Gran Turismo 6 has been on store shelves and in many of our homes for the past three weeks now, and it has evolved quite a bit since its vanilla release. We’ve gone from version 1.00 to 1.01 on release day, the inclusion of the BMW M4 Coupé, and most recently update 1.02 which brought together a slew of improvements and refinements to the game’s character, as well as Mario Andretti’s 1948 Hudson, a car Mario was reunited with courtesy of the “First Love” campaign.
One thing is clear, despite the shortcomings that befall the series – whether technical or otherwise – Gran Turismo will always be about the car lover in us all, the person who has a special connection with automobiles that no one else dares to understand. Gran Turismo is a franchise so confident in itself it will go so far as to reunite a car lover with the car that started it all for them.
While that in and of itself is a marvelous attraction, what about the individual that loves Gran Turismo the game? Such an individual may left out in the cold, perhaps even underwhelmed that Gran Turismo 6 isn’t the transitional leap previous installments were. Compare the transitions from 1 to 2, or 3 to 4 and the problem from the gamer’s perspective becomes a bit clearer.
GTPlanet Picture of the Week
This week’s featured image, brought to us by Omander5 and courtesy of The R!CE Guy, features the 15th Anniversary 2013 SRT Viper at The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, a new-to-GT6 photomode location, and with an aurora of colors to boot!
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Picture of the Week” and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
Mario Andretti’s 1948 Hudson Has Arrived
Mario Andretti’s 1948 Hudson Hornet is now available in Gran Turismo 6, giving players the opportunity to take Andretti’s career-starting “first love” for a spin.
It doesn’t end there, the collaboration between Andretti and Gran Turismo which saw him being reunited with the Hudson is being celebrated with a unique Hot Lap Seasonal Event challenge in GT6, available for the next month. For the full breakdown be sure to stop by the original post here.
Gran Turismo 6 1.02 Update
It seems like just a week ago to the day a list of what was changed in Update 1.01 was being cataloged, and now we’re cataloging yet an entirely new set of changes found in the newest 1.02 “Christmas Update” that is now available.
The update weighs in at a hefty 1.2GB and an overview of the important changes are as follows:
Consecutive Login Bonus
When you login online for consecutive days, a bonus to all credits awards will be added for each consecutive day: 110% for the 1st day, 130% for the 2nd day, 140% for the 3rd day and so on, until you will receive 200% bonus on the 5th day. Be sure to login every day to earn more credits!
Credits earned in Career Mode increased
The amount of credits earned in Career Mode have been increased. Rewards for Novice Class races have been raised to approximately 110%, for National B Class up to approx. 130%, for National A Class to approx. 140%, for International B Class to approx. 150%, for International A Class to approx. 160%, and for Super Class they have been raised to approximately 170%. This may give good incentive to go back and try some races you’ve already cleared!
Entry requirements for Seasonal Events lowered
The requirements to enter Seasonal Events have been changed. Now players will only require a National B Licence in order to participate (previously they needed a National A Licence). Following this Update and only for a limited time, there will be unique special events that will award cars as prizes, so don’t miss this opportunity, and remember to login online!
Bonus Events within Seasonal Events
From 20 December 2013 3:00AM GMT to 17 January 2014 3:00AM GMT the Seasonal Events will host a special bonus event. If you obtain a Gold award in all events, the credits reward will add up to 3,000,000 credits, and combined with the Consecutive Login Bonus, this can multiply to a maximum 6,000,000 credits!
Furthermore, a second bonus event is planned to be held from 2 January 2014 3:00AM GMT to 30 January 2014 3:00AM. Again, this event will allow you to win up to 6,000,000 credits when combined with the Consecutive Login Bonus, so if you participate in both special events you could earn up to 12,000,000 credits!
For the entire rundown of all that is new and shiny in the “Christmas Update” be sure to stop by the original post here.
GTPlanet Member of the Week
No, the newest inductee is not Taylor Swift, I repeat, not Taylor Swift. Having said that, the reason an image of Taylor was used and not of our actual inductee will become clear soon enough, as it is once again time to acknowledge a member of the GTPlanet community; a member who has stood out among the hundreds of thousands of members already here, both old and new alike for all that they’re worth and all they have contributed to the community.
As we’ve come to alternate over the past several weeks it should come as no surprise that we’re once again back to celebrating a Senior member, so let’s give a very warm welcome to the newest member to find a vacant apartment in the ever-expanding MotW madhouse, Sharky.!
