PS3 Xmas freebie: Gran Turismo HD Concept
by Christopher Grant 
{ Dec 22nd 2006 at 2:25PM }
Unlike Nintendo's $5 (or 500 Wii Points) Christmas treats and more like their free Wii web browser, Sony's poised to really spread that holiday cheer with a holiday freebie. As promised, Gran Turismo HD -- recently re-imagined as a technology demo and not a full title -- will hit the PlayStation Store on December 24th (that's Christmas Eve) for the eminently reasonable price of $0 (or 0 Wii Points). Today, they've announced that offer applies to North America as well as Japan. Thanks, Sony!The important info: one track (the Eiger Nordwand course), two game modes ("Time Trial" and "Drift Trial"), ten cars (with 10 additional "tuned" variations unlockable), and the much vaunted 1080p. Of course, the only online action you're going to be getting is downloading the game from the PlayStation Store. Like Kaz said, "For the genuine implementation of 'Online Car Life Simulation', please wait for Gran Turismo 5."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cassidy @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:29PM
So...a free demo? What a concept.
NintendoFanbot @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:32PM
Ahahah demos should be free all the time.
And wasn't the deal with GTHD that you had to BUY the content that should already be there?
Noid @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:36PM
Well its not really free. You get the basics for free 1 track and a couple cars. Then if you want more tracks or cars guess what you pay for it with real cash. So is it really free or just another cash cow for sony. Gotta recoup that 300 they lost on each system somehow.
Agent MOO @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:38PM
For a second I thought Sony was actually releasing a full game for free... I should have known better
Neil @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:38PM
I guess you can say that they're giving away the whole game since they stopped working on this GT to work on GT5.
JJ @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:38PM
well when it was a "full" game i guess thats the deal, but now its just a tech demo. So they're problems solved.
So while its more than say... a 10 minute demo,its less than half a game..
demifiend @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:00PM
@ #5 Yeah, you'd probably be insane to think ANY of the companies would give away a full game for free.
azesino @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:53PM
a free demo lol thats a first
dvddesign @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:49PM
I'll take a free browser and $5 games over a HD concept demo that won't see light of day as a full game for more than two years.
Mark my words on that part. If Polyphony is anything, they're S.L.O.O.O.O.O.O.O.W.
JK @ Dec 23rd 2006 3:07AM
This is just a demo showing us what they decided to drop in favor of working full-time on GT5. There aren't more tracks that you'll have to buy, it's just to let us have a taste of what's to come (or better). It's FREE, so just stop complaining. They could have easily trashed this concept, AND not even bothered letting us play it, forcing us to wait for GT5.
carlos @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:56PM
fucking wii boys is this wii news........... thats what i thought NO!!!!!!! so keep your mouths shut and go play with ur gamecube 1.5 and thers roms so i can play those 5 dollar games for FREE
RoroCo @ Dec 22nd 2006 2:58PM
It is not just a demo... It is a demo of a game that was canceled. Get it strait folks.
{It will be worth every penny of free}
Eshh.
Ciaran Gallagher @ Dec 23rd 2006 3:34PM
I remember playing Gran Turismo on PS1. It was great. But looking at the screenshots for this, the graphics are nothing compared to PGR3 or Forza 3 on 360. They still look good, but just not as good as 360, which isn't a good sign for the PS3.
Jay @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:20PM
Wow. A free game (after buying a $600 system) ROTFLOL
Strike Man @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:05PM
"So while its more than say... a 10 minute demo,its less than half a game.."
While I appreciate Sony making this available to us, calling a racing game with one track "less than half a game" is being just a liiiitle generous...
It's a demo. It should be a nice looking demo that controls well, but it's still a demo.
Grant @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:17PM
so carlos,
ignoring the fact that the writer of this post clearly meantioned wii, and it's free and cheap holiday swag means it's clearly off topic?
stop being such a bitch to sony and accept that all the consoles of this gen rock....
well, except the PS3, since clearly it's becoming hard to even sell them at MSRP.
and no one cares you can play free roms, so can every other jackass with a PC, and not only can i play them on every PC i've had for the last 10 years, but also my moto q. But can you play them on your console?
Roddie @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:30PM
wow, spreading the christmas cheer.... with a free demo..
Spence @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:22PM
Cars, tracks, soundtrack, leather seats and metallic paint optional extras.
Noid @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:29PM
I have all 3 machines wii ps3 and 360 and am a programer for EA. Right now the wii is getting all my gameplay time. PS3 doesnt really have any good games at least exclusives. We did a test between the 3 machine. Microsoft looked the best and had better load times. Nintendo has pretty much no load time at all. PS3 was slower then the other 2. Even know the graphics arnt as good we still found ourselves playing the wii versions because the controls. I have a feeling sony may be releasing another controller in the future. With better games i can see the ps3 potential. I cant really see that happening anytime soon
Optimus Prime @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:26PM
lol.. go back to your Excite Truck or GT Pro, Wiitards.. this game isnt meant for you, it far too complicated.
And, merry xmas everyone...
sploy @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:38PM
you should use 'an' before 'holiday', not 'a'.
