Some of this may have been posted, but...(ign)
The HSC's profile is like no other Honda car, we approve. Massive five-spoke wheels are flush with the curvaceous fenders and reveal the stopping power that is Brembo. A presumably functional air duct likely sends air to the mid-mounted powerplant. We were especially impressed by the scissor-style doors--apparently, Honda has been frequenting Hot Import Nights. That or it's taken a lesson from the Italian's at Lamborghini.
LED taillights within a hyper-aggressive ass-end look like a cross between a Corvette, GT-R Concept and a JGTC car. Of all the exterior design aspects, the rear is likely to change the most for a production car. Interior work, too, might be ahead of its time, but by the time 2007 rolls around, it'll be just right. We wouldn't change a thing, especially not the steering wheel-mounted F1-style shifter.
Built in Tochigi, Japan, the current Acura NSX is rated at 290 hp @ 7,100 rpm and 224 lb-ft torque @ 5,500 rpm; all this power from a transversely mounted 3.2L V6. But Honda tells us that this HSC Concept, "delivers output in excess of 300 horsepower."
Holy ship! With aluminum and carbon fiber panels over an all-aluminum frame this supercar might come in around 2,800lbs. Think 13 second quarter mile times, straight from the dealer showroom. In plain English, this should be hellishly fast.
Sony's GT4 Prologue is just around the corner, the Honda HSC isn't. While it doesn't feature the HSC in the roster of vehicles, the game does have the Honda NSX Type S Zero as a playable car. We're almost positive that come next spring the full version of GT4 will feature the stunning Honda supercar. That's probably as close as we'll ever get to helm the HSC.
But we digress, back to the HSC. As this still remains nothing more than a concept car no price or dates have been announced. Should this car see the light of day we figure it'll be in the $100,000 range and appear no earlier than 2006 as a 2007 model year vehicle. Of course, like most concepts, a lot of what we like might change, but we're certain that the next NSX will be quite the looker.
You start the game off with 12 selectable cars, including:
Nissan Fairlady 240ZG (1971)
Honda Odyssey (2003)
Nissan Silvia K's Aero (1996)
Nissan Skyline Coupe 350GT (2003)
Honda Integra Type R (1998)
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0GT specB (2003)
Toyota MR2 GT-S (1998)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nur (2002)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII (2003
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Version VI (1999)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Rally Car (1997)
Toyota Celica GT-Four Rally Ca (1995)
And the complete list:
Daihatsu Copen Activetop (2002)
Daihatsu Mira TR-XX (1997)
Honda Beat (1991)
Honda Fiat W (2001)
Honda Civic Type R (1998)
Honda Integra Type R 98 Spec (1998)
Honda NSX Type S Zero (1997)
Honda Takata Dome NSX (2003)
Spoon Fit (2003)
Spoon Civic Type R (1999)
Spoon S2000 (2000)
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (2002)
Mazda RX-8 Type S (2003)
Mazda Demio Sports (2003)
Mazda Roadster 1.6 (1989)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR (1998)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR (2003)
Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 Sports X Version (2002)
Nissan Sylvia K's Aero (1996)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V Spec II (1994)
Nissan Xanavinismo GT-R (2003)
Nissan March 12c (2003)
Nismo Fairlady Z Z-tune (2003)
Subaru Impressa Sedan WRX STi Version VI (1999)
Subaru Impressa Rally Car (1999)
Subaru Impressa Sedan WRX STi - GD Type II (2003)
Subaru Impressa Rally Car - GD Type II (2003)
Subaru Legacy B4 2.0 GT spec B (2003)
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT Spec B (2003)
Suzuki Cappuchino (1992)
? Suzuki Altoworks Sports Limited (1997)
Toyota bB Z 1.5 2WD X Version (2000)
Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car (1995)
Toyota ist 1.5S (2002)
Toyota Vitz RS 1.5 (2000)
Toyota MR2 GT-S (1998)
Toyota Prius G Touring Selection (2003)
Toyota Woodone Supra (2003)
Toyota Celica SS-II Tuning Car (2003)
Dodge Viper GTS (1998)
Ford GT Concept (2002)
Ford Focus Rally Car (1998)
BMW McLauren F1 GTR FINA (1997)
Lancia Delta HF Integrale WRC (1992)
Lotus Elise Sports 190 (2000)
Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG (2002)
Volkswagen Lupo GTI Cup (2003)
IGN Cars Intern and fellow nerdy gamer, Justin Kaehler, tells, "Admittedly, this game is pretty much a glorified demo, but what a demo it is! The engine sounds are more clear and accurate, the little animation within is improved and new car models grace this version. They even threw in some new cars that just made their debut at the Tokyo Auto Show (like my favorite, the JDM Honda Odyssey).
Being a rally fan, I was hooked on the Grand Canyon rally stage. The gravel road seemed to have less traction than the rally stages in Gran Turismo 3, so my arse was sliding around too much. The addition of animated daredevil spectators (who, at the last minute, jump out of the way of your car as you barrel down on them) was a nice touch.
To me, this game still seems like it is in beta form. It needs a little more polish before it feels "finished". That being said, it is still better than most racing games out there, only competing with Gran Turismo 3 for the best racing game on PlayStation 2.
It's definitely worth the money, at about 2,500 yen (approx. $20 or so in U.S. dollars). If you have already beaten Gran Turismo 3 into the ground and need a new GT fix, pick this version up to tide you over until the proper version of GT4 is released."
You maybe have read IGN's Japanese Correspondent, Anoop Gantayat, comments, "The arcade mode offers up some good fun, with each of the five courses feeling completely different, and a list of cars that would make for a fine full-fledged racing game. Still, the lack of multiplayer and the purposely simplified presentation keep this from feeling even like 2,500 yen's worth."
