It has been ten years sine the first Gran Turismo was released. Sony and Polyphony Digital have announce to date the franchise has shipped in excess of 50 millions units globally. This figure also includes the recently released Gran Turismo 5 Prologue which has shipped over 2 million units.
This is not confirmed but tgdaily.com are reporting that Sony and F1 Administration have failed to agree on a new licensing deal which now means Sony will no longer be publishing Formula 1 games. EA, Codemasters and Ubisoft have all be named as potential suitors.
If this is the case I personally am more than happy. Being a avid Formula 1 fan I hope the license ends up with a developer who is not tied into one system who is willing to develop a F1 management game along with a racing simulation considering the last great F1 racing sim was Grand Prix 4 (2001) and the last great F1 management game being Grand Prix World which was released in 1999 it is about time.
Today Codemasters have released a demo for Race Driver : GRID on Xbox Live. The demo is available to all regions according to the Major Nelson blog and includes three regions playable in the full game; Europe Touring Cars at Jarama Circuit, U.S Muscle cars at San Francisco and Japanese Drift Racing at Yokohama Docks.
In addition the demo will also be available on the Playstation Network.
Codemasters is also giving away a BMW 3 series to whoever posts the fastest lap time in time trial mode. The top five drivers will be picked at midnight on Friday 23rd May 2008 and will then compete a week later at the Zavvi Store in London for the prize.
Looks like I missed this video review when Gamespot.com first posted it online. Here it is below in all it's glory!
Eurogamer.net have a new Race Driver video focusing on Le Mans. In this video race drivers are interviewed and give their opinions on the game and how it compares to the real Le Mans circuit.
Unfortunately Eurogamer..net does not support embedding of videos (which is a pain in the arse) so you will have to go here to view the video: http://www.eurogamer.net/tv_video.php?playlist_id=8521
Engage who are Codemasters in-game ad firm have announced that eBay motors will be integrated into Race Driver GRID allowing players to buy and sell in-game cars in a realistic setting.
In addition eBay will also appear in the game as sponsor of "The eBay Motor Muscle Series," allowing players to race the eBay motors Mustang GTR concept car.
The guys over at Eurogamer.net have had a hands on experience with Race Driver GRID and talk about a new feature called "Flashback" which allows you to undo driving errors which may otherwise have been unrecoverable.
Ever since early man discovered sticks and fire and the wheel and Nurburgring Nordschleife, we've been hitting pause and restarting the track to make up for some terrible error. Whether it's letting a wheel slip beyond the rumble strips into a sandpit of doom, or screwing up the apex on a crucial hairpin, we've all been there, and it's always annoying, and it's always on the final lap, and we always shout, and unfortunately we can't all run away into the hills and blame it on Dietrich. So thank goodness for Race Driver: GRID, which has something called Flashback that you can use to undo catastrophic errors. In the 80-percent-complete preview build we've been pootling around for the last few days, it's exactly the sort of lifesaver you'd expect.
Read their full first impressions article here.
THQ are producing a new racing game based on the Baja 1000 race for the Xbox 360 and PS 3, Eurogamer have a first impressions post up. For those who have not heard of the Baja 1000 before (like myself) here is the description from Wikipedia.
Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in the fall. The event includes various types of vehicle classes such as small and large bore motorcycles, stock VW, production vehicles, buggies, trucks, and custom fabricated race vehicles. The course has remained relatively the same over the years with the majority of events being either a point to point race from Ensenada to La Paz, or a loop race starting and finishing in Ensenada. The name of the event is misleading as the mileage varies for the type of event (loop or point to point) and has represented Kilometers in the past.
Eurogamer have posted there first impressions of this game here. You can also view a trailer for the game here.
Eurogamer have hosted a interview with Kazunori Yamauchi the man behind the Gran Turismo series of games.
Kazunori Yamauchi is a man living the boy racer dream - or rather, he would be, if boy racers even dared to have this kind of dream. As the creator of what is arguably the world's most authentic, most comprehensive simulation of race driving, he lives and breathes cars and motorsport.
Read the full interview over at Eurogamer.net
EA Sports have released the debut trailer for NASCAR 09 which can be viewed below. NASCAR 09 is the next game in EA's NASCAR franchise and will be released later this year on all major formats.
Codemasters have released a new gameplay video from Race Driver GRID. The video shows a Nissan taking part in a drift event.
Capcom have announced they have secured the license to MotoGP on all platforms, previously licensed to THQ. This gives Capcom the exclusive rights to produced games an peripherals based on MotoGP for the next five years with the first game to be released this year.
Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi has said that he expects vehicle deformation to appear in his games very soon.
Speaking on Gamer TV Yamauchi said "We really, really want to put damage onto our vehicles, We've had a lot of discussions with the manufacturers and, although at the beginning they hated the idea of deformation, now they're slowly coming around to it" adding "We've still got a few to convince, but we will. Expect deformation in the very near future: very, very soon,".
