GT6 for PlayStation®3 will bring new levels of authenticity to ‘the Real Driving Simulator’ as well as introducing stunning new tracks and cars and a revised user interface. A new compact game engine will improve operation and increase the flexibility to expand it with downloadable content. Meanwhile, the game is also set for expanded connectivity with other devices such as smart phones and tablets and increased social and community functions.
The cars and tracks from Gran Turismo 5 — which has now sold over 10 million copies since launching in 2010 — will return in GT6, but notable new additions will bring the car lineup to over 1,200. Players will also be able to customize their rides to a greater extent than ever before.
Amongst the track line-up, the UK’s famous Silverstone Circuit will be just one of seven new locations in Gran Turismo 6, taking the total to 33, with 71 different layouts available — 19 of them brand new. This already impressive lineup of cars and tracks will be added to by future DLC drops beginning after launch.
Enhancements and improvements also extend to a much-improved course maker function, which will provide several kilometers of gorgeous scenery, including the magnificent backdrop of Andalucía. The course maker will also include a new GPS data feature, which will increase the freedom of track creation in the game.
It is amazing to think that it is 15 years since we first released Gran Turismo,” said Kazunori Yamauchi, during the announcement at Silverstone Circuit. “Things have changed a lot since then and now Gran Turismo 6 is a further evolution of my dream. We’re pleased to deliver GT 6 to PlayStation 3 as we have a very loyal community on that platform. However, we have refactored the game to make it very flexible and expandable, with a view to making many future developments.
“I am very pleased with everything about the new game and the new additions, but the launch will only be the beginning for GT6. The game will continue to develop throughout its life. I already have many ideas for things I want to achieve in the next 15 years of Gran Turismo!”
The Gran Turismo series is developed by Polyphony Digital and produced by Kazunori Yamauchi.
The appeal of the Gran Turismo series is due significantly to pristine graphics, a large number of licensed vehicles, obsessive vehicle detail, accurate driving physics emulation, and the ability to tune performance. Handling of the vehicles is modeled on real-life driving impressions, tuning is based on principles of physics, and the sound of the vehicle's engine is based on recordings of the actual vehicles. The game has been a flagship for the PlayStation console's graphics capabilities, and is often used to demonstrate the system's potential.
Although Gran Turismo has an arcade mode, most gameplay derives from its simulation mode. Players start with a certain number of credits, usually 10,000 (18,000 in Gran Turismo 3; used cars were not present in this game; and 20,000 in Gran Turismo 5), which are used to purchase vehicles from several manufacturer-specific shops, or from used car dealers, and then tune their car at the appropriate parts
store for best performance. Certain events are open only to particular types of vehicles. In order to enter and progress through more difficult races, a license-testing system has been implemented, which guides players through skill development. Players may apply prize money won in events to upgrade their existing car or buy a new one, collecting a garage of vehicles.
Since Gran Turismo 5 Prologue launched on the PlayStation 3, an online aspect of the gameplay has started to evolve. GT5 Prologue has enabled users to race online with up to 16 players on track at once. Gran Turismo 4 for the PlayStation 2 was actually the first online-enabled Gran Turismo game but the online aspect of the game didn't make it past beta stage.
According to Yamauchi, the cars in the first two games were made from 300 polygons,while those in Gran Turismo 3 and 4 were made up of 4,000 polygons,[4] and the "premium cars" in Gran Turismo 5 were made up of 500,000 ("standard cars" are slightly more detailed versions of those in Gran Turismo 4).
We recently talked to Gran Turismo creator and Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi at a Jalopnik Film Festival event held in the Classic Car Club Manhattan about what drives the game today and where it’s heading:
When the first GranTurismo launched in 1997, it was the only game in town as far as immersive driving simulators are concerned. Now there are a plenty of competitors. How has that affected your approach to developing the game?
How we develop games hasn’t really changed. It’s always really been about how to find ways to have fun developing the game, rather than seeing what everybody else is doing.
I grew up with the Gran Turismo franchise, but you certainly have much younger users today. Are they different than I am, or the same type of customer just 15 years later?
I don’t really know. But I think with the young users today, if someone looks like they’re having fun, I think they start to take interest in it. And I think it’s a kind of repetition of that across the years.
How have car enthusiasts changed over the years? Are they now more gamers that get into cars, or primarily gear heads who are attracted to games about cars?
Even when you look at our GT development team, some of the guys who had absolutely no interest in cars when they first began grew to like cars and end up buying interesting cars in real life.
Realism has always been key to the success of the franchise. For GT5 you added damage for the first time, what was the big technical advancement you were aiming for with GT6?
In GT6 there’s an inward force and an outward force involved. The inward forces involve things like the rendering engine, which has been revamped, the new online features, everything that forms the fundamental parts of the real driving simulator.
The energy going outward involves things like the GT Academy (where contestants compete for a chance to drive a real race car) that we’ve done in the past, and this time around Vision GT. These are things that really try to break the boundaries of the video game industry.
What exactly is Vision GT?
