Gran Turismo's Kazunori Yamauchi Comments by Rob Fahey

/clears throat

Plolyphony Digitlol.

Eyethangyew.

You do all realise that *a lot* of the people who buy Gran Turismo a) wouldn't enjoy real car physics anyway and b) only care about the licensed car models.

@ronuds

but GT is different to Forza and PGR.

I really like PGR and GT but would always want both as PGR is more arcady then GT.

Where as I personally don't like Forza as I feel they sacrificed to much of the look for more sim to my my eyes it's a truly ugly game.

So despite having access to Forza and PGR as I have a 360 I still bought GT5P because I prefer it's stlye. So regarless it is a necessary realse for some people

@ kobashi

GTR2 is from what i understand a painstaking simulater which is great for the most hardcore of car racing gamers. GT series however has to strike a balance it has to be accessable to both casual and hardcore. This is evident by the Polyphony implimenting seperate car physics. Unlike the GTR2 fanbase where most are hardcore majority of GT fans are casual players who enjoy the series for it's accessability and realizim. I think this is where the GT series has shown it's relivance and sustained it's popularity.

You do all realise that *a lot* of the people who buy Gran Turismo a) wouldn't enjoy real car physics anyway and b) only care about the licensed car models.

Very True.. I have friends who only care about driving 700+ cars with great graphics. I try and explain how the A.I and physics are still not right and they really don't give a damn!

I was really hoping GT would be my excuse to HAVE to buy a PS3, but the more I read about it the more worried I get. It certainly lacks a few critical features from other games.

"Things like that, where the users can actually interface with each other, are something that we'll be adding."

In game chat, he must think this a fantastic innovation!

Who here has actually tried GT5P with the pro physics turned on? So far i've only played with Standard and was wondering how much of a difference it makes?


edit: @Putty Man what need to be remember is that xbox games have had alot mroe experinence with online feature so it's going to take a while for PS to catch up, there's alot of code to built up.

I've played with pro physics on quite a bit, but I don't think it makes it any more realistic. The car I own in real life is in GT5 prologue and if I'm doing about 45 miles an hour, steer a bit and press the accelerator a bit harder the tyres don't start squealing and the back end doesn't start trying to overtake the front end anything like as much as they do in the game.

Don't get me wrong though - I'm enjoying playing the game a lot - it's just that the physics aren't that realistic. The car models, interior, engine sounds and speeds in each gear are bang on though.

Doesn't GT5p have different physics models for different levels of drivers?
I believe if you want the full on physics stuff, you have to plump for the professional setting?

guh, just noticed someone has mentioned it above.

I've been sitting in a GT5p thread and someone who has visibly banged Forza 2's drum on the forum for ages says that with the pro driving settings on, it is by far the best driving experience he has ever had.

HOWEVER, this is with the G25 wheel in effect.

"You do all realise that *a lot* of the people who buy Gran Turismo a) wouldn't enjoy real car physics anyway and b) only care about the licensed car models."

Agreed ruttyboy thats half the problem with GT...

@Jamaicangmr

I agree with what you say, except that many believe GT is a proper sim and as real as it gets. This is just down to ignorance of course. But even ignoring proper sims, there are other games with decent damage models and online racing modes. Why anyone puts up with GT's half assed online, lack of damage and crap AI is beyond me.

@ jamaicangmr

Fair enough...

My thought is that if the PS3 did have Forza (or an equivalent of), releasing a prologue for another racing sim would be laughed at. The same as if an FPS prologue were released for the 360.

Some people would argue that this game is exactly the same as the PS1 versions in terms of game play

Yup I'd argue that. Little has changed. Better graphics, more detailed car models.

But thats what GT is all about. Style over substance,

The car physics and handling are exactly the same as the PS1 versions, yup.

"My thought is that if the PS3 did have Forza (or an equivalent of), releasing a prologue for another racing sim would be laughed at. The same as if an FPS prologue were released for the 360."

GT4: Prologue came out on PS2 at a time when it had pretty much the strongest games catalogue of any console in history. It was still well worth the purchase.

The amount of overwhelming negativity in any Gran Turismo comment threads always amazes me, when the games are universally praised by critics, sell brilliantly and are much enjoyed by both myself and anyone I know who plays them.