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Class is in session
Neither of the IGN Cars staff agrees with this comment. Anyone with a Japanese or modded PS2 with a moderate interest in the upcoming King of Racers should run out and nab this GT4 lite as soon as possible. Yeah, it might prove to be a case of blue balls. This is just the beginning, though. This is our shining star and we'll be covering this game for a while, it's just that good. Check back soon, we'll have movies, replays and a whole lot of other fun stuff.
"It's here, we got it." That's the call we get from our friends at Game House in Torrance, California. We arrive at the shop, pick up Gran Turismo 4 Prologue" and drive home fast as we can--without getting another ticket.
Getting even this GT 4 lite is the equivalent of Metroid fan boy and IGN Cube Editor in Chief, Matt Casamassina, playing Metroid Prime 2. We may not have the GT4-compatible Logitech Driving Force Pro steering wheel, but we have the game and that's enough for us. It's like Christmas already.
The real-time intro is sweet (we'll put up movies of that soon). It's good enough to give us the chills and get us really excited--not Tracy Lords excited, but excited nonetheless. The intro will probably change for the final product, but this is more than a fitting intro for any racing game and does well to give us a great first impression of Prologue. Diving right into the game we find that there isn't much in terms of options. It offers even less than Gran Turismo Concept. That isn't so bad as the basics are here, School and Arcade Mode.
School mode is simply a License test, more or less. Each of the 28 "Lessons" consists of beating the time, whether it's bronze, silver or gold. You'll earn the corresponding car when you've beaten a lesson. We're still surprised that Polyphony insists on using the crappy cars to get the lessons going. Wouldn't it make more sense to at least have cars that we don't mind driving? Aside from the Ist and bb, we hate most of the tiny little cars, they're just not fun to drive and not very fast.
Anyway, once you get past the cheese vehicles the lessons start to use better cars like the Legacy, SL55 and Takata Dome NSX, some of our personal favorites. This is when things get interesting as the lessons become more challenging and, for us, more fun. The purpose of beating School mode, for us, isn't simply for the satisfaction, but to unlock these great cars. Arcade mode has only 12 playable cars to begin with, but that number jumps up to 50 cars once you've blasted through School mode.
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The GT lives in GT!
Yeah, we know there are only five tracks and no multi-player mode, but Prologue is just a taste of what we'll see next year. Already the gameplay feels a billion times better than most racers out there; it's simply much deeper and more satisfying. The five tracks, Tsukuba, Grand Canyon, New York, Fuji and Italy give us a good idea of the variety of courses. And to think that the finished game will have about ten times this number. Although not as full as Concept, Prologue delivers with a decent set of vehicles as well as the five absolutely different tracks. And, mind you, this is just a demo game.
The checklist is there, the game looks good, sound sweet and plays well. Visually, even in its incomplete form GT4 already looks much better than GT3. It's not a massive leap, but it's just a lot more polished. We're sure the finished product will be amazing. Even so, the jaggies are ever present. Sound, like graphics, is also improved from the previous game and makes driving through the claustrophobic European city a blast.
We were a bit skeptical of gameplay at E3 as it felt stiff and incomplete. We were pleasantly surprised at Sony's Gamer's Day when the current build of GT4 felt much better in the control department. Prologue feels just as good if not better. We can only imagine what this bad boy will feel like with a good steering wheel. Even with the unsuitable Dual Shock 2 controller Prologue still manages to feel like a champ.
First there was the J30, then the rather unimpressive G20 followed by the very sexy G35. Of the three Infiniti vehicles, the G35 was a quick concept-to-production turn-around. Now, Nissan gives us a glimpse of what could be the next big thing--at least next big Infiniti thing, but for now it's called the Nissan Fuga.
The current M45 sedan is a steal, there's no denying that. It has luxury, style and performance for about $10,000 less than the equally impressive yet slightly larger Q45. Our guess is that the Fuga may replace either the M45 or the Q45; more the former than the latter as the M45 is a slightly older design.
Through Fuga, Nissan proposes a new direction in luxury cars. Fuga's sporty exterior suggests its superb dynamic performance, while the interior offers roominess unimaginable in the conventional concept of a sedan. The interior abounds in Japanese imagery and is unified in a modern design taste. From the moment users enter the car, they are enveloped in a fine-quality atmosphere that also engenders expectations of stellar driving performance.
Fuga adopts the FM (Front Mid-ship) Package for new FR-L platform that has been highly acclaimed on the Skyline and the Fairlady Z for providing supple ride comfort together with sporty driving performance. Fuga's design expresses an optimum blend of elements such as high-quality styling and superior aerodynamics while simultaneously achieving world-class safety performance.
Fuga's styling achieves the two elements of a sporty exterior and a roomy interior without tolerating any compromises. Extending the wheelbase while keeping the overall length in check has secured an ample interior length as the basis for a highly comfortable cabin. In addition to the tall overall height that provides ample headroom, Fuga also succeeds in expanding the legroom of the rear-seat occupants.
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Nice headlights, ahem.
One element contributing to the car's sporty form is the line traced by the high roof that allows outstanding ease of entry/exit. Many new design techniques were utilized for Fuga, including the creation of a beautiful flowing form by applying hairline-finished aluminum from the roof line to the trunk lid.
Positioning the tires at the four corners of the body works in concert with the large-diameter aluminum wheels to project a powerful image with a low center of gravity for superb driving performance. The lamps at both the front and rear are styled in an L-shape with two round rings on the inside, a technique that enhances the car's sporty, premium-quality atmosphere.
Fuga boasts interior spaciousness surpassing all other sedans in this class anywhere in the world. Even with 180-cm-tall occupants in both the front and rear seats, there is still plenty of room for the rear-seat passengers to stretch out their legs in relaxed comfort.
