- 26,911
- Houston, Texas, USA
- JMarine25
You know, I talk so much about the release date because (I might offend some people saying this, but...) I'm a little impatient about the game. I didn't know how much anticipation was made after GT1. I can imagine the anticipation of GT3 after GT2 was out. Those experienced with the GT series would remember that Gran Turismo 3 was first entitled "Gran Turismo 2000." I think drag racing was considered, but not implemented.
So I tend to think the anticipation may be the biggest so far, now that more and more racing fans are picking up GT games like pennies on the ground. GT4 anticipation will only get worse as GT5 comes around. The only deterrent is if GT4 turns out to be a drag (which will be 0.00015 possible) and no one can care less about any other GT game. And of course, I don't think Polyphony won't make Gran Turismo games at the rate of 6 months each.
Allow me to explain another "theory." This time around, I use Mario as an example. A lot of people tend to believe that Mario was born in 1985 with "Super Mario Bros." However, the birth of the jump-crazy plumber began back in the Donkey Kong days. As I learned, he was just "Jump Man." Even though that name sounded like an enemy MegaMan (USA)/RockMan (JPN) faced, sometimes a game company will push a franchise as far as it can, while trying out new concepts in the process. So what happened? SUPER MARIO BROS. BABY! Afterwards, they try a new concept and come up with SMB2, where it was Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool (at the time). You could pull of weeds and show stuff at enemies. The traditional elements of SMB1 may have left, but the game was still successful nonetheless. Mario afficionados, rejoice for this one. After trying new ideas, Nintendo went with Super Mario Bros 3, which many consider the greatest Mario game of all time. The game had surprises, suits, great graphics, big worlds... it was the best ever simply put. Then the SNES and Game Boy had their share of crazes which extended the franchise. SNES had Super Mario Worlds 1 and 2, not to mention two educational games and the equally-succesful racing series. Then the Nintendo 64 came out and took Mario to his first 3D adventure and Mario Kart to full-3D (except the racers). The N64 even attempted at multiplayer party games, and more notably, a Mario fighting game. Both succeeded. The failed Virtual Boy had a Mario and a Wario game. Now it's the GameCube and Game Boy Advance days. Mario's never been better, and Super Mario Sunshine is the classic of our day, minus the punches and kicks we came to love in Super Mario 64. Even without Mario and Luigi together, the Mario franchise has lasted at least 30+ years.
But, the success of Nintendo was taking an existing idea and making it last even with many seperate ideas. Nintendo took its time to make their games without straying on a far tangent. Same goes with PD and Gran Turismo. The game is coming on seven or eight years, and PD is going to pull out all the stops (no pun intended) to make Gran Turismo 4 the greatest racing game EVER. It may overkill Pole Position, but this game might be the new classic of our day. It might be the Super Mario Sunshine of our time, however, it can also be the measuring stick to how simulation racing games can be, should be, would be, and possibly WILL be. And I am damn proud of all of Polyphony Digital's sleepless nights in producing this game from concept to completion. I'm sure it will connect like a touchdown pass from Miami of Ohio's Ben Roethlisberger. I don't know if PD is out there and I know they are taking their time making the game as perfect as they'd like, but if they are out there, allow me to say:
Polyphony Digital, we appreciate all that you have done to grab us racing fans unlike any other game series. I mean, you make racing more realisitc and almost feel like we are on the track making hot lap after hot lap. We thank you for being as real as possible and as arcade-quality as possible while being realistic. You have created great games, and when GT4 is released with GT5 and the PS3 to follow, you will have legions of racing fans. Maybe even non-racing fans will love the game and enjoy the driving experience unlike anything on earth. Take your time. We will wait as long as it takes before we flood stores paying dollar after dollar for such a high-caliber game. Keep up the good work, and never give less than the best. ON behalf of GTPlanet and John M. (myself), THANK YOU, POLYPHONY DIGITAL!!!!!
So I tend to think the anticipation may be the biggest so far, now that more and more racing fans are picking up GT games like pennies on the ground. GT4 anticipation will only get worse as GT5 comes around. The only deterrent is if GT4 turns out to be a drag (which will be 0.00015 possible) and no one can care less about any other GT game. And of course, I don't think Polyphony won't make Gran Turismo games at the rate of 6 months each.
Allow me to explain another "theory." This time around, I use Mario as an example. A lot of people tend to believe that Mario was born in 1985 with "Super Mario Bros." However, the birth of the jump-crazy plumber began back in the Donkey Kong days. As I learned, he was just "Jump Man." Even though that name sounded like an enemy MegaMan (USA)/RockMan (JPN) faced, sometimes a game company will push a franchise as far as it can, while trying out new concepts in the process. So what happened? SUPER MARIO BROS. BABY! Afterwards, they try a new concept and come up with SMB2, where it was Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Toadstool (at the time). You could pull of weeds and show stuff at enemies. The traditional elements of SMB1 may have left, but the game was still successful nonetheless. Mario afficionados, rejoice for this one. After trying new ideas, Nintendo went with Super Mario Bros 3, which many consider the greatest Mario game of all time. The game had surprises, suits, great graphics, big worlds... it was the best ever simply put. Then the SNES and Game Boy had their share of crazes which extended the franchise. SNES had Super Mario Worlds 1 and 2, not to mention two educational games and the equally-succesful racing series. Then the Nintendo 64 came out and took Mario to his first 3D adventure and Mario Kart to full-3D (except the racers). The N64 even attempted at multiplayer party games, and more notably, a Mario fighting game. Both succeeded. The failed Virtual Boy had a Mario and a Wario game. Now it's the GameCube and Game Boy Advance days. Mario's never been better, and Super Mario Sunshine is the classic of our day, minus the punches and kicks we came to love in Super Mario 64. Even without Mario and Luigi together, the Mario franchise has lasted at least 30+ years.
But, the success of Nintendo was taking an existing idea and making it last even with many seperate ideas. Nintendo took its time to make their games without straying on a far tangent. Same goes with PD and Gran Turismo. The game is coming on seven or eight years, and PD is going to pull out all the stops (no pun intended) to make Gran Turismo 4 the greatest racing game EVER. It may overkill Pole Position, but this game might be the new classic of our day. It might be the Super Mario Sunshine of our time, however, it can also be the measuring stick to how simulation racing games can be, should be, would be, and possibly WILL be. And I am damn proud of all of Polyphony Digital's sleepless nights in producing this game from concept to completion. I'm sure it will connect like a touchdown pass from Miami of Ohio's Ben Roethlisberger. I don't know if PD is out there and I know they are taking their time making the game as perfect as they'd like, but if they are out there, allow me to say:
Polyphony Digital, we appreciate all that you have done to grab us racing fans unlike any other game series. I mean, you make racing more realisitc and almost feel like we are on the track making hot lap after hot lap. We thank you for being as real as possible and as arcade-quality as possible while being realistic. You have created great games, and when GT4 is released with GT5 and the PS3 to follow, you will have legions of racing fans. Maybe even non-racing fans will love the game and enjoy the driving experience unlike anything on earth. Take your time. We will wait as long as it takes before we flood stores paying dollar after dollar for such a high-caliber game. Keep up the good work, and never give less than the best. ON behalf of GTPlanet and John M. (myself), THANK YOU, POLYPHONY DIGITAL!!!!!
