Licenses Pointless in GT5?

[TypeRDC5]

I love the licenses in GT games it's my first ever memory of a GT game so ill always do them and enjoy them.
Although the fact that i can gold every single one apart from two is starting to irritate me.
Spent over an hour trying to do the 1000 m stop challenge a few days ago and keep being between .010 and 0.100 slow everytime, very annoying as it requires almost no skill and a lot of luck.

 

[fps_christian]

Licenses...pointless? Are you mental in your face? They count for an achievement!

 

[Spagetti69]

Achievements are pointless.

 

[elston87]

I must be "blessed with SUCK" when it comes to these licenses. Even though I have no less than a silver for all tests, these are rather frustrating to gold, and all you get is bragging rights and a half-hat car as your reward. So definitely not worth it...

GT4 had a far worse case of this, but it doesn't have the "online exposure" like GT5 does. All these licenses are just for an achievement like said above.

If one day I actually gold ALL the license tests, I'd like to know what drugs I was on that day...

 

[ilikewaffles11]

I dunno... I only really did the first two licenses with all silver at least and the Super licenses with golds for the GT Academy GTR. I hate how all the idiotic kids ruin it for the rest of us

 

[Eric W]

Setting up an open lobby with S license requirements is a decent idea for filtering out the 'bad' drivers. Having this requirement won't completely eliminate the 'bad' drivers but it may help cut down on them.

I also wish there were some type of ranking system which would reward the good drivers which could give other people an idea of how good your are.

 

[fps_christian]

Achievements are pointless.

Wait...what?

 

[GTP_Gearhead]

Achievements are pointless.

I assume your trying to get a rise out of people because you can't be serious Spaghetti.
Achievements are very important to most people. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, and pride. I've golded 59 and continue to work on the last. Not for the 1600 XP, or the 1800 credits, just for completion. Finish what you started and be proud of yourself.

 

[tfed]

Achievements are pointless.

I agree,just play the game. Dont need constant pats on the back. Just to clarify,im talking about trophys

 

[interpunct]

I assume your trying to get a rise out of people because you can't be serious Spaghetti.
Achievements are very important to most people. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, and pride. I've golded 59 and continue to work on the last. Not for the 1600 XP, or the 1800 credits, just for completion. Finish what you started and be proud of yourself.

👍👍 well said my friend.

 

[SopranoStylle]

I like the idea but how about "qualifying" for the room with a lap time before you enter?

do you know how long this would take to even get a race started..and how many people probably stop playing online including myself

 

[Nurburgthing.]

I assume your trying to get a rise out of people because you can't be serious Spaghetti.
Achievements are very important to most people. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, and pride. I've golded 59 and continue to work on the last. Not for the 1600 XP, or the 1800 credits, just for completion. Finish what you started and be proud of yourself.

More:tup:from me too.

Back in the olden days () you just had to take someones word on how well they had done at a game. With the trophies, its proof that you have done it.

I can proudly say that I have completed all of my GT5 licences and GTA IV 100% and no one can doubt me.

Licences are a very good thing. In my opinion, people who don't like them are hiding the fact that they aren't very good at racing.

 

[Pezzarinho17]

It would be best used as a multiplier for your experience. Don't attempt them and its as it is now, but by level 20 or so it becomes more difficult to level up quickly... So wouldn't people be tempted to get a few licenses in order to maximise the exp gained in each race? I certainly would, and imagine doing it right at the start would mean you would progress the first 10 levels in just a couple of races.

 

[Tenacious D]

They messed this up so badly, why fix something that isn't broken?. I undertsand the level system for online, but for A-spec mode?

If you want what I think is pointless, it's the leveling system. It's just one extra annoying hurdle to overcome. To buy a car from the UCD early in the game, you need the money and the level. Or to go to more challenging races, you need the license, the car, and the level! It's so irritating. I guess someone thought Forza's system was a good idea, but with the License Tests and needing credits to buy cars and parts, it's completely unnecessary. PD really need to drop this and the paint chip idea in GT6.

As for the tests themselves, they've always been a mixed bag. Some are way easy while some are ridiculously hard to gold. It is frustrating, but this is one of those Gran Turismo traditions I still look forward to.

 

[SuperCobraJet]

Personally, I still like the licenses, and would much prefer them as progress to events than the *%#$! level up BS.

I thought they were better in GT4 though.

 

[evilKnoxville]

PD could perhaps introduce an individual factor based on the following:

* analysis of your driving style; e. g. are you bumping into other cars by purpose (other car not breaking, etc.), are you cutting corners (irregardless of available penalty systems), etc.
* are you quitting races
* whatever suits ... basically, something that measures you cleanliness ...

