why is australia left out?

[Mc Bob]

why is it that there are no australian tracks and minimal cars in the GT series? i mean we have some of the best track layouts and facilities in the world, so why won't they include them?

 

[daan]

Why are there no British tracks? We've got more of a racing heritage than you have, so why won't they include them?

You can ask this question for pretty much any country apart from Japan, and maybe the USA.

 

[gregc]

Just my thoughts, but it's probably commercial - Japan and the US are most likely the biggest markets for GT, so that's where the real life tracks are concentrated - with the exception of Nurburgring which these days gets pretty much global recognition.

There are no british tracks either (and I'd say that we have some of the best tracks, if not facilities, but let's not argue about that ), although admittedly there are a fair number of british cars. Personally I'd ditch many of the made up circuits in favour of more real circuilts from all over the world. Not all of them though - I love Trial Mountain, El Capitan and Deep Forest in particular. We can but hope for GT5....

 

[Mc Bob]

good point. i never thought of it like that, but you still have british cars. we don't have aussie cars. and some of the older cars like the XB GT by ford would be an awsome car to drive around the ring or tokyo.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I was under the impression that bar the Monaro, Commadore, Utes and Falcon you got GM models and the standard Japanese contingency?

I know you have numerous older Monaros aswell, but I don't know how many generations

 

[Mc Bob]

ok so what about all the "classics" the XU1, the Phase III GT, basically all the cars that were designed and made for australian people, though a lot of them were specifically made for bathurst.

 

[ExigeEvan]

ok so what about all the "classics" the XU1, the Phase III GT, basically all the cars that were designed and made for australian people, though a lot of them were specifically made for bathurst.

How widely manufactured were these cars? Were they ever exported?

 

[Mc Bob]

yes they were exported but they weren't as popular overseas other than the US

 

[gregc]

Another thought regarding tracks vs cars - personally, I'd prefer tracks over cars. Give me Bathurst, Barbagallo (sp?), Donington and Brands Hatch before adding more Aussie or Brit cars.

Of course, I'd love to see both - especially (brit bias alert!) cars from Radical and Noble as well as the circuits above (plus loads more). A Radical at Bathurst, mmmmm Anyway, without going any further off topic and drifting into a GT5 wishlist, I still think it's mostly a commercial thing.

 

[Mc Bob]

i must admit i don't know a lot of british cars, but a noble around bathurst would be cool.

i think that most Aussie tracks would pose a good challenge, especially the ones with undulations like oran park or technical like Adelaide. polophony should really consider it i think.

 

[SMOKEY BANDIT]

ide like too see Zandvoort in gt5 its a track in Holland

 

[luftrofl]

It just MAY have to do with the fact that PD is based in Japan, so it's easier to travel for a few hours to the tracks in Japan, rather than go around the world.

 

[Moloch_horridus]

How widely manufactured were these cars? Were they ever exported?

These cars were the bread and butter of the Australian car manufacturing industry - almost all our muscle cars were based on the average family sedan with 500 sports models made to qualify for Group A. There were very few cars designed solely as sports cars - perhaps the Valiant Charger (Chrysler?) and the Monaro (although I think this was basically a two door version of the family sedan).

I think Australians will be very disappointed when we discover how seriously outclassed our muscle cars are when competing against the rest of the world - although I do hope to see some of the classics in GT5 along with Bathurst.

The Monaro goes back to about 1965 or there abouts - has always been a great looking car, as were Ford Falcons up to the XC (1978). Some Toranas (XU-1, A9X and the never released XU-2) would be reta to have as well.

 

[Famine]

Okay... as with any "Why is/isn't xxx in Gran Turismo 4?" questions, the answer is:

We don't know. We aren't PD. Ask them.

It's nice that you're concerned, but, when all's said and done, a PS2 is only so good, and a DVD is only so big - PD left out what they left out because they either didn't know about it, didn't care about it or felt that the game was fine without it. And with one copy of a Gran Turismo game for every 200 people on the planet, they're probably right.

 

[Ermac26]

Okay... as with any "Why is/isn't xxx in Gran Turismo 4?" questions, the answer is:

We don't know. We aren't PD. Ask them.

It's nice that you're concerned, but, when all's said and done, a PS2 is only so good, and a DVD is only so big - PD left out what they left out because they either didn't know about it, didn't care about it or felt that the game was fine without it. And with one copy of a Gran Turismo game for every 200 people on the planet, they're probably right.

What he said and has said it best. I've beent thinking this about here in Ontario, Canada because in Toronto there is a F1 race that is held there or is it another race series. But never asked, because, frankly, GT4 is just fine without these tons and tons of cars and tracks. Honestly the game would get boring fast with too many tracks, cars, and races and stuff. The game would be way too long.

I'm going to agree with Famine on this one

 

[FormulaGT]

Well, I guess, apart from what Famine said, PD & Sony are both Japanese companies; and both have an American 'connection'. Therefore, why would they not include a plethora of Japanese/American tracks/cars etc?... Unfortunate, yes, but what can we really do? Apart from sending nasty little postcards, not much...