The interior design theme of "Japanese modern" expresses Nissan's concept of this motif and proposes a new style of luxury. While Fuga projects an active image with its highly dynamic styling and sporty driving performance, the overall tone of the interior has a unified image of Japanese modern, expressing the contrast of static and dynamic.
The basic color of the interior is pale green, which is coordinated with the subdued dark grayish green body color. The T-shaped center console and the door trim are decorated with unvarnished genuine wood of a white cypress color. This combines with the glossy lacquer-like painted wood panels to express the bold contrast of white and jet black, reflecting Japanese aesthetics.
Formed with an integrated cushion and seatback, the seats are bathed in soft indirect light coming through the "Japanese paper-covered taste" shade of glass roof during day time and gentle indirect light through the side of roof console at night.
The FM Package has been steadily adopted on Nissan's rear-wheel-drive cars since it was first used on the new generation of the Skyline released in 2001. This FM Package adopted for Fuga organically integrates all the car's constituent elements around the front midship engine, including the chassis, suspension, passenger compartment and body.
Fuga also incorporates an array of Nissan's latest technologies, such as the advanced version of the electric-powered Super HICAS system and an electronically controlled steering system, in pursuit of the highest levels of power performance, handling and stability anywhere in the world.
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G-like rear end
Fuga also features various driving support technologies, including Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), a lane-keeping support system and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). It also adopts Nissan's Intelligent Brake Assist, which was first introduced on the facelifted March released in August this year, and Brake-operated Pre-crash Seatbelts in the front seats, among other state-of-the-art safety features befitting a luxury car.
Fuga incorporates a host of Nissan's newest IT and telematics technologies, including human-machine interfaces (HMI) that are simpler and easier to understand and operate, as well as other features combining excellent design with remarkable operating ease.
Located in the middle of the center console is the latest interface that embodies Nissan's proposals for a new trend in IT and telematics. Control switches are also mounted on the steering wheel to reduce the driver's workload substantially while providing multifunctionality. In addition, speakers are embedded in the rear-seat head restraints to facilitate the use of videophones in the rear seats, which is expected to be a widespread trend in the future.
Aside from its F1 and racing work, Honda isn't known for being a crazy supercar-sports car creating automaker. The Integra was a wonderful coupe, but could never be considered a true sports car. We might let the open top Honda S2000 slide by as it is rear-wheel drive and seats only two. But, still, it's only a four-cylinder engine. Now the NSX, that's a car anyone can be proud of. It might be way overpriced for what it is, but is as appealing as they come and the ladies love them.
It's not all good looks and no play either; the NSX is a freakin' beast. It's 3.2 liters of V6 power pushing an all-aluminum chassis forward to the tune of 290 ponies @ 7,100 rpm; torque isn't bad either, with stock twist being 224 lb-ft @ 5,500 rpm. Those are some more than decent numbers coming from Honda's almost-supercar. Of course, they really don't compare to something known as the Takata Dome NSX.
This little number is a fully-built Honda NSX, but it's nothing like your big brother's girlie-getting Acura. It's an odd combination of yellow, white and green that composes the theme for this racey racecar. The five green stripes might be foreign to some readers who aren't familiar with Takata. The Japanese company is most famous for its bling, bling racing harnesses. Those five green stripes are supposed to be the same harness that keeps the driver's ass in place during the high-G cornering sessions throughout JGTC.
Dome's yellow and green NSX gets a huge bump in power with a 3.5L V6 instead of the everyday 3.2L. 473 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque replace the factory figures and place the Takata Dome mid-engine, rear-wheel drive racecar in the upper echelon of the GT500 class. Shifting is as it should be, sequential thanks to a Hewland six-speed gearbox mated to an AP clutch.
Four F1-grade AP composite big brakes bring the mostly carbon fiber racecar to a halt while vents keep the rotors from glowing too much. Still, with so much grabbing power and so little weight (about 2,500 lbs) it's easy to see how the untrained driver could easily lock up that 325/30R18 and 330/40R18 rubber on the front and rear, respectively. The wheels are Ray Engineering (or Volk) and we wouldn't expect anything less. Extra light, these wheels make it easy for those 480 metric ponies to spin the rear wheels in almost any gear.
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How'd you like to drive one of these to work?
If you're at all familiar with Japan Gran Touring Championship you know the GT300 and GT500 class. You probably also know Takata, Dome, Honda and the Takata Dome NSX. Even if you're not a JGTC fan, chances are you've seen the Takata Dome NSX in some of our R: Racing Evolution screen shots--it's a playable vehicle in that game.
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Yeah, it's fast, way too damn fast
You'll also get your shot at it in the upcoming Japan-only Gran Turismo 4: Prologue; that'll be out next month. The NSX will also appear in GT4 next spring. For now, enjoy the photos and screens, both R: Racing Evolution and Gran Turismo 4: Prologue are just a few weeks away.
The box for the Japanese version of Gran Turismo 4 Prologue proclaims the following (in English, oddly enough): "Compact but vivid, 'GT4 Prologue' is a sneak preview to the full experience of 'GT4.' Though it will be necessary to limit the number of cars and courses included, this product will still include some of the main features of the Gran Turismo franchise such as races, time attack and license tests. This sneak preview will also express the latest technology Polyphony Digital has accumulated over the past two years."
We feel that with those words, "Compact but vivid," Polyphony Digital has described Prologue better than we ever could. On the one hand, GT4 Prologue is nothing more than a mere demo of a larger game. The instruction manual isn't even a booklet -- it's a foldout pamphlet. On the other hand, the full version of the game, due for Japanese release in them Summer of 2004, promises 500 cars, 50 courses and the some of the finest graphics and physics yet seen in the racing genre. A demo for something that big ought to be being pretty darn vivid.
