Kazunori Yamauchi on Gran Turismo Fan Expectations, SUVs, Expensive Wheels, Tourist Trophy, and More

[hawkeyez]

I don't think cars like this exist in game just for enthusiasts. It also exists to make them.

A massive part of the old games was the fact that the car you or your parents drive was in the game. So much of the real car market was there for you to play with.
My dad had a Mk2 Mondeo - in Gran Turismo 2 I could drive what felt like his car and race something that felt like it was personal to me. That helped me grow to love cars.

Modern regular cars are, pretty much, what we've been getting. Plenty of people are going to grow up with a CX-30 and co. and have some of their love for cars developed by the fact they started gaming with something they actually had a personal connection to. They're going to be a new generation of people who fall in love with cars because they opened a game and saw a whole world of possibilities with what they see as their own families car.

From an existing enthusiast standpoint its also fun to rag the nuts off something that was never meant to experience that. Doesn't need much more than that to be fun and appealing.

I’ll just have to agree to disagree. For me it’s the equivalent of listening to elevator music over your fav genre. I know somebody out there will say their fav genre IS elevator music… but you can argue anything.

I get the appeal of everyday cars, like the BRZ. If they based it entirely on dairy drivers for where I’m from, GT7 would be trucks, minivans, suvs and those uninspired styled cars nobody knows the name of because they’re so incredibly bland but they get good gas mileage.

I would be curious to see them branch out and make two games… one who’s content consists completely of daily drivers, trucks, suvs, minivans etc and the other game of classic sports cars, muscle cars, historic race cars etc.

Same exact game, just different content, that’s all, and then see which one gets played more.

Alternatively, I’d like them to put out a list of most driven cars in the game. Don’t include creating liveries, but actual driving as I know some of the cars see a lot of livery action. I just want to know what top 100 cars are getting the most love.

 

[hyperspeed980]

Alternatively, I’d like them to put out a list of most driven cars in the game. Don’t include creating liveries, but actual driving as I know some of the cars see a lot of livery action. I just want to know what top 100 cars are getting the most love.

It would surely just end up being a list of the starter cars and Music Rally tutorial cars, as most players will not get past that.

 

[hawkeyez]

It would surely just end up being a list of the starter cars and Music Rally tutorial cars, as most players will not get past that.

Good point.

 

[Nakano219]

Adding everyday vehicles is in the fabric of every GT game - even GT3 and launch GT Sport, as strapped for roster spots as they were, still put in a Mazda Demio each!

What I do think PD could be better at with it in modern times is figuring out more inventive ways of adding these early game cars into a live title where everyone's already completed the early game. Just tossing a single Sunday Cup race out there means these get used once (at most) and then promptly forgotten about by a lot of players.

 

[HarVee]

Adding everyday vehicles is in the fabric of every GT game - even GT3 and launch GT Sport, as strapped for roster spots as they were, still put in a Mazda Demio each!

What I do think PD could be better at with it in modern times is figuring out more inventive ways of adding these early game cars into a live title where everyone's already completed the early game. Just tossing a single Sunday Cup race out there means these get used once (at most) and then promptly forgotten about by a lot of players.

I think one thing that could help toward that is making more one-make events that are part of the main campaign. We have what Silvia Sisters, K-car, GTR and that's it I think? The rest of these one-make races are tied into 'weekly challenges', why not remake those weekly challenge races into permanent campaign events?

 

[05XR8]

Yeah, not sure why PD have not made these at least into Championships. The Special events are usually three races. Would do nicely at the bottom of the World Circuit screen. Put points on the board and make the AI normal for PS4/PS4P and SOPHY options for PS5/PS5P users.

 

[MoonDog]

This is the discussion thread for an article on GTPlanet:

Kazunori Yamauchi on Gran Turismo Fan Expectations, SUVs, Expensive Wheels, Tourist Trophy, and More​

Over the holiday period, and to mark Gran Turismo’s 25th Anniversary, Polyphony Digital invited Japanese gaming media to a rare tour of its facilities and another opportunity for Kazunori Yamauchi to explain his thoughts of the past, present, and future of the series...

I can understand that trying to provide a racing game for a wide variety of players is not a very easy task. With so many interests in racing disciplines, cars, and tracks, it's virtually impossible to please every single player. A lot of the posts on this and other sites stand as testament.

I have had my complaints.
I've wondered at car choices for inclusion in the various versions of the game.
I've tried to figure out why tracks from previous games were not brought forward into the newer games.
In the end, I really love the game and will play it until I get too old to have fun with it, hopefully that never happens.