FIFA comes with a percentage indicating that people tend to quit a game (apparently because they are losing) - you maybe want to avoid playing against such people.

Now, let's restrict a lobby to a certain % and be sure that only clean drivers are able to join.

Of course, PD need to make sure that such a system is reliable and measuring your performance in an appropriate manner; every race will count and will help you to improve or degrade your factor.

 

[Spagetti69]

More:tup:from me too.

Back in the olden days () you just had to take someones word on how well they had done at a game. With the trophies, its proof that you have done it.

I can proudly say that I have completed all of my GT5 licences and GTA IV 100% and no one can doubt me.

Licences are a very good thing. In my opinion, people who don't like them are hiding the fact that they aren't very good at racing.

Oh in glad your happy with your acheivements and I won't take that away from you.

It very well impress somebody, a lot of people actually.
I'm not impressed though sorry.

Very clever way by console makers to stay faithful to a brand. I wouldn't be surprised if the various console makers allow transportation of there trophies, medals and points to next gen to continue the faith.

As for old school it was about the high score table for me.

I do enjoy looking for side quests in games etc. just not the silly stuff. I couldn't even tell you my medal count if you asked. Probably crap.

 

[Nurburgthing.]

As for old school it was about the high score table for me.

Don't get me wrong. i love an old school game (I still have the SNES & Megadrive with about 300 games between them). But, it depends how far back you want to go. as soon as the arcade machine was switched off or you turned off your NES, the high score was gone

I think trophies bring people together in a strange, competitive way.

My brother in law and I are always trying to get one up on each other with them. he's winning at the moment though

 

[Tenacious D]

Setting up an open lobby with S license requirements is a decent idea for filtering out the 'bad' drivers. Having this requirement won't completely eliminate the 'bad' drivers but it may help cut down on them.

I also wish there were some type of ranking system which would reward the good drivers which could give other people an idea of how good your are.

This would be a fantastic addition to the online tools, about as good as an Event Builder itself.

 

[vk56dehan]

MANY people have taken my usage of "pointless" way out of context. It was NOT saying it was pointless in the GT series...so to clear that up, it was directed at GT5 only. I would suggest, at minimum, read the OP before you decide to reply. To the "are you kidding" post, I believe I said, and I quote...."Other than for personal training and trophies...yes, they are pointless now". Which is exactly what was stated as a reply to the "are you kidding" post, just worded in a different way (achievement).

I also stated to drop the idea of all gold licenses as I also have not completed that and is entirely too extreme...i agree. (page 1 for the people who decided to continue that argument without actually reading the entire thread.)

Simple fact is, if you cant complete the license tests with at least a bronze trophy, then you cannot play GT5 well enough to drive in my rooms...I just want a way to enforce that. Im not high on my pedestal and believe I am the best GT5 player ever (comment I foresee), but would rather play with people of similar skill as myself...or even better for that matter. As an extra perk, it would allow further use for the license tests and allow them to be more than just a personal accomplishment. The only reason I could see PD completely ruling this idea out is because technically its discrimination against people with lacking skills.

 

[Morgoth_666]

I fail to see how any license restrictions would improve the quality of online play at all. All the licenses show is that you managed to have whatever ability it takes to get through those tests. Any gamer with a small amount of racing skill can do them with enough tries.

Those tests simply teach some of the basics of driving fast. It's not even necessary to pay attention to what they are trying to teach you in each test, it's just a time trial.

The issues online are generally that people don't care/don't respect others/are horribly impatient/are just goofing around. None of this would be affected by license restrictions. Licenses teach you nearly zero about racecraft and fully zero about courtesy. In fact, the entire single player portion of the game encourages the exact opposite of acceptable on-track behaviour.

License restrictions would do nothing to filter anybody but slow people, and slow people aren't the problem. They just annoy you for half a lap or so until you get by, then they disappear.

 

[vk56dehan]

^Lots of opinions so far and you make good points Morgoth_666...only way to truly tell is to actually implement it.

 

[C_Raccoon23]

Licences are a very good thing. In my opinion, people who don't like them are hiding the fact that they aren't very good at racing.

Or maybe some of us just see them as a waste of time and would rather just jump into the actual game and race. I was bored enough to gold B and A licenses, but after that I just stopped. I just didn't see the point, other than to get free cars.

I hated how in GT1-4 I had to stop racing to obtain licenses in order to progress through the game. Totally ruined my flow. I'm glad they're optional now and I honestly hope it stays that way in GT6 and beyond.

 

[Morgoth_666]

Or maybe some of us just see them as a waste of time and would rather just jump into the actual game and race. I was bored enough to gold B and A licenses, but after that I just stopped. I just didn't see the point, other than to get free cars.

