Gran Turismo 5′s “Weather System” is “Done”
In the latest issue of the Official UK PlayStation Magazine, Kazunori Yamauchi made yet another statement about the questionable status of Gran Turismo 5‘s weather system:
“Night racing is going to be a part of GT5, but with things like dynamic weather, the choice is about whether it will improve the experience. The functionality is not a problem – we’ve got the weather system done – but if we are not sure about the quality of it, and how it improves the driving experience, we are not going to have it in the game.”
He has expressed concern with dynamic weather affecting the “quality” of game for some time now, remarking that Polyphony Digital is simply “experimenting” with such a feature. By confirming that its implementation is actually complete, he may have greater confidence the weather system will, ultimately, make the cut.
Yamauchi also made it clear that he has no intentions of sending GT5 out the door without all of its content and features:
“Let me be clear on this. There is a massive amount of content in this game, I don’t think there are many teams that put as much into a game as we can. The launch of the game isn’t a start, we are releasing a full game. Everything we want to put into the game is on the disc when it ships. Having said that, we do have a sizeable online team that will look after it once it’s launched.”
As you may or may not be aware, there is an ongoing “debate” about updating games via the Internet. On one hand, it gives developers the opportunity to fix any bugs or problems after the game hits store shelves. On the other hand, they may be more likely to sell a game with known problems or with a lack of content just so they can meet a particular deadline. Fortunately – and perhaps, unsurprisingly – Yamauchi remains focused on quality.
One final comment, however, does cause concern:
“They’re spending less time with a single game and this is reflected in the design of GT Mode.”
Although see GT5′s “GT Mode” surely won’t be as inconsequential as what we saw in GT PSP, this statement still makes those of us who enjoy the enduring challenge of GT games just a little bit uneasy. Thanks to calvins48 for sharing this interview!
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Newest comments are displayed first.
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November 25th, 2009 at 2:42 pm - #CroatianGTFan
This is the latest news if you didn’t know:
I’ve just finished reading the latest edition of Official PlayStation Magazine UK with their “huge” GT feature. And, to be honest it is huge, spanning over 10 pages chroniclling GT’s 11 years history and 13 games. It dedicates 4 of those pages to the present, with 2 about GT5 and another 2 about the GT Acadmey.
If I’m gonna be honest, nothing really NEW is revealed like we expected, all it talks about is what we already know, graphics, and how good GT5 is gonna be. GT5 was road-tested at least and things to report back include “a brand new sense of feeling between the car and the tarmac”. Apparenty one can “feel exactly when the car’s about to lose control”, AI has also been siginifcantly improved. “AI drivers are now a lot more aggressive, trying to block you from passing any way they can, and in a sensible, realistic fashion.” One other thing was that audio now changes significantly depending on the camera view. True, this has been present in past GT games but GT5 has apparently turned things up to 11.
OPM also included a list of features that will be present in GT5. After visiting PD’s offices, they found out the following (word for word):
950 cars, 70 circuit layouts and 20 variations.
The ability to fully damage and deform 170 of the cars and scrape up the rest.
Motorsport licenses in the shape of NASCAR and World Rally Championship, including famous drivers like Miko Hirvonen.
A fully featured online mode including open and private lobbies, photo and race replays, and a replay output to YouTube.
Electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster.
The Top Gear Test track and, hopefully, the Chevrolet Lacetti and Suzuki Liana – the show’s Reasonably Priced Cars.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which yearly hosts the Indy 500.
A new physics engine and moveable objects on the course such as tyre barriers that come apart when you smash into them.
Progressive downloading for GT TV videos and the option to export them to your PSP.
Animated pit crews.
And rumour has it that a track editor will be making its series debut in GT5.I know you’re thinking, “so what’s new?”. Well, from the way it was written “70 circuit layouts” could mean more like 70 circuits, rather than 20. The inclusion of famous drivers could mean another layer for the game. And has the Indianapolis Motor Speedway been confirmed before?
Sorry there isn’t more news.
Calvin 48 -
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 am - #Black Chamber
@W89rnr – Let’s hope so!
I have all the confidence in the world that rain will make it’s way into GT5!
