Free roaming

  • Thread starter Thread starter TRGTspecialist
  • 24 comments
  • 3,116 views
T

TRGTspecialist

Messages
1,433
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
(Apologies if there is a thread like this lurking around somewhere.......I searched but couldn't find a recent thread dedicated to this topic.)

Free roaming, in some form or another, is something I'd love to see added to Gran Turismo. I've always found GT to be much more of a driving game than a racing game (I guess that's why it's the "real driving simulator" ^^). I mean, racing with the AI/online is pretty good, but in my opinion this game really comes into its own when you're alone, on the 'ring, in your favourite car, doing lap after lap after lap, through (in-game) day and night..........then hours later you wake up from your trance and realise what a great experience you've just had. Whenever I play GT, it feels that good.

So yeah, driving is the name of the game for me, and of course a free roaming mode would be all about the driving, which is why I'd love to have one. I know Kaz has mentioned in the past an interest in having a city free roaming mode in GT, where you abide by speed limits, traffic laws, etc. I would like this, but I could understand how this wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

This is actually where I had an idea that (to me) sounds much more fun, and much more appealing to a wider audience. (I'm not sure if it actually makes sense or not yet, or if it's technically possible - you can be the judge of that). My idea is not to have a free roaming mode not in a city, but on a mountain road. One that is completely devoid of cars, timing gates, and so on - anything to do with racing. This wouldn't just be any mountain road though - it would be a point-to-point course generated by the Course Maker. However, to add to that, at the end of this road there will be a dark tunnel, and as you drive through it, the game generates a completely new point-to-point mountain road, right at the exit of said tunnel. So, in theory, you would have a completely unseen, never-ending, beautiful road, where you can just drive, and drive, and drive...................:drool:

What's your thoughts on free roaming? Something you'd like to have, or something PD should ignore? Do you think their time would be better spent on this, or on improving the racing?
 
It's an interesting idea.
The closest thing you can do with the existing game is generate a custom Eifel (or even Toscana) track with 7 sectors using a complexity level of 9 or 10.
 
I like this idea :) I always liked the car park in LFS? maybe you could add a Maccy D's or even speed humps & potholes to try get an LM car over :D

But seriously though I'd really like somewhere to drive other than a track. :)
 
Mountains could be generated very easily by using fractal geometrics, but I guess the texture bit would be harder to generate, unless everything has the same texture (or roughly, perhaps there could be an automated function that changes the texture depending on how steep the surface is, to generate rock texture on steep surfaces and grass texture on the flatter surfaces?). Don't know if the PS3 is powerful enough for it though, maybe it's something that would have to wait for PS4?

When it comes to free roam, though, an infinite world is not the most important for me, I would rather have a limited world but with different roads and environments. The ideal for me would be to replicate a real world island somewhere (a rather small island would be enough), a place that has both small towns and a countryside, perhaps a small mountain as well. That way, the limitations wouldn't seem unrealistic, because it would be just like a real island.

And as I said before, until that happens, maybe they can just open up the Eiger track to have all variations at the same time, there's quite a few different roads there...

Another option could be to model the Renault test track in Aubevoye

renaultaubevoye2sm.jpg
 
Hmmmmm...... Maybe just in a made up city, with long mountian filled roads conecting three o four together. Maybe, in gt6 the dealerships could be scattered through the citys. You drive to tuning shops ect
 
A mountain pass and a combination of Special Stage Routes.

Now that's what GT5 needs if there's free roaming.
 
Sounds perfect! I like the idea of the tunnel: perhaps it could lead to a hub of some sort, so that you have a choice of roads to go to. Each road would be part of a large network, and could be of differing types - I like the idea of a "Special Stage" city surrounded by country / mountain roads and perhaps the odd circuit / complex, like Aubevoye, or Complex String etc.

Randomly generated routes are likely to suffer quality issues, so PD may want to approve them by hand. If it's all fixed like that, there's no need for a tunnel to hide loading / generation, it could all be streamed, like the bigger tracks already are. Updates could expand from hubs, and add different kinds of new roads etc. It could also work online, with each road being a "room"; of course, they'd have to find a way to "fix" some of the issues there.

The only real detractor is the time it would take to get anything like that working properly, which means waiting. I personally think they're working on something like this, but it might not be what I'm expecting.
 