@ FooAtari

"I agree with what you say, except that many believe GT is a proper sim and as real as it gets. This is just down to ignorance of course. But even ignoring proper sims, there are other games with decent damage models and online racing modes. Why anyone puts up with GT's half assed online, lack of damage and crap AI is beyond me."

While i understand your complaint i can't agree entirely. I've only played the demo and i've notices improvments in the A.I. they are more challenging specially around a corner and based on reviews i've read they seem to share my views on A. I. Damage is said to be on it's way as early as this fall. So taht shouldn't be an issue for past that. What many seem to over look is that this is a prologue nad not GT5. Yes many do see the GT series as the king of the hill when it comes to realizm even without damge. The main factors at work here are,

1. Sony/Playstation - The fact that this is a know franchise which for many was their introduction into car sims and it has been one of the biggest games in our industries on the most poplular platfroms by one of our most trusted names.

2. Developer credibility - With every release of a GT game it's always been an improvment on it's prequal. Which for a lover of the series doesn't incline one to stray away from home.

3. Marketing - There is an old sayin "If you build it they will come" However marketing adds a next demension to this saying. "If you Market it MORE will come" Not to say other games don't market but with the type of marketing and budget Sony puts behind the GT series not many other publisher of simular games can match or surpass.

@rdexter

"Style over substance my ass.

The game has it's flaws (which were perfectly known upfront), but the drawing distance, the depth of field and the lighting effects more than make up for it."

Ok, so you've covered the "style" there. Now explain where the "substance" comes in.

Have been playing this game now for a week and am completely and utterly disappointed. The graphics are no better than PGR4 (a 6 month old game) and the physics and AI are light years behind Forza Motorsport let alone FM2.

I actually feel cheated for some reason, and feel like returning my ps3. Does anyone know what the return policy is for Toys R Us. I have given it time but after a week of the ps3 i just feel i have no need as the 360 provides me with everything i need.... the one game i hoped would change the way i feel was GT5 but i have been bitterly disappointed.

@ Rounds

"My thought is that if the PS3 did have Forza (or an equivalent of), releasing a prologue for another racing sim would be laughed at. The same as if an FPS prologue were released for the 360."

I agree 100% however were talking about Gran Tourismo not "Another racing sim" and thats where our opinions differ. Put it this way Microsoft could easily charge $40 for a Halo prologue with a few multiplayer maps and it would sell on sole basis that it's Halo. Well it's the same thing for Gran Tourismo many where waiting for GT5 before buying a PS3. Just like many did for PS2 and with that type of pull is why Gran Tourimo Prologue isn't just "Another racing sim". Only franchises that could do this with any success are Gran Tourismo, Final Fantasy, Halo, Metal Gear and Zelda. Any franchise outside of that would be over looked by the industry.

I would sacrifice damage for proper collision physics cand AI, those are the things that ruin it for me.

The amount of overwhelming negativity in any Gran Turismo comment threads always amazes me, when the games are universally praised by critics, sell brilliantly and are much enjoyed by both myself and anyone I know who plays them.

@steoc4

same with the Halo series :)

"We don't reference any other games when we're making Gran Turismo - it's purely based on what we want to achieve as a game."

I suppose that partially explains why GT continues to be a 'driving simulator' and not a racing game. If I want to drive, I'll head out to the car in my garage. If I want to race, I'll play a racing game (not GT). Congratulations Yamauchi-san. Your games are perfectly boring.

@chacha

disappointed. The graphics are no better than PGR4 (a 6 month old game) and the physics and AI are light years behind Forza Motorsport let alone FM2.

I actually feel cheated for some reason, and feel like returning my ps3. Does anyone know what the return policy is for Toys R Us. I have given it time but after a week of the ps3 i just feel i have no need as the 360 provides me with everything i need.... the one game i hoped would change the way i feel was GT5 but i have been bitterly disappointed.

--------------------------

Man, you are utterly ridiculous...

"You do all realise that *a lot* of the people who buy Gran Turismo a) wouldn't enjoy real car physics anyway and b) only care about the licensed car models."

I'd argue that most of the people on the planet interested in a video game involving cars would hate real car physics and fake models. There's nothing wrong with catering for that public (and makes a lot of sense financially). You don't like it you don't buy it, that's the beauty of capitalism. The beauty of free speech is that you can still bitch about it... :P

Points for the first person to give us the correct plural for Lexus.

'...in diamond neclaces, stretch Lexuses, the sex is just immaculate from the..." - Notorious B.I.G.

Lexii?

Interesting to see the atitude diferences between this dude, and Haze's. The latter admits the merits of other developers, this one says he can't stand them, because he's soooo good!

chacha: a friend of mine returned his for the same reason for a Vaio, in a Worten shop. I think all retailers do that - some kinda EU directive, I guess.

Thanks for your help miiguel..... i can do with a new laptop

nice one Eurogamer, "yeah, i've already been asked this question a billion times already"…

Wonder why no one is answering your stupid comments, headbog?
Most people put you on ignore so you're ranting to yourself :D

At least Apologie makes me laugh once in a while.

"I'll just set up another account and repost it then."

@headbog

and I thought you already did that, headbog...headdog...headgob...headglob etc

oops, my mistake....everyone read it...they agreed with you...please, no new accounts ;)

Swam I am one of those critizing GT5. Yet I am not comming for an Xbox users perspective.

I like how you said;
"GT5p is better than competing CONSOLE racers of a similar nature"

So your just going to ignore other platforms so you don't have to admit that as sim GT5p is not the best available? way to add to your credibility, not that you have any.

"Forza 2 may have limited damage modeling, but it doesn't run at 60fps at 1080p, and doesn't feature nearly so detailed cars."

While I don't rate Forza. AI, damage and realistic collision effects is far more important in a race than graphics, Although admittedly 60fps is very important, 1080p not so much. I'm playing to race not admire the bumper of the car in front of me.

Like I said before, style over substance...

And your argument for poor AI is that people will not play online if it's that good? give me a break... That's one of the weakest arguments I've ever heard.

@Jamaicangmr
I agree 100% however were talking about Gran Tourismo not "Another racing sim" and thats where our opinions differ. Put it this way Microsoft could easily charge $40 for a Halo prologue with a few multiplayer maps and it would sell on sole basis that it's Halo. Well it's the same thing for Gran Tourismo many where waiting for GT5 before buying a PS3. Just like many did for PS2 and with that type of pull is why Gran Tourimo Prologue isn't just "Another racing sim". Only franchises that could do this with any success are Gran Tourismo, Final Fantasy, Halo, Metal Gear and Zelda. Any franchise outside of that would be over looked by the industry.

That's what hype and marketing does for you. GT has got itself into a position (like those other games) that they could develop an average game and it would still sell. Most people have decided they love the game before they even play it. And for some strange reason they would never admit said game sucks if it were to turn out that way


@rdexter
Style over substance my ass.

The game has it's flaws (which were perfectly known upfront), but the drawing distance, the depth of field and the lighting effects more than make up for it. I got F1CE and 'Dirt' and even though they are both great implementations of their respective areas (and have damage) it is hard to accept their somewhat fuzzy graphics and dumbed down physics after you've sat in a virtual cockpit in GTP5.

As rotmm said where is the substance? I can't believe you chose DiRT and F1CE as your comparison for physics. Go play Live for Speed and tell me which game feels dumbed down...

The whole thing is a bit half arsed. This guy must be talking about a build of GT5 that is miles ahead of where it is at Prologue.

erm Swam

I have been comparing GT5p to PC sims. I have only compared GT5p to other console racers when someone else has brought them up. Otherwise I have compared it to PC sims. And it being on a console doesn't mean other games don't exist on other foramts. It's still fair comparisons.

Yes I do have a Xbox 360 but seeing as I have the following racing sims on the PC;

Grand Prix Legends
GTR2
GT Legends
RACE 07
RACE 06
Grand Prix 2
Richard Burns Rally
rFactor
Nascar Racing Season 2003
ARCA Sim Racing

and a Logitech G25

I have no need or desire to have a racing sim on the 360, PS3 or Wii as the games above craps on any single racing sim available on a console. I am not in the slightest bit envious of GT5p. Just because I own a 360 doesn't mean I'm out to make everything related to the PS3 some pathetic flamewar.

Finally, I didn't say graphics were not important. I just said other factors were more important in a so called sim.

You are pretty good and putting words in other peoples mouths

@ FooAtari

"That's what hype and marketing does for you. GT has got itself into a position (like those other games) that they could develop an average game and it would still sell. Most people have decided they love the game before they even play it. And for some strange reason they would never admit said game sucks if it were to turn out that way"

Marketing is hype and a good marketing campain does just that hype the product thats being marketed. There is nothing negative about marketing your product properly. However GT isn't an average game in my opinion anyway maybe it is in your opinion and thats ok as it's yours. Most who have decided as you say they love the game before even playing it do so with good reasons. As i said before the petigree that the GT series has justifies the praise it gets by the franchise lovers.

I can't sit here and debt each of our opinions as that will get us nowhere in the end. The GT series is for most the only driving simulator for their money. Thats thanks to alot of factors many of which you probly wont appreciate but it doesn't change the fact that to most including me Sony and Polyphony has always done a great job developing and marketing a great driving simulator. GTR2 is available yet most will still flock to GT because of it's;

1. Familiarity
2. Concistancy
3. Quailtiy
4. Accessablitity
5. Fun factor
6.Breath taking benchmark visuals
etc...

When one plays a GT game you get the sense that this is a labour of love and it doesn't feel like just another car racer. You feel the manufacturers input in the game. You see the excessive reasearch that has gone into the project. You actually can reasearch a car you intend to buy in the game itself and thats one way it's presented. "The Real driving simulator" As a gamer hardcore or casual when you play a Gran Tourismo you feel the weight behind that slogon. The game feels like it's about the cars and thats what a car simulation is supposed to be. That is alot more than i can say for most other racers.

pfft.... man he's stuck up eh!

C'mon you gotta give credit where it's due ... sure GT5 looks better - but that's it really all the other "features" are catered for in Forza2 (not to mention it's a full game and all) - I'm not saying i don't like GT5P. But really all this game demostrates is what a hard time devs (even the really good ones) are having with the ps3 - this is what they could come up with till now (which is great mind you), they had to stop gt-psp and the full GT5 game will come out in 2009! Cripes ... that means more Forza2 for me ... and probably Grid !!

And don't you believe for a second they developed this w/o looking at Forza2 - they would be dumb not too!

EDIT - just some extra info ... not that it matter much as the game looks great (and so does Forza2 to me) BUT GT5P runs in pseudo-1080p .. the actual res is 960x1080, and then it's streched on the x-axis. The result is good! but the pixel count is only 12% higher than 720p - real 1080p is 125% higher. Get your facts strait!

Jamaicangmr we should just agree to disagree I guess :)

I never said marketing your product was a bad thing. I just get annoyed when people fall for hype, this is particularly common in games industry, but anyway.

I think you make a good point here

The game feels like it's about the cars and thats what a car simulation is supposed to be. That is alot more than i can say for most other racers.

GT to me is effectively a car collecting and time trail game. That's fair enough. As a racing or motorsport nut thats not enough for me. If it is for you thats great. But taht doesn't excuse GT's short comings.

These points;

1. Familiarity
2. Concistancy
3. Quailtiy
4. Accessibility
5. Fun factor
6.Breath taking benchmark visuals
etc...

are pretty much void when you consider what it lacks. Fun factor for example is removed when I bounce off the wall and don't have a scratch the handling of the car is not effected. Yeah they have promised damage but currently it doesn't exist in the game and until it does exist their promises mean little.

Consistancy? Well you got that bang on. They have consistently released effectively the same game for 10 years now.

Accessibility. Well I can appreciate that, but it's a sim or it isn't. If you make changes to appeal to a broadmarket and dumb the physics down, its not longer a sim.

Yeah I agree it looks good, but good looks don't make up for short comings in gameplay

It just seems to me you are ignoring what has always been wrong with GT. If we all do that nothing will ever change.

I have never said GT was a bad game. It's just not all that.

Fanboy tosser awards goes to:

- swam

- Headbog

Really - how much do Sony pay you idiots. Blinkered fools. Just enjoy the game and shut the fuck up with your shite talk.

