The final push is on

[cudadude2]

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-...~y2009m8d14-Polyphony-Digital-increases-staff

PD increases staff 25%.

b

 

[dancardesigner]

This is great news, sounds to me like they are doing there best to get the game out before the year's out

 

[Skidmark]

It doesn't say when they were hired?

Sounds like it might have been earlier in the year, thats even better news as it means they could have been beavering away to get it out in 2009.

If they have only just hired them surely 2009 isn't looking too good.

 

[damez]

If they have only just hired them surely 2009 isn't looking too good.

Lmao, I'm sure they hired them a long while ago.

 

[Rash-182]

Great find! It´s getting closer

 

[G.T.Ace]

I could imagine that a lot of these people were hired to optimize the GT4 models for the PSP version.

 

[Zathra5_]

I don't think that you can take anything from this at all. You have two different websites stating two different employee numbers. One of the estimates could be five years old for all we know.

 

[cudadude2]

assuming its new, they are likely play testers or translaters.

b

 

[kikifq]

assuming its new, they are likely play testers or translaters.

b

Hehe one can only hope

 

[Gumuz]

arghh, why couldn't the PSP version wait and put all the efforts in the PS3 version since it has been in development the longest, hopefully there isn't much more of a wait, i don't think i can handle a Christmas release, its so far away from now, what am i supposed to do till then?

 

[Leonidae]

Well, they're probably not translators, since they seem to have their English in order. there were some comical mistakes in GT1..

 

[EJRocky]

arghh, why couldn't the PSP version wait and put all the efforts in the PS3 version since it has been in development the longest, hopefully there isn't much more of a wait, i don't think i can handle a Christmas release, its so far away from now, what am i supposed to do till then?

GTPSP has been around for yonks before GT5 was announced... basically, they wanted it to just be a PSP version of GT4. But, it was put on hold a lot, so I guess it deserves a bit of attention. I mean, surely having the big console game come out later is worth it in order to play GT wherever you want?

Well, they're probably not translators, since they seem to have their English in order. there were some comical mistakes in GT1..

Do tell, I didn't spot any... then again, I haven't played it in a while

 

[Jordan]

I've been getting this in my Inbox since last night, but the new "staff" members at Polyphony Digital are not as fresh as the author of this article makes it sound. During his interview with AutoWeek at the beginning of June, Yamauchi mentioned that 140 people were working at his company (it takes some math to get to that number - it's not stated explicitly).

 

[Kingdizzi]

http://www.worldwidestudios.net/en/Homepage

This website opened a couple days ago and states that Polyphony Digital has around 140 employees. Have to say that is not that many considering the popularity of the GT franchise. Insomniac have larger teams however of course they release a game every year.

 

[FLASH48]

Never fear December it will be here!!

 

[TopGearFan08]

considering the original amount of staff was quite low, the "extra 25%" could be mainly people drafted in as bug testers...

Kaz refused to outsource GT Mobile, so I think its unlikely these fresh recruits would be given jobs relating to game content.

Just my opinion.

 

[Havok_]

I've been getting this in my Inbox since last night, but the new "staff" members at Polyphony Digital are not as fresh as the author of this article makes it sound. During his interview with AutoWeek at the beginning of June, Yamauchi mentioned that 140 people were working at his company (it takes some math to get to that number - it's not stated explicitly).

Nuff Said! Every single indication is that the team has been giving it 110% for these past months. Ah Xmas will be jolly indeed.

 

[Bogie 19th]

25 percent? DANG...they must be outsourcing the cupholders now )

 

[Leonidae]

well, I remember seeing a video of PD studios.. there were some people sleeping IN THE OFFICE! under the tables and stuff.. so, I guess that 140 is the amount of workers that are awake.

 

[Tenacious D]

arghh, why couldn't the PSP version wait and put all the efforts in the PS3 version since it has been in development the longest

I am so with you. This wasn't a Polyphony decision, since Kaz-dono has been saying for years that his focus was in getting GT5 out before GT Mobile. No, this was a SONY decision, and is probably based on the PSP sales, which are about double the PS3. But keep the faith. All indications are that GT5 is headed for an early December release, if not surprisingly sooner... let's hope for a big Thanksgiving - or even Halloween - surprise.

 

[TeamStig]

Am I the only person who is happy PD was working on GT Mobile? As much as I want GT5, GT Mobile was announced five years ago. This game was nearly vaporware. I'm happy it's seeing the light of day. The idea of having Gran Turismo with me wherever I go is just too good to pass up.

 

[Siufu]

They hired more staff around February:
http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp/news/d3009.html
- online management staff (or is it for development? You never can tell from the job title)
- web production, editorial staff
- HTML coding staff
- assistant modeling
- graphics design assistant

 

[SrRd RacinG]

Am I the only person who is happy PD was working on GT Mobile? As much as I want GT5, GT Mobile was announced five years ago. This game was nearly vaporware. I'm happy it's seeing the light of day. The idea of having Gran Turismo with me wherever I go is just too good to pass up.

I'm not really happy. I don't play handheld games. And, of course, GT5 will be the big seller so that should have been the priority. I feel it was the other way around. To see GT PSP near the end shows PD's commitment, but for me, I could not care less for it. The only thing I find useful about it is that we can infer bits of information about the contents of GT5 through the PSP version.

 

[Raitziger]

They hired more staff around February:
http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp/news/d3009.html
- online management staff (or is it for development? You never can tell from the job title)
- web production, editorial staff
- HTML coding staff
- assistant modeling
- graphics design assistant

It seems a bit late but. Also 1up.com show listen up hinted that one major PS3 exclusive is comming this year that previously was not expected. (could also be god of war or heavy rain)

 

[Bogie 19th]

Well, Sony did promise to do a better job with the PSP and release more games. I think they are going full steam after the DSi. They see that portable devices, especially for gaming, do very well when they have good games.

What better way to get some additional PSP sales (and support from gamers) then to release one of their biggest games in their franchise on a portable.

I agree though, I wish they had the labor to get both released at a time when we want it...now!

 

[Sureboss]

Play testers tend to be externally sourced and don't work as a company employee. Most likely to use their publishers to source these/their own play testers.

 

[Skidmark]

It seems a bit late but. Also 1up.com show listen up hinted that one major PS3 exclusive is comming this year that previously was not expected. (could also be god of war or heavy rain)

Yeah they did, been chatting about it here : -

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=95004&page=66

They were making car noises and asking " What are you Driving at? "

They were definitely taking about GT5, just depends if they are right or not?

 

[TeamStig]

Well, Sony did promise to do a better job with the PSP and release more games. I think they are going full steam after the DSi. They see that portable devices, especially for gaming, do very well when they have good games.

They are going after Apple too. The App Store has become extremely profitable, and Sony is looking to duplicate it on the PSP go. Unfortunately, there's one thing Apple's got that Sony doesn't, and that's the ability to market their products effectively. Sony couldn't do it when the PSP launched, they aren't doing it with the PS3, and I doubt they'll do it with the PSP go. The unnecessarily high price point they chose proves that.

The funny thing is that even the Sony reps themselves have trouble justifying such a high price point: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/25/scee-psp-go-takes-advantage-of-early-adopter-premium/