GTPlanet

Editor Jeff Rubenstein from the “Official” PlayStation Blog interviewed Kazunori Yamauchi last month during E3, and has just now shared the video with the world.  For regular GTPlanet readers, there’s nothing here that you don’t already know.  However, Yamauchi made a few interesting comments that are catching some attention:

“We always set very high goals and ideals for our games, and the GT5 trailer that you saw [at E3] is a very small portion of what we’re working on.  And as long as we actually achieve our goals and fulfill our expectations, I’m sure it would set the new industry standard.”

Jeff also invited questions in the accompanying blog post, mentioning that “US producers” for GT PSP will be leaving their own post on the PlayStation Blog soon.  So, if you missed out on the first chance to submit questions, head on over to their comments and leave a friendly note.

As you may remember, GT Academy winner Lucas Ordonez is competing this summer in the GT4 European Cup with the Nissan PlayStation team.  Here’s a video catching up with Lucas and his teammate Alex Buncombe while they discuss their latest race in Germany.  No spoilers here -- you’ll have to watch the video to see how they do -- let’s just say they are making Gran Turismo fans everywhere very proud!  As always, GTPlanet wishes Lucas the best of luck, and we’ll continue to bring updates on his progress throughout the rest of the season.

For those of you who may have missed last year’s GT Academy competition, watch the full GT Academy Experience right here.

Just want to remind everyone that GTPlanet’s Facebook Page officially launched last week – if you’re on Facebook, please become a fan!  Much like our Twitter feed, you’ll find more interesting links, forum threads, and videos that didn’t make their way onto the main news blog here.  When you become a Facebook fan, some of our updates will appear on your main “news feed” for the site, just like those from your friends so you won’t miss a single bit of GT news.  As you can see, our Wall is also open, so feel free to use it to spread the word about your latest forum topic or competition.

While we’re on the subject of Facebook fans and Twitter followers, don’t forget to join our 1,300 subscribers on YouTube for all the latest video content from GTP.  Thanks for your support!

The Logitech G25 was one of the first steering wheels to introduce a clutch pedal and gated 6-speed shifter.  It’s success has prompted other wheel manufacturers like Fanatec to jump in the game, fueling competition in this niche market to new heights.  Now, with the G25 pushing 3 years old, everyone is watching Logitech to make a move.

Rumblings about their next device have been occuring in all corners of the web, but we’ve just nabbed the best confirmation of the new wheel thanks to the keen eyes of GTPlanet reader “Homerfreak”.  One of the developers at Codemasters accidentally included the Logitech G27 in the list of compatable wheels for their new game, DiRT 2.  Unsurprisingly, the post was quickly edited, but not before Homerfreak wisely nabbed this screenshot.

This isn’t the first time the G27 name has been mentioned, though – if you take a look around the web, you’ll not only find rudimentary information, but pictures, too!  Of course, nothing has been confirmed officially by Logitech, but here are a few changes you can almost certainly count on from leaked photos:

• Thicker steering wheel.
• 6 buttons on the wheel.
• Shift indicator lights.

Few people gave much weight to these pictures when they surfaced late last year.  However, although the final design could obviously change, GTPlanet can independently verify their authenticity for now.  It’s important to closely watch the development of Logitech wheels, given the company’s long, close relationship with Polyphony Digital.  It would not be unreasonable to expect the G27 to hit at roughly the same time as GT5… Stay tuned!

Polyphony Digital’s Citroën GT is set to become one of the most expensive “production cars” (if you can really call it that…) sold today, coming in at £1.1 million pounds or approximately $1.8 million U.S. dollars.  AutoCar got the scoop from “senior inside sources”, who revealed that only six of the cars will be made -- all of which will be powered by either a “Ford or GM V8″.  That’s considerably less than the 20 production models that were hinted at before, but according to AutoCar, “most of the concept’s features should make the final production version, including the carbon-fibre construction and eccentric interior details such as the copper trim.”  Sweet!  The final production version of the car is expected to be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

While you’re saving up, check out this video showing the GT’s recent tour around London.

In a short but sweet interview with AutoWeek magazine which must have fallen through the cracks with all the other E3 news, GT series creator Kazunori Yamauchi stated that “We will give the release date of Gran Turismo 5 soon.”  The question remains, though – just how soon is “soon”?  Speculation is mounting in our forums, with many pointing towards the upcoming Tokyo Game Show this September 24-27.  Aside from taking place on Polyphony Digital’s home turf (their offices are located in Tokyo), the 2007 TGS show is where they announced the release date for GT5 Prologue.  While this is just speculation, you can see the pieces of the puzzle would fit together quite nicely.

Another surprisingly interesting portion of the interview came when Yamauchi was asked about Gran Turismo 1’s development:

AW:  How hard was it to make that first game?

KY:  It took five years. In those five years, we could not see the end. I would wake up at work, go to sleep at work. It was getting cold, so I knew it must be winter. I estimate I was home only four days a year.

He also mentioned the original game was created by a staff of only 7 people!  Oh, how things have changed….

Since E3 earlier this month, the entire GT community has been looking forward to the release of July’s PlayStation Official Magazine, after last month’s issue promised a major Gran Turismo 5 feature article.  Early this morning, the new French edition started hitting newsstands, and it didn’t take long for scans to hit the web – for all the wrong reasons.  No new information could be found, and the screenshots were simply lifted from the official E3 trailer.  Some are still holding out hope that the UK or US editions will contain fresh content, but that’s extremely unlikely.  We’ll keep an eye out just in case…

People keep referring to this magazine as “OPM”.  However, that’s the acronym of the now-defunct “Official PlayStation Magazine“.  The new magazine is called the PlayStation: The Official Magazine.  Both were/are associated with Sony, which drove speculation that they would use their own media property to announce new information about GT5.

This little game just keeps looking better!  Take a closer look at the Ferrari Enzo and the Nissan GTR V-Spec in these impressive new screenshots.  For the skeptics, take a look at this gameplay video footage.