Over the years I've learned not to get too excited when a new chapter of GT is announced- wounds from GT5 still lingers when I see the words 'Expected Release Date' from PD.
Even so, the intoxicating previews and promises yet again found my ever so vulnerable wallet wide open and my trusty FGT wheel makes its comeback in the living room- all to the dismay of the wife, who throws her hands in the air but know full well that I just don’t care that it ruins the ‘modern elegance motif’ of the living room.
Like many, all I wanted to know was one thing. When the first flurry of Youtube gameplay videos were out, I don't remember watching any of them- I only remember listening to them. (In hindsight, the GT6 'start your engine' preview trailer that had virtually no engine notes should have been a clue... whereas Forza had nothing but actual game play exhaust notes).
In the interest of full disclosure and at the risk of getting mobbed on this forum, I should mention that for the first time, I have found myself playing Forza 4 exclusively once completing both games and all the new glitz and glamour calmed down during the previous chapters of the game. Surprisingly, most of my mates felt the same way, which I thought was interesting as I always thought and felt GT offered so much more realism and depth for me to explore long after completing the game.
So enter GT6.
The attention to detail were mesmerizing as advertised and that alone felt like I was getting my dollars worth. When you have a game with split second details that even calls for the LED DRL's light up differently than the main Xenon lamps on the same unit, that is showboating on a different planet... like the moon *wink, wink*.
Over the past 15 years, PD created an environment and a marketing position with so much depth and possibilities. With GT6, they weren't shy about exploring/exploiting the edges of what can be done. There are a lot of people who weren’t happy about the ‘gimmicky’ stuff like driving on the moon, but I was honestly applauding them because only GT could do such a thing. Forza could never get away with stuff like that.
Needless to say, driving up the Goodwood Estate and watching the sunset over in Willow Springs whilst driving an old Ford GT40 was simply spectacular. As someone who has been to every Goodwood Event for the past decade or so, having a go up the hill was a bucket list item I ‘virtually’ checked off.
I wanted this game to be good so bad because I felt the GT franchise was moving further away from what I expected with every new series. I don't know if it's just me, but it felt like Kaz was becoming more like James Cameroon with Avatar... so much attention to detail, so much disregard for the large story. It was visually stunning yet so clinical and flat.
I’ve been wondering how or why a thing like sound got lost in the list of priorities. Contrary to popular belief, sound is nowhere near difficult to be created accurately. I’ve had a chance to work with a lot of sound engineers lately who who creates accurate digitalisation of the exhaust sounds because of the *cough* artificial enhancement interior sounds *cough* on performance cars lately, and they all agree it’s not a technical issue at all.
My theory is that Kaz is defining the Ultimate 'simulator' simply by virtual lap times vs. real lap times, sort of like how real Formula 1 driving simulators are made. After he races his car in real life, he wants his time and look to be exactly like it on GT.
The difference is that the F1 simulators simply disregard the emotional aspect of the 'simulation' and only focuses on accuracy to get better numbers. I applaud his drive for this accuracy, but that’s where we diverge.
For me, the ultimate ‘simulator’ must have the emotional accuracy as well as the numerical accuracy.
GTis was the best tool for me to experience the cars that I could never own... for years, I felt like I earned and owned the cars on GT. There was an emotional connection to the cars, the races, and the game... but when the emotional aspect of the game was being taken away I simply stopped enjoying it... In the past, it was a joy to drive even if it was grinding for more money. Now I start up GT6 and it simply feels like a chore to do anything. The only happy people on GT6 are the ones who race online where they can interact with each other.
GT6 celebrates its 15th anniversary, which means I've been driving on GT for close to half of my life. I am the generation that grew up on GT and it's an understatement to say that it has help shape and define my automotive world.
When I come back from watching a race, or when one of my dream cars go by on the road, I want to be able to feel that car when I drive it on GT. After I came back from a GT practice at Silverstone this year, I fired up GT6 and I kept wondering if PD has ever been to a race before they made this game. The crackle, pop, gear whine, and that raw, oh-so-angry loud exhaust note sticks with you long after the race, but none exists on GT6. There are Dyson fans that have livelier sounds than GT6.
There is absolutely no question that GT6 is an incredible technical achievement. However, it lacks the soul and story for the player to be submersed and feel an emotional connection, more than ever. That’s where Forza does very well, IMHO. People want custom liveries and better sounds for that reason. We cry for them to listen, but their complete lack of interest or communication signals a very serious disconnection.
