RE: Gran Turismo 5: The Launch
Thursday 25th November 2010
Nice launch venue...It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here. Gran Turismo 5 arrived through letterboxes yesterday, after what seemed like - well, forever. To mark what, to gamers at least, should have been a national holiday (along with the next fortnight...), I tagged along to the European launch party in Madrid, Spain.
...but we're here to play the game...The Red Bull X1 on stage was designed for the game with a restriction-free brief. Unlimited downforce, unlimited power, unlimited speed and acceleration. The resulting F1-style, aerodynamic monster looks suitably insane, and is a brilliant example of how GT5 has evolved from being a mere video game into something much more significant. Significant? Well, everything is relevant, but even non-gamers would agree the Nissan GT-R owes much of its global celebrity to the Gran Turismo series, and without it the GTbyCitroen wouldn’t exist at all.
...although the Sushi was very tastyWith force feedback, things immediately make more sense. Accelerate hard in the middle of a bend and, as the tail steps out (providing you're in a rwd car), the steering lightens up, so you can flail your arms trying to get the right amount of opposite lock by feel alone. It's mightily impressive, but it's a shame that the laws of physics don't permit you to feel G forces, because detecting the point between catching a slide and crashing into a wall remains a bit of a dark art.
Kazunori-san holding forthAnd ‘adding to the experience’ is going to be the name of the game, according to game’s makers. Over the coming months, it’s going to be gradually updated and upgraded via Playstation Network, so if any of you early-adopters are confused by the lame crash damage on your new game after seeing YouTube videos with metal flying in every direction, don't worry - it's coming…
Gran Turismo 5: The Launch
Cars and pixels merge at the GT5 launch in Madrid
Nice launch venue...
Held in the biggest and grandest town hall imaginable, the launch setting suited the game perfectly, especially since one of the new tracks for this fifth installment of the Gran Turismo series is set just outside the front door. A Red Bull X1 model sat sheathed beneath a silky cover, and dotted around were various supercars: Mercedes SLS-AMG, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 458 Italia, and even a classic Mercedes Gullwing.
...but we're here to play the game...
One of the things GT games have thrived on is realism, but while it's all very well saying this is the most realistic driving game ever, sitting with a controller in front of a normal TV screen is about as close to driving as riding a horse when all’s said and done. Luckily, between the sushi servers and the displays of cars in Madrid, we got little 'pods' in which to play the game using a force feedback wheel and wearing a set of 3D glasses.
...although the Sushi was very tasty
Playing on a 3D TV is, to an extent, a bit of a gimmick, because the graphics are spectacular already, especially in rain and snow, or with changing day and night cycles. But there's an added dimension (literally - excuse the pun) when playing with 3D glasses on. Gauging distances is easier, and things feel a little bit more visceral. It's not mind-blowing, but when 3DTV is the norm in everyone's home, it'll certainly add to the experience.
Kazunori-san holding forth
Other than the lavish hospitality and the 3D experience, all we really got to do on the launch event was play arcade mode in stock cars. Any GT veteran knows that the real meat of the game is in Gran Turismo mode, spending the wee small hours perfecting (or ruining) suspension settings and trying to build the ultimate car.
So apologies in advance to friends and family if you don’t hear from me for a while, because if one thing's for sure, this new game is as life-sappingly addictive as the last. How ultimately 'great' it is, will take hours, days, weeks of painstaking research...
Discussion
I was a bit underhwelmed too. Graphics don't seem too hot, the mazda i'm driving atm looks pretty poor and its got no in car view with a dash etc. Seems rushed... I remember the online challenge demo with the 370Z looking fantastic, maybe I'm just making it up, but the full game doesn't seem to have quite the same polish... Driving dynamics seem decent, but then I'm only using a controller for the moment.
Dont have a PS3 yet, but it will only be a matter of time now that GT5 is available. However, having played GT1,2,3,4,prologue etc to death, i cant see this new game being a challenge to me.
This applies to all games really. I've grown up playing games, starting with the NES, and dont find any game to really test my skill. Maybe i'm too good!
For example, i loved Halo Reach, but it didn't take me long to finish it and was certainly nowhere near as challenging as the first time i played the original Halo.
I will still GT5 though as i just love collecting all the cars and tuning them! And when i think about buying a car in real life, it's always good to have a virtual test drive first!!!
