Happy GT5 Day!
This! Can't believe it's been one year already.
I actually didn't wanted to do this, but now I've written my first experiences with GT5 down here for you instead of doing my homework... so I hope people read and enjoy this! 
I still remember starting my brand new PS3 and GT5 the first time after I got both on Christmas '11. It was such an awesome experience.
And I still remember the intro to come up... I watched it completely, and was impressed. Than the menu came. I had read before that you should install the game before you start racing, so I did. I waited and waited for it to proceed... I was going crazy because it took such a long time. But finally it was ready.
I was exited, and started my first race using the "Arcade" mode. I selected my favourite car, the Nissan GT-R (R35) '07. Damn, it was a Premium car! I couldn't take my eyes off it for minutes watching it in the silver showcase... I had seen it in real life a couple of times before and was amazed by the amount of detail.
The track I selected was Cape Ring, because I wanted to experience a completely new track I had never driven before.
After some loading, the menu of the track showed up... I tried out the functions and discovered the "Zoom" function, which is very useful, almost used every time I read something in the menu and should be awarded as the best idea of the whole game!
(besides the photo mode) 👍
Errr... wait, I lost my point. What I meant to say, I've set some driving assists (it was my very first driving experience in GT5...) and started the race against the opponents... I don't remember the race itself, only that I enjoyed the long corner with the little jump. It's still my favourite turn on Cape Ring.
This is, besides some of the endurances, the only specific race I remember from GT5, because it impressed me that much.
I started playing the actual game doing the license tests and the Sunday Cup, later buying my first Premium car (after winning a Mazda MX-5 and a Kart): the Nissan GT-R R35 of course. I needed to do many races to get the money to buy it, I did not even have internet on my PS3 so I had to do many offline races just to get the credits to buy the GT-R. When I finally got the 70,000+ credits I bought it and took it for a spin. I felt in love with the car again. Yes, it's only a machine, but a perfect one. I did over 5,000 miles in that car and still drive it from time to time.
I was playing GT4 until the week before getting the PS3 with GT5, so I had a good comparison of both games.
The graphics, the handling, the car list, the sounds, the whole game just amazed me. And it still does every day.
Two guys I already knew before GT5 came out and who are still good friends of me couldn't wait to get GT5 as well, and we all couldn't wait to play GT5 after coming home from school hahaha. We kept comparing our game progress, levels and car garages, that was really fun. Until today, the game is pure addiction to me.
ALL this (and all the things I didn't mention) is what a game is about I think. It's the fun I have playing and the memories I keep in my mind. I surely will continue playing GT5, for me it's not even been 1 year, but I already have so many positive memories from that game, that I will never ever forget it.
THANK YOU!
My thanks go to Polyphony Digital and to Kaz himself. To all the great people out there who enjoy GT5 as much as I do. To the people who enjoy my And of course to all you, who are members of GTPlanet. This forum is the best forum ever I think.
But alas, after that I went home and enjoyed every single thing from the SE. took a long time to download the game, but once finished I began my journey into GT5.
Had some money saved for the Halo Reach Limited Edition Xbox 360 and... You know what, I never really felt bad about not having it. 
