How About Commentary?

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FAOLIU05

FAOLIU05

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Tidious maybe... but it certainly is a feasible task.

I was either thinking radio transmission between you and the pit crew chief, or having some actual commentary. Either one would bring new life and interest into the endurance (or such) races.

For the radio transmission idea, I was thinking this...
There would be some kind of invisible guideline on every track. This guideline would outline the most efficient way to go around the circuit. The first lap the chief would be very picky about your performance, telling you to cut closer or brake faster next time. But if your time decreases, he would let up, but still offer hints. His interaction with you would depend on how well you keep to the invisible guideline. Also, if your tires are red; if your running almost on empty; or if you crash or make any kind of contact with any object, the chief would say something.

For the commentary idea, I was thinking...
Kind of like the first concept, just that the commentators wouldn't be talking over a radio and they would focus on all cars and their performances, especially YOUR PERFORMANCE. There would be certain parts of the track that trigger the commentators to say something. Like if you're going down the corkscrew at Laguna Seca Raceway, they would say something like, "The Z06 is approaching the corkscrew, lets see how he can take it." Commentator two would carry on, "Well, the Z06 didn't take it the most efficient way, but that worked." They would also base thier commentary off the same invisible guidelines. Thier attitudes towards you would vary depending on your over all track times. If you improve, than they would judge you lightly. If you don't improve, then they would judge you harshly. And then they would commentate various cars behind you to give you, as the player, an idea of how they had taken turns and whatnot.

I can see how this could be seen as impossible, but I think it would be very entertainning to have some feedback on your performances as you race. It would be nice to listen in on their opinions on other cars and whatnot. It would make racing much more enjoyable.
 
I wouldn't want commentary, in real life you only get commentary if you're watcing on TV, the drivers don't hear any. A pit radio I would like to see, but only if it had a very, very long list of dialog options. They should be able to comment on other cars in the race, but by model would be too much, by make would be acceptable and more feasible. They should tell you everything that can go wrong on you're car when it goes wrong, they should tell you split times, lap times, number of laps left, advise you on when to pit, when close rivals pit or cars infront pit ect.
 
I would love pit radio talk..........like there was in toca race driver......like the race manager telling you ure doing fine, go easy on the tires, bring it in......stuff like that.....also having the pit crew shouting abit would be good.....general rushing conversation that they tend to make............like COME ON COME ON!!!
 
I'd like a pit radio (or co-driver for rallies) when you're doing the race; but for replays, I'd like commentary.

Of course, both should be fully optional, and there should be a variety of different commentator voices, because, obviously, not every race will have the same people in the booth.
 
I see commentary perhaps being better accepted in replays than the race. The main argument someone would make for rallying is "why do I need co-driver commentary when the rallying stinks?" Of course, you can share your views on the next GT's rallying in my thread entitled "Rally Gran Turismo."

Commentary can get pretty annoying in races. Of course, though, you can get some worthwhile advice, like in TOCA Race Driver 2. This is even if he says something like "You're ahead by a country mile!" I think replay commentary would be great unless you just want to see your music video/video replay. I don't think anyone would want to hear some music accompanied by an announcer doing play-by-play. Then too, who would do the honors of play-by-play? Here are some names I can remember doing this in games: Murray Walker (???), Tiff Needell (Test Drive: Le Mans), Bob Jenkins (NASCAR Revolution). There were some light voice overs as well: Paul Page (Indy Car Racing 2), Ned Jarrett (Papyrus' NASCAR Racing).

The reason I say it's better in replays is because it provides a unique perspective of racing. I'm sure PD doesn't take the Codemasters route and use Ned Jarrett (of all people, I know) for anything. If PD decides to take up on commentary, here are some names which are perfectly fine: Bob Varsha, David Hobbs, Alain de Cadenet, Leigh Diffey, [hell, throw in] Murray Walker, just to name a few. Other than that, commentary is completely debatable among GT gamers.
 
Just like other sports games with announcers/commentary, it would eventually become repetative. I don't like the idea.
 
id love to see a pit radio. read off your times, give you your split times, the gap between you and the guy ahead and behind you. all that good stuff. i dont like commentary though as it just gets repetative and ends up being turned off.
 
Well, auto racing IS a sport, but I don't think there would be sufficient commentary to make it as such. So I don't think it's going to work. Perhaps the best sports game I have with great commentary that doesn't really get old is "NCAA Football 2005." Can't wait for the next Madden and NCAA football games to come out, by the way.

I don't think GT needs commentary, because there isn't really much to actually warrant commentary. However, I have an alternative idea. Let's say that as the next GT has online play, and you can actually have people cover races for you, a la Radio Le Mans. This idea was inspired by what I heard about EA Sports Radio for Madden NFL 2005. So someone can be broadcasting races, especially bigtime races. Perhaps, even, you'll be plugged into a commentator that you'll be able to toggle on and off if you want online races to be covered professionally by dedicated reporters. Maybe imagine if your most fluent language is Spanish (for example), you can maybe have an announcer reporting in Spanish for you. I love Spanish announcers in futbol, so I don't know how such announcers would do in auto racing. Would be funny to see Spanish announcers say at the end of a big race, "Gol! Gol! Gol!" like when someone scores a goal in football/soccer.

That's a different idea I have on announcers in GT games. How do you like this idea I've proposed?
 
Quick_Nick
I seriously doubt there will be commentary in GT5. Just remember Gran Turisomo is a racing game, not a sports game.
Click to expand...
Nope, Gran Turismo is a driving simulator not a racing game :)
There are ofcourse race cars in it but it is still a driving simulator. Pit - car radio communication would be nice though.
 
Generally the audio in GT games has not been up to much IMO.

I think pit radios could really work, so long as there is plenty of dialogue, and a co-poliot would also be a nice touch. I don't think commentary would suit the game type.

I'd like to see a feature whereby you can not select to listen to music when in a race or rally car. Would add to the realism a bit more.
 
Granted, It isn't realistic but TV commentary would be great.

You need to make sure that it is localised, I don't want to hear some american voice over on my british version of the game.

The problem is when they decide what commentators to use.

VBH is far better than Martin brundle and James Allen.
 
i think either commentary or a pit radio this would be a reasonable OPTION
and depending on how monotonous it gets, usualy i think i would turn it off
 
FAULIO05, it's funny you mentioned the Z06 at the corkscrew in your post, I just took the C5 Z06 out for a sunday drive on Laguna Seca :D

As for commentary, if PD can implement it well into GT5, I wouldn't mind it at all.. So for now, I keep the receiver cranked up to 11 and listen to my car.
 

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