Gran Turismo to feature vehicle deformation

By Robert Purchese Published 27 March, 2008

"Very, very soon", says Yamauchi.

Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi has said we should expect vehicle deformation in his games "very, very soon".

"We really, really want to put damage onto our vehicles," he told GamerTV (as spotted by VG247). "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.

"We've still got a few to convince, but we will. Expect deformation in the very near future: very, very soon," he added.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is due to be released on the PlayStation Network this afternoon, and the full Gran Turismo is about a year away, according to comments made by SCEA.

Yamauchi was apologetic that he has not been able to provide a next-gen Gran Turismo all in one go - but on the positive side, PSN releases should lend the game a much longer life span, and give his team a chance to test ideas and gather feedback.

"Obviously, we wanted to do a next-gen Gran Turismo. When the PS3 appeared, we realised that we needed a lot of time to develop properly on this hardware, so we gave ourselves four years to come up with a complete programme," continued Yamauchi.

"As a result, you're not going to get Gran Turismo all in one go, but gradually, adding online elements and features as we go. The good thing is that it'll have a long, long lifespan."

Yamuachi also joked that his team puts more research into the cars than the average manufacturer, and said online was something he has wanted to have since Gran Turismo 3.

Interestingly, the garage feature where you can mix and match game modes and store all your cars is based around an "avatar system like Home". This interests him a lot.

"We're keen to work with avatar systems like Home, and in turn have been inspired by them," he concluded.

Pop over to our Gran Turismo 5 Prologue review to find out why it is worth snapping up.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (65) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ecureuil #1 4 years ago

    "About time", says ecureuil.
    Edited by 1 at 27/03/08 @ 13:46

  • syphaa #2 4 years ago

    I would be very surprised if all manufacturers will conform to this.
    Hopefully...as it will add to the experience and with the GT team doing the damage model, it could be a very accurate damage model.

  • kiroquai #3 4 years ago

    He said that in a video where he went on to continually pimp that Logitech Driving Force Pro steering wheel they'd helped design. I'll stick with my G25, thanks :-).

  • ZuluHero #4 4 years ago

    + 1 syphaa

    There never was a technical reason for not supporting realistic damage models, as games have been doing this since the PS1. GT has always been about driving real cars ("the real driving simulator" after all) but unfortunatly that came at the expense of the reason you already said.

    Still theres a hope i guess...
    Edited by 1 at 27/03/08 @ 13:55

  • oceanmotion #5 4 years ago

    What a lying twat. They just can't be arsed.

  • seasidebaz #6 4 years ago

    i reckon most of it is probably already there. things like suspension degradation, tyre wear, brake wear, all the under-the-hood damage, and they just haven't enabled it yet.

  • asphaltcowboy #7 4 years ago

    Still using the 'manufacturers don't like it' line? Please :/

  • Miths #8 4 years ago

    "... Expect deformation in the very near future: very, very soon"

    So is he saying it will come as an update to Prologue, or is he just referring to internal builds of the final version of GT5 - in which case the "very, very soon" part obviously means squat to anyone but the developers and any beta testers.

    Edited by 1 at 27/03/08 @ 14:04

  • rob230 #9 4 years ago

    Woot, damage in a driving game!! who'd have thought of that!?!?!

  • Kelduum #10 4 years ago

    Clearly not those guys at Criterion - Just imagine Burnout, but with the ability to damage the cars! I can't wait!

    Oh, whats that?

    Ah, never mind...

  • Moonprince #11 4 years ago

    funny.

    or not. :'(

  • TriggerHippie #12 4 years ago

    Yeah car manufacturers were queuing up to get their cars into a Burnout game.

    PGR or Forza might have been more apt.
    Edited by 1 at 27/03/08 @ 14:18

  • Salvia #13 4 years ago

    Manufacturers don't like it. I worked on a racing game and none of the manufacturers wanted their cars to damage. It takes a lot of persuasion to convince them to allow it. In the end the game I worked on didn't have car damage although it was possible technically.

  • UNSCmasterCHEF #14 4 years ago

    I hate this idea of releasing little bits of the game over time. Is this the driving genre's answer to episodic content only they end up charging £80 for the total game instead of £40 - £50 and get four years to work on it.

    I prefer being able to play Burnout and Flatout and Forza and PGR all in the space of two years rather than having to wait four years for this! Pull yer finger out Kaz and get a bloody move on cos my PS3 is gettin dusty!!!

  • UNSCmasterCHEF #15 4 years ago

    OOh bring on Grid!
    I saw this at PlayLive and it looks pretty!