It’s a project where we asked not only automobile manufacturers, but also leading industry brands to design for us what their rendition of a Gran Turismo car would be. It’s really about creating an opportunity for a new car to be born, because each of the cars you see [here at the Classic Car Club,] they all had a reason to be created, to be born into the world, and new cars are always looking for new reasons to exist.
I wanted to make a reason for companies to come up with and create exciting new sports cars. And the other thing was, I wanted to throw out a question to the automobile makers of the world: “are you still having fun making cars?” And the response that we got was a lot greater than we ever expected. We have 22 confirmed manufacturers designing cars for the Vision GT project and I think there’s actually going to be more, so the overall message is “yea, we are having fun making cars.”
How good are you at GT Academy? Would you make it to the finals?
To the finals? I don’t think I’d make it anymore. During the first and second GT Academies, I got up to about 50th on the global ranking. I could probably get to .4 seconds under the top times today, but I don’t think I’d make it to the track challenge at Silverstone.
GT6 is launching with an unheard of collection of cars, is there one that got away?
It’s a hard question, but of course we always want to include Porsche will not license its vehicles for the game due to an agreement with another developer.
Gaming used to be about consoles, then internet-connected consoles, now there’s mobile. Do you envision more of a mobile element for GT in the future?
The community functions, organizing and hosting races, setting up your teams, and building teams and groups those features we’re planning on having compatible with smartphones and tablets.
Five years passed between the introductions of GT4 in 2005 and GT5 in 2010, and PlayStation 4 is on sale this year. Why even introduce GT6 for PS3 rather than hold off for new console?
In recent years, CAD data of actual cars are often provided to Gran Turismo thanks to our strong partnerships with automotive manufacturers and as a consequence, the time to understand the design of the car has been drastically reduced. The same cannot be said for the development time: a model will still take 6 months to create, and that is because the time and costs saved in the research phase are re-distributed into modelling to further improve the quality of the final product.
If you think in terms of short-time development costs, this style taken by Gran Turismo may sound inefficient. But the passion and professionalism of each members of the modelling team further strengthen the trust with auto manufacturers, and that is what ultimately leads to increased collaborations with them. Gran Turismo has evolved into a project involving the auto industry, going beyond the boundaries of a simple video game.
Take for example the Corvette C7: in the previous Gran Turismo 5 title, a "Test Prototype" was distributed on November 2011, and the "Final Prototype" was released at the same time of the official unveil of the real car at a North American Auto Show in January 2013. Has there ever been a Corvette that has been test driven this much around the world before its release? And of course, its final production form will be included in Gran Turismo 6.
"New Cars on Sale" now in-game
Additional vehicles distributed in a new way
After the release of Gran Turismo 5, over 30 cars were released as both free-of-charge or paid DLC. From the Corvette C7 Test Prototype, to the Scion FR-S, to the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and to the Red Bull X2011 Prototype, the hottest new cars were added to the line-up and made available to everyone via download from the PlayStation®Store.
Gran Turismo 6 will contain approximately 1200 cars at time of release, and more and more cars are planned to be added thereafter. Unlike the previous title, the added cars will appear directly in the dealerships after an update, and will be available to purchase in game. You will be able to enjoy driving the newest cars right after they are released in the market.
To recreate everything the driver sees
What needs to be recreated does not end at the exterior of the car. In Gran Turismo 5 it was possible to drive from an interior view in order to make the driving experience in-game as closer as possible to what a driver experiences in real life. And obviously, this means also to recreate the car's interior that comes into the driver's field of vision.
From the steering wheels to the instruments in the dashboard, the level of detail of parts that normally are not visible when driving the game is overwhelming.
Gran Turismo 6
CLICK HERE FOR FULL CAR LIST
* This list is one part of the cars planned for inclusion, and is subject to change.
* indicates that the car is appearing for the first time in the series.
I asked Yamauchi-san if anyone he'd really hoped to get a concept from had turned him down, and he smiled and replied, "We actually haven't been turned down by anyone yet!" He added: "There are actually other companies that have agreed to participate but we are not prepared to make an announcement at this time."
The revered GT boss also introduced several new cars -- the BMW 507 and BMW Z8, the Cizeta, Fisker Karma EcoSport, Ford Focus ST '13, and Pagani Huayra -- as well as a couple of new tracks: Brands Hatch and Apricot Hill, which returns from GT4 and will now support both day and nighttime racing.
Next, Yamauchi-san answered a question about the series' inevitable turn to the PS4. "It'll take at least a minimum of a year" for the next-gen version, and that there is "a good possibility it would be called Gran Turismo 7 by then."
And since GT is staying on current-gen for another game, I asked him what the most important thing he's learned about the PS3 has been now that he's working with the Cell architecture for two games and many years. "Because the development scale has gotten so large, it's become increasingly difficult to optimize," he began. "We learned that it wasn't enough for the programmers and engineers to work at optimization. It had to be the artists and the designers [too]. Everyone had to learn how to optimize systems in order for it to work."
