Guys, think back to the days of Rage Racer (PS1). Three tracks (not including reverse and mirrored) and twelve cars! Wow!! Spectacular!!!

Ahh,well. Give peole the world and they want the whole universe too!!

Struggle to pass them by any chance ;)

I think the license test was probably the best part of the GT series since its inception. Feels great getting gold on the top license and being awarded the best cars (Toyota GT - One in GT2 )It was such an original simple idea and has been copied by so many since. The very first test in Gran Turismo 1 - driving a dog slow Mazda MPV in a straight line and learning where to brake. Sounds so simple but I bet 95% of people failed it at the first attempt. Learning where and how to apply the brakes is the very essence of learning to drive a car on a track properly, something most console racing 'games' in the past had no concept of properly implenting. It was revolutionary, a very fun and clever way of getting the player to learn how to drive faster.

I enjoyed the license tests too, although I was frustrated at first that there were only a few cars and tracks available when you began. The Gran Turismo wasn't a great game to rent because of this, but it sure made me want to buy it.

When GT4 was released I was just recovering from back surgery and most of time durng day I had to lay on bed (while not learning to walk again). I had all time for Gran Turismo 4. Didn't mind licenses much since I played at least silver for every license before even trying the career mode.

Also before career mode, I went complete all challenges for gold too. When I finally start career-game itself, I had plenty of unique cars. I still went to buy that used crap Mitsubishi and battle in low levels for upgrades and wins.

Unless I get major injury to recover again I doubt I have so much time for GT5 as I had with GT4!

I'm not sure which way you're hoping for after that.

No, I just think it's a waste of my time. You ever notice how easy it is to out brake/drive the AI cars?! Other than the enduro/24hour stuff I always did it myself. Gotta love cheat codes!

Well, passing licenses with bronze was not problem since time limits were set very low. Only annoying thing on more demanding licenses were full lap out of track moments which lead immediate disqualification. Gosh, it was frustrating in last corners of Nürburgring!

Unless you were not after perfection and some unique cars, you didn't have to try get all licenses gold. Bronze license open you all races and events.

I can't see reason why people are whining about license test.

No license test ever came close to Mission 34. Video games rarely give me a genuine adrenaline rush, but sailing the boat that is the SLR down the final straight and knowing you're probably going to lose it again under braking and let that old Merc creep over the line a second ahead of you again will do it.

Sounds like you got better!

I did not like GT4's Le Mans test, because I could not get the gold in that. With a wheel, golds should be attainable to all. Although my table wobbled like heck, I thought if I had had a better setup, I'd have been a bit quicker. Then the buttons failed on the wheel (used for gearchanges) so I learn't how to use the gearshift. That in retrospect was a plus, as it added another skill requirement!

That wrotten LeMan Sarthe test, was such a long test, I spent a few hours on it. If I played the game, I'd start by having two attempts.

Then on one test, I was doing nothing special, and I was well under the gold ... then I came up to the slow right hand after the back straights, and the car ran wide ... the gold was in the bag, and I blew on a very straight forward corner . I still think it was not me! I am still convinced there's a random generator in those tests, that sometimes gives you a better time, out of thin air. I could run LeMans with very consistent times outside of the test, but in it at LeMans, they weren't so consistent.

Yeah in the mid-high speed corners those LMP cars darted around all over the place. Rule no1 of hotlapping - do no pay attention to your split times! I find potential for cock ups increases massively after seeing you are on for a pb. The reality is you can always improve or do worse s just concentrate on doing a good lap and youll reach your potential.

I just didn't have the time to do the same test over and over and over and over again to get a gold, or even a silver. And frankly, after passing the test once, the repeated tries just to-in effect-press a series of buttons in the correct order and at the correct time is just wearing. Frankly, I don't see the point of forcing one to pass the tests, at least if you've passed them in the previous generation of the game. I mean, really, if I've passed all of them then I'm not really learning anything anyway, and it's just an exercise in masochism to do it umpteen zillion times. I feel the same way about those stupid missions-many of them are extremely difficult and require hours and hours of play to pass them. I understand it's meant to extend the re-playability of the game but it's hardly fun-the exact opposite in fact.

Wm.

When I got GT4 I became quite obsessed with getting all golds with just a gamepad. Which is why I felt the need to post, because I did it, and like telling people about it.

Thanks.

Figuring out how to get gold is figuring out how to go faster. Thats the whole point.

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2009/12/03/...ble-time-trial/

Basically it's a demo of GT5 with 1 car (Nissan 370Z) and 1 track.

Nice! I wonder if it would have damage!

According to GTPlanet, the featured car will be both a stock and tuned version of the 370Z (road and race versions?) and the track is likely to be either Spa or the Indianapolis Grand Prix circuit.