For the past 15 years, I have given unlimited trust to the GT franchise. I’ve worked summers during my youth to just be able to buy the game and I have pre-ordered games sight-unseen. However, for the first time, I know I won’t buy GT7 until I have read reviews and tested the competition first… that sounds insignificant, but that should signal a monumental concern to Sony and PD- people are losing trust.
It’s a shame, really. All they need to do is listen.
Even so, the intoxicating previews and promises yet again found my ever so vulnerable wallet wide open and my trusty FGT wheel makes its comeback in the living room- all to the dismay of the wife, who throws her hands in the air but know full well that I just don’t care that it ruins the ‘modern elegance motif’ of the living room.
Like many, all I wanted to know was one thing. When the first flurry of Youtube gameplay videos were out, I don't remember watching any of them- I only remember listening to them. (In hindsight, the GT6 'start your engine' preview trailer that had virtually no engine notes should have been a clue... whereas Forza had nothing but actual game play exhaust notes).
In the interest of full disclosure and at the risk of getting mobbed on this forum, I should mention that for the first time, I have found myself playing Forza 4 exclusively once completing both games and all the new glitz and glamour calmed down during the previous chapters of the game. Surprisingly, most of my mates felt the same way, which I thought was interesting as I always thought and felt GT offered so much more realism and depth for me to explore long after completing the game.
So enter GT6.
The attention to detail were mesmerizing as advertised and that alone felt like I was getting my dollars worth. When you have a game with split second details that even calls for the LED DRL's light up differently than the main Xenon lamps on the same unit, that is showboating on a different planet... like the moon *wink, wink*.
Over the past 15 years, PD created an environment and a marketing position with so much depth and possibilities. With GT6, they weren't shy about exploring/exploiting the edges of what can be done. There are a lot of people who weren’t happy about the ‘gimmicky’ stuff like driving on the moon, but I was honestly applauding them because only GT could do such a thing. Forza could never get away with stuff like that.
Needless to say, driving up the Goodwood Estate and watching the sunset over in Willow Springs whilst driving an old Ford GT40 was simply spectacular. As someone who has been to every Goodwood Event for the past decade or so, having a go up the hill was a bucket list item I ‘virtually’ checked off.
I wanted this game to be good so bad because I felt the GT franchise was moving further away from what I expected with every new series. I don't know if it's just me, but it felt like Kaz was becoming more like James Cameroon with Avatar... so much attention to detail, so much disregard for the large story. It was visually stunning yet so clinical and flat.
I’ve been wondering how or why a thing like sound got lost in the list of priorities. Contrary to popular belief, sound is nowhere near difficult to be created accurately. I’ve had a chance to work with a lot of sound engineers lately who who creates accurate digitalisation of the exhaust sounds because of the *cough* artificial enhancement interior sounds *cough* on performance cars lately, and they all agree it’s not a technical issue at all.
My theory is that Kaz is defining the Ultimate 'simulator' simply by virtual lap times vs. real lap times, sort of like how real Formula 1 driving simulators are made. After he races his car in real life, he wants his time and look to be exactly like it on GT.
The difference is that the F1 simulators simply disregard the emotional aspect of the 'simulation' and only focuses on accuracy to get better numbers. I applaud his drive for this accuracy, but that’s where we diverge.
For me, the ultimate ‘simulator’ must have the emotional accuracy as well as the numerical accuracy.
GT
GT6 celebrates its 15th anniversary, which means I've been driving on GT for close to half of my life. I am the generation that grew up on GT and it's an understatement to say that it has help shape and define my automotive world.
When I come back from watching a race, or when one of my dream cars go by on the road, I want to be able to feel that car when I drive it on GT. After I came back from a GT practice at Silverstone this year, I fired up GT6 and I kept wondering if PD has ever been to a race before they made this game. The crackle, pop, gear whine, and that raw, oh-so-angry loud exhaust note sticks with you long after the race, but none exists on GT6. There are Dyson fans that have livelier sounds than GT6.
There is absolutely no question that GT6 is an incredible technical achievement. However, it lacks the soul and story for the player to be submersed and feel an emotional connection, more than ever. That’s where Forza does very well, IMHO. People want custom liveries and better sounds for that reason. We cry for them to listen, but their complete lack of interest or communication signals a very serious disconnection.
For the past 15 years, I have given unlimited trust to the GT franchise. I’ve worked summers during my youth to just be able to buy the game and I have pre-ordered games sight-unseen. However, for the first time, I know I won’t buy GT7 until I have read reviews and tested the competition first… that sounds insignificant, but that should signal a monumental concern to Sony and PD- people are losing trust.
It’s a shame, really. All they need to do is listen.
