GT4 Mobile not canned

So assuming GT5 / GT4 HD comes out on PS3 Christmas 07 (or maybe later knowing how GT games get delayed). So we're going to be looking at 2008 before a Euro release of GT Mobile.

And this was a piece of software (killer app, semi 1st party) that has been championed since the PSP launched. Jesus. Sony. Jesus.

"It's just a damn racing game and there are thousands of developers who have experience making them."

It's not as if they need any AI experts, either.

"So we're going to be looking at 2008 before a Euro release of GT Mobile. "

Originally due to be released in 2004, maybe out in 2008, maybe later... heck.

Disc, I agree, surely they could find some more staff competent enough to do a racing game, even if it was just a stopgap until the main developers could concentrate on it.

They better put in some new tracks in or I wont give them £15 for it....

Today is Sony jokeday, right?

Sony really is a fucking joke right now, isn't it?

"However, our main focus at present, is the development and release of a GT title for the PS3 platform."

"Once this has been completed, we can return to, and jump-start, development for the PSP version"

So, in other words it's on indefinite hold, right?

And how exactly is this good news for Sony?!

And whilst we're on the subject of GT4, whatever happened to GT4 online??

god thats rubbish - and probably an excuse.

"Once this has been completed, we can return to, and jump-start, development for the PSP version. In regards to release dates and details, we'll be making further announcement, at a later date."

A quick run through Babelfish produces...

There's a PSP version of Gran Turismo knocking around the office somewhere, but to be honest, we just can't be bothered right now. We're all too busy with the PS3 version and playing DS hentai games in the loo.

I WANT TO BELIEVE!!!!










But um. I dont.

SINNER!

/erects a burning cross in Furbs frontyard

"In fact, we've reached the stage where a GT4 equivalent runs on the PSP hardware. However, our main focus at present, is the development and release of a GT title for the PS3 platform."

"Once this has been completed, we can return to, and jump-start, development for the PSP version. In regards to release dates and details, we'll be making further announcement, at a later date."

That's Sony code for it will never see the light.

By the time they release it, I'll be playing Gran Turismo 4
on my Nokia with a PS2emu.

I for one would love to know how many PSP's Sony shifted with the promise of this piece of vapourware.

It's funny how these little white lies can snowball out of controll and then come back to bite you in the ass!

Sony, what you reap is what you sow!

So, instead of putting a game they already have, GT4, on a system they say it works fine on, the PSP, they're following PGR3's lead and turning GT4 into an airbrushed non-next gen "next gen" title so Sony have some proper eye-candy on launch day.

This is actually a thinly veiled admission that the guys at the top are nailing them to the wall to make sure GT HD is a launch title, which knowing how slip-prone Polyphony are, is about as likely as John Prescott releasing a fitness video.

It's no wonder 3rd party devs aren't interested in prioritising the PSP when Sony themselves treat it with such disregard. We're approaching mid-90's Sega levels of stupidity here.

"I for one would love to know how many PSP's Sony shifted with the promise of this piece of vapourware. "

...no wonder sales melted away after the initial excitement.

Sales haven't melted away at all. UMD sales have disappeared but PSPs are still doing brisk business.

How long does it usually take them to do a console GT game? 4 to 5 years?
Add onto that another couple years for the PSP version once they start working on that again, we can be pretty sure we will never see it on PSP.
Well, maybe on PSP2.

Shouldn't they really finish GT4 on PS2 first, it's what at the moment 3.75?

So it looks like GT 1 & 2 will beat GTmobile to the PSP and they'll probably make us buy them again at an inflated price (sorry Sony but not this time).


It's not as if they need any AI experts, either.

@Scientist, actually Polyphony have modelled their AI on Takuma Sato, so you could say it's quite realistic.

Come on EG, no mention that ALL PSP firmwares above 2.00 have just now been hacked? New exploit, courtesy of libtiff.

What Polyphony is just not getting is that they could have released PS GT 1 and 2 already on a UMD disc, make it online and wireless, sell it for fifteen quid and people would be rather happy.

5 reason why there will NEVER BE GT4 on PSP:

1. There is no way that driving game such as GT4 can be played on PSP. Just try to drive TOCA with manual shifting - or even automatic - for longer then 5 laps. Your thumbs crumble and you just can't hold the console in good position for driving without serious cramps in your wrists. PSP can do Burnout or NFS, but any simulation that asks for precise driving is bull on PSP. Analogue stick is a laugh too.

2. The PD is pretty much aware of stated above, and I even seriously doubt about being able to play GT and GT2 via "PSOne Emulator" later this year - or whenever it happened. It would be such a shame for all GT-series hard-core lovers to find out that thir favourite game sucks on PSP just because control-scheme of console is not suited for simulation-driving games. And for all hard-core players, manual gear-shifting is a must - which is impossible to do. Also, GT games are using ALL the buttons on PS controller for important functions. Lack of two shoulder buttons would cause two problems:

- if D-pad buttons would be assigned to shoulder button functions, then you can't have nice driving because analogue pad is a joke, or/and
- if you make game without manual-shifting or look-back and camera chamnge (shoulder buttons apply) it would be a joke too.

3. Kazunori Yamauchi of Polyphony Digital said in some point during 2005. that "plan for GT4 Mobile has gone into serious desgn-change in order to make a game more multiplayer". Whatever that means, but somehow I feel that GT4 multiplayer on small console with such ludicrous cpntrol-scheme and very serious driving model that GT4 has would be laugh in multiplayer. Me and my friends are holding big LAN parties with 6-driver-on-track-per-once for last year and so, and it takes lot of expirience from each one of us to control the 6 cars in pack without making a single mistake which can kiss the whole race goodbye. I'm jut trying to imagine what would happen to "sunday drivers" if they would buy GT$Mobile and then tried to do multiplayer race. First corner, deah, second corner, death, third corner - they all hate the game. Multiplayer racing in GT series, especially in GT4 is very demanding thing to do.

4. Only potential I can see for PSP GT4 is making the game just "B-Spec" oriented ("B-Spec" is special mode in GT4 where the in-game AI engine allows the player to "train" the AI driver and then race the driver - not the car - through "Manager" mode in game), but then who would give 40 euros to play just B-Spec, even with some wierd B-Spec multiplayer "VS" mode. Only if the data and achivements would be interchangable between the consoles, but then again - I would have to pay 40 euros just to be able to play the same game twice. Not a really god idea.

5. PD is - as all rumours and reports are saying - right now working on GTHD version of the game that could be released in the first year of PS3 (Kikizo is even speculating about GTHD being released as online-download only software - which is also possible). Form my point of view, in the very moment they finish GTHD, they will start working on GT5 - which will not come out before 2008. in any way. I just don't see any space for developing PSP GT4 or whatever PSP game even because of that reason.

But Reason #1 remains my only true concern for GT4 PSP.

Tehn again, I would so love to be wrong on this very point.

Actually, the analogue is perfect for driving games, which is why the early days of PSP were infested with them, but you're quite right that changing gear while steering is crippling, the corelation between nub position and shoulder buttons makes it almost impossible to grip the PSP. I have no problem playing games with automatic gear changing for hours with no wrist pain or discomfort. But, for GT, manual is the only way to go.

If they have a working version now, they should release a video of it because with recent press releases, there is no reason to believe this game exists.