Polyphony Digital

Polyphony Digital teamed up with RC car company HPI Racing to bring the Ford GT LM Spec II to life.  We know the Ford GT is one of Kazunori Yamauchi’s favorite cars (he actually owns two of them), which is probably the reason it was featured prominently in Gran Turismo 4’s box art and the game’s epic video intro.  The 1:10 scale car looks to be very well put together, and much more powerful than anything you will find at your local Wal-Mart.  Pricing has yet to be announced – check with your nearest HPI distributor (Europe/North America) for local availability.

In something that probably won’t come as a surprise to most Gran Turismo fans, a recent study has shown that driving a vehicle of a particular make in a video game makes the player “50% more likely” to consider purchasing a car from that company in the future.  The study, conducted by Dr. Kyle Murray and Robin Ritchie, placed one person in a room with Project Gotham Racing and another in a room with a video feed of the game.  The result:

GTPlanet’s inbox has been filled over the past few days with reports that Kazunori Yamauchi is interested in developing a game outside of the Gran Turismo series.  The news apparently comes from an interview with Japanese gaming magazine ‘GeMaga‘, where he also supposedly stated that he ‘would have wanted GT5 to come out in 2009‘.  So, what’s the problem with this story?  Many other news outlets have picked up and ran with the news, but their only reference is this article from PS3Center.net – a site which lost a considerable amount of credibility by participating in the recent rash of misinformation.  PS3Center’s lack of hard details about the source leaves a lot to be desired, and GTPlanet cannot endorse or verify the integrity this information.

Christmas is just around the corner, and with ‘Black Friday’ already behind us, the shopping season is in full swing.  But what do you get for that discerning GT fanatic in your life who already has everything?  Have no fear – GTPlanet is here to help, with a list of unusual, inexpensive, and unique Gran Turismo gear from eBay that they would never expect under the tree.  If you’re the fan in question, email your friends and family a link to this post to make your not-so-subtle suggestion…

We’ve finally got some official photos from the 2008 Gran Turismo Awards held at SEMA last week.  Apparently, the JR Rocha’s winning G37 was painted black since he posted pictures of the vehicle on his blog.  We also have the winners from the other categories – all of which were in the running to be included in the next game.  Here’s how the awards break down:

Each year at the SEMA Auto Show in Las Vegas, Sony and Polyphony Digital hold the Gran Turismo Awards to recognize the event’s best cars and exhibitors.  The awards include several categories, from “Best Domestic”, “Best European Import”, “Best Hot Rod”, to “Best Truck/SUV”.  The most coveted award, however, is “Best in Show”, handed out by GT series creator Kazunori Yamauchi himself.  The winning vehicle is digitized by Polyphony’s team and immortalized forever in the next version of the game.  This competition has proven very popular with both exhibitors and gamers alike, having provided us with some of the series’ more interesting cars.

Ever wonder what happens to the cars that appear in Gran Turismo livery at those posh launch parties?  Here’s one of them: a 2008 Lotus Exige S has remained untouched since Sony’s marketing department had their hands on it.  Apparently, it’s been serving in Manhattan Motorcars‘ “demonstration fleet”, making a bright statement in their showroom alongside a collection of 5 Rolls-Royce Phantoms.  Now, it can be part of your demonstration fleet for $59,900 via eBay Motors.  Described as the only “Gran Turismo 5 Edition” Exige S in existence, it includes special graphics work by Staple Design, metallic paint, Track and Touring packages, and 4,280 miles on the odometer.  However, the auction ends October 31, 2008, so you’d better hurry if you want to pick this up.

GT series creator Kazunori Yamauchi was on hand at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last month to award the first “Polyphony Digital Trophy”.  As an honorary judge, Yamauchi was given the chance to recognize his favorite vehicle from the hundreds of elite and storied competitors at the event.  His final selection, a 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400 Bertone prototype, is certainly an exceptional automobile, but it got people talking in our forums.  Could his recognition of a Lamborghini be a sign of things to come?  It’s a fun theory, but don’t hold your breath.  Instead, consider this unprecedented event a landmark for Polyphony Digital, and one of the highest recognitions the Gran Turismo series could possibly ever receive.  Who could have dreamed the first new award in more than 7 years at Pebble Beach would be in the name of a video game developer?  This respect and recognition is a testament to the professional, mature style that Polyphony and Yamauchi have crafted into the GT series over the years.  Check out more details about the event after the jump…