Later GT games should require license tests, but with a virtual driving instructor

[GTOne2Three]

Basically, GT should have a tutorial mode to help beginners. I tried showing the game to my cuz, but they have no idea about driving line, braking points, braking pressure, accellerating slowly, and how much to steer, or even knowing that they got to brake.

It would be great if PD came up with a virtual instructor with an AI that can detect your errors and show you how you can improve. They can guide you as you go.


For example, when comming to a chicane, the instructor would say something like:

"Ok, here comes your first chicane, move over to the right *right area of track flashes* and start slowing down to 3rd gear, but remember, the brake isn't a switch, you need to be gentle and smooth."


That's kind of what I expected from the special events like NASCAR. I expected Gordon to talk you through the process instead of commenting on every mistake you make.


Also there should be a tutorial and license tests for manual transmission.

 

[skylinefx]

That's nice, but PD would spend 3 years developing that and forgetting everything else that should be improved.

 

[NFSCARBON1]

If it was implenented I'd expect more 'this car is heavy' nonsense. It'd be helpful on the rally stages (Loeb Challenge) but can you imagine Vettel trying to keep up with the Red Bull!

 

[Nightingale]

I think this would be a substantial improvement on the license test system, which was already pretty good to begin with. It would really make the game feel less more like an engaging racing simulator instead of a passive collection of cars and tracks.

 

[GTOne2Three]

I think this would be a substantial improvement on the license test system, which was already pretty good to begin with. It would really make the game feel less more like an engaging racing simulator instead of a passive collection of cars and tracks.

Ya, GT5 was the first GT game (other than PSP) to have voice acting. First GT game to make you feel like you are not "alone"..

 

[Mac K]

I agree!

 

[JackWilson]

Yeah that would be cool, they should also make it so you have to have a few lessons befote you take your test and u would have to pass a theory first.

 

[VTiRoj]

I think this would be very helpful to new players, but very annoying to people who dont need the tutoring. 👍

 

[shmogt]

i dont even get license test. u dont need them to do anything what is even the point? however yes making a actual instructor with u and forcing u to do them to get into certain events would be cool

 

[mcfizzle]

i dont even get license test. u dont need them to do anything what is even the point? however yes making a actual instructor with u and forcing u to do them to get into certain events would be cool

The license tests were required to unlock events on previous GT's. In GT5 they are a way to practice technique, learn, but also gain prize cars and exp/credits. In my opinion it would be nice if they went back to the previous system.

On topic, if they did it right I guess it would be nice for more inexperienced drivers but it would probably turn out annoying like Jeff Gordon. I am fine with the text describing the upcoming license as it is now.

 

[bass264]

It's a waste of space on the blu-ray disk and besides it'll take away time that they could use to make more cars or more tracks...

 

[GTOne2Three]

I think this would be very helpful to new players, but very annoying to people who dont need the tutoring. 👍

Then you simply take a quick evaluation test to see where your at.

 

[Vagabond]

The license tests were required to unlock events on previous GT's. In GT5 they are a way to practice technique, learn, but also gain prize cars and exp/credits. In my opinion it would be nice if they went back to the previous system.

Indeed 👍

The current license tests already have everything required for a beginner. They start out very easy and include a variety of aids, including the virtual racing line. There is even an example video showcasing the necessary technique as a supplement to the description.

GT is never going to be an attractive prospect to the average quick-fix gaming enthusiast unless it somehow morphs into something else entirely.

 

[SoCal Senator]

The license tests were required to unlock events on previous GT's. In GT5 they are a way to practice technique, learn, but also gain prize cars and exp/credits. In my opinion it would be nice if they went back to the previous system.

I like this idea. Must have certain license to do next series/challenge etc. As it stands, the only need to do licenses is to get the prizes and eventually the gold trophy. Make it more challenging to advance...

 

[Exorcet]

Then you simply take a quick evaluation test to see where your at.

Better to skip it entirely.

This idea is good only if it's optional, otherwise it just becomes an annoyance.

Realistically though, this would take a lot of time. The current licenes have pretty good descriptions of what to do and a demo video. It's enough to let someone learn how to drive.