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November 22nd, 2009 at 2:27 am - #W89rnr
I’m pretty confident this will make the final cut for gt5, especially of kaz is so open about the subject this far from the game’s release
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November 21st, 2009 at 6:56 pm - #noname
Weather System? Beautiful! It might just be me, but i’ve been to the “Le Man” race, and anyone who have been there, knows how the experience is. I would love to drive the 24 hour race, while slowly see how the sun goes down and turns into night racing. Perhaps some rain also.. But I think we will have to wait for the PS4 to make that happen ;(.
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November 21st, 2009 at 7:40 am - #Black Chamber
I would rather have rain in GT5 than DLC.
If they had to cut the number of cars on the track back to 8 due to the addition of dynamic weather, I would still love the fact that GT5 had dynamic weather over the issue of how many cars are on the tarmac.
Still, 10 cars + dynamic weather + day/night races sounds perfect to me – now, lets hammer out the “20 world locations, 70 tracks” issue. ;)
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November 21st, 2009 at 12:42 am - #Tek9[R]
Wow! Great news, I can’t wait for GT now. I hope they don’t give up on DLC, I would like to get new cars that aren’t included at launch. Couldn’t PD create demos of features that they wanted to perfect on one track, with 4 cars (FF, FR, AWD,&MR) and let us beta test them. they could generate cash while geting info. I think it’s time for smaller GT5P size games, If GT were to be focused down on a specific theme like Nascar, WRC, F1, Ferrari…..the quality would be insane!
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November 20th, 2009 at 6:30 pm - #Gudproyect
No no no no, the weather system MUST be included.
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November 20th, 2009 at 11:45 am - #Black Chamber
@styer – It can.
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November 20th, 2009 at 6:20 am - #styer
If the frame rate and textures will be hit by weather effects , I don’t want it. I don’t know if ps3 can handle a lot of cars with damage effects and weather all at once.
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November 20th, 2009 at 12:58 am - #Black Chamber
How could adding realistic weather conditions affect the game “negatively”?
Active rain would only serve to increase the realism and enjoyment of Gran Turismo 5 – by a lot, actually.
Bring on the rain Kazunori-san!
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November 19th, 2009 at 8:25 pm - #Sam__ NY
O yes and lets not forget the Top Gear Test track at dawn.
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November 19th, 2009 at 8:24 pm - #Sam__ NY
@Zenith @ralph89
No, (my links don’t work). But just look at the GT by Citroen Debut video. It shows a night race in tokyo and Daytona in the evening. Plus the first ever video of GT5(E3 07) showed the Nissan Fair-lady Z running at night as well. That’s as much proof as I have to offer. I rest my case.
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November 19th, 2009 at 8:13 pm - #ralph89
@Sam_NY
It was not confirmed back in 2008, it was just a hint that there’s gonna be a weather. But right now nothing is still confirmed with dodgy answers. Until we can see the proof in gameplay video, weather in GT5 will still be a mystery to all of us until the game is released.
P.S. Can someone call PD? Yell at them and tell them to show just the 1% of the game. :)
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November 19th, 2009 at 6:19 pm - #Rick
I’m satisfied with night racing and 1000 cars. we don’t need anything else. publish the game now please.
you only have [less than] 4 months!
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November 19th, 2009 at 5:15 pm - #Zenith
@sam_ny
do you have a link to prove it? -
November 19th, 2009 at 4:50 pm - #Sam__ NY
Why does everyone think this weather feature is something new. Weather was basically confirmed back in 2008.
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November 19th, 2009 at 3:39 pm - #MSH
The final concerning comment can also be pointing to what Kaz said in an earlier interview about GT Mode, that it would be easier to unlock/buy cars.
I hope they won’t make less races or something than in previous GT games if that’s what he means, that would be a shame.
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November 19th, 2009 at 2:09 pm - #adam
@aleksandar
Although I do a bit of online gaming and I enjoy it; I totally agree with your comments.
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November 19th, 2009 at 12:55 pm - #HaVoK_
Why is weather such a big deal? A wet track like the ones in gt4 would be fine..
GTPlanet on Google+
GT5 is a simulator. So why should not we have simulated weather? I do not have PS3 but if all the rumors are correct, then I probably do not refrain from buying it.