Gran Turismo 5 Asia Online Tournament 2011 Launches
Sony Hong Kong is launching an interesting new “online tournament”, starting September 1st, open to players from Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The tournament consists of three regional and cross-regional rounds of competition, with some hefty prizes up for grabs, including a GT5-Edition Tissot watch, an Apiga AP1 racing seat, a Thrustmaster T500RS steering wheel, and over HK$10,000 in PSN vouchers.
The most curious thing about this competition is the second and third rounds – their outcomes are based on real, live online races between the regional semi-finalists. The contest’s terms and conditions offer a bit more insight into the logistics:
The 14 semi-finalists will be divided into two groups with seven participants in one semi-final. Each semi-finalist will be competing against semi-finalists from other six regions. PSN team will send an “Add Friend” invitation to all semi-finalists before the day of the semi-finals. On the day of the semi-final and before the match, PSN team will send a “Game invitation” inviting semi-finalists to join the match. By accepting the invitation, semi-finalists can then join the match. Semi-finalist who fail to accept the invitation in time will be disqualified.
This is the first time any Sony-sanctioned competition has played out through live Internet races instead of leaderboard-based time trials. What’s even more interesting is the vehicle restrictions (or lack thereof) for these races:
Participants must use the designated car model Nissan GT-R Spec V (GT Academy Special) in [Round 1] regional tournaments. However, there is no limitation on car models, brake system (AT/MT), car lanes, traction control system, anti-skid brake system, ASM and ABS used in semi-finals and final matches. These are part of the competition. Participants shall be responsible for their own choices.
In other words, if you show up in anything less than a Red Bull X2010, you probably won’t stand much of a chance. This seems like a missed marketing opportunity for an automotive sponsor (such as Nissan or Mercedes-Benz), but will surely make for some frantic and frenetic races with so much at stake.
All the official rules and entry details are available here – good luck to all GTPlanet participants! Thanks to shem for the tip.
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Newest comments are displayed first.
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September 3rd, 2011 at 2:38 am - #duludolo
Wait. For those in malaysia, you need a region 3 disc to play the event?
Well that sucks. I have a region 1 cd. :(
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September 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 pm - #kevin
Me too man, my dad got the disc from some gaming shop and I didn’t know about the ‘region’ thing. Now I can’t even get the GT Academy Special car. :(( Would you trade ur disc for a region 3 disc these few days? Only got till 6th of September. If you would, I just might join ya. ;)
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September 3rd, 2011 at 1:41 am - #wetwetwet
3 sept login gt5 seasonal event, in Malaysia with region 2 Disc, but i cant see the online tournament event, anyone can help?
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September 3rd, 2011 at 1:54 am - #Muzaffar
you need a region 3 disc imo.
Tried to enter the US GT Academy, with a US account but you still need to have a region 1 disc to see the event.
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September 2nd, 2011 at 1:43 pm - #Muzaffar
I tried competing but I think its impossible to be in the top 10 without a wheel. Too bad my G25 had died just when I wanted to use it in GT5,
and as good as the HKS controller is, its no match for those racing wheel. =( -
September 2nd, 2011 at 7:11 am - #Jay
Australia and Antartica always miss out on everything.
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September 1st, 2011 at 11:47 pm - #ucwepn
Australia is in asia Boooooo hisssss we always miss out :(
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September 1st, 2011 at 3:21 pm - #Lambob
May the best pre 1.11 FF fixed LSD car and driver win!
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September 1st, 2011 at 12:40 pm - #GTP_Jump_Ace
Why o why couldn’t our GT Academy been done in this format instead of letting those who have the most free time to compete?
In real life you get one chance, one shot not 1,000 restarts to win.
So aggrevating….
But also very exciting. I sure hope the US GT Academy takes note of this!
Jerome
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September 1st, 2011 at 7:51 am - #Nsubordinate
“GT5-Edition Tissot watch, an Apiga AP1 racing seat, a Thrustmaster T500RS steering wheel, and over HK$10,000 in PSN vouchers.” all these prizes and the one that caught my eye was the vouchers. Could that be a hint at DLC?
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September 1st, 2011 at 9:16 am - #funrun
Is that GT5 Tissot watch only a “regular” Tissot watch as shown in the link above? Cause I don’t see any GT logos on it? Or are there other pictures of it somewhere else?
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September 1st, 2011 at 5:37 am - #PIGBOY
My 50,000 miles between 2 x2010s would do me good,as usuall Australian’s are left out
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September 1st, 2011 at 5:35 am - #Ericiscoollike
I was in Hong Kong a few weeks ago :( should have stayed there for longer :(
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September 1st, 2011 at 2:45 am - #Normalaatsra
I got in No.2 in the Indonesia region! Hopefully it’s still there. :P
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September 1st, 2011 at 4:03 am - #chieh6412
you are no.10 now,try harder mate.
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September 1st, 2011 at 2:09 am - #DRIVER2183
Brunei darussalam is not included…. why????
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September 1st, 2011 at 6:42 am - #TheEDGE
Also Philippines
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September 1st, 2011 at 1:58 am - #daics69
I wish australia was in the asian tournament. seems to get left out of every region…
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August 31st, 2011 at 11:01 pm - #AlphaAndius
Oh I hope the rest of the Western World gets similiar contests. XD
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September 1st, 2011 at 7:22 pm - #Slint
Since when were Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in the Western World? Freudian mind slip on your part?
Anyway, yeah, i hope the rest of the regions have their own version.
Is there ever a GT World Champion?
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August 31st, 2011 at 10:34 pm - #IDCI
If they send us the friend request and our friend list is full when they send it… Thats means im disqualified? Lol
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September 1st, 2011 at 3:53 am - #That_guy100
It says if the “GAME invitation” is not accepted, not the friend invite. Sometimes it helps to learn how to read.
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August 31st, 2011 at 9:23 pm - #EliteDreamer
Hmm… Thrustmaster… or watch? THings to consider…
Too bad I’m not in either of those countries. :( -
August 31st, 2011 at 9:17 pm - #gogatrs
If they’re truly quick enough to make it to the semi finals, I’d imagine that the participants could come to an agreement to all use Fiat 500s or something like that.
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August 31st, 2011 at 9:08 pm - #Zuel
If it does come to the states we’ll have to many people cheating like in the last event. Using the PP system in a Online Tournament is a very bad idea.
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September 1st, 2011 at 9:12 am - #funrun
So Americans are the only ones in this world that would take advantage of a PP system? Geez, what a great stereotype.
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August 31st, 2011 at 9:02 pm - #Zuel
If it does come to the states we’ll have to many people cheating like in the last event.
GTPlanet on Google+
The tourney has ended. Congrats to ID: physicsII for winning the final race.
For those who want to try the challenge:
Round 1:
Nissan GTR Spec V, stock.
tires : comfort medium
Skid recovery : ON
else free
bestlap reference : 58.9xx
Semifinal and finals
Nurburgring 24h
lap reference 4:17.xx