I don't think the topic was concerning the number of cars/tracks, Ermac, but moreso the diversity of them. One gets quite sick of continually racing in Japan with Japanese cars, likewise in America with the American content. It would have been nice if there was some more variation. Nonetheless, an entertaing game was produced regardless.

FormulaGT

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Great comments Famine & FormulaGT.

Like other rant threads, I think many either forget, or don't realize this game is made by a Japanese company with their core fan base being predominantly in Japan and Asia with North America a close second.

I also think many of the harsh critics don't understand the difficulty and massive amount of resources (legal, financial, human, processing, testing, and time), required to make such a complex game and to include each new car and track into the game.

From some rants one might get the impression that the reason GT4 took so long to come out is that everyone at PD was too busy drinking sake and telling dirty bar jokes.

Oh... and I also think some people really do forget this is a GAME... not a true simulator... and certainly not real life.

If anyone is really disappointed in the physics of GT4, the quality of the AI, and or the lack of their favorite cars, my suggestion is to sell your games, sell your consoles, sell your PC, and focus all your free time on becoming a race car driver, because short of that, I don't think you'll ever be fully satisfied with anything less.... and yet apparently that is what many feel PD should provide them.

It has been brought up before, and perhaps needs to be said again. This is a game that has a massively diverse audience at many different skill levels and with every version of GT, PD continually has succeeded to enhance and develop the series such that it appeals to a wide diverse audience, and its amazing sales figures are a testament to their success.

However, as the old saying goes… if you honestly think you could do better, then do it yourself. If you can, you stand to make hundreds of millions of dollars, and many will applaud your efforts. Of course, if you do… don’t be shocked if you receive similar rants from those who feel you could have and should have done a better job despite your success.

 

[ßen]

Excellently said DN, Famine and FormulaGT. WHat else are PD gonna do? No need for more argument IMO.

 

[throttlehappy]

It just MAY have to do with the fact that PD is based in Japan, so it's easier to travel for a few hours to the tracks in Japan, rather than go around the world.

maybe its time they did that

 

[Jay]

yes they were exported but they weren't as popular overseas other than the US

Exported? The Phase III and XU1 were never exported, hardly any of our cars were exported (referring to old cars) except to NZ.

I think Australians will be very disappointed when we discover how seriously outclassed our muscle cars are when competing against the rest of the world - although I do hope to see some of the classics in GT5 along with Bathurst.

True, they were still pretty fast but not upto the pace of the top American muscle cars, but luckly we imported quite a few of them anyway.

The Monaro goes back to about 1965 or there abouts

1967 the HK Monaro was first released.

 

[dropsonde]

What about Canada? Where are their tracks?

 

[streetsmell]

really id be happy with only the bathurst track if just 1 could be in.

 

[CJ350]

So wishing for all the f-1 tracks is out? Off topic as it is?

 

[bjb]

What about Canada? Where are their tracks?

Canada has more then one track?

You would think that PD would drop the fake tracks and add real ones after GT2 not add both. Besides I'd like to see real rally tracks.

 

[Jay]

really id be happy with only the bathurst track if just 1 could be in.

Same, If they just included Bathurst I will be extremely happy.

 

[SirBerra]

When did koala bears start racing cars? Why would they need tracks? The Road Warrior just used an abandoned highway to try and outrun The Mighty Humongous.

Sorry, but we Americans don't know too much about racing that goes on in Australia. Do they really have major tracks down there? It sure would be out of the way to hold a Series race in Australia. Gasoline must be crazy expensive for racing.

 

[Jay]

When did koala bears start racing cars? Why would they need tracks? The Road Warrior just used an abandoned highway to try and outrun The Mighty Humongous.

Sorry, but we Americans don't know too much about racing that goes on in Australia. Do they really have major tracks down there? It sure would be out of the way to hold a Series race in Australia. Gasoline must be crazy expensive for racing.

This is like me saying

Do Americans have any tracks besides ovals?

Fuel (price) is not a major concern when racing.

 

[CJ350]

Hmm, well, we have a few F-1's , the Indy series, the Cart series, the trans am series , the gto/gtu series, the ...

Truly, I wish they had Sebring in the game.

 

[bjb]

When did koala bears start racing cars? Why would they need tracks? The Road Warrior just used an abandoned highway to try and outrun The Mighty Humongous.

Sorry, but we Americans don't know too much about racing that goes on in Australia. Do they really have major tracks down there? It sure would be out of the way to hold a Series race in Australia. Gasoline must be crazy expensive for racing.

Mate, I wouldn't post things like that in a thread called Why is Australia left out when its started by an insane Australian revhead call Mc Bob.

 

[Mc Bob]

sir berra, you got a lotta nerve, i assume you watch nascar. one of our so called "koala's" race there his name is Marcos Ambrose. recently he's been going pretty good, he's also just in his first year. he's also a 2 time australian v8 supercar champ. he's taken 1 or 2 formula ford titles in britan, so tell me this... do you still think we're not well known. and i assure you i'll beat you on any track you choose. us australian drivers are no push overs.