With the retail version of GT5 still several months away, this will at least be a good opportunity to try out the physics model. Less than two weeks now. Looking forward to it!

And article on the chap who won the last GT Academy competition.

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/162101,...ack-racing.aspx

I don't think knowing the time hurts at all!

My method for the tests was not to rev the engine out until I got Silver. Then with the extra revs available, Gold was straightforward, except for that Sarthe circuit. That was painful because it was such a long test ...

My favourite Gold run was in GT3, with the Toyota GT1 Le Mans car, around the Monte Carlo circuit. At the end of the start straight, you'd turn right and go up the hill. The trick with the Toyota car was to exit the straight and go up that hill all in 3rd gear, instead of exiting in second (and maybe even first was possible out of the corner). Just leaving it in third stopped the wheelspin and gave great traction up the hill on the way to Casino, and gained almost two seconds. An awesome "cheat" that was a lot of fun ...

I hated those challenges and lisense testes too MAD BAD!

In GT3 i had 99% only lacked that one challenge with that RUF thingy. I hate those aids you are forced to drive with too.

I never used aids. Much more fun that way.

Only car i rutinely had aids on was the f1 car as it would lock the rear wheels off trottle in first.

Thinking of getting PS3 to give this a bash - does it require GT5 prologue or just demo download?

The GTAcademy Facebook page specifically says you don't need GT5 prologue:-



But you must be in the following countires, and not hold a national/international racing license.



What I can't find out is, whether the download is free or not.

I used to switch on the traction control, which helped tyre life.

I recall those RUF tests, through the left right left right etc. corners, and I remember I got Gold with the non aided car quite easily, but the aided car was a bitch! It was annoying because the cars felt so different. I guess that is one of the things they were teaching! I'd bet now that you'd get it easily.

It all sounds very exciting, I'm looking forward to getting stuck in! Though I have to admit my chances of making it are minimal ;) I'm a good half second out on my average laps of the top level pace.

So the track for GT Academy is the Indy GP circuit then

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGNeHlfJU6I

GT Academy event sponsoring http://www.autosport.com/ background!

Think Im going to get my early PS3 slim christmas present this weekend

Wow...the competition is pretty fierce. My first few laps has left me about 5 seconds off the pace with automatic transmission and my dear old PS3 pad, compared to the guy at #1 with a 900 degree steering wheel. I reckon if I change to manual, I can get to within 1 to 2 seconds, but that's for tomorrow night, when I'm not so tired! My concentration isn't all that right now.

Blah. I wonder if the missus will let me "invest" in a steering wheel?

I'm within 1.5seconds on the pad but there is nothing left to go any faster, that leader guy is a freak, i downloaded his lap. i don't think its the steering wheel making the difference, i can match his corner speeds, but his braking is later, harder and deeper into the corner and i can't seem to do that on the pad.

Drove few laps with pad and standard Nissan 370Z and got 1:53.040 as best.
I like how car handles, but felt like fine sand on track surface.

A little bit of background on me, just so you know where I'm coming from. I've been a video game developer for 11 years now, and my speciality is vehicle simulation, so I know a little bit about how input methods can make a game better or worse. So, here's my reasoning on how the wheel (and pedals) make a difference.

While the sticks on the PS3 pad are pretty sensitive (I think the range is -512 to 512) the potentiometers are not all that accurate. There's a massive deadzone on the sticks too, which means the small movements you would make on a steering wheel are lost. The sticks don't allow for very accurate movements or being able to hold a steady position within say 3 to 4 digital steps, which is very important when steering under braking, where over steering as much as half a degree can be bad.

The same goes for braking pressure...the pedals are much better at being able to hold a certain value and have more room for the user to make small changes than the stick. Not to mention using left-foot braking for improved stability when accelerating out of corners too. There are a whole range of factors as to why a wheel is better than the pad, and why it could be worth 2 seconds or more in the right hands.

A really good example is turn 1. In order to carry some good speed into the apex of the s-curve, you need to break a little late and steer while you gradually let off the pressure on the brake and ease the throttle in at the same time so that you don't loose rear traction. I've seen the top guys replay too, and he has absolutely NO back end movement on the exit of that s-bend into the hairpin and is just as smooth on the exit of turn 2.

You just can't achieve that sort of smoothness with one analogue stick, at least, not in my experience.

Cheers, that's interesting info. What can you tell me about the r2/l2 buttons. I use those for throttle and brake, makes it easier to seperate the inputs and it also feels more comfortable to me. I wouldn't expect it to have the same range as a pedal set but i would be interested to hear your thoughts on the differences as some of the pedal boxes ive used don't have a huge range of motion either.