Finally, given that my recent week-long test drive of the revolutionary Tesla Model S completely blew me away and the fact that the car is playable in Gran Turismo 6, I couldn't help but ask Yamauchi-san if he'd driven the all-electric sedan in real life. He indicated he had, and then, smiling, said, "It's on a very high level of perfection as a car."
Every driver starts somewhere. Every driver starts with their first car - their First Love
Over 120 new cars have been added to GT6 – taking the already comprehensive total car tally to an unprecedented 1200+ vehicles.
In addition, the number of track layouts has swelled to 100 and features returning classic tracks and brand new locations and circuits such as Ascari, Spain and the world famous Silverstone, Goodwood and Mount Panorama tracks to name just a few.
All great racers started their journey to greatness with their first car. The car that made them realize their dream of becoming a professional race car driver. You ask any driver or car enthusiasts about their First Love, and I'm sure they can remember the smallest detail, down to the long hours spent tuning the car up before a drive, or the thousands of hard earned dollars used in making it just a bit (or a lot) faster than what the factory was able to deliver. I'm sure each of you have your own story of a First Love and we want to hear about it.
The carefully considered and curated car and track list is supported by a completely overhauled physics engine making gameplay even more dynamic and realistic, a new interface, and enhanced online functionality to allow you to tailor your multiplayer gaming sessions as you wish.
The technical innovation in the game also extends to hugely ground-breaking technology that will see in future updates a new game feature known as ‘GPS Logger’. The GPS Logger will employ the GPS function of your phone or tablet and Gran Turismo’s in-game Course Maker to recreate your everyday school run or work commute as a circuit – the trip to college or work will never be the same!
For the legendary Mario Andretti, this is no different. He began his love and passion for racing with the purchase of a beat up 1948 Hudson shell, in which he and a group of friends hand built, piece by piece, until it was ready to race 2 years later. The result of the project was ultimately the beginning of Mario Andretti's legendary racing career though Indy, Daytona, and Formula 1.
Here’s what Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital Inc and creator of the Gran Turismo series said about the forthcoming release.
“With the release of GT6 we are celebrating 15 years of Gran Turismo. It has been a privilege to have seen so many advancements made over this period, with GT6 now continuing to set new standards that blur the line between virtual and reality racing. With GT6 we will make it even more flexible and expandable by continuing to develop and add new content throughout its life.”
This post is just a mere glimpse under the bonnet of what’s heading to the starting line in a few weeks’ time and you can find out more by checking out gran-turismo.com for a full rundown of Gran Turismo 6.
To help you on the way there, feast your eyes on the brand new game trailer below, aptly titled “Start your Engines”… I hope you will be ready to do so come this December!
To tell this story, we created a dedicated site experience for you to join others around the world to share your own first car memories, interact with special guests and other fans, and learn more about Mario Andretti’s legacy. The story will be unveiled in 3 chapters, each specifically concentrating on telling
Andretti's story, and how a beat up Hudson was the catalyst for his entire racing career. Additionally,follow the team from Polyphony as they rebuild the legendary Hudson and feature it as a playable experience in Gran Turismo 6.
The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid car produced and sold by Fisker Automotive from 2011. Though there are exceptional hybrid cars being sold by existing automakers around the world, the difference of Fisker is that their cars are high-class hybrid cars starting from $100,000 dollars per car. They make hybrid cars from a different standpoint than your typical economical hybrids; their cars are made in the manner of supercars.
The founder Henrik Fisker is a designer who worked on the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage. The Karma is a car he himself designed, and its graceful mix of modern and retro styling has the beauty and authenticity that is consistent with his prior works.
The hybrid system mounted on the aluminium space frame is a series type, allowing 49.7 miles of driving on its two electric motors and lithium-ion batteries alone. A turbocharged 2 L inline-4 General Motors engine producing 251.5 BHP will kick in as necessary to run the generator that powers the motors and charges the battery. This gives the car a maximum driving range of 298.3 miles. The performance spec of the car is quite exemplary; torque output is an incredible 129.8 Nm, accelerating from 0-62.1 mph in just 5.9 seconds, with its top speed limited at 124.3 mph.
The interior of the Karma is also gorgeous, being on a different scale than that of your typical hybrid. Its commemorative car number one was delivered to the actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
The U.S.-based Tesla Motors first announced their Roadster in 2006, an open-top, 2-seater EV. At this time many car companies were still experimenting with how to bring electric cars to market, but Tesla started delivery in 2008, and in 2012 they sold out their initial planned production of 2500 cars, making steady progress in bringing electric cars to the mass market.
The second model announced in 2009 for the Tesla lineup was a 5-door saloon, the Model S. The body size of the new car is just between a Mercedes S class and E class, and the design with its sharp nose and short front/rear overhang was by Franz von Holzhausen, originally of Mazda’s North American Design centre.
The interior is made of environmentally friendly materials, including 100% recyclable PET plastic and no-lead Italian leather. There is a 17" touch screen on the interior panel that centralises all information features, and a 3G service that allows continuous connection to the internet is available as an option.