I hated how in GT1-4 I had to stop racing to obtain licenses in order to progress through the game. Totally ruined my flow. I'm glad they're optional now and I honestly hope it stays that way in GT6 and beyond.

They're a waste of time in GT5 for sure. I preferred them the old way, offered a change of pace now and then. It's not as if you had to gold them, and just getting the license to move on wasn't too hard or frustrating.

In GT5 I knew I didn't need them(despite what the voiceover guy says) so I never even clicked on the license menu once until I was 3/4 through A-Spec, then I drank a bunch of booze and golded them all in a few days for the free cars and completion. I still can't believe how much easier they seemed than GT1-4.

 

[Tenacious D]

The issues online are generally that people don't care/don't respect others/are horribly impatient/are just goofing around. None of this would be affected by license restrictions.

I have to differ on this, and on the point that the License Tests are worthless. Most of the fast people are fast because they take the time to race right, and racing right means skill, tactics and a good dose of patience. Sure, there are some annoying knot-heads which have innate talent or insight into racing games, but they're the minority.

If you take the time to try and get through the License Tests, most likely you're not an impatient irresponsible ADD dweeb who doesn't care who they spin out to gain position. But a rating system would be good too.

 

[Nurburgthing.]

Or maybe some of us just see them as a waste of time and would rather just jump into the actual game and race.....

It is part of the actual game.

For me, licences make you / made me a better driver.

In short, not a waste of time.

 

[MOTORTRENDmitch]

They need to force the issue with the licenses unlocking the game, if you scrap the levelling system interms of what races you can do in favour of having to complete the licenses then the online side of the game wouldn't be full of jerks doing this:

oh how i love that

 

[daus26]

PD has it tough. It just seems the community is going back and forth on this. At one time, many considered the licenses a pain to go through and that the game shouldn't be hindered by it. Now that it's optional to complete the game in terms of completing all the race events, the vibe has shift to the point where we want the licenses to strict the races again.

Personally, I think they should go back to the old days, because really, getting bronzes in the game should be the least of your capability if you want to play the game right. I remember waaay back in GT1 where I had no idea of how to properly play the game, but overtime the licenses taught me how. Eventually, I became a better driver of course.

As for the leveling system, I'd like it to stay, but it needs tweaking. I'm not sure how, but the way it is now, you can be a total beginner that doesn't even know how to brake properly and still be level 40. If only, they can find a way where the level is an equal representation to the driver's skill. Perhaps, it should be directly porportional to the licenses people acquire, by bronze, silver, and gold? What if XP's are only earned by the trophies (B,S,G) we earn from licenses, instead of the actual races?

Right now, the level is more of an indicator of how long you've played GT5, or how many times you've raced, rather than skill. Perhaps this was their intention, but it's clear that levels don't really represent a player's skill level.

 

[vk56dehan]

PD has it tough. It just seems the community is going back and forth on this. At one time, many considered the licenses a pain to go through and that the game shouldn't be hindered by it. Now that it's optional to complete the game in terms of completing all the race events, the vibe has shift to the point where we want the licenses to strict the races again.

Personally, I think they should go back to the old days, because really, getting bronzes in the game should be the least of your capability if you want to play the game right. I remember waaay back in GT1 where I had no idea of how to properly play the game, but overtime the licenses taught me how. Eventually, I became a better driver of course.

As for the leveling system, I'd like it to stay, but it needs tweaking. I'm not sure how, but the way it is now, you can be a total beginner that doesn't even know how to brake properly and still be level 40. If only, they can find a way where the level is an equal representation to the driver's skill. Perhaps, it should be directly porportional to the licenses people acquire, by bronze, silver, and gold? What if XP's are only earned by the trophies (B,S,G) we earn from licenses, instead of the actual races?

Right now, the level is more of an indicator of how long you've played GT5, or how many times you've raced, rather than skill. Perhaps this was their intention, but it's clear that levels don't really represent a player's skill level.

We think very similar

 

[SagarisGTB]

I don't think the difficulty or lack of relevance of license tests is the big problem for me.

You see, in GT3 and GT4 (and to a lesser extent GT1), I would go back to the licenses and try to polish my times. The effort and time put in to extract every last possible millisecond of time in the tests was worth it. The goal in GT4 was to go 2-3% faster than gold times at least, usually much more than that. Due to the diversity of tracks and cars I was driving to the absolute limit, this helped make me a very fast GT4 driver.

The problem is, I can't do that in GT5. For one, many tests aren't time trials but instead are races. But the biggest problem is the Skid Recovery Force that is turned on in the tests. The physics are completely different from the physics in the rest of the game. It won't be worth it to work on the tests like I did in the previous 4 GTs.