So, GT Sport is upon us and it marks a new chapter in the franchise. Alongside many "missions" and the online, there is the notable omissions of the classic campaign. Initially, I had the impression that this was because Sport was a stop-gap before GT7. However, it has become apparent that this represents a significant and permanent change of direction for the franchise - one into esports and the online world. This kind of innovation is fine and is in-and-of-itself of no concern to me. Maybe the angel is in the detail, but what does concerns me however is that this direction is to the exclusion of the traditional GT career mode.
I think that this could be a significant mistake and I wonder if it is a needless one at that.
There are a couple of reasons why,
Firstly, the "Gran Turismo experience" is quite specific, deeply set and holds a place of affection in the hearts of many. This is an incredibly rare, enviable and fortunate position for a franchise to be in, but it also means that it is difficult to change if you want it to satisfy consumers and continue the success of the brand. Other brands have realised their own luck in this regard and gone for evolution over revolution - to great success. For example, the Mario franchise has virtually never abandoned its core, original experience because consumers have demonstrated time and time again that they will happily pay for and replay new versions of the same game - and even the actual same game re-released many times - assuming the quality is high and it is a core experience that can be enjoyed well into the future. Indeed, Nintendo has been able to sustain its entire existence thanks in no small part to this phenomenon. The notable exception for Mario was Super Mario 64. However, that game's success is because it was executed to a very high standard and in a very unique and specific set of circumstances; including the birth of 3D gaming, at the start of a wildly different generation, and where fewer rivals of a comparable standard existed on a popular platform of not that many games.
GT Sport however looks like PD is trying to leave behind its own core experience - a more Sonic-esque approach, if you will. After about two decades of trying their best to ruin the brand, SEGA has finally realised their mistake and allowed a fan to release a game that takes the franchise back to its core experience and refines it. The result? A smash hit game and one that is critically regarded as one of the best games in the franchise. This is a clear statement about what kind of thing consumers will pay for, enjoy and keep returning to, in my opinion. Alas, PD is arguably going down the earlier SEGA route and this is in danger of alienating fans - something PD has already risked thanks to numerous delays on their products over the years, a GT5 that was clearly unfinished (and that also tried to mess with the GT experience) and a lack of progression in some important (most aesthetic) areas of the game relative to their rivals.
It's also potentially needless because the GT mode is not - I understand - an especially labour-intensive process in the Gran(d) scheme of things. I am no programmer, but if this is true, it seems pointless to throw away this core experience when retaining it would require such a relatively small investment. Again, perhaps the detail of the way the GT Sport vision needs to be implemented prevents the inclusion of a GT mode, however.
But if the compatibility of the future with the past is the problem, then at this point you would be better off calling it something else entirely (which is my final concern). Numerous franchises have tried to cash in on a name whilst attempting to change what it means (a clear and recent example of this is ALIEN Covenant), and have left fans feeling underwhelmed, alienated, confused and disappointed. Some even get angry.
So, I argue that PD should seriously consider how confident they are in their vision for GT Sport. Does it necessitate the exclusion of the traditional GT mode? If not, I would very strongly encourage them to consider its inclusion at the earliest opportunity (whether that's this game or a future iteration). Preserving the GT experience requires little creative and arguably technical effort and will help draw dollars and eyes to any other features that might be part of the innovative future of the brand. Then, if/when this vision is more established in the future, it will be easier, less alienating and jarring to load up a game from a brand that has gradually evolved with its player base, than one which carries a familiar name, but an alien experience.
I think that this could be a significant mistake and I wonder if it is a needless one at that.
There are a couple of reasons why,
Firstly, the "Gran Turismo experience" is quite specific, deeply set and holds a place of affection in the hearts of many. This is an incredibly rare, enviable and fortunate position for a franchise to be in, but it also means that it is difficult to change if you want it to satisfy consumers and continue the success of the brand. Other brands have realised their own luck in this regard and gone for evolution over revolution - to great success. For example, the Mario franchise has virtually never abandoned its core, original experience because consumers have demonstrated time and time again that they will happily pay for and replay new versions of the same game - and even the actual same game re-released many times - assuming the quality is high and it is a core experience that can be enjoyed well into the future. Indeed, Nintendo has been able to sustain its entire existence thanks in no small part to this phenomenon. The notable exception for Mario was Super Mario 64. However, that game's success is because it was executed to a very high standard and in a very unique and specific set of circumstances; including the birth of 3D gaming, at the start of a wildly different generation, and where fewer rivals of a comparable standard existed on a popular platform of not that many games.
GT Sport however looks like PD is trying to leave behind its own core experience - a more Sonic-esque approach, if you will. After about two decades of trying their best to ruin the brand, SEGA has finally realised their mistake and allowed a fan to release a game that takes the franchise back to its core experience and refines it. The result? A smash hit game and one that is critically regarded as one of the best games in the franchise. This is a clear statement about what kind of thing consumers will pay for, enjoy and keep returning to, in my opinion. Alas, PD is arguably going down the earlier SEGA route and this is in danger of alienating fans - something PD has already risked thanks to numerous delays on their products over the years, a GT5 that was clearly unfinished (and that also tried to mess with the GT experience) and a lack of progression in some important (most aesthetic) areas of the game relative to their rivals.
It's also potentially needless because the GT mode is not - I understand - an especially labour-intensive process in the Gran(d) scheme of things. I am no programmer, but if this is true, it seems pointless to throw away this core experience when retaining it would require such a relatively small investment. Again, perhaps the detail of the way the GT Sport vision needs to be implemented prevents the inclusion of a GT mode, however.
But if the compatibility of the future with the past is the problem, then at this point you would be better off calling it something else entirely (which is my final concern). Numerous franchises have tried to cash in on a name whilst attempting to change what it means (a clear and recent example of this is ALIEN Covenant), and have left fans feeling underwhelmed, alienated, confused and disappointed. Some even get angry.
So, I argue that PD should seriously consider how confident they are in their vision for GT Sport. Does it necessitate the exclusion of the traditional GT mode? If not, I would very strongly encourage them to consider its inclusion at the earliest opportunity (whether that's this game or a future iteration). Preserving the GT experience requires little creative and arguably technical effort and will help draw dollars and eyes to any other features that might be part of the innovative future of the brand. Then, if/when this vision is more established in the future, it will be easier, less alienating and jarring to load up a game from a brand that has gradually evolved with its player base, than one which carries a familiar name, but an alien experience.