The powertrain utilises a newly-developed, liquid-cooled 9" motor, with lithium-ion batteries under the floor. The battery is available in 3 capacities according to price, and the highest capacity type allows a total driving distance of 300.1 miles. It can be charged from a household plug, and is compatible with 110 V, 220 V and 440 V. It can be charged in 4 hours using 220 V, and in as short as 45 minutes with 440 V.
The top grade signature performance boasts a maximum output of 410.3 BHP and a maximum torque of 60.0 Nm. More than just adequately sporty, the 0-60 acceleration is a mere 4.4 seconds.
Nobuhiro Tajima is known for his many records at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in the U.S., gaining him the nickname 'Monster Tajima'. In his attempt at his 7th consecutive win in 2012, he drove a Team APEV with Monster Sport original EV racing car, called the E-RUNNER Pikes Peak Special.
Tajima Corporation, the parent company of Monster Sports, has a line up of electric scooters called the E-RUNNER, and a single-seater compact EV called the E-RUNNER Sports. This racing EV is an extension of this, and reflects Tajima's hopes for EVs.
The design and development was performed by Monster Sports, and the chassis is an aluminium space frame with a carbon-composite cowling. The mounted battery is an MLiX lithium-ion battery made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with two liquid-cooled motors that give the car four-wheel drive.
There is no announced output or weight information, but from their target time of 9 minutes, 30 seconds, it was obvious they were not only going for an EV class win but for the overall title as well.In the 3-day practice and qualifying the car hit their target, achieving the top time. However, right before the start of the final race, they came across an unexpected mechanical failure and were forced to retire.
Though it was an unfortunate result, the fact that the defending champion took on a new challenge with an EV class car probably left an impression and had an effect on entrants as well as American Pikes Peak fans.
After the success of the Prius hybrid car, Toyota planned to release into the market a smaller, even more economical hybrid car. This was to address those who were attracted to the economy and environmental performance of the Prius, but felt it to be too expensive, or too large for their living conditions or driving skill.
After releasing a number of concept cars, the Aqua went on sale at the end of 2011. In countries outside Japan it was sold as the Prius C. Based on the Vitz (Yaris) platform, the body was greatly improved and reinforced. The width of the car is 60 mm narrower than the Prius.
For the Hybrid car mechanism, the same THS2 with a reduction mechanism as in the 3rd generation Prius was utilised. The Atkinson Cycle 1.5 L engine was combined with a newly-designed Type 1LM motor and a nickel-hydrogen battery. The battery was 42 kg lighter than the battery mounted in the Prius, and the car weighs 300 kg less than the Prius at 1050 kg — 1080 kg.73.0 BHP from the engine and 60.2 BHP from the motor was more than enough for its weight, and unlike the Prius, the car was quick off the line. With more rigidity in the front end and suspension mounting locations, its overall ride quality feels sporty.
Most importantly, the car was priced 30% lower on average across all grade models in comparison to the Prius, and its fuel economy was 2.8 l/100 km in JC08 mode standards. The tank capacity of the Aqua is 36 L, which means by calculation it can drive 791.9 miles without refueling.
At the 2008 North American International Auto Show, a concept SUV that appeared too low to be an SUV was shown. The car, called the Land Rover LRX, had a design-conscious styling that went against the traditional image of a squared-off SUV, and was praised around the world.
The crossover SUV which brings the look of this LRX to life is the Range Rover Evoque. Despite knowing that almost all of the orders for the Evoque would be for the 5-door, they still offered the car as a 3-door coupé for its focus on styling. Meanwhile, as a Land Rover, they needed to maintain the high off-road capability that makes them what they are. To this end, they based the car on the most compact Freelander 2 platform, and redesigned 90% of the parts to balance the low body and provide sufficient ground clearance.
The engine is a turbocharged 2 litre inline-4-cylinder with direct injection, producing 236.7 BHP/34.0 Nm. The 1,730 kg body is the lightest of the Range Rover brand, and this power is enough to allow it to be driven like a sportscar. The resulting agility of the car is another characteristic of the Evoque.
The grade models available are the simple Pure, the luxurious leather and wood interior Prestige, and the sports grade Dynamic, with 20-inch wheels. The suspension settings of the Dynamic are also on the sporty side, making it a pleasure to drive on tarmac. When it went on sale in 2011, the Evoque became an immediate hit, with backorders all over the world.
The notable part of this car was the chassis. Renault Sport, who develops cars for one make races and rally machines for Renault, set 2 different types of chassis for this car. One was a chassis tuned for road use, and the other was a 'Chassis cup' spec that also took into account circuit driving conditions. Both utilise a double axle strut which allows the load to be at the centre of the front tyre regardless of the up/down movement of the suspension, and because of this its cornering speed is said to be the quickest front-wheel drive ever.