  • Raziel #16 4 years ago

    Then why do PGR4 and Forza both have damage models, if the manufacturers don't want it?

    Hope GT5 will have it from the go, it'll be nice to have actual damage, beyond some cosmetic things.
    I want the full deal, engines cathing fire, losing wheels, stuff like that.

  • chronom4n #17 4 years ago

    this is how i perceive the whole issue of car damage in gt. Basically, it is only now that the cars are modelled with the way PD wanted them to because this guy loves cars. PD did not want to add damage to GT if it was not to be realised properly. Now that the cars look photorealistic he can now focus on the damage whether it be interior or exterior. Plus I think that the fact that prologue has achieved a million pre-orders, it has convinced the car manufacturers that maybe now is the time to allow car damage on their cars. Taking Ferrari for example if they had the F40 in the previous GT's the car would never have looked as beautiful as it does now. But there is one slight niggle in that, KY mentioned a few months ago that to implement full car damage is a very laborious issue and I for one would have been happy to see internal/mechanical damage as opposed to the full body damage.

    Anyway this is good news nonetheless.

  • Dafridge #18 4 years ago

    "We're keen to work with avatar systems like Home, and in turn have been inspired by them,"

    does he mean TDU? Well on the shoulders of Giants as they say!

  • GamesConnoisseur #19 4 years ago

    They dont like to see it happen in GT, but dont mind so much in other racing games? Err?!

  • Beano #20 4 years ago

    He... Yamauchi said "soon"... does he or his company even know the meaning of that word?

  • FooAtari #21 4 years ago

    Screw the manufactures that won't allow damage then. Whats a few missing cars when you have 800 more...

    Anyway both Forza and PGR have damage what did they tell manufactures. Between those two games most major manufacturers must be there.

    Until GT has damage it can't be considered anything close to a sim. It's got a ways to go even if it did have damage, but still it would be a good place to start. Then get yourself some decent AI and you might have your self a RACING game not a hot lapping game.

    Still, never gonna be as good as Grand Prix Legends so they might as well give up :p

    /looks at his collection of sims on the PC. who needs GT anyway :D

  • WinterSnowblind #22 4 years ago

    They're still going with this claim that it's the car manufactureres not allowing them to show car damage, despite the fact that practically every other racing game on the market does this, including their biggest rival, Forza? I can understand that they may not be overly thrilled about the idea, but it certainly doesn't seem like there's a big problem to include it.

    Come on guys, let's be honest. You just couldn't be bothered, right?

  • schachmatt #23 4 years ago

    Did you notice that he said it will feature car deformation, but nothing about it affecting the handling?

  • Widge #24 4 years ago

    RE: not wanting car damage unless it is 100% modelled on reality

    I can see the point in this argument, and while it would drive the game firmly towards being a sim, I personally wouldn't want it as it would remove the fun factor. If you have a halfway house gameplay damage (almost as if you have a car with hit points!) is that better? Perhaps, although you would have to strike simulator from your name.

  • ParanoidZombie #25 4 years ago

    Soon = GT6

  • Jigglybean #26 4 years ago

    its not April 1st yet

  • cathalzx #27 4 years ago

    Anybody remember the old Dodge Viper game on PC (Dunno about other formats)..? You could keep smashing up your car till it resembled a recycled cube......also, you could drive really fast into a telegraph pole, become impailed on it, and if you started driving again, you took off into the sky, leaving the game world far, far below :) A little off-subject there...ahem.

  • BadBoyBonner #28 4 years ago

    Release the game already - who gives a fk about car damage in GT games? Using it as an excuse to DELAY THE GAME even further is just bollocks of the largest kind - release it, then add damage later as a download.

    Honest to god this was going to be the game that forced me to get a PS3 (instead of playing on my mates) but OMG what a long drawn out process of trying to scuttle your competitors by drip feeding a game, piecemeal over years.

    And where is GT for the PSP? Nowhere to be seen - hopefully they'll slap remote play into it on PS3, only time will tell.

    I could have taught myself 3d modeling and knocked out 70 cars in 4 years - I imagine you get pretty quick at it the more you do it - you know like for a living? Look at the quality of effects and graphics required for films - if PD made one it would take about 30 years to be released.

    Have the cars sent to a 3d scanner and save months - do something, do anything to prevent this convoluted release schedule thats hurting every other developer trying to generate sales of driving games, and frustrating potential purchasers who want the full GT game.

    Shame on you PD for taking so long, shame on me for waiting.

