Gran Turismo 5 Asia Online Tournament 2011 Launches

Sony Hong Kong is launching an interesting new “online tournament”, starting September 1st, open to players from Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The tournament consists of three regional and cross-regional rounds of competition, with some hefty prizes up for grabs, including a GT5-Edition Tissot watch, an Apiga AP1 racing seat, a Thrustmaster T500RS steering wheel, and over HK$10,000 in PSN vouchers.

The most curious thing about this competition is the second and third rounds – their outcomes are based on real, live online races between the regional semi-finalists. The contest’s terms and conditions offer a bit more insight into the logistics:

The 14 semi-finalists will be divided into two groups with seven participants in one semi-final. Each semi-finalist will be competing against semi-finalists from other six regions. PSN team will send an “Add Friend” invitation to all semi-finalists before the day of the semi-finals. On the day of the semi-final and before the match, PSN team will send a “Game invitation” inviting semi-finalists to join the match. By accepting the invitation, semi-finalists can then join the match. Semi-finalist who fail to accept the invitation in time will be disqualified.

This is the first time any Sony-sanctioned competition has played out through live Internet races instead of leaderboard-based time trials. What’s even more interesting is the vehicle restrictions (or lack thereof) for these races:

Participants must use the designated car model Nissan GT-R Spec V (GT Academy Special) in [Round 1] regional tournaments. However, there is no limitation on car models, brake system (AT/MT), car lanes, traction control system, anti-skid brake system, ASM and ABS used in semi-finals and final matches. These are part of the competition. Participants shall be responsible for their own choices.

In other words, if you show up in anything less than a Red Bull X2010, you probably won’t stand much of a chance. This seems like a missed marketing opportunity for an automotive sponsor (such as Nissan or Mercedes-Benz), but will surely make for some frantic and frenetic races with so much at stake.

All the official rules and entry details are available here – good luck to all GTPlanet participants! Thanks to shem for the tip.

See more articles on .

Comments (52)

  1. omDidit

    The tourney has ended. Congrats to ID: physicsII for winning the final race.
    For those who want to try the challenge:

    Round 1:
    Nissan GTR Spec V, stock.
    tires : comfort medium
    Skid recovery : ON
    else free
    bestlap reference : 58.9xx

    Semifinal and finals
    Nurburgring 24h
    lap reference 4:17.xx

  2. duludolo

    Wait. For those in malaysia, you need a region 3 disc to play the event?

    Well that sucks. I have a region 1 cd. :(

    1. kevin

      Me too man, my dad got the disc from some gaming shop and I didn’t know about the ‘region’ thing. Now I can’t even get the GT Academy Special car. :(( Would you trade ur disc for a region 3 disc these few days? Only got till 6th of September. If you would, I just might join ya. ;)

  3. wetwetwet

    3 sept login gt5 seasonal event, in Malaysia with region 2 Disc, but i cant see the online tournament event, anyone can help?

    1. Muzaffar

      you need a region 3 disc imo.
      Tried to enter the US GT Academy, with a US account but you still need to have a region 1 disc to see the event.

  4. Muzaffar

    I tried competing but I think its impossible to be in the top 10 without a wheel. Too bad my G25 had died just when I wanted to use it in GT5,
    and as good as the HKS controller is, its no match for those racing wheel. =(

  5. GTP_Jump_Ace

    Why o why couldn’t our GT Academy been done in this format instead of letting those who have the most free time to compete?

    In real life you get one chance, one shot not 1,000 restarts to win.

    So aggrevating….

    But also very exciting. I sure hope the US GT Academy takes note of this!

    Jerome

  6. Nsubordinate

    “GT5-Edition Tissot watch, an Apiga AP1 racing seat, a Thrustmaster T500RS steering wheel, and over HK$10,000 in PSN vouchers.” all these prizes and the one that caught my eye was the vouchers. Could that be a hint at DLC?

    1. funrun

      Is that GT5 Tissot watch only a “regular” Tissot watch as shown in the link above? Cause I don’t see any GT logos on it? Or are there other pictures of it somewhere else?

    2. Jordan

      Funrun, that image came from Polyphony Digital’s site – I don’t believe the watch itself carries any actual GT branding. You can find a larger picture of it here.

    1. Slint

      Since when were Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in the Western World? Freudian mind slip on your part?

      Anyway, yeah, i hope the rest of the regions have their own version.

      Is there ever a GT World Champion?

  7. IDCI

    If they send us the friend request and our friend list is full when they send it… Thats means im disqualified? Lol

    1. That_guy100

      It says if the “GAME invitation” is not accepted, not the friend invite. Sometimes it helps to learn how to read.

  8. EliteDreamer

    Hmm… Thrustmaster… or watch? THings to consider…
    Too bad I’m not in either of those countries. :(

  9. gogatrs

    If they’re truly quick enough to make it to the semi finals, I’d imagine that the participants could come to an agreement to all use Fiat 500s or something like that.

  10. Zuel

    If it does come to the states we’ll have to many people cheating like in the last event. Using the PP system in a Online Tournament is a very bad idea.

    1. funrun

      So Americans are the only ones in this world that would take advantage of a PP system? Geez, what a great stereotype.

  11. RalliArt/////

    “no limitation on car models in semi-finals and final matches”

    Might as well race at Autumn Ring mini too, really rub it in.

  12. Honchie

    I’m sure something like that is coming to Europe, North, South America, & the rest of the world. Just wait for it folks.

  13. GT_Johan

    Alot thing happens in the Gran turismo world.
    First update 1.11 and Nascar season event with special prize.
    And then this tournament, then 5 September is the David Coulthard competition.
    And then the update 1.12 and I hope the DLC will include.

  14. RPM

    Having a certain PP restriction sounds awesome… Or for example a certain car! I hope this will happen in North America!!! I might be discovered!!! SERIOUSLY

    1. Tenacious D

      Having essentially no restrictions in the second and subsequent rounds is just insane. If they do this anywhere else, SONY needs to have some sensible races with car and performance restrictions.

  15. RPM

    No way!!! So an event online.. GEEZ!Not in North America!? That would be sick! BTW Having an X1? Are you serious Matheus? Wow you can’t drive.

Comments on this post are now closed.

About the Author