Selectable from the start of this Gran Turismo 4 sampler are two modes, School Mode and Arcade Mode. Arcade Mode is, as the name would suggest, a quick race mode. You can race through five courses, including Tsukuba Circuit, New York, Grand Canyon, Fuji Speedway and Citta di Aria, all of which are available from the start. New York, Fuji Speedway and Tsukuba can be raced on with five opponents or by yourself, with the other two courses being solo affairs at this point. As with the Gran Turismo game proper, races are followed by replays that can be saved to your memory card for future viewing in a replay theater.
You start the game off with 12 selectable cars, including:
Nissan Fairlady 240ZG (1971)
Honda Odyssey (2003)
Nissan Silvia K's Aero (1996)
Nissan Skyline Coupe 350GT (2003)
Honda Integra Type R (1998)
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0GT specB (2003)
Toyota MR2 GT-S (1998)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nur (2002)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII (2003
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Version VI (1999)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Rally Car (1997)
Toyota Celica GT-Four Rally Ca (1995)
Each car can be driven with automatic or manual transmission and with driving assist switched on or off. You can also select tire grip between street, sports, normal and racing.
So how do you go about unlocking the remaining 38 cars promised of Prologue? This is where the game's "School" mode comes into play. This mode is like the license mode of the main GT games, only the lessons are laid out as a board game. Pass a lesson and you get the new car that you used in the lesson.
Lessons come in a variety of forms, but most ask that you follow dashed lines through a course. The color of the dashed line indicates what you should do, from breaking or accelerating hard and soft to completely letting go of the pedals. Straying from the dotted lines is okay, but if you veer off the course and into the dirt, you're forced to start over. Later lessons show the dashed lines to you for just the first lap, with the next laps asking that you give it your best effort on your own. While passing the main lessons themselves isn't too hard, getting silver and gold requires some first class driving skills.
Clear all the lessons and there's a surprise in store. We'd normally not reveal something like this, but this game's never coming to America anyway, so here goes. Following an ending movie which includes a lengthy glimpse behind the scenes of the GT4 development process and another short movie showing CG from a couple of new GT4 tracks (see the media section for the later clip), the license board gives way to... another license board full of new lessons! Unlike the beginner's lessons, these ones are a lot tougher, at the level of the A-class license tests from GT3. Prepare to pull your hair out as you try to maneuver around opponent cars without actually touching them or going off the side of the road. Gran Turismo pros who breezed through the initial licenses will have a tough time with these tests.
Don't take any of this to mean that you're getting a full game with GT4 Prologue. Even with the second set of license tests and the large number of cars, the game feels like a demo. Presentation is a bit rough around the edges, with the conclusion of each race taking you back to the title screen. There's also no multiplayer mode of play, and when coupled with the limited AI even for the pro-racer option, most of the replay value comes from getting better times. This is definitely just a sampling of what we can expect from the full Gran Turismo 4 gaming experience.
Other areas of the game, from music to graphics to the actual driving model, seem like they're all from the most recent build of Gran Turismo 4. We're not sure how far along that build is and how much will end up changing before the final.
We haven't had enough time to analyze every nook and cranny of the cars' handling, so we're not sure what to make of the supposedly updated physics engine Polyphony has created for GT4. However, for the experienced Gran Turismo player, it should be immediately clear, that the driving model has evolved. Driving feels more realistic all around. When sliding into a turn in rally mode, you don't just blast off accelerating as you did in GT3 -- you actually stop and then move forward. We also noticed during replays that the tires visibly turn at different speeds, which is something that's correctly modeled in new racers like Project Gotham Racing 2. Of course, we haven't had a chance to play Prologue with the new GT Force Pro steering wheel, so the limitations of a stock PS2 controller are probably getting in the way of our feeling some of the game's improvements.
For most players, the driving model changes present in Prologue should end up either feeling minor or going completely unnoticed. There are some other more obvious changes to the driving system, though. You now have a third viewpoint that puts the camera above the car slightly -- not that we find ourselves using it too much, as first person is still the way to play. A penalty system is now in place to keep you from driving wrecklessly. Hit a car or wall while driving too quickly and you're penalized by being forced to drive at limited speed for ten seconds. Currently, this system is a bit unfair in that the CPU cars don't suffer the same penalties. We have a feeling that the penalty system is mainly in place for keeping Online rival players from going too wild.
Similar to the driving engine, we're not sure how far along the graphics engine in Prologue is. One thing's for sure, though -- it's beyond what was shown at the Tokyo Game Show. The engine features actual moving people in it, which was something that was hinted at during the Tokyo Motor Show. We also spotted people in the driver and front passenger seat for open top convertibles. While there's no pit crew, it's only because there's no pit. The game does have detailed and hauntingly realistically animated polygon crew members who congratulate you upon earning a new car (see the video section for videos of this in motion).
In actual gameplay, moving crowds are put to most use in the rally course (there's limited use in the New York and Citta di Aria courses as well). While still sprite based, the large crowds lining the tracks move around, with some spectators cheering and others running out into the road to take a picture, then running back. While the crowd members can be a bit pixelated and look nowhere near as good as the full polygon models shown during the intro (maybe that's what we'll see in the PS3 GT games), they're definitely a step up from other racing-game crowds.
Regardless of how far along the engine is, it's already enough to make GT4 Prologue the best looking racer on the planet. The car models used for driving in GT4 seem to be based off the replays models from GT3. The new replay models up the level of detail even further. Make use of the new zoom function in the replay mode and the smoother curves for the cars should be obvious. The cars now have such superfluous details as disk brakes that turn red due to heat (yes, we pay far too much attention). This is as close to perfection as in-game car models have ever gotten, and if you're a car fanatic you'll probably have a blast just ogling the cars.