In 2011 there was a 500-car limited edition model called the the Mégane R.S. Trophy, with engine power raised to 261.3 BHP and with 19-inch wheels. This car was taken to the Nürburgring in the same year for a time trial, and set a front-engine, front-wheel drive record of 8 minutes, 7.97 seconds.
If you have a passion for cars, you already know how fun "just driving" is: your vision blurring with speed, the vibrations telling you the texture of the road, the pitch of the tyres screeching. Just driving on a track by yourself, there is a world of drama waiting for you.
From famous world circuits like the Nürburgring, to the beautiful sunsets of the Tuscan hills, to a neon-lit original Kart course: Gran Turismo has continued to recreate wonderful tracks, and in doing so it also generated stories of your drive.
Gran Turismo 6 will introduce new locations where the drama will continue to unfold: the Goodwood Hillclimb course, a very exclusive track that only a few selected guests had experienced until now, is recreated for the first time in a video game; the Silverstone Circuit, the holy ground of the GT Academy that nurtured gamers into professional racing drivers; and the legendary Brands Hatch of UK fame, for a total of 7 new tracks included at launch. No matter if you’re driving alone or if you are challenging rivals, GT6 will set the stage for your new drama.
Thorough data capturing and GPS surveying enable us to recreate a true-to-life circuit scenery and track, with a precision reaching approximately 1 cm or less in deviation. The achievements of Gran Turismo do not end there however. Take a closer look at the time changes introduced on some of our tracks since our last title.
From the longitude/latitude of the track, the sunrise/sundown hours at the 2013 Le Mans 24 hours, Nürburgring 24 hour race, and the Goodwood Festival of Speed are represented accurately. The environmental changes that happen seamlessly according to the passage of time during gameplay is no longer just a recreation of a track, it’s the simulation of the earth itself.
In Gran Turismo 5, you could set the time for a track. From Gran Turismo 6, the positions of the stars are also accurately recreated. On night tracks you can enjoy a simulated night sky with accurate positions of the stars and constellations. You can watch the passage of time, with the moon and stars moving across the night sky as you would see in real life.
New tracks make for a new game
The world expands with every updates
In a racing game, the addition of a new track has a special meaning: it has a game-changing effect on the experience you’ve had until then, it’s a new uncharted territory ready to be explored.
In the previous Gran Turismo 5 title, four new locations with 10 tracks layouts were added in the form of DLCs after the game went on sale, including tracks like the Twin Ring Motegi and Spa Francorchamps Circuit.
Real Camera Features
Take beautiful photos from the world’s most scenic locations
Photo Mode is another Gran Turismo feature that has proved to be as popular and enjoyable as driving. In this mode you can experience realistic photography using the latest single lens reflex cameras simulated in the game.
In addition to the possibility of taking exciting shots of cars during races, you can shoot stunning photos of your favourite cars in various locations around the world, especially designed to enhance the beauty of the Photo Mode. There will be more new scenery made available including GemaSolar, Spain's fantastic and massive thermosolar plant.
Gemasolar is a massive concentrated solar power plant located in Seville, Spain. A total of 2650 reflector mirrors that are each 9 metres tall and 12 metres wide are arranged in a circular layout, and the facility generates enough electricity to power 25000 homes.
This expansive facility covers an amazing 185 hectares (approximately 457 acres) of land, making it a particularly scenic spot in Gran Turismo. This is a truly unique location where the utilization of limitless natural energy is visualized on a colossal scale.
With nearly 1,200 cars stamped onto every retail copy of the game, it's no surprise that Gran Turismo 6's extensive and incredibly diverse car roster is the game's headline-grabbing figure.
The thing is, all those cars count for nothing if there aren't any good tracks to race them on, so it's good to hear that eight new-to-the-series circuits will be making their GT debut in the latest Gran Turismo game.
And it's five of those that'll perhaps resonate more with the motorsport and car-culture-savvy members of the Gran Turismo community, with fabled venues such as Mount Panorama (aka Bathurst), Silverstone, Brands Hatch, the Goodwood Festival of Speed's Hill Climb Route, Willow Springs and the Ascari Race Resort will all be featured in GT6.
The new fictional tracks also deserve a mention - the all-new Matterhorn and Gran Turismo arenas appear to have a lot of promise, and series favourite Apricot Hill makes a glorious HD return in the sixth installment in the PlayStation-exclusive racing game series.
The area developers Polyphony Digital appears most proud of with regards to its tracks, though, has nothing to do with the surfaces you'll be ricing and dicing for positions on: instead, the official statement goes into great depth over the fidelity of the night sky vistas during after-hours races
What's more, the interstellar scenery at the Nurburgring 24 Hour track, the Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans 24 Hour) and Goodwood are allegedly representations of the real-life night skies, with the placement of the stars and the moon allegedly being within 1 centimetre of their true astrological positions.
It's a feature that won't exactly impact the racing, but it's a nice touch that at least perfectly embodies Polyphony's spirit to achieve visual perfection; to strive for every last detail the hardware allows them to, no matter how small.
