I’m very excited to announce that I will be personally attending the Gran Turismo 5 Launch Party in Madrid, Spain, this Wednesday, November 24th! Sony has been keeping very close wraps on what’s in store for the event, but it’s definitely going to be very big, and very special… It’s more than just a party, and should be a real treat for all automotive enthusiasts and the general public – be sure and stop by if you’re in the area.

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Keep an eye on our friends at TaxiGamer – they’ve got a copy of Gran Turismo 5 and proper HD video capture equipment, and have already shared the game’s intro and two race replays in glorious quality with a promise of even more to come. The original MP4 video files are also available to download, so you can load them up on your PlayStation 3 console to see what’s in store for you next Wednesday. Check out all of their GT5 content right here!

Reports are coming in from France that several local retailers, in an attempt to snag extra sales, have already started selling Gran Turismo 5 – much to Sony’s chagrin. Above, you’ll find a video from GTPlanet reader Pablo, who provides evidence of his copy (along with a receipt) purchased from FNAC Bellecour in Lyon, France. Others report in our forums that Micromania have also started placing the game on store shelves. Good luck tracking down an early copy of your own!

Thanks to Planete-GT, who already have their hands on a copy of the game!

Thanks to RDK, Szmissz, iCyCo, and hsoomal!

UK retailer ShopTo.net tells INC Gamers they’re bringing in all warehouse employees over the weekend to handle what they’ve described as possibly their “biggest ever pre-order”:

According to emails I’ve received from retail employees around the world (and this Signature Edition unboxing video from GAME), shipments of Gran Turismo 5 are already being delivered in preparation for Wednesday’s big launch. There’s even widespread reports that one store in France – which I won’t name – has informed its customers they’ll be able to pick up their copy today (Friday), but we’ll have to wait and see if that pans out… For now, check out this batch of more than 750 copies of GT5 delivered to a store in Canada. Thanks to Anthony for the pictures!

Video game retailer GAME.co.uk has received shipment of the Gran Turismo 5 Signature Edition, and shares this “unboxing” video to reveal what’s inside. Owning the Signature Edition of the game, of course, grants you access to the GT5 SLS AMG Challenge, where you can compete in-game to win your own real-world SLS AMG. The SE is still in stock and available for pre-order at GAME.

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Amar212, infamous GT insider and founder of Croatian fan-site GT Surgeons, finally has his hands on a copy of Gran Turismo 5! Instead of sharing pictures or videos, though, he’s focused on providing hard-core fans with all the details in a comprehensive and thorough review of the game. This review isn’t about comparing it to other racers or whether or not the title is worth your money – it’s a detailed study of how each new feature in GT5 actually works and how the gameplay unfolds.

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) and Polyphony Digital Inc., in collaboration with Nissan North America, announced today the opportunity of a lifetime for gaming and racing enthusiasts — the debut of the GT Academy in the U.S. Starting December 20th, fans can compete in Gran Turismo® 5 exclusively on the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) for a chance to make dreams of becoming a race driver with a professional team a reality. Registration for the GT Academy competition begins on December 6th, and fans who think they have what it takes can find more information about the program at: http://us.gran-turismo.com/.

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As observed by PlayStation LifeStyle, Gran Turismo 5 suddenly became very popular after the game’s official release date announcement last Friday. Within 24 hours, the standard version of the game topped Amazon.com’s video game “Movers & Shakers” list with a 1,300% increase in sales rank. The more expensive GT5 Collector’s Edition came second on the list, with an 823% increase, followed by the 160GB PlayStation 3 console with a 236% increase. Impressive numbers, to say the least!