I get weird pains when using the shoulder buttons!. They have a pretty good range too, going from 0 to 512 and it is quite a bit easier to hold them at a certain position compared to the stick. My problem with them, is that my knuckle joints hurt something fierce after using them for too long!

This might fix the left-foot braking problem, but a new one is introduced. How are you going to up-shit and down-shift? The issue I have is that your hands move when trying to access other buttons during shifting which messes up my movement on the braking and throttle buttons. Depending on the size of your hands, this might not be an issue though.

I've tempted to bring my PS3 and HD monitor into work, as we have a big racing seat with wheel and pedals right next to my desk

Look at the times on the current GT5 time trial challenge. If you download the replays of the fastest laps, you can see that they all use a wheel and pedals.
The PS3 controller could have used better triggers with a greater range. As it is, it's very difficult to modulate throttle with the controller -any button is just binary on/off.
When driving in "professional" physics, it's impossible to get a fast time with the controller alone.

Many pedal sets have a poor range of motion because 99% of customers just mash the pedals anyway. This is because console driving games are arcade games.

I'm solidly in the 3'23's and my laps are full of errors hehe, good fun !

Was going to get a PS3 slim for Christmas for the GT5 comp and the imminent release of the full game. Console was sold out on tesco direct (I get 10% off) so thought Id hold off and just read this http://www.techradar.com/reviews/gaming/ga...b-634714/review. Looks like theyve reduced the build quality a fair bit and it isnt much smaller. Theyve merely reduced the least critical dimension (the thickness). Seems like the storage capacity is the only real plus. Might just find a 60gb original model, pocket £100 and still be able to play Ps2 games. Any thoughts anyone? Any further news on full game launch?

Oh if only.


I'm just outside the top 5000 at the moment having spent a few hours playing.

Tenmantaylor. I have one of ther origial 60gb machines. Compatibility (PS1/2/3) is a bonus, as well as the 2 extra USB ports, micro SD card reader etc. Storage space is not such an issue as it's easy to upgrade the hard drive. One minus point is that these machines tend to run very hot, I use an extra external cooling fan. As to the price the original machines tend to hold their price quite well so, if you see one really cheap, beware it could be near the end of it's life.

Tony.

GT5 will now also include IRL cars and tracks. When will it stop and be finished?
We will have NASCAR, WRC, IRL, Super GT and about 900-1000 other cars in the game, can they pull it off and make a good game for all discipline? Or will it be a Race Driver (first PS2 game in the series), more quantity then quality?
http://www.gtplanet.net/night-racing-weath...firmed-for-gt5/

/Viktor

Box art:

Is it going to feature Sebring Race Track?

I know Forza 3 has it, but I have a PS3 not an XBOX.

I want a PS3 Game that has Sebring in it.

I have the Demo Of Prologue,(free ps3 network Download) so should I buy Prologue the game in store?(or is it too a demo? I know it's a shortened game)

I want to get New GT when it comes out. maybe I should wait?

Jose

Jose,

Free demo from psn store is upgraded HD demo of Gran Turismo 4. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is demo as well but with few tens of cars and handfull of tracks, It's up to you if you like to spend couple tens of USD on it and if no further delays GT5 should be published between March-June (Well it's nothing new GT games are further delayed.. ).

You might want to try GT 5 Academy demo which is free and includes two cars and Indianapolis GP track. Physics are close what it will be in GT5.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/busi...icle6985939.ece

Delayed once again.

Starting to think this is gonna be like Duke Nukem Forever (vapourware), or will be the first release for the PS4!

Steve.

Well to be accurate, March 2010 was the first time Sony or PD ever officially announced a release date for GT5. And that was only for the Japanese release. We all assume, and probably correctly so, that this game has been repeatedly delayed. But it's probably more precise to say it's development has taken longer than we ever thought possible. What I'm hoping is that Sony has simply thought it best to have a universal release for all versions during the summer. But time will tell.

Wrong, best estimates from Amazon is November 2010 for the Christmas season, and I really doubt that.
I fail to see why Japan gets a version a year early.

I think this game will never be released. Maybe it's a very old 1 April joke? They might announce it on 1 April 2010?

Let's wait and see, despite delays I'm sure game will be released someday, some year.

Considering that PS3 is an international game console. Why can't we just buy that version. It can't be but so hard to figure out the game manual. I too hate the fact that this game is taking forever to release though!

Ivan, I don't think it's been confirmed anywhere the GT5 will be localized. European and North American release day was never confirmed but given hints it might be early summer of 2010. For Japan release in March was delayed, but said it doesn't effect on NA and European release. Could that mean every one gets their game on same time when summer?

I'm not sure, I guess that is possible though.

Any chance that it will be issued in 3D? I learned today that the PS3 can be upgraded to play 3D Bluray, which surprised me. That could be a big help on judging braking distances!