The interview is now live and provides the usual share of laughter, but more importantly provides the medium of getting to know your fellow GTP members a little bit better, and his implicit love of all things Swift! For the whole kit-n-kaboodble be sure to stop by the official Member of the Week thread.
Anyone you’d like to see recognized as the Member of the Week? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Member of the Week” and fill it out with your choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot nominate yourself.
Gran Turismo 6 vs. Real-life: Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a real-world track new in Gran Turismo 6 and is perhaps best known for being host to the former British Grand Prix (alternately designated the European Grand Prix), alternating with Silverstone up until 1987.
Brands Hatch is the newest track to be placed under the microscope of accuracy as the real and virtual worlds collide. Can you tell the difference?
Gran Turismo 6 is Constantly Evolving
If you’ve been playing GT6 since day one there’s a chance you’ve taken notice to the fact the game has silently changed since then with minor updates pushed out every few days or so. This is promising prospect as it makes the game feel alive, provided there’s an active internet connection.
These miniature updates have already fixed minor bugs and was used to activate not only the BMW M4 Coupé, but Andretti’s Hudson as well.
These updates have also introduced a “News Ticker” that will deliver real-time announcements right at the bottom of the main menu screen, and confirmed that the BMW M4 will be updated to include a full interior view.
GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week
This week’s featured vehicle is one of the most refined all-electrical vehicles on the road today, recommended to us by The Stig Farmer, it is the product of Tesla Motors, the Model S.
The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.
The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.
“Model S doesn’t compromise on performance, efficiency or utility — it’s truly the only car you need,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we’re developing.”
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week” and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
GTPlanet Tune of the Week
This week’s featured tune, recommended to us by tuning aficionado danbojte and courtesy of ACSR421 of the newly formed Clueless over The Hill Tunes (a merging of Clueless Tunes and Outlaw Motorsports) features the 2009 Abarth 500 tuned to 450PP and is your ticket to victory should you accept it.
If you remember the Fiat 500 from GT5, well this car isn’t anything like it. The sound of the engine alone is worth the price of admission. PD showed this little Abarth some love giving it a great powerband and handling. One of my favorite cars so far and I’m not usually fond of FF cars.
Fixed some understeer issues on short tracks and have given it sharper handling overall. Also it works well with SH tires if you prefer.
Victory is the name of the game as usual and if it’s a deserving victory that you’e after and you want to do so using the nimble might of 500, then you’ll want to stop by and see the tune for yourself.
Exactly like the Picture and Vehicle of the Week features, if you have any suggestions for the upcoming Rewinds be sure to drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Tune of the Week” and let me know. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
/Drive: Porsche 918 Spyder Tested
GTPlanet Photomode Competitions
We’ve reset the counter for the sixth chapter in the Gran Turismo series and the photomode competition is back and better than ever.
In Week 2 of the Standard and Advanced competitions for GT6 you are to put your best foot forth and show the community just how seriously you take your in-game photography. All you need to know is as follows:
Week 002, Standard: A Car Fit To Be Your First – GT6 is unique in the series, in that it forces a specific car on you at the start of your career. Now that we’ve all had over a week to play, I want you to bring out your first purchased vehicle after the Fit. If you really have your mind set on it, utilize that little Honda though. Any track is allowed, and other vehicles may be allowed, provided they’re opponents, and your car remains the focal point.
Week 002, Advanced 2.0: New vs. Old (Head-2-Head) – It’s our first Head2Head theme of GT6! For it, you’ve got to make the tough decision; use a car you’re already familiar with from GT5, or shoot the shiny newness that’s arrived with GT6? To be clear, cars that simply received the Premium treatment (Countachs, Sauber, 2000GT) still count on the GT5 side of things. Oh, and track choice does not matter. If you’re doing a multi-car shot, all cars must be on one side or the other!
For all of the relevant information pertaining to this week’s challenges be sure to stop by here and here.
Closing Thoughts
Surprisingly, I don’t have much to say this week aside from I still miss Midfield Raceway, Seattle Circuit, Special Stage Route 11, Red Rock Valley, Complex String, Tahiti Circuit/Maze, the original Rome Circuit and a handful of other tracks that have gone missing throughout GT2 and 4.
No plugging of any kind this week, we’re just going to end things on a plug-free note. Until next week, keep racing!
GT6 Photomode images by SMfan, alexchrome, Pixelatic, gtsteviiee, and Skython.
See more articles on GTPlanet Member of the Week and GTPlanet Weekly Rewind.