All of which is a tad diminished by the fact the Top Gear Test Track hasn't made the jump from Gran Turismo 5 to Gran Turismo 6. Still, when you've got 100 routes at 37 different venues to try out - along with an overhauled Course Maker function - it's likely we won't miss setting our own personal Power Lap times come December 6th.
An Online Mode developed in collaboration with our fans
About 1.25 million people have joined GT5 online in July 2013. Whether it’s thanks to the Seasonal Events updated regularly every week, or the continuous game updates that add new function to the experience or the release of new content in the form of DLCs, our fans have supported the title constantly from the very beginning. And we learned a lot from them.
In contrast to the offline experience where we provide a scenario that is more about "how we want people to play the game", with the Online Mode it is of paramount importance that we provide the right “instruments” to our users, so that they will be able to enjoy racing online in a friendly environment. Gran Turismo 6 will undergo a major evolution, after having analysed how our fans play and having heard their feedback throughout the years. Major features that could not be added with regular updates in the previous episode will now be offered in GT6 as standard.
Many more functions will be added to the Lobby, the hub of player versus player races: just to name a few, users will have the chance to create and share Race Events amongst them, and the proper community tools will be implemented to support this new feature.
These are all improvements that were generated by suggestion and feedback gathered from our online players. Please look forward to the announcement of other online features as we are approaching the release date.
New Online Lobby designed to support your desired play-style here and now
The Online Lobby of Gran Turismo 5 is still popular today, and many users from around the world gather together to race their favourite cars on tracks in highly customisable conditions.
In Gran Turismo 6, features that were not supported officially in the previous title will now be included: online lobby time trials, drift trials and races with qualifying rounds are just a few examples.
Users will also be able to create customised rooms tailored to their favourite play-style and these settings can be saved and shared with others.
Being able to set-up a room with your favourite settings easily, and being able to share it immediately with other users are only examples of the "new instruments" that will be featured in the new title.
The latest technology for the ultimate experience
"I can't exactly explain why, but you can tell that the cars feel totally different. Either way there's no going back to Gran Turismo 5."
That was the common response we received from 1.4 million users after they tried the GT Academy 2013 demo, distributed worldwide for free via the PlayStation®Store in July 2013. Not only the GT Academy 2013 demo presented for the first time the Silverstone Circuit as it will be included in Gran Turismo 6, but it was also a preview of what fans can expect from the latest evolution in technology.
Rather than discuss about the many complicated technical terms, we believe it’s better to talk about the feelings this "new technology” brings to the users. New technology never works on its own; it acts and reacts in conjunction with other technologies in order to create the overall final experience.
It is not our aim to have our fans understand every single detail of the technologies we use, but rather to have them simply say that they can't go back to Gran Turismo 5 once they have tried the new model: if that happens, it means we are on the right track.
Tyre Model
Through the cooperation with Yokohama Rubber, a variety of tyres ranging from “Racing” to “Street” were analyzed. Detailed information and data not available to us until now have been integrated in the tyre
model: the tyre structure, compound, load and changes in cornering force due to the slip angle have been captured, analysed and introduced in our new model. This made possible to create a new “tyre contact” feeling and a level of precision never reached before.
Suspension Model
KW Automotive is a company that has an extremely strong impact in the Nürburgring 24 hour race. Using their 7 post rig, a huge amount of information has been collected for springs and dampers, and we have incorporated this into the suspension model.
Gains due to changes in surface input and differences in phases were recreated in detail, having the player experiencing the same feeling the driver has in a real car.
Aerodynamics
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) is a tool that is fundamental today in vehicle development and motorsports. We have introduced this into the game to greatly increase the precision of aerodynamics characteristics under a variety of conditions.
Changes to downforce due to the body shape, parameters of the under floor as well as differences in speed are recreated realistically, allowing you to experience the complex world of aerodynamics. Our new physics simulation has improved by leaps and bounds, and you will notice the difference as soon as you turn the steering wheel.
At the same time as the PS3 version of GT6 the “Real Driving Simulator” launches, a mobile version and web application version of GT6, will be created to enjoy Gran Turismo’s massive community space.
Real/Virtual "Edge Effect" Activity A variety of "Edge Effects", the chemical reactions between the real world and the virtual world for which the Gran Turismo series is famous, are also planned for GT6. Exciting collaborations between various automotive manufacturers and collaborations with brands crossing different industries will be revealed gradually across the next six months.Adaptive Tessellation
Adaptive tessellation is next generation technology in terms of 3D model rendering. Tessellation involves dividing a polygon into multiple geometric tiles, and in adaptive tessellation, the polygons will automatically
divide and become finer according to the viewing distance and position. This makes it possible to maintain the quality of the renders very high whether you are close or far from your viewing object.
HDR Rendering Engine
In order to more accurately express the wide dynamic range of real life scenery, the HDR dynamic range in Gran Turismo 6 has been made 50 times greater than that in GT5. This prevents over flaring of highlights and black outs in shadows caused by extreme differences in brightness. It also allows natural blurring
effects, better motion blurring which increases dynamic motion effects, and makes the sparkle of lighting more realistic, immersing the player in a truly absorbing atmosphere.
