Inside Polyphony Digital’s “Gran Turismo Explore Studio”, Directed by Takuya Asano

gran-turismo-explore-studio

An interview with Polyphony Digital’s Takuya Asano has shed light on the “Gran Turismo Explore Studio”, a specialized creative space designed to help the company develop collaborative projects with other brands such as those seen in the recently announced Vision Gran Turismo project.

Before joining Polyphony Digital, Takuya Asano worked for Nike in their own “Explore” department. That’s where he met Kazunori Yamauchi, and the bond between Nike and Gran Turismo was first made:

takuya_asano“How I got involved with Polyphony is actually a funny story.

“Gran Turismo creator Yamauchi heard that a lot of PlayStation execs were visiting Nike. Mostly the sports gaming guys, and he thought, “that sounds interesting… can I come?” That’s why he came.

“At Nike, there were a lot of carheads, or car nuts, and I was one of them. The guy who started Nike Explore (Ray Riley), a former Apple guy, was a carhead too.

“He told me the Gran Turismo guy was coming and I told him I speak Japanese so maybe I could translate. And they said “why not.” That’s how we met and then Kazunori and I became good friends.

“What’s funny is, that’s the only thing that resulted from that meeting. It was supposed to be for a sports game project. (laughter) We still laugh about what a coincidence it was for him to come along to the sports game meeting…”

nike-one-gt4Takuya’s interview, published by design blog Paperhouses, describes the fascinating history of the Nike One project and the goals of Polyphony Digital’s Explore Studio in more detail.

Architecture firm Yeh Studio has more photos of Polyphony Digital’s creative space. Thanks to amar212 for the tip!

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Comments (61)

  1. binbin90

    that black sofa with the chrome thingys on the first photo, people seem to like that design, I’ve seen so many of those already……lol sorry for the completely unrelated comment….:P

  2. LR-MR-Cole

    Can anyone tell what the last car in line was @ 2:50. Its hard to tell what it is and its the only one I do not recognize.

  3. loser10

    PIT CREW,dude when someone criticized GT6 for sound nothing,when I criticize physics WAR!chill out pal!simracingtonight test GT6 DEMO WATCH IT!

    1. Pit Crew

      All im saying which you repeatedly choose not to understand, is there is a proper forum, on this website to post about TTs, and encourage players of GT5 who are interested to come and participate in your challenge.

      You don’t have to troll the same challenge or wisecrack gimmicky title you applied to GTs physics model, in a news blog that’s not even addressing what you are referring to.

      Oh and the GT6 demo isn’t playable anymore so how would anyone be able to compare the feel, going by your logic and setup?

      I criticised GTs sound to but unlike you I choose not to do it continually, in every blog even when the news topic has nothing to do with sounds.

      I see your catching feelings so i’ll ignore your broken record ramblings from now on.

    2. Johnnypenso

      Trolls are like pigeons…if you feed them they keep coming back and try to crap all over you. Don’t feed the trolls.

  4. littleregret265

    If I could bother y’all for one quick second, what’s the name of the song at the latter part of the concept movie?

  5. JohnScoonsBeard

    I am really looking forward to GT6 and driving the concepts BUT having read the full article I have to say making analogies between shoes and cars is marketing gibberish. Someone a little overexcited just because they worked for both a trainer company and PD. For balance, thanks for posting. A good find. Still interesting.

  6. Mr C5 Z06 Vette

    I want the nike one and toyota motor triathlon car in gt6 they both look strange and preform strange (the toyota handles like crap and I forget about how the nike handled) it would make for some fun online racing at le mans

  7. SnakeOfBacon

    Well, I’m really hoping that the Nike One returns, while at the same time very interested to see what the Nike Two shown in the Vision GT trailer can do

  8. biftizmo

    Kaz wanted to do F1 type events. they were to greedy……if you cant pay them of then off…then take them over…
    ….Now that’s Vision

  9. biftizmo

    ???? Is here any concept car in the history of GT, that then became a production car…for real…if not then i think this is going to change. in the future i see Topgear showing a clip of a car only in GT demanding it go into production..its time to stop playing games and move into the motor industry…good thinking PD….rock on…

    1. Eyes Fried Open

      i think there has been a few. im pretty sure the Mazda 6 was a concept in gt and the RX8 was definatly a concept on GT before they went into full production.

    2. Swagger897

      umm… not so sure about the 350 being released in game before rl (searched but to no avail), but I think you are correct with the GTR..

      what I read this morning which i thought was cool, is that gran turismo designed the multi-display in the center console.. Pretty cool if you’re asking me from just a game..

    3. WingZeroCustom

      Yeah the cars I know of are the 350Z was a concept in GT3 as well as the RX-8. The Mazda 6 was a concept in GT4 along with the GTR R35 and Inifinity FX45 (SUV) Concept in there as well. There was also the Infinity G35 concept in GT4 also if I remember correctly. Not sure on that but there was the new G37 Concept in GT Proluge for GT5 which had the production model as well. So GT has had concepts that have become production cars. The Chevy Silvarado in GT4, I think they had the Cadillac Cien as a concept in GT4. Not 100% on that.