The full version of Gran Turismo 5 is around a year away from release while the prologue will be made available on PSN later today.
Eurogamer.net have posted a review for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.
Doing things in high definition takes longer. We all know that. The average car in Gran Turismo 4 was made up of over 4,000 polygons. The figure for GT5 Prologue is meant to be higher than 200,000. Being pretty goes a long way, but with 71 cars and just six tracks (High Speed Ring, Daytona, Fuji Speedway, Eiger Nordwand from Gran Turismo HD Concept, Suzuka Circuit and a section of central London), it will have to go a very long way, right? That's not a lot of content, even when you factor in a second variation of each track. GT4 had 721 cars. GT5 Prologue launches in Europe with 71. We may be 11 million polygons ahead, but we're 650 cars behind.
Gamespot have held a questions and answers session with game producer Fabio Paglianti about Milestone's latest game SBK 08 Superbike World Championship which will be released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 later this year.
Polyphony Digital are to include the Ferrari F1 in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue European release and can be purchased in game for 2 million credits.
EA Sports have announced Jeff Gordan will be the NASCAR legend that will appear on the cover of NASCAR 09.
"It's exciting being on the cover of NASCAR 09," says Gordon. "The game is as real as it gets and it's been great being involved with it on this level. I look forward to helping gamers in NASCAR 09."
EA Sports Press Release:
EA Announces Jeff Gordon as NASCAR 09 Cover AthleteFour-Time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon Featured on Cover of EA SPORTS NASCAR 09
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Start your engines! Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced Jeff Gordon, legendary NASCAR® driver of car #24, will be featured as the cover athlete for EA SPORTS™ NASCAR 09. NASCAR 09 is scheduled to ship in North America on June 10 and will offer an authentic, exhilarating stock car driving experience for racing fans of all ages.
One of NASCAR's most celebrated and successful drivers for more than a decade, Gordon is ranked 6th all time in Cup Series wins with 81 and is a four time Sprint Cup Series champion. Gordon is a member and partial owner of Hendrick Motorsports.
"It's exciting being on the cover of NASCAR 09," says Gordon. "The game is as real as it gets and it's been great being involved with it on this level. I look forward to helping gamers in NASCAR 09."
Gordon's prestigious reputation aligns with the new NASCAR 09 career mode, "Sprint for the Cup." Gordon will bring the game to you as a guide and a mentor to help you build your reputation to become the next NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. With a completely rebuilt handling model, the game will be more accessible to newcomers while continuing to offer options that will challenge even the most experienced virtual driver. NASCAR 09 is an authentic NASCAR experience that will appeal to every type of NASCAR enthusiast.
Developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon, NASCAR 09 will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 and PLAYSTATION 2 computer entertainment systems and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system.
EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL®, NBA LIVE, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe have announced the Gran Turismo 5 Bundle and released date for Europe. The bundle and individual game will be available in stores from 28th March 2008 while the downloadable version will arrive on the Playstation Network on the 27th March 2008 both versions will be identical.
The game will retail for £25 ($40). The bundle package will retail for around £300 ($400)
SCEE Press Release:
Tuesday March 11, 2008 - Attention all driving fans!! One of the games industry's most legendary titles is about to make its PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) debut! That's right - the real driving simulator that's already sold almost 50 million units is back. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Polyphony Digital are pleased to announce Gran Turismo 5 Prologue™, a prequel title showcasing the forthcoming Gran Turismo™ 5 for PS3, will be available both on Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) on Wednesday 26 March for €39.99 (RRP), and as a download from PLAYSTATION®Network on Thursday 27 March. Launching on the same day as the standalone BD version, a PS3 bundle will be available including a PS3 40GB model, a SIXAXIS™ wireless controller and a Gran Turismo 5 Prologue game, all for just €399 (RRP).
Gran Turismo on PlayStation® is one of the most successful global gaming franchises of the last decade - renowned for its realism, quality of design and in-car physics technology. Now, with the power of PS3 behind it, it's going to be unstoppable. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue features 71 stunning cars - including vehicles by Lotus, Aston Martin, Subaru and, making another striking appearance, Ferrari - for you to race on six seriously realistic tracks: the Eiger Nordwand; the Daytona International Speedway; the London City Track; the Fuji Speedway, Suzuka and the High Speed Ring - all drivable in two layouts and all rendered in incredible High Definition graphics. There's also all-new driving physics for the most lifelike driving experience ever and new, improved, opponent artificial intelligence for the toughest race challenge yet.
But that's not all - for the first time in the history of Gran Turismo, you'll be able to race online. Thanks to PLAYSTATION Network, up to 16 players will be able to go head-to-head on some of the world's best racetracks - all you need to get racing is a broadband connection and a PS3. Once you're up and revving, Global Online Rankings will leave the world in no doubt as to just who is the best at Gran Turismo.
And then there's Gran Turismo™ TV - a dedicated online channel available exclusively from PLAYSTATION Network and packed with some of the greatest content that motorsport has to offer.
And, when you're done watching live coverage, you can take a more sedate browse through the Gran Turismo museum, where you'll find virtual exhibits on the history of many of the world-class car marques that have starred in Gran Turismo.
Key Features:
- The first ever Gran Turismo title with online racing: drive online against up to 16 other Gran Turismo aces
- Race a total of 71 stunning, high-performance cars
- Race the Eiger Nordwand, the Daytona International Speedway, the London City Track , the Fuji Speedway, Suzuka and the High Speed Ring - and then race them in alternative layouts
- All-new physics engine means true next-generation vehicle handling
- All-new and improved opponent AI opponents for a nail-biting race experience
- Access to Gran Turismo TV : a world of great motoring TV programming online
- In-game museum featuring the history and heritage of the top car manufacturers
- My Garage - a personalised homepage feature with calendar, clock and map & weather of major race circuits worldwide
- Quick Tune facility allows you to adjust power, tyres, suspension and more
- All in stunning High Definition at 1080p
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Additional Features for Europe:
- Drift Mode - The player's drifting technique is measured based on drift angles, racing lines, and speeds within evaluation zones located at various turns on the course.
- In Depth Car Tuning - Players have the ability to adjust the vehicle's performance, including power, tyres, suspension and the ability for quick tuning whilst racing.
- Two-player Split Screen Racing - Allows players to race head-to-head offline.
- New Race Events - Online racing fans can join in on a new set of scheduled events and time trials.
The complete Gran Turismo 5 launches in 2009. Until then, there's enough ultra-realistic, high-speed racing in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on PS3 and it's out now! To find out more, visit www.granturismoworld.com.
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will include more than 60 vehicles, 14 tuned cars, six tracks and a host of modes, Sony Computer Entertainment of America announced today.
"This impressive vehicle lineup and the additional features that cater to North American racing fans are great compliments to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue's stunning 1080p graphics and revolutionary online features," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA.
The game will include Drift Mode, Car Tuning, two-player split screen racing and offline and online race events. Plyers wil be able to race around Suzuka, Eiger Nordwand, Fuji Speedway, London City Track, Dytone International Speedway and High Speed Ring.
Vehicle list:
Acura NSX '91
Alfa Romeo 147 TI 2.0 TWIN SPARK '06
Alfa Romeo Brera Sky Window 3.2 JTS Q4 '06
Amuse S2000 GT1 Turbo
Amuse/Opera Performance Gran Turismo 350Z RS
Art Morrison Corvette'60
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe '06
Audi R8 4.2 FSI R tronic '07
Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro '07
Blitz Dunlop ER34 '07
BMW 135i Coupe '07
BMW 135tii '08
BMW M3 Coupe '07
BMW Z4 '03
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) Tuned Car
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 '06
Citroen C4 Coupe 2.0VTS '06
Clio Renault Sport V6 24V Tuned Car
Daihatsu Copen Active Top '02
Daihatsu OFC-1 '07
Dodge Viper GTS
Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe
Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe Tuned Car
Ferrari 512BB '76
Ferrari 599 '06
Ferrari F40 '92
Ferrari F430 '06
Ford Focus ST '06
Ford GT '05
Ford GT Tuned Car
Ford Mustang V8 GT Coupe Premium '07
Honda Integra TYPE R '04
Honda NSX Type R '02
Jaguar XK Coupe '06
Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione '91
Lexus IS F '07
Lexus IS F Tuned Car
Lotus Elise 111R '04
Lotus Elise 111R Tuned Car
Lotus Elise '96
Lotus Elise Tuned Car
Mazda Atenza Sport (2007 Tokyo Motor Show reference exhibit)
Mazda RX-7 (FD) Special Tuned Car
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) '02
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) Tuned Car
Mazda RX-8 Type S '03
Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG '02
Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N1 base '06
Mini Cooper-S '06
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR '05
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR Premium Package '07
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR Tuned Car
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR Tuned Car
Nissan Fairlady Z Version S '07
Nissan GT-R '07
Nissan GT-R Proto '05
Nissan Skyline Coupe (V36) Tuned Car
Nissan Skyline Coupe 370GT Type SP '07
Nissan Skyline Coupe Concept '07
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nur '02
Nissan Skyline Sedan 350GT Type SP '06
Peugeot 207GTI '07
Peugeot 307cc Premium AVN '04
RE Amemiya FD3S RX-7
Renault Clio Renault Sport V6 24V '00
Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STI spec C Type RA '05
Subaru Impreza WRX STI (18inch BBS Wheel Option) '07
Suzuki Cappuccino '95
Suzuki Cappuccino Tuned Car
Suzuki Cervo SR '07
Suzuki Swift Sport '07
Suzuki Swift Sport Tuned Car
TVR Tamora '02
TVR Tuscan Speed 6 '00
Volkswagen Golf GTI '01
Volkswagen Golf V GTI '05
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is available to purchase in-store for around $40. Here are three new gameplay movies.
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