Backgrounds are also a step up from GT3. Actually, not just a step -- a giant leap. From image and texture quality to an amount of background geometry that would've made the PS2 bust two years ago, Polyphony has put great effort into making the backgrounds pop out at you this time around. The roads in the main stages and dirt in the rally stages look, in particular, better than they did in GT3.
There's still room for improvement in the graphics engine, though. Fixing the bits of pop-up in the New York stage would make for a more polished look, as would a bit of refinement to the crowds. The rear view mirror used for the in-the-car perspective only reflects a section of the view in the New York stage, skipping out entirely on the buildings. It gets the job done, but it looks a bit funny. Finally, a strange gameplay note -- it seems that open-top convertibles only allow for races between two cars simultaneously. It's unclear if this limit is caused because of the visible drivers and passengers.
For the most part, the main thing getting in the way of GT4's visual effectiveness is GT3 itself. Polyphony showed their prowess early on in the PS2's life cycle, and perhaps GT4 would look even better had GT3 not looked so good. We're still waiting to see some of GT3's cooler effects in GT4, though, including rain stages.
The big question, of course, concerns whether Prologue is worth the 2500 yen SCE is charging for it. We cleared the initial set of license tests in just a couple of hours and got through most of the advanced tests a couple of hours later (although we had someone who'd played GT3 three hours a day for three straight months playing with us). The arcade mode offers up some good fun, with each of the five courses feeling completely different, and a list of cars that would make for a fine full-fledged racing game. Still, the lack of multiplayer and the purposely simplified presentation keep this from feeling even like 2500 yen's worth.
We actually feel that, contrary to Polyphony's intentions with the title, Gran Turismo 4 Pologue may be most appreciated by the hardcore racing fans rather than beginners. If you go crazy because you managed to unlock a Mercedes SL55 AMG 2002 instead of a plain old Mercedes SL500, and if you can get some major play time out of perfecting your lap times through the five courses and the various training matches, we think you'll get your money's worth from Prologue and should try and obtain the import without hesitation.
Sony Computer Entertainment Interactive made use of the Tokyo Motor Show, set to kick off to the general public in Japan's Chiba prefecture on Saturday, to announce official details on the Gran Turismo 4 Prologue Japanese release. As revealed at today's press conference, the game will hit game stores in Japan on December 4, 2003 for the low price of 2980 yen.
In Japan, Gran Turismo 4 Prologue will precede the year 2004 release of the full Gran Turismo 4, providing gamers with a sneak peak of what's to come. Specifics on what will be included were revealed today.
The Prologue disk will feature the complete graphics engine and physics engine to be used in the final version of the title and will also include five courses: New York, an Italian city, the Grand Canyon, Tsukuba Circuit and Fuji Speedway.
On top of this is a huge list of cars that includes old favorites, concept cars debuting at the Tokyo Motor Show, and cars set to hit the market next year. The vehicles below are listed with manufacturer and model year.
Daihatsu Copen Activetop (2002)
Daihatsu Mira TR-XX (1997)
Honda Beat (1991)
Honda Fiat W (2001)
Honda Civic Type R (1998)
Honda Integra Type R 98 Spec (1998)
Honda NSX Type S Zero (1997)
Honda Takata Dome NSX (2003)
Spoon Fit (2003)
Spoon Civic Type R (1999)
Spoon S2000 (2000)
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (2002)
Mazda RX-8 Type S (2003)
Mazda Demio Sports (2003)
Mazda Roadster 1.6 (1989)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR (1998)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR (2003)
Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 Sports X Version (2002)
Nissan Sylvia K's Aero (1996)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V Spec II (1994)
Nissan Xanavinismo GT-R (2003)
Nissan March 12c (2003)
Nismo Fairlady Z Z-tune (2003)
Subaru Impressa Sedan WRX STi Version VI (1999)
Subaru Impressa Rally Car (1999)
Subaru Impressa Sedan WRX STi - GD Type II (2003)
Subaru Impressa Rally Car - GD Type II (2003)
Subaru Legacy B4 2.0 GT spec B (2003)
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT Spec B (2003)
Suzuki Cappuchino (1992)
Suzuki Altoworks Sports Limited (1997)
Toyota bB Z 1.5 2WD X Version (2000)
Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car (1995)
Toyota ist 1.5S (2002)
Toyota Vitz RS 1.5 (2000)
Toyota MR2 GT-S (1998)
Toyota Prius G Touring Selection (2003)
Toyota Woodone Supra (2003)
Toyota Celica SS-II Tuning Car (2003)
Dodge Viper GTS (1998)
Ford GT Concept (2002)
Ford Focus Rally Car (1998)
BMW McLauren F1 GTR FINA (1997)
Lancia Delta HF Integrale WRC (1992)
Lotus Elise Sports 190 (2000)
Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG (2002)
Volkswagen Lupo GTI Cup (2003)
The above list may be subject to change. Here's a picture depicting the current list of cars planned for the game.
Car list for GT4 Prologue
Series Producer Kazunori Yamauchi took the stage during the press conference and detailed what we can expect of both Prologue. According to Yamauchi, Prologue is meant to be an introductory course to Gran Turismo. Yamauchi feels that the Gran Turismo series has gotten so complicated that it's daunting to newcomers. Prologue's theme is "Education," with the game featuring a driving school mode in which you play through a board game, learning all the skills required of a pro. This mode will also have challenges for experienced drivers, meaning Prologue is also targeted to advanced players.
Okay, okay -- this is the real reason we went to the Tokyo
Motor Show. For lots more pics, check out this feature story
In addition, SCE handed out first screens specifically taken from Gran Turismo 4 Prologue. Check out the screens on the media page. Insiders should head over to this feature story for ten videos of the game, shots of the card models, wall-papers and a look at some hot Tokyo Motor Show girls.
Computer Entertainment America, publisher of the best-selling Gran Turismo racing franchise for PlayStation 2, will host the first-ever Gran Turismo 4 (GT4) Awards at the SEMA(Specialty Equipment Market Association) auto show in Las Vegas.
The Gran Turismo 4 Awards is aimed at all automobile entries from the SEMA auto show to vie for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win the honor of having their vehicle incorporated into 1GT4, the highly anticipated new release from the Gran Turismo franchise.
GT4 Awards will given to winners in categories including Best SUV, Best Japanese Import, Best European Import, Best Domestic Automobile, Best Hot Rod and a Best in Show.
The Best in Show award will be presented to the overall winner who will make history as the talk of the automobile industry with their vehicle inserted into the revolutionary GT4.
Mark Vaugh, Autoweek, reported earlier this week that Nissan chief, confirmed the Skyline GT-R (or just GT-R) will make its grand debut at the 2004 Tokyo Motor Show. The story continues to quote Charles Ghosn, "The car will make 'around 400 hp' and offer 'top-level driving performance.'"
Of course, this is all just theory, as the car is at least four long years away, by then "around 400 hp" might turn into around 500 ponies.
We're guessing Nissan will, at long last, want to compete with the revised NSX, which will probably be based on the HSC Concept revealed at this year's Tokyo Motor Show. If that's the case Nissan will need to find some serious power and performance to make the car not only a true powerhouse, but a perceived supercar, too.
We've heard rumors that Nissan is researching the possibility of taking its unusually high-revving 4.5L V8 (seen in the Q45) and mating it to a seven-speed transmission and wrapping up the whole performance package with a twin-turbo and all-wheel drive setup. Well, if that's the case, the GT-R will surely make more than "around 400 hp"--it'll blow those numbers out of the water.
Now the question is, will the current engine pass emissions and work well under forced induction. With a little bit of work, we believe so, after all, it was researched for Indy purposes--that explains its love for high rpm. However, back to the engine, part of the reason that Nissan cut the beautiful RB26DETT wasn't only that it was expensive to produce, but that it was getting more and more difficult to pass strict emissions. Plus, it's a whole lot more cost effective to go with the 3.5L V6 for most of Nissan's cars than just one engine for each vehicle.
Will Nissan develop and produce an engine specifically for this car? It's possible, but highly unlikely. Still, the possibility does stand as this will be a low-volume, brand-awareness building vehicle. We'll take two!
Sony hosted its first GT4 Awards at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Auto Show in Las Vegas this week. Five category awards were given out, but the top prize, "Best in Show," is the one that everyone wanted. The winner would be rewarded with the prize car being included in Gran Turismo 4 when it comes out next year.
Judges included representatives from Road & Track, Motor Trend, Popular Hot Rodding Television and Super Street. The "Best in Show" judge was the creator of the Gran Turismo series himself, Kazunori Yamauchi.
Competition was tight, but Ted and Sue Richardson walked away with the prize for their 1962 Buick Special. Other winning vehicles included a 1992 Acura NSX Coupe, a Ford F-150, and a 2003 Saturn Ion.
Do you have $850 on you? Then you could get yourself the most awesome racing peripheral on the planet. Logicool, the Japanese brand name for Logitech, announced today plans to release the Sparco Racing Cockpit Pro Fighter Model in limited form to the Japanese market. This device is basically a frame and seat to be used with the GT Force Pro steering wheel/pedal peripheral.
According to the company, the Sparco Racing Cockpit Pro Model was developed in cooperation both with Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital and Italy's Sparco company. It seems to be similar to the sit-down racing kiosks Sony Computer Entertainment has been using over the past year or so for Gran Turismo demos. If that's the case, we can vouch for its quality.
The catch of this device is its price. The sum of 98,000 yen will only get you the Sparco Racing Cockpit Pro Model; you'll have to buy the pricey GT Force Pro as well, bringing your total investment to over a thousand dollars. The Cockpit Pro will not work with the older (and considerably cheaper) GT Force steering peripheral, meaning you'll have to go all out in order to make use of it.
If you're interested in obtaining one of these and you live in Japan, preorders for the device will begin on 12/4 at the Logicool Website.
And if you happen to be rich enough to buy one, perhaps you can buy a second and send it over to IGN's Japanese offices so that we can properly evaluate Gran Turismo Prologue, which hits Japanese retail on 12/4.
"It's here, we got it." That's the call we get from our friends at Game House in Torrance, California. We arrive at the shop, pick up Gran Turismo 4 Prologue" and drive home fast as we can--without getting another ticket.
Getting even this GT 4 lite is the equivalent of Metroid fan boy and IGN Cube Editor in Chief, Matt Casamassina, playing Metroid Prime 2. We may not have the GT4-compatible Logitech Driving Force Pro steering wheel, but we have the game and that's enough for us. It's like Christmas already.
The real-time intro is sweet (we'll put up movies of that soon). It's good enough to give us the chills and get us really excited--not Tracy Lords excited, but excited nonetheless. The intro will probably change for the final product, but this is more than a fitting intro for any racing game and does well to give us a great first impression of Prologue. Diving right into the game we find that there isn't much in terms of options. It offers even less than Gran Turismo Concept. That isn't so bad as the basics are here, School and Arcade Mode.
School mode is simply a License test, more or less. Each of the 28 "Lessons" consists of beating the time, whether it's bronze, silver or gold. You'll earn the corresponding car when you've beaten a lesson. We're still surprised that Polyphony insists on using the crappy cars to get the lessons going. Wouldn't it make more sense to at least have cars that we don't mind driving? Aside from the Ist and bb, we hate most of the tiny little cars, they're just not fun to drive and not very fast.
Anyway, once you get past the cheese vehicles the lessons start to use better cars like the Legacy, SL55 and Takata Dome NSX, some of our personal favorites. This is when things get interesting as the lessons become more challenging and, for us, more fun. The purpose of beating School mode, for us, isn't simply for the satisfaction, but to unlock these great cars. Arcade mode has only 12 playable cars to begin with, but that number jumps up to 50 cars once you've blasted through School mode.
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The GT lives in GT!
Yeah, we know there are only five tracks and no multi-player mode, but Prologue is just a taste of what we'll see next year. Already the gameplay feels a billion times better than most racers out there; it's simply much deeper and more satisfying. The five tracks, Tsukuba, Grand Canyon, New York, Fuji and Italy give us a good idea of the variety of courses. And to think that the finished game will have about ten times this number. Although not as full as Concept, Prologue delivers with a decent set of vehicles as well as the five absolutely different tracks. And, mind you, this is just a demo game.
The checklist is there, the game looks good, sound sweet and plays well. Visually, even in its incomplete form GT4 already looks much better than GT3. It's not a massive leap, but it's just a lot more polished. We're sure the finished product will be amazing. Even so, the jaggies are ever present. Sound, like graphics, is also improved from the previous game and makes driving through the claustrophobic European city a blast.
We were a bit skeptical of gameplay at E3 as it felt stiff and incomplete. We were pleasantly surprised at Sony's Gamer's Day when the current build of GT4 felt much better in the control department. Prologue feels just as good if not better. We can only imagine what this bad boy will feel like with a good steering wheel. Even with the unsuitable Dual Shock 2 controller Prologue still manages to feel like a champ.
IGN Cars Intern and fellow nerdy gamer, Justin Kaehler, tells, "Admittedly, this game is pretty much a glorified demo, but what a demo it is! The engine sounds are more clear and accurate, the little animation within is improved and new car models grace this version. They even threw in some new cars that just made their debut at the Tokyo Auto Show (like my favorite, the JDM Honda Odyssey).
Being a rally fan, I was hooked on the Grand Canyon rally stage. The gravel road seemed to have less traction than the rally stages in Gran Turismo 3, so my arse was sliding around too much. The addition of animated daredevil spectators (who, at the last minute, jump out of the way of your car as you barrel down on them) was a nice touch.
To me, this game still seems like it is in beta form. It needs a little more polish before it feels "finished". That being said, it is still better than most racing games out there, only competing with Gran Turismo 3 for the best racing game on PlayStation 2.
It's definitely worth the money, at about 2,500 yen (approx. $20 or so in U.S. dollars). If you have already beaten Gran Turismo 3 into the ground and need a new GT fix, pick this version up to tide you over until the proper version of GT4 is released."
You maybe have read IGN's Japanese Correspondent, Anoop Gantayat, comments, "The arcade mode offers up some good fun, with each of the five courses feeling completely different, and a list of cars that would make for a fine full-fledged racing game. Still, the lack of multiplayer and the purposely simplified presentation keep this from feeling even like 2,500 yen's worth."
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Class is in session
Neither of the IGN Cars staff agrees with this comment. Anyone with a Japanese or modded PS2 with a moderate interest in the upcoming King of Racers should run out and nab this GT4 lite as soon as possible. Yeah, it might prove to be a case of blue balls. This is just the beginning, though. This is our shining star and we'll be covering this game for a while, it's just that good. Check back soon, we'll have movies, replays and a whole lot of other fun stuff.
You start the game off with 12 selectable cars, including:
Nissan Fairlady 240ZG (1971)
Honda Odyssey (2003)
Nissan Silvia K's Aero (1996)
Nissan Skyline Coupe 350GT (2003)
Honda Integra Type R (1998)
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0GT specB (2003)
Toyota MR2 GT-S (1998)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nur (2002)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII (2003
Subaru Impreza WRX STi Version VI (1999)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV Rally Car (1997)
Toyota Celica GT-Four Rally Ca (1995)
And the complete list:
Daihatsu Copen Activetop (2002)
Daihatsu Mira TR-XX (1997)
Honda Beat (1991)
Honda Fiat W (2001)
Honda Civic Type R (1998)
Honda Integra Type R 98 Spec (1998)
Honda NSX Type S Zero (1997)
Honda Takata Dome NSX (2003)
Spoon Fit (2003)
Spoon Civic Type R (1999)
Spoon S2000 (2000)
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (2002)
Mazda RX-8 Type S (2003)
Mazda Demio Sports (2003)
Mazda Roadster 1.6 (1989)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR (1998)
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR (2003)
Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 Sports X Version (2002)
Nissan Sylvia K's Aero (1996)
Nissan Skyline GT-R V Spec II (1994)
Nissan Xanavinismo GT-R (2003)
Nissan March 12c (2003)
Nismo Fairlady Z Z-tune (2003)
Subaru Impressa Sedan WRX STi Version VI (1999)
Subaru Impressa Rally Car (1999)
Subaru Impressa Sedan WRX STi - GD Type II (2003)
Subaru Impressa Rally Car - GD Type II (2003)
Subaru Legacy B4 2.0 GT spec B (2003)
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0 GT Spec B (2003)
Suzuki Cappuchino (1992)
? Suzuki Altoworks Sports Limited (1997)
Toyota bB Z 1.5 2WD X Version (2000)
Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car (1995)
Toyota ist 1.5S (2002)
Toyota Vitz RS 1.5 (2000)
Toyota MR2 GT-S (1998)
Toyota Prius G Touring Selection (2003)
Toyota Woodone Supra (2003)
Toyota Celica SS-II Tuning Car (2003)
Dodge Viper GTS (1998)
Ford GT Concept (2002)
Ford Focus Rally Car (1998)
BMW McLauren F1 GTR FINA (1997)
Lancia Delta HF Integrale WRC (1992)
Lotus Elise Sports 190 (2000)
Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG (2002)
Volkswagen Lupo GTI Cup (2003)
Click now for more on Gran Turismo 4
Wednesday morning in Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Interactive at last announced launch details for the Japanese version of Gran Turismo 4. As detailed in this story on IGNPS2, SCE will precede the release of GT4 with a low-priced "single cut" version of the game called Gran Turismo 4 Prologue. This game will arrive to Japanese retail on 12/4/2003 for 2980 yen.