This applies to all games really. I've grown up playing games, starting with the NES, and dont find any game to really test my skill. Maybe i'm too good!
For example, i loved Halo Reach, but it didn't take me long to finish it and was certainly nowhere near as challenging as the first time i played the original Halo.
I will still GT5 though as i just love collecting all the cars and tuning them! And when i think about buying a car in real life, it's always good to have a virtual test drive first!!!
Personally I absolutely love the game. I do think due to its numerous delays people seem to be expecting way to much but hey everyones different and I think in some cases no matter what the game got released as I expect some would never be happy. 
I've not even scratched the surface yet as the game is huge but look forward to loosing vast chunks of my life again trying to progress through the game...... and then theres the online bit which i've not even checked out yet
I've not even scratched the surface yet as the game is huge but look forward to loosing vast chunks of my life again trying to progress through the game...... and then theres the online bit which i've not even checked out yet
I bought a Glanza Turbo first off then went onto Arcade Mode and used a Gallardo LP560-4 and was disappointed by the graphics, they aren't much of a leap forward from GT5 Prologue and even GT4. Quite a lot of glitches and long load times, not wholly impressed so far, at this rate it will be the last Gran Turismo I buy. 
It's been delayed for 6 years. Unless the Nurburgring featured a simulation of a boozy night in the PK followed by some casual sex with Sebine then people were always going to be disappointed.
As the article says the joy of GT is the long hours of setups and getting your car just so. You can't judge it yet
As the article says the joy of GT is the long hours of setups and getting your car just so. You can't judge it yet
Buy the Mazda MX5 from the Dealership, it's not much more and is fully detailed with cockpit view etc. I think the game is very good and will only be improved with online updates. There's plenty to do and enjoy, plus the handling is what I hoped for, completely not like Prologue! You can now finally do a donut and the cars feel connected to the road surface.
Looking forward to many an hour spent playing GT5, Enzo vs 430 Scuderia, C63 vs M3.....so much to do!
Looking forward to many an hour spent playing GT5, Enzo vs 430 Scuderia, C63 vs M3.....so much to do!
Comments about whether it hits the mark or not are really moot. Everyone has a different expectation of what GT5 is / should be and also, what everyone wants from a racing game is completly different. As such, there will always be dissapointment.
My opinion (for what it's worth), it the game is very good and will possibly cost me a marriage, if I'm not careful!! I like sims with depth and GT5 delivers. I am old enough to know better, but still I have taken over one of our spare bedrooms, installed a big TV, have the offical GT wheel (with manetino thingy) and a pukka Corbeau racing seat on a frame. When I got the game, I set it up in Pro mode, dissabled all driving aids and went racing. I can honestly say that the game is going to take a lot of learning to master and has to be as close to real world, on-the-limit driving as you can get on a computer.
Is it perfect, no. But more because you can't make it perfect as the human senses do not get the assault you get in a car. However, in as much as they can do, the GT makers have captured the feel & technique required to get a car around a track, quickly.
The way I'd suggest looking at it is: if you treat it like a brain out computer game, you'll be dissapointed. However, switch off the aids, put it in "pro" mode and drive it like it's your own car and things change. It suddenly becomes very hard to be fast & smooth, winning events & trophies. That's what I wanted and that's what GT5 delivers.... for me! Others will absolutely disagree.
My opinion (for what it's worth), it the game is very good and will possibly cost me a marriage, if I'm not careful!! I like sims with depth and GT5 delivers. I am old enough to know better, but still I have taken over one of our spare bedrooms, installed a big TV, have the offical GT wheel (with manetino thingy) and a pukka Corbeau racing seat on a frame. When I got the game, I set it up in Pro mode, dissabled all driving aids and went racing. I can honestly say that the game is going to take a lot of learning to master and has to be as close to real world, on-the-limit driving as you can get on a computer.
Is it perfect, no. But more because you can't make it perfect as the human senses do not get the assault you get in a car. However, in as much as they can do, the GT makers have captured the feel & technique required to get a car around a track, quickly.
The way I'd suggest looking at it is: if you treat it like a brain out computer game, you'll be dissapointed. However, switch off the aids, put it in "pro" mode and drive it like it's your own car and things change. It suddenly becomes very hard to be fast & smooth, winning events & trophies. That's what I wanted and that's what GT5 delivers.... for me! Others will absolutely disagree.