Free roaming would be nice. I would love to have an area GTA's San Andreas to drive arround. Just cruise with your beloved car through mountains and fields and drive to the track.... nice.

I honestly think GT6 will incorparate something of a free roam option. I don't think it would be very big, but theý'll experiment with it. Just as the photomode made it possible to walk around the entire track.
 
Your idea doesn't really seem like a true free roam experience. Interesting idea for a never ending mountain road though. And it would be annoying to have to wait for load times, since it's not a pre-loaded map but one that's constantly being generated you could find yourself waiting as much as you'd be driving on it.

Real free roam is a gigantic map that's pre-set and loaded in its entirety and players have free reign of the whole thing. Now of course, in GT we're limited to cars and roads.

My idea for free roam for Gran Turismo is more like touring through different real world locations. There would only be three or four different maps, of actual places around the world. Perhaps a relaxing drive through a French countryside, Molsheim. There are different roads, different directions, and lots of choices... all of which are scenic and nice. Perhaps you could drive by the Bugatti headquaters. Very classy place to wander around and take photos of your driver/car.

Or how about a terrifying 100 mile jolt down the Autobahn in Germany? Sure the map would be gigantic, but wouldn't be as detailed or complex as Molsheim and the emphasis would be on pure speed. Maybe throw in a dynamic time/weather/traffic effect? Would be fun for 16 players to run amok.

Travel Photo mode is pretty damn close to what I'm talking about but if only those places were big maps that you could drive through and take photos, it would be amazing. Especially online. Also less men.
 
Last edited:
Or probably a drive-and-shoot. Much like NFSU2, but you get to drive in a "proper" view.

... no not drive-by's.
 
That's why this was released...

jaquettete.jpg



Honestly, for a free-roam you can't beat TDU2. Bugs and occasional network issues aside, all you need is a 250 GTO and a winding ribbon of coastal road. Water not your thing? Rip through tunnels in the mountainous regions of Oahu and listen to that sound 👍
 
DEATHSARTHE
Your idea doesn't really seem like a true free roam experience. Interesting idea for a never ending mountain road though. And it would be annoying to have to wait for load times, since it's not a pre-loaded map but one that's constantly being generated you could find yourself waiting as much as you'd be driving on it.

Real free roam is a gigantic map that's pre-set and loaded in its entirety and players have free reign of the whole thing. Now of course, in GT we're limited to cars and roads.

My idea for free roam for Gran Turismo is more like touring through different real world locations. There would only be three or four different maps, of actual places around the world. Perhaps a relaxing drive through a French countryside, Molsheim. There are different roads, different directions, and lots of choices... all of which are scenic and nice. Perhaps you could drive by the Bugatti headquaters. Very classy place to wander around and take photos of your driver/car.

Or how about a terrifying 100 mile jolt down the Autobahn in Germany? Sure the map would be gigantic, but wouldn't be as detailed or complex as Molsheim and the emphasis would be on pure speed. Maybe throw in a dynamic time/weather/traffic effect? Would be fun for 16 players to run amok.

Travel Photo mode is pretty damn close to what I'm talking about but if only those places were big maps that you could drive through and take photos, it would be amazing. Especially online. Also less men.
Click to expand...

I'm not worried about loading times. In gt5 tracks load ridiculously fast

I don't think this will make it to gt6, but if that's the case the easier way to do it would be to use existing compatible street circuits such as Monaco. I can't think of a different viable track that is in GT5, since the other ones (Madrid, London and Rome) are way too big and because Monaco has the bay as a natural limit.
In Monaco's case that's getting rid of the current barriers, which PD can already do as we saw in a video showing Rome without those, enabling the use of side streets and roads to a certain extent, linking them together and putting barriers to restrict further access. It wouldn't make a huge free roam track, but it'd be much better for that.

My personal preference are public roads and street-based circuits, such as rally circuits, touge or mountain passes. The autobahn and other highways (wangan for example) would be nice as well.


On the other hand, most probably this will never be a part of the GT series since PD is very concerned about legal issues. From their perspective it'll mean being able to crash into houses, allowing kids to drive like maniacs in public roads, having to obtain permissions of every city (which is something most companies don't do) and so on.
That's probably the same reason why GT5 doesn't have a livery editor and decent track customization, whereas other companies actually sell and rely exclusively on those features such as turn 10 (forza's livery editor), ISI (rfactor is all about customization/infringing copyrights), lfs (copies cars and track layouts and gives them a different name), etc.

This is why the only viable option for PD is to create a SSR city/complex highway that mixes all versions used in the GT series, which is something fans have been asking for since the very first SSR track.


edit: yep, the last edit of this post. I forgot to mention the easiest and most important addition PD could do, which is to improve the top gear test track.
I remember trying it on GTR2 and it featured the complete airplane field, including all the side routes that are blocked in GT5, way longer straight, being able to fool around in the grass and near the buildings, etc. It was only limited by the trees that are near the track.
 
Last edited:
avens
it took a long time to edit that post, lol
Click to expand...

Hehe, it's all very interesting. I think you're right, a Special Stage City and surrounding environment (mountains!) is most likely. Looking at the existing SSR tracks, there is clear potential, and, dare I say it, hints that that could actually be the case. The docks location, used for some of the trailers, usually unloading cars, looks like it might be near SSR5, going by the cranes, for instance.

Anyway, I agree about Top Gear, too; the "peri'-track", as an example, looks fun. Silverstone, Goodwood, Snetterton etc. in the UK (historically) use (parts of) perimeter tracks from old airfields. (In fact, the TG Test Track uses part of the peri' track itself.)
 
Didn't the PS2 game Enthusia already have a self generating highway section? At least that's what I read on this forum, unfortunately never played that game myself.
So in theory it's certainly possible I'd reckon (if it was already possible on a PS2).

I too would love a free roam mode as since the OP mentioned, GT is as much about driving as it is about racing.
Although I would like some traffic (perhaps optional, including density), AI or online, as it would be challenging and fun to overtake, or having to brake hard suddenly and dealing with upcoming traffic, etc.
As for now, I'd be content they'd release that mountain track theme shown in some videos as a course maker theme.
 
I'm all for any idea that brings any type of free roam to this game.


HippieGiraffe
That's why this was released...




Honestly, for a free-roam you can't beat TDU2. Bugs and occasional network issues aside, all you need is a 250 GTO and a winding ribbon of coastal road. Water not your thing? Rip through tunnels in the mountainous regions of Oahu and listen to that sound 👍
Click to expand...

Whichever one comes first (hopefully PD): PD adds free-roam or TDU gets decent driving physics. They are horrible as they are now.

analog
I too would love a free roam mode as since the OP mentioned, GT is as much about driving as it is about racing.
Although I would like some traffic (perhaps optional, including density), AI or online, as it would be challenging and fun to overtake, or having to brake hard suddenly and dealing with upcoming traffic, etc.
As for now, I'd be content they'd release that mountain track theme shown in some videos as a course maker theme.
Click to expand...


This would be ideal. I would absolutely LOVE taking real world cars around AI traffic, with friends online. To me, that is the ultimate 'driving' simulator.
 
I like the real locations idea. There are some amazing roads to travel throughout North America. Driving a highly modified car through the Canadian and US rockies would be a thrill, to say the least. Add in a few small towns along the way. Each town can offer something different mods for your ride. Preset your destination and try to get there in an alotted time. Of course, you have to include fuel stops and all that. Local traffic and weather thrown into the mix can make for an exciting time.
 
Last edited:
What i want is a free roam mode a bit like Test Drive Unlimited, where you can drive endlessly through beautiful scenery, get out of your car , chat with your friends and other people while looking at your cars parked up, and be able to open doors, get into other peoples cars and look around with a full interior view
 
DEATHSARTHE
Your idea doesn't really seem like a true free roam experience. Interesting idea for a never ending mountain road though. And it would be annoying to have to wait for load times, since it's not a pre-loaded map but one that's constantly being generated you could find yourself waiting as much as you'd be driving on it.
Click to expand...

As yes you're right, sorry, must've just got a bit carried away, haha. I guess with that idea I mean free roaming in the sense that you have the freedom to do what you want in terms of driving - whether it be abiding by the speed limit and sticking to the right side of the road, admiring the scenery, or blasting down the mountain as quick as you can. And with Griffith's excellent "tunnel hub" idea, it would become open world, in a way.

