- 4,296
- Connecticut
- Ridley-X4
Let's ignore the real-world, licensed circuits for a moment. From what I understand, there have been a few types of "original" circuits:
-Circuits based on real roads at real locales, such as many city courses in GT4, and most notably, Tokyo R246. Technically, one could say the Cote d'Azur circuit is this, as well, despite it being more widely known as the Monaco GP course. These courses could also use either real layouts (Cote d'Azur) or create a fictional layout that still uses real roads (e.g. New York City from GT4).
-Circuits based on a real locale, but a fictional layout that doesn't follow real roads. Examples include Tokyo Expressway, Maggiore, Kyoto Driving Park, and Sardegna. (Correct me if I'm wrong on the last one.) This also likely would include many dirt/snow courses. I think Circuito de la Sierra would fit here, too.
-Circuits not based on a real locale and thus not real roads. Examples include Apricot Hill, Autumn Ring, and arguably the Special Stage routes. (The last one is said to have slight inspiration from real Tokyo highways.)
Now, I do enjoy these courses, but I do worry a little, that in a game that includes Tokyo Expressway, that would make the inclusion of Tokyo R246 somehow impossible. I also think that there are plenty of hypothetical layouts based on real roads that could be tons of fun. (I, myself, enjoy the otherwise improbably idea of a ~60-mile, point-to-point hillclimb that starts at my house, and ends at a state university.) But at the same time, I could understand why PD wants to try making something original, something that doesn't adhere to real roads. But then again, there's still an awful lot of potential in adhering to real roads to throw away the idea, right?
So I'm not sure. I do like the locales PD has picked throughout the series, but I wonder if the courses should be much like their car selection, where it could highlight the roads that are relatively obscure, yet fun to drive on. (Side note: I think the GT4 courses that only allowed two cars at a time - as well as all the dirt/snow courses - should be remade as point-to-point time attack (and/or rally) stages. I think it'd be better than trying to overtake someone on such narrow roads. Alternatively, they could be reserved for mostly being part of a time attack mode, instead, which would be more akin to the current Sport Mode Time Trial mode. But this mode could also be in lobbies, too, in case a particular combination isn't currently in rotation. And it could be like the GT5 rally mode, where there's a notable amount of space between cars. Further inspiration could be taken from actual time attack competitions at Tsukuba, which is something I think Tsukuba is much better at accommodating, rather than racing. Unless it's with motorcycles, from what I've read.)
-Circuits based on real roads at real locales, such as many city courses in GT4, and most notably, Tokyo R246. Technically, one could say the Cote d'Azur circuit is this, as well, despite it being more widely known as the Monaco GP course. These courses could also use either real layouts (Cote d'Azur) or create a fictional layout that still uses real roads (e.g. New York City from GT4).
-Circuits based on a real locale, but a fictional layout that doesn't follow real roads. Examples include Tokyo Expressway, Maggiore, Kyoto Driving Park, and Sardegna. (Correct me if I'm wrong on the last one.) This also likely would include many dirt/snow courses. I think Circuito de la Sierra would fit here, too.
-Circuits not based on a real locale and thus not real roads. Examples include Apricot Hill, Autumn Ring, and arguably the Special Stage routes. (The last one is said to have slight inspiration from real Tokyo highways.)
Now, I do enjoy these courses, but I do worry a little, that in a game that includes Tokyo Expressway, that would make the inclusion of Tokyo R246 somehow impossible. I also think that there are plenty of hypothetical layouts based on real roads that could be tons of fun. (I, myself, enjoy the otherwise improbably idea of a ~60-mile, point-to-point hillclimb that starts at my house, and ends at a state university.) But at the same time, I could understand why PD wants to try making something original, something that doesn't adhere to real roads. But then again, there's still an awful lot of potential in adhering to real roads to throw away the idea, right?
So I'm not sure. I do like the locales PD has picked throughout the series, but I wonder if the courses should be much like their car selection, where it could highlight the roads that are relatively obscure, yet fun to drive on. (Side note: I think the GT4 courses that only allowed two cars at a time - as well as all the dirt/snow courses - should be remade as point-to-point time attack (and/or rally) stages. I think it'd be better than trying to overtake someone on such narrow roads. Alternatively, they could be reserved for mostly being part of a time attack mode, instead, which would be more akin to the current Sport Mode Time Trial mode. But this mode could also be in lobbies, too, in case a particular combination isn't currently in rotation. And it could be like the GT5 rally mode, where there's a notable amount of space between cars. Further inspiration could be taken from actual time attack competitions at Tsukuba, which is something I think Tsukuba is much better at accommodating, rather than racing. Unless it's with motorcycles, from what I've read.)