I liked Kaz's thoughts on wheels & cockpits. Kaz doesn't seem to like the more expensive units, preferring more affordable units so that everyone could have access to an immersive experience.

From 2000 - 2024 I used Logitech wheels and pedals (5 sets total) and pedals and had a blast. They were cheap, and had a decent feel. I used homemade cockpits (I even made a side by side rig with dual DFGT wheels) until 2007, then I upgraded to a GT Racing frame. I was satisfied with that until 2019 when I sat in a newer cockpit with a direct drive setup at some expo. Huge world of difference!
Cost however, was a huge obstacle for me at the time.
I eventually upgraded to Next Level/Fanatec setup in 2024 and have been very happy with it. Since then, I've seen units that are quantum leaps ahead of mine, with hydraulics and realistic movements, but the cost is also a quantum leap ahead of what I can afford.

There will always be a newer something.

I wonder if Kaz's feelings on the subject will affect support for Fanatec, Sim-Magic, Logitech, etc, moving forward.

 

[newmedia_dev]

I liked Kaz's thoughts on wheels & cockpits. Kaz doesn't seem to like the more expensive units, preferring more affordable units so that everyone could have access to an immersive experience.

I would not read to much in to that statement, there was the shift from TM stuff to Fanatec stuff so clearly they are willing to go where the good products/money is.

I do believe he is right though, in that expensive tech now will become more affordable, much like a PS5 will be half price in a year or so, it’s the nature of tech.

From 2000 - 2024 I used Logitech wheels and pedals (5 sets total) and pedals and had a blast. They were cheap, and had a decent feel. I used homemade cockpits (I even made a side by side rig with dual DFGT wheels) until 2007, then I upgraded to a GT Racing frame. I was satisfied with that until 2019 when I sat in a newer cockpit with a direct drive setup at some expo. Huge world of difference!

A lot of us will have lived that experience and more, but it’s very pragmatic to couple the tech with us growing in our experience at the same time, so it’s a combining of factors rather than just purely tech gains.

This is born out by some of the fastest people in the world still use controllers or G29s etc

Cost however, was a huge obstacle for me at the time.
I eventually upgraded to Next Level/Fanatec setup in 2024 and have been very happy with it. Since then, I've seen units that are quantum leaps ahead of mine, with hydraulics and realistic movements, but the cost is also a quantum leap ahead of what I can afford.

There will always be a newer something.

I wonder if Kaz's feelings on the subject will affect support for Fanatec, Sim-Magic, Logitech, etc, moving forward.

I doubt it, do I think more native support will be added? Yes, do I think they much care for each brands nuances and marketing, no? Although it feels like Logitech is becoming a preferred partner but time will tell.

I think the one thing to really consider these days is that Kaz started and produced the series and was instrumental in its success, fast forward 25 years plus and he’s rightly a senior exec, his day to day is long gone and so is partly his early ethos, it’s evolved as has he.

So while his vision is one thing as with every company with a vision statement and a mission statement his goals would have shifted to different priorities than they used to be.

 

[MIE1992]

I'm actually fine with the SUVs, and if anything, I think we need at least a few more of them, especially racing-spec versions. For examples of the latter, I'd love to see the Toyota C-HR that actually competed in the N24, perhaps as a Gr.4 racer, and the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross that races in Stock Car Brazil as a potentially newer Gr.3 racer for that brand. Not to mention the more obvious picks, like the Ferrari Purosangue or the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Though as far as Maserati is concerned, I think the Grecale is far more likely than the Levante at this point. Heck, maybe we could even see a Bonus Menu introducing a new event solely meant for SUVs/crossovers!

 

[newmedia_dev]

I'm actually fine with the SUVs, and if anything, I think we need at least a few more of them, especially racing-spec versions. For examples of the latter, I'd love to see the Toyota C-HR that actually competed in the N24, perhaps as a Gr.4 racer

I think this has what has deviated from the earlier games, there were aspirational cars beyond the lower spec cars to aim for.

A 130d you could then move to a 330i just like your mom or dad, same in the Audi/Merc range.

What these current SUVs have is no heritage, slightly soulless and so so similar. They lack the gateway feel to better things as a driver or car enthusiast.