356Speedster said:
Comments about whether it hits the mark or not are really moot. Everyone has a different expectation of what GT5 is / should be and also, what everyone wants from a racing game is completly different. As such, there will always be dissapointment.
My opinion (for what it's worth), it the game is very good and will possibly cost me a marriage, if I'm not careful!! I like sims with depth and GT5 delivers. I am old enough to know better, but still I have taken over one of our spare bedrooms, installed a big TV, have the offical GT wheel (with manetino thingy) and a pukka Corbeau racing seat on a frame. When I got the game, I set it up in Pro mode, dissabled all driving aids and went racing. I can honestly say that the game is going to take a lot of learning to master and has to be as close to real world, on-the-limit driving as you can get on a computer.
Is it perfect, no. But more because you can't make it perfect as the human senses do not get the assault you get in a car. However, in as much as they can do, the GT makers have captured the feel & technique required to get a car around a track, quickly.
The way I'd suggest looking at it is: if you treat it like a brain out computer game, you'll be dissapointed. However, switch off the aids, put it in "pro" mode and drive it like it's your own car and things change. It suddenly becomes very hard to be fast & smooth, winning events & trophies. That's what I wanted and that's what GT5 delivers.... for me! Others will absolutely disagree.
I agree completely.My opinion (for what it's worth), it the game is very good and will possibly cost me a marriage, if I'm not careful!! I like sims with depth and GT5 delivers. I am old enough to know better, but still I have taken over one of our spare bedrooms, installed a big TV, have the offical GT wheel (with manetino thingy) and a pukka Corbeau racing seat on a frame. When I got the game, I set it up in Pro mode, dissabled all driving aids and went racing. I can honestly say that the game is going to take a lot of learning to master and has to be as close to real world, on-the-limit driving as you can get on a computer.
Is it perfect, no. But more because you can't make it perfect as the human senses do not get the assault you get in a car. However, in as much as they can do, the GT makers have captured the feel & technique required to get a car around a track, quickly.
The way I'd suggest looking at it is: if you treat it like a brain out computer game, you'll be dissapointed. However, switch off the aids, put it in "pro" mode and drive it like it's your own car and things change. It suddenly becomes very hard to be fast & smooth, winning events & trophies. That's what I wanted and that's what GT5 delivers.... for me! Others will absolutely disagree.
After a couple of long sessions with GT5, I'm impressed but not overwhelmed. The license stuff is the same as before and the tweaking looks similar.
Graphics are so-so with the 'normal' cars, and very good with premium cars. Certainly up to Forza Motorsport 3 standards.
The handling and feel of the cars is better than FM3 and GT4, I'd say, especially with the wheel.
I've not tried the online stuff yet as PDI seem to be having server troubles.
Great to have decent night/weather driving.
On the whole, it looks pretty good and worth the wait. Time will tell how good it really is though.
Graphics are so-so with the 'normal' cars, and very good with premium cars. Certainly up to Forza Motorsport 3 standards.
The handling and feel of the cars is better than FM3 and GT4, I'd say, especially with the wheel.
I've not tried the online stuff yet as PDI seem to be having server troubles.
Great to have decent night/weather driving.
On the whole, it looks pretty good and worth the wait. Time will tell how good it really is though.
Unfortunately I'm having to wait until Christmas. My wife always bemoans me buying things like this so close to Christmas as "I'm so difficult to buy for"
For those that have had GT1,2,3,4 and Prologue what are your thoughts?
I utterly loved GT but wasn't that impressed by Prologue. It looked beautiful, but so did the others at the time, but it felt to sterile. I wasn't that taken by the car list for GT5 either - not a huge leap forward in variety from the previous versions.
But what does it play like?
Is it just Prologue with more tracks and cars plus the Gran Turismo mode? If so I've a horrible feeling I'm going to be some what deflated.
For those that have had GT1,2,3,4 and Prologue what are your thoughts?
I utterly loved GT but wasn't that impressed by Prologue. It looked beautiful, but so did the others at the time, but it felt to sterile. I wasn't that taken by the car list for GT5 either - not a huge leap forward in variety from the previous versions.
But what does it play like?
Is it just Prologue with more tracks and cars plus the Gran Turismo mode? If so I've a horrible feeling I'm going to be some what deflated.
