Gran Turismo’s “New Era” Begins: Full Coverage of GT5′s Madrid Launch Party
I just got in from the Gran Turismo 5 launch party here in Madrid – packed with media representatives from around the world, it was a fitting way to celebrate the end of GT5′s long and dramatic development. Here’s what I learned:
- Yamauchi announced that the launch of Gran Turismo 5 marks the beginning of a “new era” for the GT series. GT5 will be regularly updated and expanded in the coming weeks and months, and there are apparently many exciting things in store for us.
- The first United States GT Academy was just announced last week, and now there will be yet another GT Academy for SCEE regions! Stay tuned for the official announcement.
- I had the privilege of personally meeting Kazunori Yamauchi. Having followed his work so closely for more than a decade, this was an amazing honor. I found him to be kind, friendly, and humble as he thanked me for my support of the franchise throughout the delays.
- I was also fortunate to meet and talk with Kazunori’s infamous translator, popularly known as “Translator-san”. He was also kind and pleasant to talk with, and if you’re playing the US version of the game, he’s the one responsible for most of the English translations throughout the menus.
- Why does Ferrari have the only F1 car in the game? While talking to a marketing representative for one of the manufacturers in GT5, I finally received an answer to this perplexing question. It all comes down to licensing and Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. He commands control of the licensing for all of the cars in the series, with the exception of Ferrari. For reasons known only to Bernie and Ferrari, they have a special provision in their F1 contract which allows them to license their cars to whomever they please.
- I chatted with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe executive James Armstrong, who laughed when I reminded him of his accurate prediction that Gran Turismo 5 would launch this fall (I picked up his comments to a newspaper in the Canary Islands thanks to a local tipster). He mused, “Really, I just got lucky that time!”
Take a look at this first batch of pictures from the event – I’ll upload more (along with video) shortly. Tomorrow, I’ll be participating in Kazunori Yamauchi’s first post-GT5 question & answer session. I have a lengthy list of things to ask, but as always I expect our time to be limited and I will prioritize them as best I can. Stay tuned!
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Newest comments are displayed first.
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November 25th, 2010 at 4:59 pm - #d360
I wonder what the DLC will contain.
Maybe a premium Bugatti Veyron-
November 25th, 2010 at 5:44 pm - #viejaloca
Yes, I too hope they start by making every car premium!!!
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November 25th, 2010 at 3:37 pm - #Michael
Maybe they can release a ‘make game not suck’ pack
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November 25th, 2010 at 3:49 pm - #Benny44
Maybe they could release you to forzaplanet.
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November 25th, 2010 at 3:24 pm - #Napoleon_Ist
why is there a tuna ?! :|
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November 25th, 2010 at 2:37 pm - #RADracing
@ Jordan. Which one are you in the photographs?
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November 25th, 2010 at 1:09 pm - #James
Hey Jordan can you please ask about our games save files?I am using another PS3 because mine is broken and would like to transfer my game save over when i get my new PS3.I really don’t wont to lose 20+hours of gaming as of now.
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November 25th, 2010 at 3:07 pm - #therealgriff
I believe It has been stated already that save files are encrypted and can not be transferred for ps3 to ps3.
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November 25th, 2010 at 3:23 pm - #James
I know that.I want him to ask if they are planning on removing the copyright protection on it so i will be able to use it when i get my PS3
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November 25th, 2010 at 12:59 pm - #Schumito
All… forget it to have all the F1 cars in GT. It is impossible. I am a devoted follower of Formula 1 and I can assure you that Ecclestone will give nothing out for “free”. Codemasters have the rights for F1 2010 and do not expect anything else. It would have been great to have F1 in GT but considering how Posh and High Class F1 is considered, Ecclestone will never leave F1 cars race on all the tracks Kaz decides to include in the game… F1 cars on F1 tracks.
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November 25th, 2010 at 12:24 pm - #XBL_Harrold
Was really disappointed when i went to gamestop to buy GT5. It isn’t out on the XBOX360 guys!! So hopefully he will say something about the release of the x360 version this week.
Fingers crossed.
-H
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November 25th, 2010 at 12:28 pm - #infamousDee
Gran Turismo will never be released for XBOX360. The company that develops the game, Polyphony Digital, is owned by Sony.