They are designed by numbers rather than passion. This is my biggest bug bear, if the metric is sales volumes then where is the MK1/2 Corolla GLX, the Focus LX Ghia MK1 etc

I just find all this Cross over SUV stuff quite meh considering they don’t offer class leading handling (x3 30d or M40i competition??) they sacrifice power for town driving and parkability in a game that requires you race in considered patterns.

So in terms of crossovers that fit, I’d of personally lead with the aspiration of owning one of the good or special ones, not one of the ones that fills car supermarket lots.

The reality for car people is always going to be start with the meh one but the dream of moving up or as most young people I know are doing is just buying fiat 500s and making them look like abarths etc, they aren’t driving 2008s or CX30s they are typically what the people who are older and just want mobility want.

 

[mikedriver94]

I can give my opinion directly... by saying that SUVs are vaguely the future of mobility, and I realized this at the end of 2015.
I've always been skeptical about the idea of owning a personal SUV, and I believe every opinion and criterion is a subjective statement.
We already have a handful of SUVs in GT7; I tried the 2008, and the feeling is more than good, which I can't complain too much about given its performance on certain tracks. I think there's still a lot to see from each brand, like Ford, Acura (if they license it), Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, etc.
The combinations to maintain fan loyalty would be to add sedan and SUV segments of secondary importance.
I hope the Gran Turismo developers stay on top of the current generation of these segments. Why not with IMSA too? For example, there's so much to show in this field!

 

[hawkeyez]

Sure SUV’s might be the future of vehicles, same with trucks. Where I live,ma lot of people have trucks. I myself have a truck, and an SUV! But they’re utility vehicles. One is for work and another is for hauling dirt bikes, mountain bikes, sleds etc. There are some nice models and actually my truck is much faster than my car. But I much prefer driving my car, looking at my car, looking at other cars. I really have no interest in trucks and SUVs in Gran Turismo. No interest at all, they’re kind of uninspired and boring to drive. I would take older trucks in the game just for their styling.

But just because the roads are littered with mini vans, SUV’s, trucks and uninspiring cars, doesn’t mean they should be in this game. That’s just my opinion though.

 

[OldandSlow]

As I can only speak for myself, there's no game that I would buy because my cars are in it.

 

[Nakano219]

To me, the maths on this was always inevitable.

The non-boutique manufacturers are always going to want lower-end cars people might actually buy in these games. For a lot of manufacturers, that price segment is now nothing but crossovers. That calculus was only ever ending one way.

The only difference between these and something like the Micra being in GT4, or like a third of the GT2 car roster existing, is that they're putting these crossovers front and centre as the stars of 3-car updates, which is maybe not the best PR/marketing move.

 

[05XR8]

There’s a trend in the USA and in Australia, where young people buying their first car are looking for vehicles that are more analog.
I posted this in the manuals thread:

Well okay then.

I know here, in Australia, many young people are buying cars like defunct Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore six-cylinder models. These cars have lots of power, about 210kw/280hp. Me and my wife are even noticing more women driving the V8 powered versions of these cars.
Plus, even hot hatches that were once retailing for $40,000AUD, are now in the $16,000AUD range. Seriously undercutting new small SUVs that are double the price. So, a hot hatch like the 180-200hp Ford Fiesta ST is more appealing than a car with so many nanny aids.

As the young people mention in the video, being able to disconnect from the screens while driving(which people should be doing regardless of any time of vehicle) and being more in control, leads to more enjoyment in the privilege of being granted a licence to drive.
PD are still adding cars in many forms that come with manual transmissions. The Unimog, Peugeot 2008, Honda N-One RS are really good examples of a variety of cars that seem unworthy by many to be in a GT game, but are fun to drive. That’s the main point.

 

[Hlavco]

Problem is, such people don't have much influence on the new car market. Historically, sales of fun and unique vehicles have been driven by younger buyers, but ever since 2008 or so (in the US, at least)... young people can't usually afford to buy new cars. So the manufacturers have no reason to target them, unfortunately. The profit margins are higher with boring crossovers, and pickup trucks that have too many doors.

But yes, I look at a screen all day at work, and I look at one all night at home. The time I spend in my car is the in-between time, where the last thing I want to see is yet another screen.

 

[suomi1]

Problem is, such people don't have much influence on the new car market. Historically, sales of fun and unique vehicles have been driven by younger buyers, but ever since 2008 or so (in the US, at least)... young people can't usually afford to buy new cars. So the manufacturers have no reason to target them, unfortunately.

Last year in France, the average age of new car buyers was 59/60 years old. That says a lot..