Handling is a world apart from Prologue but graphics are bascially the same, which I consider to be good. I would have liked more Premium cars, for example I really wanted the e46 M3 to be a detailed car, but instead there is a fair amount of dross that is detailed. Trick missed if you ask me.
Plenty to do gameplay wise but for me it's always been about trying different cars against the clock on the best tracks and drifting.
Plenty to do gameplay wise but for me it's always been about trying different cars against the clock on the best tracks and drifting.
NotNormal said:
Personally I absolutely love the game. I do think due to its numerous delays people seem to be expecting way to much but hey everyones different and I think in some cases no matter what the game got released as I expect some would never be happy.
I've not even scratched the surface yet as the game is huge but look forward to loosing vast chunks of my life again trying to progress through the game...... and then theres the online bit which i've not even checked out yet
Played for a few hours last night and cant agree with you at the moment I'm afraid. I was expecting a GT game that had learned a few lessons from other racing games that have been released during it's 6 years of development. What I've got is the same old processional and dull AI, seemingly no mechanical crash damage, loading times from the Spectrum 128k era and a badly implemented UI and Multiplayer experience. Will stick with it though because, as ever, the underlying physics engine is still a joy.I've not even scratched the surface yet as the game is huge but look forward to loosing vast chunks of my life again trying to progress through the game...... and then theres the online bit which i've not even checked out yet
On the earlier comments regarding poor graphics, all used cars bought in the game are classed as "standard" and as such have been ported from earlier GT games including PSP, without interiors. Cars bought from dealerships are classed as "Premium", look superb and have perfectly detailed interiors also.
Basically it's a top notch "Driving" simulation, but at best an average "Racing" simulation so far IMHO.
Edited by SWoll on Thursday 25th November 13:24
NotNormal said:
Personally I absolutely love the game. I do think due to its numerous delays people seem to be expecting way to much but hey everyones different and I think in some cases no matter what the game got released as I expect some would never be happy.
I've not even scratched the surface yet as the game is huge but look forward to loosing vast chunks of my life again trying to progress through the game...... and then theres the online bit which i've not even checked out yet
same here, I'm very happy with itI've not even scratched the surface yet as the game is huge but look forward to loosing vast chunks of my life again trying to progress through the game...... and then theres the online bit which i've not even checked out yet
Agent Orange said:
Unfortunately I'm having to wait until Christmas. My wife always bemoans me buying things like this so close to Christmas as "I'm so difficult to buy for"
For those that have had GT1,2,3,4 and Prologue what are your thoughts?
I utterly loved GT but wasn't that impressed by Prologue. It looked beautiful, but so did the others at the time, but it felt to sterile. I wasn't that taken by the car list for GT5 either - not a huge leap forward in variety from the previous versions.
But what does it play like?
Is it just Prologue with more tracks and cars plus the Gran Turismo mode? If so I've a horrible feeling I'm going to be some what deflated.
Let me give you an example: One of the A licence tests- focus rally car, gravel track.For those that have had GT1,2,3,4 and Prologue what are your thoughts?
I utterly loved GT but wasn't that impressed by Prologue. It looked beautiful, but so did the others at the time, but it felt to sterile. I wasn't that taken by the car list for GT5 either - not a huge leap forward in variety from the previous versions.
But what does it play like?
Is it just Prologue with more tracks and cars plus the Gran Turismo mode? If so I've a horrible feeling I'm going to be some what deflated.
Uphill start, gentle right, onto a flatter straight, and into a tight right hander.
Buzzer beeps, so foot hits the floor. Cue massive wheel spin and bouncing off the limiter. Acceleration seems sluggishly slow.
Crest the rise, car shifts to third, and the speed builds. I realise I'm a bit too far right for the upcoming bend, so lightly roll the wheel- which doesn't move...
Apply a bit more pressure, and the feedback clearly indicates the car climbing out of a rut, and the steering lightens slightly.
Hit the brake pedal, force the wheel one way then the other to get the back end sliding - feel the steering go light, roll past the centre point, and progressively add some lock.
see the exit, pound the accelerator, and wind off the lock as I hit the finish line.
Take a breath, see that I've hit gold. Swear, a mix of tension release and disbelief.
Hit start to have another go...
Gassing Station | Video Games | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff