Gran Turismo...Storyline? (SPECIAL TOPIC)

[JohnBM01]

GTPlanet, this is a special topic. Personally, when there are games in which you basically are well aware of what they are about, you don't need a storyline. But some people think that a storyline would make things more interesting, rather than racing a bunch of cars on a bunch of tracks, trying to dominate every facet of four-wheel motorsports. Others think Gran Turismo needs no storyline because the emphasis is on pure racing and not on a certain goal to accomplish.

So what do you think? I'll begin.

To me, I played Diddy Kong Racing on the N64 (yeah, I know. It's sad). DKR wanted to be Mario Kart 64 with a storyline, but I think the storyline element killed the game more than the game itself. Collecting items takes away from the racing. I mean, you're on a track. The one thing you need to be concerned about is going from the back to the front, no questions asked. It's you and the pack, or the clock. What made it worse was that to win the final race, you had to face off against the main enemy known as "Wizpig." He had no car, the course is on a rainy day, and the only way you could win is if you keep Wizpig off of your tail (no pun intended).

But Gran Turismo with a storyline would be a crime. Maybe if it was you and your team trying to climb the ladder of motorsports, that would be a legit storyline. The game "NCAA Football 2004" had situations where you try to relive or rewrite college football history. For example, college faithfuls remember the Cal/Stanford game known as "The Play." The moment to recreate was an option play (I'm assuming the Triple Option) all the way into the endzone for the touchdown. Well, the coverage was going strong, and Cal managed to run and lateral the ball like you would see in rugby. Of course, the final lateral resulted in the Cal player trying to get into the endzone. The only distraction was the Stanford band coming out onto the field to prevent the Cal player from scoring. The moral of this off-tangent note is that GT4 may want you to take a car and relive or rewrite history. That would be a good storyline. I mean, you can come out the blue with a non-tested, 2003 Model Dodge Viper GTS-R and challenge the Corvettes of today to continue to make the Viper one of the most dominant road racing cars. Or, you can rewrite history in Le Mans 1999 to give Toyota a fighting chance against the BMW Prototypes. If you won, you would put Toyota on the Le Mans map for wins by a Japanese make.

So, two questions.

(1) Would a Gran Turismo storyline enhance or downgrade the quality of GT4 and future GT games? Take into consideration what non-racing fans think, because after all, a game that can offer something for everyone is always special.

(2) Would these historical moments in racing make GT more interesting as you try to rewrite or relive history as in my NCAA Football 2004 example?

Fire away, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[NavyAD]

OK, storyline NO. it will make the game have specific goals other than trophies and i dont like having a set route to take. but, recreating famous races in history and being able to choose from the select vehicles that were on top those days and reliving the glory that those manufactureres who won got. for example Lemans. choosing the best vehicle you think will win and going for it. I think these kind of races should be a one time oppurtunity so that each individual GT4 player will have their own record of accomplishments and failures. Also, the only thing i would not mind seeing is my own customized driver (which i belive is for online mode) getting in the car when the race is starting and seeing him on the podium when the race is done. giving the game a personalized feeling. thats about it.

 

[Dirkiyo]

I don't want GT4 to be something like RaceDriver. It was a good game but the storyline can't give you unlimited entertaining playtime like the gt-games do. Possesing a racinggame with a storyline is a nice add-on to my racegame collection but i can;t think about a bookshelve full of racing-games with storylines unfortunately.

 

[Evolver]

yea its not a story based racing game, like nfsu, its more a just race type of racing game

 

[Dave A]

I'm not one to break this trend so I say no to a story line, but the Idea of one off historic races, like take which ever Ferrari that raced in 1969(I think the dates right) and re-write history by beating the Ford GT40's at LeMan ect.

 

[code_kev]

Couldnt be bothered to read that tbh, but one thing caught my eye. Diddy kong racing sad? I thought it was good myself, a fun and really playable game...when I last played it about 3 years ago . PLayed nothing like mk 64.

 

[liquidyellow]

Yeah I liked Diddy Kong racing and what happened to the GBA version called Diddy kong pilot? But anyways back to the topic no I like the GTs simple take it or leave it format as it is I didnt think much of race driver in fact the new TOCA game is ditching the storyline bit I've heard.
By the way another N64 game with ''rewriting history'' bits in it was an F1 game released in 1998 where in a bonus game you took part in scenarios from the 97 F1 season like for instance:- Fisichela drove a lap round Hockenheim on 3 wheels to pit then get back in the race, you had to do the same to progres on to the next scenario. This sounds just like your idea John.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'M A SENIOR MEMBER NOW! YIPPIE-KI-YAY, mother... well, you get the idea.

LiquidYellow, I applaud you for your awareness in the gaming world. I remember playing those scenarios in F1 World Grand Prix. To be honest, that was about the only F1 game I got into, otherwise, I been more of sportscars and GT cars. It seems like the "relive/rewrite history" aspect is a good idea. Now in the F1 game, you were graded on how well you accomplished each scenario. The easiest one I did was that I was Michael Schumacher and I had to block his brother Ralf just enough so he could get points at the Magny-Cours track.

I wouldn't want one-time-only race scenarios. You want to be able to fall back on them to improve your racing skills. In "NCAA Football 2004," when you clear a scenario, you receive a pennant unlocking the teams that played in them. So for example, I rewrote history of the 2003 Fiesta Bowl by having the 2002 Miami Hurricanes beat the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes. Once you won the challenge, you're pretty much done. These "relive/rewrite" scenarios may have certain objectives you are to accomplish, much like a license test. For example, if the race was a fantasy event at the Grand Valley 300km (a fantasy track, although there is a college in Alabama called "Grand Valley"), and the history to rewrite was to pass all five cars for the lead with only two laps remaning. A gold objective would be "obtain a margin of victory by 5 seconds or greater." Reliving history would be: "Bentley went from 53rd at the 2003 12 Hours of Sebring to place third. Your objective is to re-enact this with only a few laps to go, and if you can, place 2nd or better."

Does Gran Turismo need a storyline? Can certain stories be implemented to make racing more interesting? Does GT actually need a story, a plot, some characters, and the whole shebang? Fire away.

 

[code_kev]

No. That would suck.

 

[Race Idiot]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
Does Gran Turismo need a storyline?

No.

Mainly because the game would have to be restrucured, making it less linear. A story would restrict the game giving you less choice in what you wanted to do. The only racing game i've played that has a story (sort of anyway) that doesn't obstruct the game play too much is TXR3. I played R-Racing evolution and after about 30mins put it down and never played it again. At one point in the story mode you had to drive a Fiat 500r against race prepped Viper GTS-R's. Toca's storyline was a pain in the arse also.

So I say no.

 

[Dave A]

No story for GT4, or any future GT game. They could make it more personal by giving the AI drivers names so you could track their success and after a while you would know which were crap and which wern't.

 

[ExigeEvan]

It would be too much of a gamble. If it is a good storyline, then brilliant. But if, as its more likely, to be a terrible one, then it isn't worth it. It just adds one more thing to the mixture that could turn it all sour.

 

[Dave A]

Even if it was a good story, it would make the game more linear, and less of a race what you want where you want kind of gameplay that is so good in GT. A story wouldn't add anything to the game, it would only detract from the GT experience, and instead of being you racing you would be whoever the PD version of Kyle McKane would be. Real race drivers story's go along the lines of, tested the car, tested it some more, tested it again, did some qualifying, did the race, tested the car ect, unless PD wanted to be stupid and involve his/her personal life and give you a love interest and family trouble ect, non of which would add anything good to the GT sereis.

 

[Rport03]

No story line, reason being is because I dont want a one way path.. This is how the game should be, kep the same element as all the GTs but add in wining trophies for each race (you do already) but each race has a unique trophy and you have a trophy case, the more you have the more "reputation" you have, which in part you'll unlock more races and series, you should also be able to use your money on more things such has getting better pit crew members for each position, such as a free agent pool type deal... now I know some of you will complain that this is more of a "wish lsit" rather than story but its a cross between story and what GT is now... but add elements like a story but without the cut scenes were someone talks to you and etc.. They game just needs another level of dept i'll agree on that, and to me it need to add more to the fun factor, to me i loved racing the cars but GT3 got very boring quick... its needs something to spice up simulation mode, in which KY as said about more customizable parts.. but bringing in a story mode will make this game turn out like the rest.. a story based racing game.. I want to keep it the way it is now but add those things, pit crews, trophy gallery (in part unlocks races and cars), just more for the buck, and that will make GT4 great

 

[Hyperglide]

Originally posted by liquidyellow

By the way another N64 game with ''rewriting history'' bits in it was an F1 game released in 1998 where in a bonus game you took part in scenarios from the 97 F1 season like for instance:- Fisichela drove a lap round Hockenheim on 3 wheels to pit then get back in the race, you had to do the same to progres on to the next scenario.

That game was F1 World Grand Prix. I own it.

Great racing game.

As for the topic. I wouldn't mind a story mode as long as it wasn't ridiculously unrelated to racing. Diddy Kong racing was a very fun game, and it's a kiddy style game so I can understand why there's the dumb action elements in the game. It was aimed at a younger demographic.

If GT4 is going to implement a story mode it should be something aimed for a mature serious crowd and be strictly racing related, if I wanted a story to happen.

 

[wdb]

1) I don't want a storyline for the game, but I'd be happy to see more structure, so you get a better sense of progress through the game...

For instance, race series being opened up to you at a certain point (after you win something, accumulate enough funds, win a particular car, run enough races etc).

2) Yeah, historical scenarios and recreeations would be cool, though would come with a whole new bag of licencing agreements... It could also be hard to replicate the real world situations to a level of realism consistent with the rest of the game.

 

[JohnBM01]

As said, I want to explore what would happen if more racing games had stories. I do this on a "imagine what the opposition would say." When "Pro Race Driver" came out, it shown that a storyline and a racing game can come together without fail. I never played PRD, but the storyline element made me skeptical about wanting to buy it, much less rent it. I want to experience it, though. But I'd feel skeptical about playing a race, and then worrying about off-racing incidents.

Now, to picture an offsides incident, here is a scenario. You are Shane Kramer, a British racer who was brought up from illegal street racing in his Vauxhall, a DWI charge, and wants to go pro. Now aged 24, he has a dream- to win the GT World Championship with his GT-One. Three races in, he's faced with a small problem. A prediction made shows that Shane's girlfriend, Caroline, is 2 months pregnant with his baby girl. All the while, Shane wants to buy Caroline a diamond ring and declare marriage and to be a dedicated father. But he's so dedicated to winning the GT World Championship. All the while, Caroline says "either we can have a family, or you go out and selfishly win a damn championship with your damned pit crew, and all the God forsaken fans cheering you on. Choose one, damn you!"

See what I mean? It would kill GT. I mean, well, here is another thing. If you can't recreate classic races, you can make up race events in fantasy sceanrios. A good example would be "rewrite history in 1997 by beating Toyota with Nismo power." The other would be "as Toyota, deny Nissan of another JGTC title." I mean, you can have the final race at Tokyo R246 with only 4 laps remaining. Or Laguna Seca. At Laguna Seca, beat the Dodge Viper GTS-R team and deny Chevrolet a victory. Or, as Chevrolet, defeat the Dodge Viper GTS-Rs and end their win streak. Carry on.

 

[JohnBM01]

I know I'm taking English 1302, but that was a nice little story I came up with. Thanks to all the drama on TV and in the movies. You can make any kind of storylines you want for GT, as long as we don't have to play them. I bring up topics like this because I want to explore certain scenarios, even if they never happen for GT4. That's why we're only speculating until the game finally releases. By then, GTPlanet will probably launch the GT5 forums later.

 

[HsV_CoUpE]

Originally posted by live4speed
No story for GT4, or any future GT game. They could make it more personal by giving the AI drivers names so you could track their success and after a while you would know which were crap and which wern't.

I think thats a great idea, and the only idea in this thread thats good, GT should not have any kind of story line.

 

[Schrodes]

I agree that GT4 shouldn't have a storyline. I never played Race Driver for exactly that reason. What if at the end of GT4 you had to drive a Nissan R390 and beat a Toyota GT1 to win the title ant you just happen to be a Toyota fan and hate Nissans. Stories may alienate some players and thats why I think the storyline would be a bad idea.

 

[cpl_richie]

I think that part of the GT appeal is the non-linear story line. You can basically race in any series you want, when you want to.

However, I would like to see the different race series have some sort of connection. For example prize cars that would be suited to another chamionship in the game.

Actually I just thought of a 'racing' game that has a story line that doesn't really detract from the real action. It's called G1 jockey (there are a couple of sequels). It's actually a horse racing game where you're a jockey trying to work your way up the rankings. There are a few people you talk too between race meetings like a few rival jockeys, owners, trainners, etc. You discuss you're latest ride and how they're going to beat you in the next race, etc. It's all pretty pointless but kind of comes the interest up.


That might work for horse racing because it's so boring.


As for GT4 Storyline? 👎