  • TheDudesRug #29 4 years ago

    Why do they keep spinning the 'manufacturer refusal' stuff? I mean, seriously, who are they talking to?

    It's like the Iraqi Information Minister... but less funny.

  • BadBoyBonner #30 4 years ago

    Maybe manufactures just don't want car deformation on PS3? ;-)

  • Ryze #31 4 years ago

    ...and in other news... a PSP version of Gran Turismo is expected for release sometime soon...

    STOP THE PRESS!!!!

  • kangarootoo #32 4 years ago

    All those people saying that they don't believe the whole "manufacturers don't like damage" line... what are you basing that disbelief on exactly? None of you seem to have any connection with the game, or the manufacturers, so how would you know either way?

    Conspiracy theorists the lot of you.

  • PearOfAnguish #33 4 years ago

    "All those people saying that they don't believe the whole "manufacturers don't like damage" line... what are you basing that disbelief on exactly? None of you seem to have any connection with the game, or the manufacturers, so how would you know either way?

    Conspiracy theorists the lot of you."

    It's bollocks according to the game dev I spoke to about it. The manufacturers have rules regarding damage, you're not allowed to show the cockpit being crushed or any damage occurring to the roll cage, and you can't have anything happen to the driver (so FlatOut wouldn't be able to use licensed cars), but otherwise they do allow it.

  • BadBoyBonner #34 4 years ago

    Kanaga

    Isn't this the opposite of a conspiracy?

    We all own rockets (Xbox 360 PC) that have already taken us to the moon (damage in PGR3 PGR4 Forza2 etc) and the guy developing a rocket with a different propulsion system (PS3) is telling us we MAY be able to get to the moon very soon (have destructible cars).

    We all know the truth.

    So at best all he can be saying is that it is difficult, and therefore indirectly heaping praise on those that have already completed such a task, or in the alternative, belittling his own companies capabilities.

    EDIT - clearly this is in reference to licensed cars.
    Edited by 1 at 27/03/08 @ 15:33

  • miiiguel #35 4 years ago

    Where are all the fellow EGers who said that damage wouldn't make sense because the point is not crashing ?

  • Widge #36 4 years ago

    ^^^^

    +1

    Thats how I read it too.

    BUT HEY HO.

  • Moonprince #37 4 years ago

    BBB, stop whinging, seriously. Its kinda sad. For you, and to read...

  • miiiguel #38 4 years ago

    Like all games should have infinite lives ? Because, that's the point, no?

  • Widge #39 4 years ago

    what on EARTH are you on about?

  • Widge #40 4 years ago

    Have you had a biscuit yet?

  • mkreku #41 4 years ago

    Well, I am one of those who don't care. I play Burnout to crash cars. I play GT when I just want to drive cars, lots of cars. I really hope they're not delaying this game because of damage models though..

  • T4RG4 #42 4 years ago

    If anyone could get damage into a racing game is should be the likes of Polyphony. They have established great contacts with manufacturers and have the weight of Sony if needed. They have no excuse for not putting damage in, too many rival titles do this now. I always thought their excuse was bull. I wish someone doing an interview in future would pull them up on this - be direct and ask them!

    Christ. They take so long to make a game and then you don't even get a full game.

    Totally gone off Polyphony. I remember making a racing game about 10yrs ago for Sony, these dudes were just allowed to walk in to meet the dev team, ask them any question that wanted, get answers and leave. Did we go to their studio or even quiz them over a few minor things via email? No. Yet they still cant get a game out in a reasonable time. Shambles.

  • miiiguel #43 4 years ago

    " what on EARTH are you on about?"
    I'm just trying to say that is rather silly not wanting vehicle deformation. I mean, one can love the GT series (and whatever) without the need to say that everything's perfect.

  • Widge #44 4 years ago

    ok thats fair enough then, I just found infinite lives a bit of a strange comment from nowhere!
    add to that the fact that the AI was a bit empty in GT4, but regardless it was, as you say, a bloody good game

  • Nithron #45 4 years ago

    I don't even understand why the manufacturers wouldn't want to allow vehicle deformation anyway. It just seems to be incredibly pathetic.

  • T4RG4 #46 4 years ago

    I want to determine the size of my characters feet. Then we'd see big footers struggle with super-minis from France I tells ya...

  • dominalien #47 4 years ago

    It's pretty obvious to me. Microsoft paid every car manufacturer in the world to allow damage to their cars only on Microsoft platforms.

    Do I get something for being clever and stuff?

  • chris_ace #48 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • delboy83uk #49 4 years ago

    What a load of rubbish, pretty much every other driving game has damage now. Pull your god damn fingers out Polyphony!

  • Les #50 4 years ago

    "Did you notice that he said it will feature car deformation, but nothing about it affecting the handling?"

    No.

    "So is he saying it will come as an update to Prologue"

    If I remember correctly, there would be updates that extended the features of GT HD/Prologue. But maybe that was only applicable back when they wanted to release the full GT5 in micro transaction chunks... Who knows, hard to keep track of.

  • Les #51 4 years ago

    "I don't even understand why the manufacturers wouldn't want to allow vehicle deformation anyway. It just seems to be incredibly pathetic."

    For pretty much the same reasons air lines don't want to show airplane disaster movies during flight and marketing works...

  • chronom4n #52 4 years ago

    I would so prefer to have environmental gameplay involved in GT5, When I found out that there is a 24hr endurance race in GT4 I took it for granted that they would implement day/night but did they fuck?! Plus I so hope there is more to this game i.e. the full game than shiny cars/damage but the route PGR4 took in that the weather would have an affect on the gameplay. here is hoping something like that gets implemented. Oh and before i forget. PLEASE GIVE ME CUSTOM SOUNDTRACKS!

  • MrChuckles #53 4 years ago

    Are they having realistic collisions in (not like driving into bricks) and realistic opponents (who don't speed up when you are ahed or slow down when you are behind?).

    Back on PS1 this was THE driving simulation, but they have stuck with the same model since then and it always feels as though the game would be same without any opponents at all, soulless.

    i do admit i didn't play the last one for that reason, can anyone update me if the series has improved at all? (Obviously it looks GORGEOUS!!!! but i don't care anywhere near as much as if it feels good driving well to fend off realistic opponents)

    For me PGR3 & Forza 2 are currently the best. GRID looks interesting.

  • Triggerhappytel #54 4 years ago

    Frankly, I'll believe it when I see it.

  • tripitaka #55 4 years ago

    Doesn't GT have a much bigger variety of cars than either PGR or Forza though?

    Presumably if they want to do damage, they want it across the board, on all cars - so they would need permission from a LOT of manufacturers.

    Also, PSP version please.

  • monkie_king #56 4 years ago

    Mr Chuckles: amen, brother. GT sells because of two things these days: 1) teh shiny, 2) its legacy from when it really was a standout title.

    I was still pretty interested in GT5 until I played whatever the last demo was on a friend's PS3. Looked great, but as soon as I picked up the pad it was just the same old thing we were playing 11 years ago. Took all of one corner for me to become completely disillusioned by it. But it's too big a franchise for them to make major changes, now.

  • Les #57 4 years ago

    "I don't know if Sony own Polyphony or not, but if so perhaps it would be an idea to take GT off them and let an american dev build on that finely tweaked engine."

    Better not, before you know it you're running down prostitutes...

  • ozallez #58 4 years ago

    have to agree on damage. Online is kinda absurd atm, no real racing going on. Just seems to be people ramming each other off the track all the time.... grows old quick!

  • chronom4n #59 4 years ago

    best thing in the world would be polyphony doing the visuals, turn10 doing the physics, and someone like namco doing the tracks and scenery.

  • NinjaWilliams #60 4 years ago

    C'mon, u know u LUBS IT! :)p

  • JackB #61 4 years ago

    Are there still GT fans who think manufacturers won't allow damage? Do you live in a cave? Check out Forza. Same manufacturers with damage. 3 1/2 years ago with Forza 1 and now with Forza 2.

    It is like Poly Digital is Iraqi Information Minister and GT fanboys are the the PS3's version of Iraqi fanboys. I mean seriously. This is embarassing.

  • FooAtari #62 4 years ago

    "Back on PS1 this was THE driving simulation"

    Just no. No it wasn't.

  • cyber_nicco #63 4 years ago

    ""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."

    Are these different manufacturers from the ones that have allowed it in Forza for years?

    What bullshit.

    edit: Oops, I wrote this before I read 50 other posts pointing out the same thing. It's still bullshit, though.
    Edited by 1 at 28/03/08 @ 16:41

  • Yaz #64 4 years ago

    FooAtari wrote: ""Back on PS1 this was THE driving simulation" ... Just no. No it wasn't."

    Just yes. Yes it was.

    Am I missing something, but what was "THE driving simulation" on the PS1 if it wasn't GT and GT2?

  • Triggerhappytel #65 4 years ago

    @ Yaz - Toca World Touring Cars.