With all the recent hullabaloo about next-gen and PS4s and such, I figured it was about time we discussed what's in the pipeline for Gran Turismo, Sony's most important franchise.
As well as the murmurs and rumblings suggesting that the next console cycle is upon us that have only seemed to increase, recent media straight from Polyphony Digital also suggests that a new entry in the series (or at the very least, a substantial content update to tide us over) is on the horizon. These two trailers only serve to tease us with what awaits us (Valve/Kaz time or not) in the future.
Polyphony have been hard at work since the release of Gran Turismo 5 in 2010, with a numerous reports of PD engineers visiting locales like Silverstone (England) and Bathurst (Australia) as well as collecting data for additional vehicles.
Despite Polyphonys focus on the next entry in the series, their support for Gran Turismo 5 has been nothing short of astounding, and to this day they are still churning out updates and content (with the most recent patch only a week old).
However, let us not forget the saga that was the lead-up to GT5s eventual release. Remember how it got delayed? And how everyone went insane waiting for a new date?
What about all the missing content? Like how those Italian dudes threatened legal action over in the inclusion of their logo in an environment that ultimately led to said environment being removed from the game altogether? The livery editor? The cut-back damage? The Stig and his friends seemingly moneyhatted away only months before launch? 32 player lobbies that are STILL being advertised even on the most recent version of the game even though 2 YEARS LATER this still isn't possible. Misuse (or rather lack of use) of acquired licenses (WRC, NASCAR, Super GT etc)
What happened to this car?
And this one?
Nomuken?
I could go on for much longer, but that just would be pointless. Truth is, GT5 was in some ways, a shambles. Sony sent it out the door with Kaz kicking and screaming closely behind. But after 6 years of dev time, who could blame them? We'll probably never know the exact reasons of why it turned out the way it did, but all signs point to PDs difficulty in working with the PS3 and Yamauchis vision for the series.
15+ years later, and were STILL doing 0-400m license tests and grinding the Sunday Cup for exhaust upgrades. I appreciate the tradition in some ways as I have been fortunate enough to have grown up with the series, but there comes a time where it must move on.
For all the things GT5 does right as a driving simulator, it fails in so many aspects as a video game. The series has always lacked a proper career mode, and with it a lack of direction. GT5 did however show some promise in this regard with their Special Events which if expanded on, could provide the drive players need. Obviously those who are just in it for the driving experience dont necessarily need a career mode, but for the casual fan, GT needs something more video gamey to hook them (and make it damn sight more enjoyable to boot).
When I mean career mode, Im obviously not talking about some epic saga all to win the heart of that chick that you see in the license tests. You know, simple stuff like working your way up from karts to track days and other racing categories like drifting, touring cars, open wheelers etc etc. Just give the player more to work towards than that sum of credits they need for performance tyres.
Whatever the next iteration of Gran Turismo brings we can be absolutely sure it will blow minds visually. With the amount of power that the PS3s successor is packing, I cant wait. Fuck, Im not at all one for technical jibber-jabber and stuff but I mean just look at this shit:
(credit to emula over at GTplanet)
Real-time, in-game, straight from the source. Now imagine that, but better. Polyphony are freaks.
The added power Orbis offers will only benefit PD even more. The once promised YouTube integration is now all but possible. Full headtracking? Smoke without the nastiness? Actual good AI? 32 cars on track? The opportunities are endless.
Blah blah blah bish will eat you more cars more tracks discuss.
As well as the murmurs and rumblings suggesting that the next console cycle is upon us that have only seemed to increase, recent media straight from Polyphony Digital also suggests that a new entry in the series (or at the very least, a substantial content update to tide us over) is on the horizon. These two trailers only serve to tease us with what awaits us (Valve/Kaz time or not) in the future.
Polyphony have been hard at work since the release of Gran Turismo 5 in 2010, with a numerous reports of PD engineers visiting locales like Silverstone (England) and Bathurst (Australia) as well as collecting data for additional vehicles.
Despite Polyphonys focus on the next entry in the series, their support for Gran Turismo 5 has been nothing short of astounding, and to this day they are still churning out updates and content (with the most recent patch only a week old).
However, let us not forget the saga that was the lead-up to GT5s eventual release. Remember how it got delayed? And how everyone went insane waiting for a new date?
What about all the missing content? Like how those Italian dudes threatened legal action over in the inclusion of their logo in an environment that ultimately led to said environment being removed from the game altogether? The livery editor? The cut-back damage? The Stig and his friends seemingly moneyhatted away only months before launch? 32 player lobbies that are STILL being advertised even on the most recent version of the game even though 2 YEARS LATER this still isn't possible. Misuse (or rather lack of use) of acquired licenses (WRC, NASCAR, Super GT etc)
What happened to this car?
And this one?
Nomuken?
I could go on for much longer, but that just would be pointless. Truth is, GT5 was in some ways, a shambles. Sony sent it out the door with Kaz kicking and screaming closely behind. But after 6 years of dev time, who could blame them? We'll probably never know the exact reasons of why it turned out the way it did, but all signs point to PDs difficulty in working with the PS3 and Yamauchis vision for the series.
15+ years later, and were STILL doing 0-400m license tests and grinding the Sunday Cup for exhaust upgrades. I appreciate the tradition in some ways as I have been fortunate enough to have grown up with the series, but there comes a time where it must move on.
For all the things GT5 does right as a driving simulator, it fails in so many aspects as a video game. The series has always lacked a proper career mode, and with it a lack of direction. GT5 did however show some promise in this regard with their Special Events which if expanded on, could provide the drive players need. Obviously those who are just in it for the driving experience dont necessarily need a career mode, but for the casual fan, GT needs something more video gamey to hook them (and make it damn sight more enjoyable to boot).
When I mean career mode, Im obviously not talking about some epic saga all to win the heart of that chick that you see in the license tests. You know, simple stuff like working your way up from karts to track days and other racing categories like drifting, touring cars, open wheelers etc etc. Just give the player more to work towards than that sum of credits they need for performance tyres.
Whatever the next iteration of Gran Turismo brings we can be absolutely sure it will blow minds visually. With the amount of power that the PS3s successor is packing, I cant wait. Fuck, Im not at all one for technical jibber-jabber and stuff but I mean just look at this shit:
(credit to emula over at GTplanet)
Real-time, in-game, straight from the source. Now imagine that, but better. Polyphony are freaks.
The added power Orbis offers will only benefit PD even more. The once promised YouTube integration is now all but possible. Full headtracking? Smoke without the nastiness? Actual good AI? 32 cars on track? The opportunities are endless.
Blah blah blah bish will eat you more cars more tracks discuss.