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November 25th, 2010 at 12:31 pm - #SHIPARCH
Dude, Gran Tursimo will never be released on the Xbox, it belongs to Sony, its not a multi-platform game. I suggest you go out and buy a PS3 along with the game.
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November 25th, 2010 at 1:00 pm - #Schumito
is the guy serious? Uwejja you must be joking mate!!! :)
PS(Uwejja is a word in Maltese, means come on!!!!)
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November 25th, 2010 at 3:38 pm - #Michael
LAWWWWLLLL
Has to be a joke though :\
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November 25th, 2010 at 11:38 am - #GT4ever
Look like a great party! Did you get some nice goodybag at the end of the mening? And if so, what was in it?
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November 25th, 2010 at 11:13 am - #tyl0r_r
MYSTERY SOLVED? Translator-San’s real name should be somewhere in the localization credits if this story is true! :D
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November 25th, 2010 at 8:19 am - #Kingchesh
Just been on gran turismo official website. They are having problems with the amount of traffic that’s why gt5 has been working extremely slow . Sometimes it’s take 2nd 3 mins to load anything up . They have said not to sign into psn network and play the game . This should stop any long delays. They said they are working on it and hope to have it sorted so.
Could anyone let me know how to start a mew topic please -
November 25th, 2010 at 7:09 am - #MikePL
Jordan, please ask the man to take his translator San, go to GTP Forums and check out the First Impressions thread. It may inspire him to think of some updates already.
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November 25th, 2010 at 6:50 am - #Paul Mc
Wow thar look insane! Ferrari 458 is gorgeous looking.
Only had an hour or so with the game. It’s great.
I’m a bit annoyed that the signature edition is not numbered. Loses a bit of value. Oh well.
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November 25th, 2010 at 6:17 am - #seinfeld
That is very cool that they have a full size X1. I wonder if Red bull and Adrian Newey take that car seriously and are developing it, wind tunnel testing etc.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if that actually turned a few laps at Spa or something. Amazing if it were to happen. Not to mention the race to get a car like this running and blowing F1 times out of the water.I guess what I am trying to say is I really want this to happen so F1 gets some enthusiasm in the FIA / Engineering departments to keep pushing the design, as we have had this type of F1 car for quite some time now. The wings have changed, But all we have is the same Mid engine, Conventional engine/ Gearbox. And aero that has been used in essence since down force was used in the 90′s properly
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November 25th, 2010 at 2:36 pm - #Sparty McFly
Chances are the X1 is non-functioning.
Seinfeld, no matter if you’re the show or the man or whatever, but I think it would be very difficult to get the X1. The description in the YouTube video says that at full throttle it pulls 8Gs, which is probably more than a fighter jet pilot pulling a knife-edge turn (or equal to that). Not to mention the fact it has a 450 km/h top speed, which would make it very difficult to handle.
Pilots (not drivers, pilots) would probably need specialized training and require fighter jet G-suits and g-force training, not to mention there may have to be limiters placed due to the fact that an untrained man would black out from the force of full throttle.
However, it would be very cool. A Formula X1 league would be awesome to watch, but it would get really bad PR if somebody died. Or crashed.
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November 25th, 2010 at 5:26 am - #missionfailed
WTF, that fish photo! Was that dinner?
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November 25th, 2010 at 4:56 pm - #d360
Hmmm Tuna……
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November 25th, 2010 at 5:09 am - #idlestation
So many beautiful cars.. all in one place. No one would notice if one went missing rite? muwhaha
Bernie Ecclestone *shakes fist* :K
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November 25th, 2010 at 5:04 am - #Foxiol
Amazing!! Also my Signature Edition finally arrives at this moment and the game is installing…woo hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
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November 25th, 2010 at 4:49 am - #PlayGT5tilludie
Great job Jordan! I will certainly keep visiting this site now the game is out.
Nice to have confirmation on DLC as well, because honestly the game does kinda need it…
And the event looks huge btw, didn’t expect it to be so massive! -
November 25th, 2010 at 4:02 am - #Tvvisted
Wow looks like a great even cant wait for todays Q&A. Jordon which one are you in pictures :D Have fun!
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November 25th, 2010 at 3:42 am - #Crazy88
Can’t wait for some of the updates and this is a game which needs them. Absolutely loving the game but some issues need addressing.
Long live gt5
GTPlanet on Google+
Anyone know when the servers will be back up?