May 2003, IGN Cars attends the GT4 press conference. Gaming giant, Sony Computer Entertainment along with developer, Polyphony Digital, gather gaming and automotive press together to show, for the first time, Gran Turismo 4. A "first-playable" GT4 is available for some hands-on time. Only Tsukuba and a few vehicles are available in the build.
So improved is the physic and simulation portion of the series that competitive lap times, especially useful for track-bound drivers, are possible with a split time of about 1 second. It's also easier to drive for beginners with spin-outs occurring less frequently. Still, it will be an effective tool in preparation for track. Even if you never step foot on the track GT4 will have more human-like interaction from AI across all its venues. Think world, licensed and fantasy courses to get an idea.
GT4 isn't a niche game, it never was. Over 50 millions cumulative series units worldwide tell us otherwise. Sony tells us that the game appeals to car fans, car lovers, racing game players and anyone who is a fan of the GT series. Taking a spin behind the Logitech wheel of GT4 we can see why and are obliged to agree.
As the second GT game to appear on the PS2, GT4 will benefit from Polyphony's experience in the previous game as well as advancements in the PS2 platform. The system's performance hasn't been improved, but the team's expertise and technical trickery has increased. Courses will look more life-like, cars shine with true reflection-mapping and the physics engine has been refined to the point of being called a 2.0 revision.
If you ever thought the GT series lacked human interaction or the human touch, in general, then you'll be very pleased to know GT4 has made it to the next step. Drive a convertible or open-top vehicle and, yeah, you'll see a helmet-wearing driver who is affects by the car, its weight and the world physics. Pull into the pit and a full put crew will do what they do best and prep the car for the remainder of the race. Or maybe you'll through a course and notice the spectators cheering you on, instead of simply standing idling as you send brake dust in their fact.
Release date? Sony remained tight lipped about any concrete release info, but representatives promised a worldwide announcements within weeks. That's good news for us, but the potential bad news could be that the game might not appear until sometime later next year.
The Polyphony teams wrapped up the presentation with these words, "The goal is not to create a mere sequel. The goal is to create a new gaming experience that will challenge the boundaries of the current technology." Wow, after that "The Ride of Your Life" really seems like the right tag line for the game. We'll be back with our complete hands-on impressions of the new GT4 build.
The Skinny
Playable Courses
Tsukuba Circuit
New York
Grand Canyon
Citta di Aria
Fuji Speedway
Playable Vehicles
Lotus Europa Special
126 hp @ 6,500 rpm; 112.83 lb-ft torque @ 5,500 rpm
Cheverolet Corvette Stingray 350
350 hp @ 5,800 rpm; 360.19 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm
Datsun Fairlady 240 ZG
147 hp @ 5,600 rpm; 151.89 lb-ft torque @ 4,800 rpm
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 302
289 hp @ 5,800 rpm; 290.03 lb-ft torque @ 4,200 rpm
Alpine Renault 1600S
138 hp @ 6,000 rpm;
Alfa Romeo Sprint GTA
113 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 104.86 lb-ft 3,000 rpm
Isuzu 117 Coupe
118 hp @ 6,400 rpm; 104.87 lb-ft torque @ 5,000 rpm
Toyota Corolla Levin
128 hp @ 6,600 rpm; 109.94 lb-ft torque @ 5,200 rpm
Plymouth Baracuda 440-6 ('Cuda)
384 hp @ 4,600 rpm; 480.26 lb-ft torque @ 2,300 rpm
Pontiac GXP
Toyota Supra 2.5 Twin Turbo R
276 hp @ 6,200 rpm; 267.61 lb-ft torque @ 4,800 rpm
Honda Prelude Type S
216 hp @ 7,200 rpm; 162.74 lb-ft torque @ 6,500 rpm
Suzuki Cappuccino
63 hp @ 6,500 rpm; 62.85 lb-ft torque @ 4,000 rpm
Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454
449 hp @ 5,600 rpm; 499.72 lb-ft torque @ 3,600 rpm
Pontiac GTO
325 hp @ 4,800 rpm; 428.18 lb-ft torque @ 3,200 rpm
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII
276 hp @ 6,500 rpm; 289.31 lb-ft torque @ 3,500 rpm
Subaru Impreza WRX STi
276 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 290.76 lb-ft torque @ 4,400 rpm
Chrylser Prowler
249 hp @ 6,400 rpm;255 lb-ft torque @ 3,950 rpm
Pontiac Vibe GT
180 hp @ 7,600 rpm; 130.19 lb-ft torque @ 6,800 rpm
Chevrolet SSR
289 hp @ 5,200 rpm; 324.75 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Nissan Z LM Edition
Mazda RX-8 LM Edition
Honda NSX-R LM Edition
hahahaha
If you don't like the real answer, keep looking for a fake one that you do like. 
The more time it takes to be released, the better it should be.
