You may recall the video performance analyses of the GT5 Time Trial demo and GT5 Prologue by Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry. They’re back in action for GT5, and once again offer a technical evaluation that helps explain various challenges Polyphony Digital would have faced throughout the game’s development. They also go in-depth to uncover how the game performs differently in 3D, at various resolutions, in different on-screen situations, and even put it up against Gran Turismo 4 with surprising results…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdRby4frgJA

If you’re in the UK, head to your local HMV electronics store and keep an eye out for their 3D GT5 display. In co-operation with Sony, HMV is launching a nation-wide competition, giving customers in each participating store a chance to post a hot lap on their regional leader-boards between November 27th and December 6th. The top two players from each region will then be invited to HMV Oxford Circus in London, to compete in a national finals event hosted by BBC F1 presenter, Jake Humphrey. Winners receive a full 3D GT5 set up and an all-expense-paid luxury holiday trip to Madrid, Spain (see the official site for more).

As was quickly reported here in our forums, the latest 1.02 update for Gran Turismo 5 has just made available for download. 1.02 allows the game to take advantage of Polyphony Digital’s upgraded server infrastructure while enabling maximum power and weight restrictions for online races.

First, the good news:  Yamauchi announced at yesterday’s press Q&A session that many updates and patches will be issued at the “first of December” (though it wasn’t entirely clear to me if that literally meant December 1st or early within the month). Polyphony Digital has also posted this notice on their website to reassure us that the game’s online services will continue to be optimized and upgraded to handle the additional load generated by players around the world.

I just got in from the Gran Turismo 5 launch party here in Madrid – packed with media representatives from around the world, it was a fitting way to celebrate the end of GT5’s long and dramatic development. Here’s what I learned:

The international Gran Turismo 5 launch party is here, and GTPlanet readers have a front row seat to all the festivities! I’ll be sharing lots of pictures and news from the event on Twitter and Facebook, so keep a close eye on my updates over the next few hours.

After more than 5 years of development and two painful delays, I am thrilled to announce that today – November 24, 2010 – Gran Turismo 5 is finally released to the public.

This is it, folks: Polyphony Digital has finally published the complete and comprehensive list of features in GT5. A quick scan actually doesn’t reveal any major bombshells that most of you regular GTPlanet readers don’t already know, but it’s a nice overview, regardless. Start reading here on the official site.

The first downloadable update for Gran Turismo 5, version “1.01” (133MB in size), has already been issued in preparation for Wednesday’s worldwide release. Although a complete summary of the changes 1.01 brings have not been published by Polyphony Digital, many players have already started to notice small tweaks in our forums.

Thanks to all who sent this in!

I’m very excited to announce that I will be personally attending the Gran Turismo 5 Launch Party in Madrid, Spain, this Wednesday, November 24th! Sony has been keeping very close wraps on what’s in store for the event, but it’s definitely going to be very big, and very special… It’s more than just a party, and should be a real treat for all automotive enthusiasts and the general public – be sure and stop by if you’re in the area.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ax2d4Cr2gY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRjFN1x9hGA

Keep an eye on our friends at TaxiGamer – they’ve got a copy of Gran Turismo 5 and proper HD video capture equipment, and have already shared the game’s intro and two race replays in glorious quality with a promise of even more to come. The original MP4 video files are also available to download, so you can load them up on your PlayStation 3 console to see what’s in store for you next Wednesday. Check out all of their GT5 content right here!

Reports are coming in from France that several local retailers, in an attempt to snag extra sales, have already started selling Gran Turismo 5 – much to Sony’s chagrin. Above, you’ll find a video from GTPlanet reader Pablo, who provides evidence of his copy (along with a receipt) purchased from FNAC Bellecour in Lyon, France. Others report in our forums that Micromania have also started placing the game on store shelves. Good luck tracking down an early copy of your own!

Thanks to Planete-GT, who already have their hands on a copy of the game!

Thanks to RDK, Szmissz, iCyCo, and hsoomal!