 

[eddiefumar]

come on guys.
this game don´t need an instructor.
it´s a racing game. it´s made for petrol heads and not for people which are not interested in driving.
it´s not called gt5 the ultimate driving school, and there is a good reason for that.
and by the way, if you are a beginner what is wrong with the driving line.
i don´t use it because it´s making me slower. but if you are a beginner it´s quite good for getting familiar with cornering, braking etc.
just turn it on and keep it until you know how to hit the apex.

 

[GTOne2Three]

come on guys.
this game don´t need an instructor.
it´s a racing game. it´s made for petrol heads and not for people which are not interested in driving.
it´s not called gt5 the ultimate driving school, and there is a good reason for that.
and by the way, if you are a beginner what is wrong with the driving line.
i don´t use it because it´s making me slower. but if you are a beginner it´s quite good for getting familiar with cornering, braking etc.
just turn it on and keep it until you know how to hit the apex.

I don't like the driving line though. Forza's is much better. I like how the whole line fades to a different color depending on your driving, rather than the red line suddenly coming up. With forza, you know how much you need to brake.

 

[Midnight Snacks]

I want Kamui Kobayashi to teach me how to overtake, that would be so cool.

 

[Tornado]

Better to skip it entirely.

This idea is good only if it's optional, otherwise it just becomes an annoyance.

The best post in this thread. The idea presented in the OP is a good one, but it presented in such a contradictory way that it makes it useless. Saying it would be good for beginners is probably true, but making it required means that it would be good for beginners and a huge burden/annoyance/waste of time for everyone else.

The GT5 licence system is the best one the series has ever had in regards to how it works in the context of the rest of the game. And there really is no arguing that point. It just is. It allows new players to learn the basics, and it allows experienced players to ignore it entirely and dive right into the game (well, as much as the crappy level system allows). There is no benefit that the old system has over the one in GT5, other than the individual tests arguably being better.

If you want to improve it with new ideas from there, fine. But do not call for a return to the system used in GT1-GTPSP, because that system was painfully outdated even by 2001 standards, let alone future installments of the series.

 

[Spacegoat]

Better to skip it entirely.

This idea is good only if it's optional, otherwise it just becomes an annoyance.

Realistically though, this would take a lot of time. The current licenes have pretty good descriptions of what to do and a demo video. It's enough to let someone learn how to drive.

My thoughts exactly. 👍

 

[mcfizzle]

The GT5 licence system is the best one the series has ever had in regards to how it works in the context of the rest of the game. And there really is no arguing that point. It just is. It allows new players to learn the basics, and it allows experienced players to ignore it entirely and dive right into the game (well, as much as the crappy level system allows). There is no benefit that the old system has over the one in GT5, other than the individual tests arguably being better.
color]

Really, there is no arguing that point? I disagree with you completely. The licenses really have no meaning to the actual game in GT5 and feel like they were tacked on where I think they should have importance. I think the licenses were unique to GT series before because you have to prove your skill if you wanted to do the harder races. The old system to unlock races was much better IMO than experience points to level up to unlock races. One of my favorite things in GT is the endurance races and I could get my S license and do the endurance races almost immediately if I wanted. In GT5 I can't do that, instead I have to accrue pointless experience points. It made me feel like I was attempting to become a real driver and I had to demonstrate that I could handle cars in a test situation before I could get on the track and race. Earn a license, earn events. Makes sense to me. For a racing sim, I think that is a good system to have. There, I argued your point.

 

[Tornado]

Really, there is no arguing that point?

No.

The licenses really have no meaning to the actual game in GT5 and feel like they were tacked on where I think they should have importance.

You can make them have importance without making them mandatory. Fairly easily as well. Just because GT5 screwed so much stuff up doesn't mean that everything that is not exactly like GT1-GTPSP is bad, nor does it mean that everything that is exactly like GT1-GTPSP is good.

The old system to unlock races was much better IMO than experience points to level up to unlock races. One of my favorite things in GT is the endurance races and I could get my S license and do the endurance races almost immediately if I wanted. In GT5 I can't do that, instead I have to accrue pointless experience points.

This is true. But this is true because the level system in GT5 was a terrible, terrible idea. It implies nothing towards the quality of the previous system. Completely different problem that really has nothing to do with the licences, because off the top of my head I can think of a better and more workable system than what GT5 has that still wouldn't make the licences mandatory.

It made me feel like I was attempting to become a real driver and I had to demonstrate that I could handle cars in a test situation before I could get on the track and race. Earn a license, earn events. Makes sense to me. For a racing sim, I think that is a good system to have. There, I argued your point.

I've played GT games since 1999. There are only a handful of licence tests in the entire series (GT2 being the exception) that I didn't get at least a silver on my first try (and I can even name most of them).
They don't teach me anything. They are a waste of time for me to do. I don't want to do them, at least not at the beginning of the game, because I know both of those things are true. I bought cheat discs on the PSX and PS2 almost entirely so I didn't have to do them if I restarted the game.

So what benefit is there forcing me to spend several hours to do them just because you want to do them? If you want to do them, fine, do them. But don't sit there and tell me that making me do them is better than allowing me to choose to do them, because I can assure you that it is not.

 

[Nooomoto]

In GT6, they should have Tsuchiya come to your house for the license tests and teach you how to drive in his AE86.

Come on, voice coaching for license tests? Why put so much effort into something everyone wants to get out of the way as fast as possible. I'd rather have the space that would take up on the disc used for more wheels or something.

 

[mcfizzle]

No.

You can make them have importance without making them mandatory. Fairly easily as well. Just because GT5 screwed so much stuff up doesn't mean that everything that is not exactly like GT1-GTPSP is bad, nor does it mean that everything that is exactly like GT1-GTPSP is good.

This is true. But this is true because the level system in GT5 was a terrible, terrible idea. It implies nothing towards the quality of the previous system. Completely different problem that really has nothing to do with the licences, because off the top of my head I can think of a better and more workable system than what GT5 has that still wouldn't make the licences mandatory.

I've played GT games since 1999. There are only a handful of licence tests in the entire series (GT2 being the exception) that I didn't get at least a silver on my first try (and I can even name most of them).
They don't teach me anything. They are a waste of time for me to do. I don't want to do them, at least not at the beginning of the game, because I know both of those things are true. I bought cheat discs on the PSX and PS2 almost entirely so I didn't have to do them if I restarted the game.

So what benefit is there forcing me to spend several hours to do them just because you want to do them? If you want to do them, fine, do them. But don't sit there and tell me that making me do them is better than allowing me to choose to do them, because I can assure you that it is not.

So that is my point, there is arguing this point, or a discussion at least. I see there is no arguing it or discussing it with you though.

For you and a lot of people, you don't like them and feel they are a waste of time. For me and a lot of people, they were enjoyable, a staple of the series, and a good way to unlock events. It doesn't mean either one of us are wrong, but dont just rule or other opinions as invalid.

 

[Tornado]

The difference is that those who want them mandatory are imposing a certain playstyle on others for basically no reason (because, again, you can still do them if you want when they are optional; and, again, the system in GT5 being bad does not mean that a system better than GT4 couldn't be made), and those who want them optional have a solution that pleases everyone by default.

Only the latter argument is defensible, or, rather, I've never seen an argument that actually tries to defend the former.

 

[mcfizzle]

👍 I see what you are saying. For you the old system was a waste of your time and brought the game down for you.

There are always going to be decisions that some people will dislike, I guess with GT5 it is most gameplay decisions. Losing the old system was one for me, for you it was one of their better decisions.

 

[shirakawaa]

They should replace the licence tests something like a GT Academy Driving School where one learns in a structured and plausible manner (not with random "puzzles") racetrack driving, or also drifting (if you've ever watched Tsuchiya's drifting tutorial video), etc.
It should all be optional (not mandatory in order to "play"), but also technical and complete as required, like real life driving courses with instructor directions, theory, etc.
I think Richard Burns' Rally had something similar if I'm not wrong, but not as technical as I would imagine it should be in GT5.