  10. tpark103

    These are the types of articles that male GTP so great. Finds like these are just a treat. This community is a true joy to be a part of. After all the years being a fan of the series it took me a few years to join GTP but, I’m glad I did.

  11. ZedMan1996

    That was certainly a very interesting article. Gets me thinking as to how the concept cars will flow in the game and what aspects of them are expressed in the game.

    Very excited about the Gran Turismo Exploration project! Seems very promising!

    1. sayba2th

      It does make for good food for thought. The execution I think will determine how well people receive the Vision GT project

    1. Whodoyouthink

      They would if there was any. It’s not like they are conservative and hold back on any juicy info. They are savage lions just like us and bite at all the GT6 news they can get. You’re ignorant to think that they would weigh GT6 less important over something else. They just posted this to reach a different audience.

    2. sayba2th

      The story is relative to the vision GT concept which is a part of GT6. So you got GT6 news just not what you wanted it to be about.

  12. loser10

    Hello boys!
    Let’s see who can really drive!
    Go to dealerships and buy FERRARI 458 Italia 546BHP no oil change ,stock,all settings by default including brakes front-5 rear-5,all aids off,abs off,real grip.
    Put in front-sports medium and rear-sports hard tires.
    Then go to arcade mode-time trial-nurburgring nordschleife and try to beat my best time 7:15:914 with this setup.
    When you drive you will feel weight distribution better than in GT Academy 2013 demo.
    Physics also is better than in GT Academy 2013 demo.
    This setup will separate men from the boys.This is how this car is handling in real world.
    Good luck!

    1. Pit Crew

      Think it’s best to post something like this in the GT5 online competitions thread, sub forum Spot Races & Time Trials.

    2. sayba2th

      Interesting comment L10, “This is how this car is handling in real world”, as usually you posts about GT having simcade physics….just saying……However decent time posted. And agree with PC re posting in the comp thread.

    3. Eyes Fried Open

      When you say this is ow it handles in real life i find it really hard to believe that you have ever driven, let alone been on the same block as a ferrari 458 italia. Get back in your Lada and head toward that sunset buddy.

    4. Pit Crew

      Dude no one in this blog is going to take you seriously. I pointed you to an appropriate place in the forum where you could maybe find someone to take you up on this challenge but instead you continue to try and bait members here in the blog, which isn’t even close to talking about anything related to racing.

      It’s also been stated by the forum administrator/ founder that the GTAcademy 2013 build and the one Jordan T-12, and a third administrator played at gamescom are significantly different so the fact you keep comparing your setups to GTA 2013 build is proof you don’t pay atttention to anyone who knows more then you, however you seem to demand to be listened to.

      Bravo to you for sitting back one day and brainstorming a “catchy” little criticism you could apply to GT driving physics then becoming a new member and deciding to troll the news blog with said phrase to garner attention, but at the end of the day, it’s a null and void attempt to get any serious mature members to take you up on that challenge.

      If OPs like this are going to be your only contribution to GTPlanet then yes maybe you shouldn’t go into the main forums with your opinion.

      Yes there are real drivers here but your attitude has labeled you as a “Persona non Grada” so your efforts to get anyone to comply to your request are pretty much dead on arrival.

      Good day.

    1. Pit Crew

      ^ Not confirmed, only that Nike has a concept model chosen to be introduced in GT6.

      At this time though the GranTurismo website (nor the gtplanet gt6 car list I believe) does not list any of the concept models by name in their masterlist, only the collaborating manufacturers.

    2. sayba2th

      I don’t know Nomad, looks like the Nike one has the Gemasolar photo mode location backdrop going on. Could see the return of this in GT6. Agreed not confirmed however the pic has to beg the question.

    3. Synapticgap

      If you look closely, you can see the GT4 stamp on the image. Glancing pictures and skimming articles make for poor comments. Do read and pay attention before saying/asking redundant comments/questions.

    4. sayba2th

      Ok after having to get about 10cm away from my screen I saw the tiny print with GT4, there is a difference between skimming an article and glancing pictures as opposed to fine tooth combing it.

    5. Pit Crew

      Synapticgap for real, all that extra criticism about skimming or glancing at the picture wasn’t even called for, that’s how flame battles get started, too much of that in the blogs lately, besides that does look like the same backdrop in the Nike1 car pic is the same as the one in the Vision Gran Turismo Pic/Video. Sayba2th didn’t mean any harm by thinking it may be in GT6.

    6. sayba2th

      If my comment re the Nike one looking like it was @ Gemasolar when it’s actually from GT4, which was pointed out to me and duly noted has caused any consternation re possibly being in GT6 based on what I initially saw, then apologies extended.

    7. sayba2th

      And correct PC it was not my intention, glad that you can see where my mind was at without noticing the “fine print” on the image hence my initial impressions which I stood corrected on.

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