On the load times, I honestly couldn't say what the outcome would be. All I know is the course maker tracks don't take very long to load - perhaps about 10 seconds or so. If the load times for streaming stretches of road one after another were similar (and were masked by driving through some sort of tunnel), I'd hope it wouldn't be too bad.

avens
On the other hand, most probably this will never be a part of the GT series since PD is very concerned about legal issues. From their perspective it'll mean being able to crash into houses, allowing kids to drive like maniacs in public roads, having to obtain permissions of every city (which is something most companies don't do) and so on.
Click to expand...

I think there's another reason though - the sheer amount of effort that would be required to create miles and miles of public road, or a whole town/city. Forget Rome or Madrid taking two years to make, knowing PD, that sort of thing would take decades :p That's why something that's randomly generated appeals to me more than real-world places. Plus, no matter how long or fantastic it is, a real-life road will come to an end at some point. To have a road that never stops, and is different every single time.......would absolutely love that.

HippieGiraffe
That's why this was released...

Honestly, for a free-roam you can't beat TDU2. Bugs and occasional network issues aside, all you need is a 250 GTO and a winding ribbon of coastal road. Water not your thing? Rip through tunnels in the mountainous regions of Oahu and listen to that sound
Click to expand...

Oh I've definitely been tempted to get it............I've heard a lot of people say that the handling isn't very fun though, which has put me off. Are the cars fun to drive or not?
 
Nah, PD have expanded enough, keep it simple.
PD are perfectionists. We see nuggets of perfection in GT5, glued together with a rattle of blur and inconsistency. I'm happy with the stuff GT5 contains, they just need to perfect the work they have not yet perfected and present it to us in a more linear (GT3), or interesting (GT4) manner.
 
TRGTspecialist
I've definitely been tempted to get it............I've heard a lot of people say that the handling isn't very fun though, which has put me off. Are the cars fun to drive or not?
Click to expand...

I picked Test Drive Unlimited 2 up the other day for 10 pounds and while it's not perfect I'm glad I got it as it is a little different and the free roam thing is pretty good. Haven't tried it with my wheel yet but it is certainly playable. However seeing this game makes me want free roam with gt5 quality.
 
beeblebrox237
I wouldn't mind if they included the Stelvio Pass...
Click to expand...

the stelvio pass was made for gt5 and somehow it didn't make the final cut.
The same happens with other tracks, such as mountain passes, point to point racing and possibly free roaming areas, among with other types of content:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=6229306#post6229306
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=223615
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=220167
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=181212
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=222526
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?p=6391413#post6391413
https://www.gtplanet.net/24-new-track-logos-discovered-on-gran-turismo-5-website/
http://www.gtpla.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/gt5-screenshot-tracks.jpg

TankAss95
Nah, PD have expanded enough, keep it simple.
PD are perfectionists. We see nuggets of perfection in GT5, glued together with a rattle of blur and inconsistency. I'm happy with the stuff GT5 contains, they just need to perfect the work they have not yet perfected and present it to us in a more linear (GT3), or interesting (GT4) manner.
Click to expand...

I don't think they have expanded enough. GT5 feels like a demo or a closed beta game which needs a lot more development only to release everything that is shown on the quoted threads.

Also they have to make full use of current content first, which it truly doesn't. Take the top gear brand for example (zero cars of the star in the reasonably prized car segment, no standing starts, no photomode location, badly done TGTT, missing at least 80% of cars shown in the show), or that the game has zero real life rally tracks, serious lack of open wheelers, mountain passes (even forza1 has one of the very best ones in this genre, Fujimi Kaido), etc.

Finally, they have to make all the standard cars premium. Those models, and lack of cockpit view, will not look good enough in the PS4 (gt6 or gt7). PD can't release a new game with only 200 premium cars against forza4's ~550.

As of now it's safe to say that forza4 has more "premium" or finished content than gt5, especially menu, online mode and car-wise.
PD not only has to just improve the series but it also badly needs to catch up in several aspects, which started to matter in the gaming industry and in this particular genre between the release of gt4 and gt5.
At this rate, in which turn10 releases games twice as fast and with 3 or 4 times more dlc, GT6 will be far worse than Forza5.
 
Last edited:
I'd love some roads from the Lake District or the Scottish Highlands...:drool:
 
They should just connect Special Stage Route 5 and 7 together and add a couple more roads, just to give a sense of being able to choose where you go and not having any particular 'goal'.
I have also been tempted into these 'cops/racers' lobbys, which are surprisingly fun!
 

Latest Posts

Back