You don't really have a clue, but you're happy to stay stupid and shout about it.

The definition of a fool.

@ FooAtari

Am in no way ignoring as you say whats wrong with the series. What am doing however is trying to offer you some peice of mind as to why the GT series is what it is to so many people. You gloss over the points i've made to point out one aspect with the series you don't find to be fun. Thats in my opinion is an unrealistic way to to view the series. I think the main issue here is you've done the same that you say GT lovers have done, which is decided you hate the game even before you've played it. Lets not forget that this is the Prologue and not GT5 only an introduction. Yes the updates promised aren't here asyet so i see why you can't logically discuss them. However as they have been offically announced shouldn't that ease some concern atleast until it's released? That way we can all decide if it's good or not right? Well thats just my views it's ok if you rather take a different approach than i.

I think your right a stand down is needed as we both draw valid points. For while you see GT's consistancy to mean they consistantly release the same game i strongly disagree. Rather than go into a nit picking match i'll just accept that PC simulators like GTR2 are more your cup of tea and because of that we will never see eye to eye on this issue.

It was fun have this lil debt with you, you're proof that it is possible to have an inteligent discussion on this site without resourting to name calling and finger pointing.

To you i raise my glass FooAtari.

LOL.

i would not put FM2 is the same league as GT5P. it's a shit of a game- looks like one, plays like one and only shitheads would even stand in support of that abomination. Argghh. even the thought of the game makes the back of my neck stands. i'd rather spend eternity in hell than 10 minutes with forza2. oh, even the name, make my skin crawls. the box art- atrocious. something you would see from a third rate publisher. if i want to drive a toy car from planet cartoon- i'd play mario kart. at least the game is a thousand time more fun than this meek attempt at simulation. and may your xbox rot in RROD hell. i said my peace, brother. i bid you goodbye and nighty night.

@Swam

Out of those 10 games I have listed 2 are F1 1 is Rally. So again get your fats right...

XBOT? I have been thinking of selling mine for a while now. My preferred platform is PC (and before you make some weak connection between Windows and the Xbox I mainly use Linux). I couldn't care less if the Xbox has a decent sim or not I really couldn't. Which part of that is so hard to understand for you? I'm not so immature as to think everyone who doesn't agree with me must a fanboy, or that everything needs to be some kind of flame war.

But while I don't own a PS3 and have no intentions of buying one the near future I don't really have anything against it. I always hope there is at least three players in the console market as competition is good for us gamers. It ensures prices stay somewhat reasonable and that hardware continues to develop. I'm well beyond some petty fanboy flame wars and have better things to do than "defend" some multi national corporation that doesn't give a shit about me as long as I keep spending my money.

And I'm not even going to bother with the cost of ownership on PC's, especially where sims are concerned. It really isn't that much, but can't be bothered arguing.

My beef with GT is simply it's claims to be a sim when it is far from it. And why despite it's many short comings people continue to praise it likes it's the second coming.

If that makes me an XBOT (what a pethatic term that is anyway) then fair enough


@Jamaicangmr

I never resort to name calling or finger pointing. I often get more worked up over people like my good friend swam here which then causes me to sometimes be a bit harsher on the game than I would normally be.

I see why people like GT so much. And it does do some things well. I appreciate the points your making. I didn't mean to gloss over them it was late (it still is) and I was at work (still am) and I just picked what came to mind first. But for certain things to not be fixed that I feel should have been added in GT4 annoys me, and I can't over look them this time. (and it doesn't matter what platform the game is on I'd be saying the same swam, Forza 2 got loads of things wrong to (for the sake of trying to prove a point))

You make a good point that this isn't the final GT5 and I hope the missing features are added before it's release.

And while we are patting each other on the back, swam you should look to Jamaicangmr on how to put forward a reasoned argument.

Maybe I should go out and buy one tomorrow with GT5p so I can then rip into it with complete authority :)

Headbog (A.K.A swam), please do STFU for goodness sake! You're not going to convince the world to worship Sony in the way that you do so why not just give up. Yes GT5P looks pretty amazing visually (better than any other console racer to date imo) BUT it has it's flaws so don't try and make out it's the best racer ever made because it isn't. I actually just use the game as a kind of system showcase for when friends come round (and the visuals usually do leave them open mouthed) but playability-wise it's like driving a bumper-car imo.