One thing that's not tremendously well illustrated with the road cars featured in the GT Academy demo is the effect of aerodynamic load but, based on time with the game at E3, the new suspension model means that is far more pronounced as well.
As you gain speed in a wing-festooned racer, you'll feel the car pressed into the asphalt and the suspension becomes less pliant. Slow for a tight hairpin and all that downforce is released, allowing a little more play in the springs.
This weight shifting could potentially breathe new life into the rally cars in the game as well. Gran Turismo 5's off-road physics were never quite communicative enough and a better sense of how the car is bucking on its suspension might make the dirt events a less daunting prospect.
I won't know for sure until I try a track with a loose surface, of course - it might just be that you have a slightly better idea of why you slammed into that wall.
"Taking the fast Stowe corner at Silverstone is now a glorious transition from trail-braking to catching the car's weight by rolling off the brakes and onto the accelerator"
As prizes go, GT Academy's not all that bad - succeed and you could eventually join these past Academy winners.
Complementing the new suspension model beautifully is a new tyre formula that, while perhaps not as immediately noticeable a change, is a similarly huge step forward. The main difference is that the loss of grip is far more progressive than in GT5. That means more controllable slides and more moments where you can save a wayward car from spearing off into the gravel trap.
For accomplished drivers, it's about creeping towards the point where the rubber is at the very limit of adhesion, but no further - squeezing the maximum cornering speed out of the tyres before they begin to slip across the asphalt. It's not quite at the promised land of real-time sidewall deflection and tread-block deformation, but the amount of information about how the tyres are behaving beneath you delivered through the steering has increased dramatically.
This new progressive grip model also means that audio feedback is suddenly useful again. Whereas in GT5 the tyres were in a near constant state of noisy distress during a fast lap, now the sound of tyre slip builds as you approach the limit. It's yet another cue that allows you to zero on into that ideal balance of speed and steering angle.
It's worth mentioning that tyre temperatures and wear appear to be handled more realistically, though it's difficult to tell in a demo where they're disabled. A glance at the HUD reveals separate meters for tyre wear and tyre temperatures, though whether Polyphony will go as far as to force you to drive around on cold tyres during the first lap of a race may depend on just how far it's prepared to push casual players rather than inherent limitations in the model.
Elsewhere, the drivetrain and transmission have been overhauled as well, and matching your revs to your downshifts is far more important, though it's a characteristic that's ironed out with even the lowest ABS setting activated. But downshift into too low a gear too early coming into a corner and you'll lock the driving wheels and unsettle the car.
It's much harder to slam down the gearbox and rely on engine braking to slow you down for that 2nd gear hairpin, essentially. What it does mean is that with all the driving aids stripped back, the arcane art of heel-and-toe - where you match the revs at every down-shift - will actually make you quicker this time around.
The GT3 GT-R's locked until July 29 - but if you fiddle with your PS3 clock you can drive it today.
The combined result is that the whole vehicle feels defibrillated. Gone is the rail-like cornering of GT5, replaced by cars that dance across the asphalt under heavy braking and strain to break free through high-speed turns.
Taking the fast Stowe corner at Silverstone in the Academy demo is now a glorious transition from trail-braking to catching the car's weight by rolling off the brakes and onto the accelerator.
Without that progressive sense of grip and the feeling of weight, it would be much harder to perfect and much less satisfying when you did.
GT6 might still necessarily lag behind the more sophisticated PC simulations, which are capable of crunching far more real-time calculations, but the numbers baked into Polyphony's utterly revamped
physics system result in a far more engaging and rewarding handling model. It goes without saying that the best way to experience it is using a force-feedback wheel and pedal set-up, but the changes are profound
enough that the DualShock-wielding majority will benefit as well. Smashing your head against the brick wall that is the GT Academy leaderboard used to be a bit of a chore but this new handling model, and the Academy's time-attack format, reminds you that the driving itself is the end, and not just the means to it.
Photo Mode is another Gran Turismo feature that has proved to be as popular and enjoyable as driving. In this mode you can experience realistic photography using the latest single lens reflex cameras simulated in the game.In addition to the possibility of taking exciting shots of cars during races, you can shoot stunning photos of your favourite cars in various locations around the world, especially designed to enhance the beauty of the Photo Mode. There will be more new scenery made available including GemaSolar, Spain's fantastic and massive thermosolar plant.
Gran Turismo's long taken a battering for deficiencies in its artificial intelligence. For years the game's AI drivers were renowned for slotting into single file moments after the start and dutifully following each other round in an automotive conga line.
And within hours of the recent GT6-powered GT Academy demo appearing, there was already a video of five AI cars performing a comical 'after you, I insist' routine to try and get around a parked player.
But the secret that driving sim fans know, which isn't necessarily apparent to those whose blood doesn't run thick with gasoline, is that if the physics are good enough it's an irrelevance.
