Just how much content or ideas are recycled?

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Samus

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I'll start by saying that I'm fully aware content is recycled in any game series, it makes no sense to start completely from scratch each time. GT5 also has a fair bit of totally new stuff. With that being said though, does anyone get the feeling just too much has been recycled in this game, especially considering the production length? I think in general as well some aspects of the GT series just never moves on. Now for some things you can say that they're an integral part of the series and should always be there, but it's not the case for everything and even then ideas should be updated or refreshed.

So, this is what I can think of that isn't new in GT5, but has either been directly imported from old games or updated from old games:

  • Vast majority of cars. Not going to work it out but the car list is heavily dated for the most part and there aren't that many new cars in balance. There are probably several hundred cars as they were in GT2.
  • Tracks. At quick count there are just five new tracks in GT5, the rest are all recycled from old games.
  • Events. How many games do we need to run the same titled events, sunday cup, K Cup, Clubman Cup, Tuning Car, Turbo Race etc? Yes some of them may be "staples" but surely they can be switched up a bit or at least renamed/reborn rather than running the exact same races each game. There is a pretty much unlimted number of event variations that could be thought up.
  • Even some of the endurances races are the same as they've always been. Do I really want to run 300km of Grand Valley or 200miles of Laguna Seca in every game? How about 300km of a different track? Hardly revolutionary thinking.
  • License tests. Ok this is maybe a staple that shouldn't be removed but it's still predominatly identical to GT1. Same names, same ideas, even the exact same tests as GT1 in some cases. Surely it can be refreshed somewhat? I don't really want to do 0-400,0-1000 stopping tests in every GT game.

Also so it's clear, this isn't me moaning about the content, I greatly enjoy GT5, I just can't help feeling some of it is getting old now and wondered what you thought. Does anyone else get the feeling they're playing the same game but slightly updated?

Or do you not mind that it's virtually the same base each time? Will you be perfectly happy doing a 0-1000 A License test in GT6 or the Sunday Cup still in GT7?
 
I actually feel it's okay, the GT feel and tradition are somewhat present. However, there are still lots of things to add/change but then again this is why they invented updates. :)
 
I think recycling is fine, but porting is the annoying part. If some of those content got a bit more love and get full HD/premium treatment they won't feel as much as a rehash....
 
It's easier to list what's new than what's ported because there is so little new stuff.

New features:

Premium cars (read over designed cars)
Online lobby
New track or two
Damage

Except for that what isn't recycled and mostly dumbed down from previous GT?
 
Recycling is fine, to some extent, as long as the recycled content is in addition to lots of new content. Some familiarity gives the game its unique identity. However, if the vast majority of the content seems recycled then you do risk it feeling stale and old, and this can leave people feeling short-changed.

However, you do have to remember that there will be lots of people who've never played a GT game before, so it will all seem new. But one thing is for sure - you'll never please everyone!
 
Oddly enough, I don't think they recycled enough. They could've just taken the entire GT4 package and upgraded it with better graphics and damage and added a few more modern cars/tracks, I would have been much happier than I am with GT5 as it is now. :)

Why can't game developers get the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" idea through their heads?
 
You make some great points there, especially about the endurance races.

One thing though, the licenses, I don't think should change much. They are a huge staple of the GT series and even though they are much the same from game to game they still provide a good challenge for most racers (if they are shooting for all gold medals).
 
calan_svc
Oddly enough, I don't think they recycled enough. They could've just taken the entire GT4 package and upgraded it with better graphics and damage and added a few more modern cars/tracks, I would have been much happier than I am with GT5 as it is now. :)

Why can't game developers get the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" idea through their heads?
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree with this opinion.

Hopefully with the trend of complaints > compliments for the game the designers will figure it out for GT6. Forza 4 will dominate this pathetic game and I can't wait for it to hit shelves.
 
So to those who said they're happy or think they should have recycled more, what is your response to my last questions? Will you still be happy doing the same events in the same cars in GT6 or GT7?

B Quiet N Drive
You make some great points there, especially about the endurance races.

One thing though, the licenses, I don't think should change much. They are a huge staple of the GT series and even though they are much the same from game to game they still provide a good challenge for most racers (if they are shooting for all gold medals).
Click to expand...

As I said license tests are probably the one things that has to stay but surely they can vary them up a bit? Sure there are only so many ways you can test skills at going around corners but why not some other challenges? Controlled powersliding, defending cleanly against a faster car, etc.

Also as mentioned, the stopping tests have been there in every game as far as I can remember, the only way they changed it up slightly in GT5 is with rain. How about putting another car in front that brakes first, test your avoidance skills?
 
The lack of new tracks really hurts it. I drove around most of those tracks countless times in GT4, and I was pretty sick of them before GT5 even came out. The fact that quite a few of my favorites from GT4 are gone is another huge bummer.

The game is little more than a hi-def version of GT4, with quite a few tracks missing and far fewer events. That just doesn't cut it in a market where other games are doubling the number of tracks from their previous installments. And their AI is an entire generation more advanced that GT5.

I think PD made some pretty bad decisions this time around. Some cars are detailed right down to the correct lettering on the headlight lenses, and we've got 40 Nissan Skylines - a very mundane car overall. But tracks? Events? AI? Not a priority with PD.
 
calan_svc
Oddly enough, I don't think they recycled enough. They could've just taken the entire GT4 package and upgraded it with better graphics and damage and added a few more modern cars/tracks, I would have been much happier than I am with GT5 as it is now. :)

Why can't game developers get the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" idea through their heads?
Click to expand...

I must agree 100%. Graphic upgrade with some of the notable tracks that everyone has been requesting and the game gets game of the year in my book.

I also agree that there is a huge difference in recycled / imported. With the development time they had, they should have been able to recreate every single GT4 track plus some of the other GT tracks, and include them in GT5. 1000+ cars means nothing to me without the abundance of tracks to run them on.
 
I feel the same.
I bought a PS3 for this game and I feel really disappointed in my decision.
I feel that Kaz has more interest racing his real cars around real tracks than trying to make GT5 the definitive racing game.
 

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