Kazunori Yamauchi and headbog am cry :'(

He's one sexy guy.

Seems to me like Japanese developers are all stuck in the late 90s, thinking that they're kings of the world when actually they're rehashing the same old out-dated technology and ideas over and over again. See: Ninja Gaiden II, the Tekken series, Gran Turismo (which I once loved - back on the bloody PSone!), and Devil May Cry. The only Japanese studio I see trying to do anything contemporary and interesting is Capcom.

"Actually, I have difficulty playing other games for over five minutes. A lot of the low-level quality just stands out so much in other games that I can't stand them!"

That is genuinely hilarious considering how far Forza has surpassed the GT series. How deluded can you get?

A few points, correct me if I'm wrong but GT5 isn't 1080p, it's 1280x1080 which is actually 66% of the pixels of 'proper' 1080p. Secondly, even if people think £25 is reasonable value for the amount of content in the prologue you're still paying for a lot of content twice assuming you purchase the full game. The final game then works out over 60% more expensive than any other game.

Was playing again last and i really don't see what the problem is? If you watch a real race all the drivers follow the driving line unless they are over taking or messing up. And that's exactly what the AI in GT5P does, the AI messes up corners quite often.

I think alot of people problems with the AI is that it drives like profetional driver drives, not how gamers drive in a game.

For those endlessly praising GT5, I have to point out some of it's more serious flaws. The environments/courses. To put it bluntly, they look like crap. They're still using outdated tricks to cover certain parts of the courses, so that the system is using less power for them. This wouldn't be a problem if a lot of these shortcuts weren't so jarring. May I draw your attention to Exhibit A. The backgrounds.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h203/W...

Hmm. Those mountains don't quite look right, do they? Ah, I see. It's actually a static image, not actual 3D modeled mountains. You could literly switch in any random photo there. But I'm not just trying to trash the game, the actual car models and a lot of the scenery does look very, very nice. The car models are easily the best seen in any racing game, but I still don't think it's anything to be kicking up such a fuss about. As we've seen from almost all 360/PS3 racers, the graphics look superb across the board. PGR4 and DiRT, games that were released last year are pretty close to matching this as it is.

And in terms of gameplay, I'd consider Forza to be "the real driving simuator". It's a lot more accurate in almost every way, plus offers far more customisation and tweaking options. Of course, it looked like a badly ported original Xbox game, but if the graphics are all that's important to you, then this is a pointless arguement anyway.

I'd have his babies.

Baby kazzies.

Swam I have actually been looking into a buy a PS3 today. I mainly use my XBOX as a media center now, a PS3 can do that and play BR so I have been looking into buying one.

But whatever you seem incapable to accept that not everyone has some kind of strange emotional attachment to a piece of plastic and electronics. I see good reasons to own all system I just don't have the time to play all the games I'd buy if I had them all. I believe buy whatever system has the games you want to play, no biased there.

It's not possible to have a reasoned conversation with you just resort to throwing insults around and disregard anyone that doesn't agree with you, so say hello to my ignore list I'm sure you will enjoy fighting with the other fanboys in there.

@swam (fake headbog)

"FooTari, Kryon and so on, are just lazy XBOTS or PCBOTs who cannot accept that a game that they havnet played, on a system they dont like or care for, might actually be worth the hype. "

I wouldn't have spent £300 on the system if I didn't want one now would I, admittedly the death of HD DVD had a lot to do with my decision to purchase a PS3. When you claim that we "don't like or care" for the PS3 then I'll admit I don't "care" for the system in the same way that you do (but normal people don't tend to worship a toy or its creators in the same way that you do)...But I do own the system and game and I will happily cane you ten times over at it online anytime you like.

Also, here's a thought, if you needed to change your UID because 99% of other users have ignored you, this should tell you two things.

1 - Either 99% of people here are "XBOTS" and are totally biased or you're just a nobster who nobody wants to listen to regardless of their console of choice (here's a clue, it's the latter).

2 - Why bother changing your UID at all if you just intend to carrying on spouting the same utter nonsense as before? People will just ignore you once again.. Pointless, no?