With the right handling model, the only entertainment you need is a circuit, a vehicle and the stopwatch. There's almost endless room for improvement chasing the perfect lap and satisfaction comes from the tactile pleasure of driving as close to the car's mechanical limits as possible.
The GT Academy demo, which challenges players to set just such a hot lap around Silverstone, is the first opportunity to spend some quality time with a mathematical model that has seen substantial improvement since Gran Turismo 5.
The carefully considered and curated car and track list is supported by a completely overhauled physics engine making gameplay even more dynamic and realistic, a new interface, and enhanced online functionality to allow you to tailor your multiplayer gaming sessions as you wish.
It's the product of new technical partnerships with tyre manufacturer Yokohama and suspension company KW that has seen more real-world data informing the game's physics. This might not be the final version we'll see in Gran Turismo 6, but it's already a world apart from the previous instalment.
The effect of the suspension tweaks will be immediately, visually obvious. Prod the brakes and the car's front bumper will plunge towards the asphalt. Throw it into a turn and the outside wheels will disappear into the wheel arches. In practical terms, this means a much greater sense of the heft of the vehicle and a much better idea of where that weight is moving at any given moment.
The technical innovation in the game also extends to hugely ground-breaking technology that will see in future updates a new game feature known as ‘GPS Logger’. The GPS Logger will employ the GPS function of your phone or tablet and Gran Turismo’s in-game Course Maker to recreate your everyday school run or work commute as a circuit – the trip to college or work will never be the same!
And while juggling all that lurching weight might sound like an extra responsibility that's going to result in more high-speed accidents, it's actually usually the opposite. Now when the rear end breaks free you're far more aware of the building forces that caused it, making it easier to inch towards the car's cornering limits.
Having said that, if you're brave enough to play the game with ABS switched off entirely, you'll have to be far more conscientious about braking in a straight line. Mash the brakes with one side of the car 'loaded up' and you'll lock those wheels, causing a blur of scenery and a backwards trip into the barrier.
GT Fans – Having announced Gran Turismo 6 in May at an event celebrating 15 years of Gran Turismo held at Silverstone Circuit, the game’s legendary designer Kazunori Yamauchi released further details and a new trailer at PlayStation’s E3 press conference recently.
With over 1,200 cars available at launch (including new FIA GT3 cars), new locations on a grander scale (such as a fascinating location featuring the Gemasolar solar power plant in Spain), new physics, new tire, suspension and aerodynamic modeling, next generation 3D adaptive tessellation and an HDR dynamic range 50 times greater than GT5, Holiday 2013 cannot come soon enough.
To enhance your GT6 experience, we are proud to announce the most extensive and robust pre-order offer for GT to date through participating retailers.
To start, we wanted to make sure our GT fans start off with the most current and unique vehicles that only GT6 can deliver:
How would you like to start your Gran Turismo 6 experience this Holiday with 20 unique vehicles? To properly celebrate the 15-year legacy of Gran Turismo, the Gamestop-Exclusive 15th Anniversary Edition includes 16 additional cars as well as your own customized paint chips, race suit, helmet, PSN Avatar, and a copy of Beyond the Apex II app. Each of the combined 20 vehicles will have their own unique enhancements, either visually or performance upgrades.
Polyphony Digital Inc. is a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., and is a software developer entity. Originally a development group within Sony Computer Entertainment, the creators of Gran Turismo established Polyphony Digital Inc. in 1998.
Cumulative sales of PlayStation® software titles developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. have exceeded 70.02 million units worldwide (as of Mar 2013) across the Gran Turismo series.
Polyphony Digital began as a development team within SCE, but became an independent company in 1998, the year after the release of its first title, Gran Turismo.
Gran Turismo is SCE Worldwide Studios' most successful series in its history with games bearing the Gran Turismo name selling in excess of 63 million. Gran Turismo excels at providing all the thrills and danger of motor racing while driving the kinds of cars most people can only dream of. This combination of racing game and car simulation has topped the charts on every single PlayStation® platform, including AIAS(The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences) Console Game Of The Year twice - one for the original Gran Turismo, and one for Gran Turismo 3 in 2002.
Polyphony Digital Inc. also developed Tourist Trophy, which brought the essential experience of motorcycle racing to PlayStation®2, with over 100 licensed sports bikes and unrivalled physics and graphics.
In addition, Polyphony Digital Inc. has produced simulations and demos for many major car manufacturers, including Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, and Honda, for both in-house and promotional use. The studio has also collaborated on a range of cutting-edge projects including the Red Bull X2010 Prototype, the GT by Citroën concept car and the Nissan GT academy, a virtual-to-real racing competition.
Over 140 people are employed at Polyphony Digital Inc.'s offices in Tokyo, led by Kazunori Yamauchi, the director of the Gran Turismo series. The studio's ultra-modern offices cover more than 2,600 square metres, with areas designed to allow places to sit, stand, walk, talk, write, read, listen, and discuss - all key activities conducive to product development.
As for you geniuses that commented when you were told not to... Nothing...Nothing at all...
