismo
For the original PlayStation, Gran Turismo contains eleven courses, three endurance courses, and time-trial events. The game's "simulation mode" is not as fleshed out as in later releases, and the structure is really sort of formless, but the basic features of the game are present, including the ability to win vehicles for your garage by winning certain events. Also introduced the "license testing" system which qualifies the player to compete in certain events. The player starts with a certain number of credits, which are used to purchase used or new vehicles from a number of manufacturer-specific "shops" (e.g., one sells only Toyotas, one sells only Mitsubishis, and so on), and then can tune his car at the appropriate parts store for best performance on the circuit. Players may apply prize money won in events to further tuning their existing car or buying a new one. Certain events are open only to particular vehicles, or to drivers with a particular license earned.
Gran Turismo 2
Also for the original PlayStation, Gran Turismo 2 (GT2) contains 22 courses, 6 endurance courses, and the first rally event courses. GT2 comes on two discs: an Arcade Disc and a Simulation Disc. The separate disc is testament to the amount of depth added to the Simulation Mode in GT2, nearly doubling the number of available vehicles, adding new tracks, and structuring the events in a more logical fashion. GT2 also reorganizes the license system accordingly and keeps track of the player's completion percentage. The game itself bears nearly 600 licensed automobiles. Early releases were noted for having many glitches.
Gran Turismo 3 A-spec
The first version for PlayStation 2, with vastly enhanced graphics. Taking advantage of the new platform, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (GT3) introduced a number of elements to gameplay. For instance, oil changes become a necessity, and your vehicle's performance degrades noticeably if you leave the old oil in too long. GT3 also introduces a new Super license, designed for the budding Formula One racers in all of us. Finally, the Simulation Mode is organized very logically when compared to the first two games, giving GT3 a real sense of structure and progress. In addition, the "car shops" are now organized by country and then by manufacturer, far more intuitively than the contrived "East City/West City," etc. method used by GT2. On the downside, far fewer vehicles are available in GT3 than GT2, a casualty of the improved graphics, the desire to package the game on a single DVD, and the fact that it was released early in the PlayStation 2's lifespan. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec was a massive commercial success for Sony in Japan, Europe and North America, easily its best-selling racing game.
Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4 is the most realistic and comprehensive game of the series, with the most amount of tracks and cars available. There are at least 700 different cars in the game (Although it should be pointed out that this list includes over 20 Subaru Imprezas, 25 Mitsubishi Lancers and a massive 48 Nissan Skylines!)and over 50 race tracks. New features to the series include the ability to install aerodynamic spoilers to increase downforce, the ability for tuned or racing cars to spit flames from unburnt fuel through their exhausts, and the controversial inclusion of nitrous oxide being available. There are also new Photoshop and B-spec modes to cater for a wider variety of car enthusiasts.
The game was released in the last week of December in Asia, with a March 2005 date scheduled for the rest of the world. The online component, originally intended, was removed for the Asian release and it is unclear whether the feature will be available for the RotW release (Sony has not publically stated either way). However, while the lack of online features is disappointing, the fact the game has the option of being displayed in 1080i (interlaced) HDTV resolution is a nice surprise, doubling the resolution of the previous games. It is the first game for PS2 that can be displayed in this resolution, and one of only a handful of games available for any current console to do so.
In addition, the physics and A.I. have been completely reworked, and the A.I. for the opposing cars can now be adjusted by the user with up to 10 settings in B-spec mode. GT4 is also the first game in the series to model the drivers of the vehicles, which allows for convertibles to be driven with the top down, and the inclusion of antique automobiles such as open top early Mercedes, and Model T Fords.
In the summer of 2004, Toyota sent a demo disc of GT4 along with the marketing brochure of its Prius hybrid car. The demo disc featured only two cars, namely the Prius and a Toyota hybrid concept sport car. Toyota stopped offering the demo discs when the requests of the marketing brochure became disproportional to the real interest on their cars. The disc became a collectible item for Prius owners and it was available via auction at eBay occasionally.
The most significant and enjoyable improvement of GT4 over previous offerings, for most, has likely been the evolution in the physics. Players must learn even more about the subtleties of real life racing in order to be able to 'drive' effectively in the game compared to previous racing games. However, traction and stability controls remain available to provide realistic driving aids for relative beginners, whilst they learn by completing various licence tests.
Licence tests have been an integral part of GT games. Completing higher levels of tests will let the player gain entry to harder races, where victory earns more prize 'money' and faster, rarer prize cars. This in turn gives the player a better chance of winning the numerous other races as the money earned will allow for upgrading existing cars in his/her 'garage' or buying faster more expensive cars.
An advanced player will be able to judge his performance by the realistic lap times. According to the developers, a professional driver was invited to set times using the same car on the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit, and the GT4 lap times were within 2% of the real life equivalent.
Gran Turismo 5
Speaking at a recent Japanese event, Polyphony Digital head-honcho Kazunori Yamauchi confirmed that he expects to see real-time damage in the next instalment of Gran Turismo (GT5) on the PlayStation 3.
Talking with Eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=55650) a while back, Yamauchi briefly mentioned that GT4 will be the last Gran Turismo game on the PS2 and he has now made it fairly clear that a next-gen version of GT5 is on the boards.
Courses
Tarmac
Off-road, rally
See also
External links
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