And it's pretty pointless releasing this anyway. everyone who has a ps3 probably has GT4, I can't see them desperately wanting to play one track in HD...
carlos @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:49PM
@ Grant actually i can play them on my ps3 through fedora core looked for the link of the video but cant find it this is a real racing game unlike gt racing garbage and exite truck
JJ @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:40PM
dvd design, the PS3 has a free browser and $5 games... (well 2.99 and there's only a few of em) but still, may not be old nintendo or turbo graphix games, but its still there! heh.
Really Noid, thats funny as great as the Wii is... all my gamer friends who two or all 3 consoles, still play their 360 or PS2's more. Simply because there's more games available at the moment and once they finished zelda... they dont really game alone on the Wii. Its relegated to a closet unless there's company over. The pS3 though does get a lot of online play time with resistance though.
That said, i still cant wait to get mine.... must...play...zelda.
Final Prototype @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:40PM
After getting the PS3 and being seriously unimpressed with the launch titles, the web browser, and their store, I was pretty disappointed when I heard this was only gonna come out for Japan. Even though it's obviously only a demo (no need to restate it), it was at the least something to make it bearable until something I want comes out for the box.
With that, I'm glad they changed their tune and are releasing for north america now. Right now with PS3, not just Polyphony, it's a waiting game. It's a system with the potential to be good, if only the developers step up to the plate and Sony shuts up long enough for it to happen.
Luckily I have a Wii and 360 to keep me well entertained until that happens (if it does).
Samuel McConnell @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:42PM
Are you kidding? This thing is being released just because it's pure eyecandy, just like every other Gran Turismo game. They want to show something real pretty on the PS3 when everyone opens them on Christmas.
EnLiven @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:05PM
"18. you should use 'an' before 'holiday', not 'a'.
Posted at 3:35PM on Dec 22nd 2006 by sploy"
What?
I'm pinching myself in disbelief. If you can't use the English language yourself don't critsise other people's grammar.
phunk @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:11PM
Test Drive Unlimited is good enough for me.
JodyAnthony @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:26PM
Sony fanboys, regarding Wii Sports being free with Wii:
"Who cares! It's just a stupid technology demo!"
Sony fanboys, regarding getting a free downloadable technology demo:
"AWESOME! Sony wins again!"
Mr. Khan @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:54PM
Can't we just all agree that we like it when our console companies give us freebies
Or does everything have to devolve into a flame war
Or am i the biggest idiot in the world for asking the above question
(Wii browser works great, good load times, stereo sound, and actually readable text with ZOOM), its actually faster in loading than Wii Shop Channel
Gran Turismo HD, however, is an excellent Tech demo, to really express the awesome power of the PS3, and one should expect as much out of GTHD as you should out of Wii Sports (in terms of how much game you get)
On the 10th Day of Chistmas, my true love gave to me
10 Gfx cards a threading ($300*10=$3000)
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=153089&WT.mc_n=6&WT.mc_t=U&cm_ven=PORTAL&cm_cat=YAHOO&cm_pla=DATAFEED->PRODUCTS&cm_ite=1%20PRODUCT&cm_keycode=6
9 Styluses a Drawing ($21)
8 Wiimotes a flying ($320)
7 SIXAXIS Tilting ($350)
6 360 Movies Downloading ($36)
5 Mod Chips ($500)
4 Alienwares ($9600)
3 SEGA Games ($160)
2 CELL Processors ($1200)
And 1 Nintendo Wii ($250)
buttlover @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:58PM
Yeah you people put something negative on even a postive news story just because sony is involved. God you people could ruin a wet dream! Its not a demo its a canceled game. Most demos dont have 10 cars either. So now back to playing your gamecube with remote, aka wii. Yes go play with your wii wii. I am going back to my 360 and ps3 with my 60 inch samsung lcd widescreen tv.
Figboy @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:10PM
joystiq commenters: most of you guys are pathetic. well and truly pathetic. i've bee coming to this site for about a year now, and whenever, WHENEVER, there is something even remotely positive coming from the Sony camp, you guys shit on it. repeatedly.
you can't let Sony fans enjoy the little positive news they've been getting smattered throughout the year.
the price gets lowered in Japan: "so! it's still too expensive, and it's not like the US is getting the price cut! is is teh lame!!"
HDMI gets added to the 20gig unit, thus negating it's "tard pack" moniker: "so! no one wants the stoopid 20gig unit anyway! nevermind that the PREMIUM 360 only has 20gigs and no Wi Fi! that's not the point! the point is Sony is teh lame!!"
the PS3 gets a next gen remake of the supurb Ninja Gaiden Sigma (which, by the way, millions of PS2 owners that don't have an X Box have never played): "so! that game is OLD! LMAO! Sony fans get to play an old game! haw haw! Sony is teh lame!!"
GTHD Concept gets changed from a complete microtransaction whore to a free demo (the same content was going to be released before, but the big difference is that the user would have to PAY for it. now it's free): "so! it's just a demo! demos are supposed to be free! Sony is so stoopid for giving a demo away for free, even though they announced a month ago that they were releasing it as a free demo, and this is just a reiterated statement, not meant to be taken as some grand announcement or bestowing upon their faithful users. and also: Sony is teh lame!!"
fricking get over yourselves. you people can be the most negative bastards on the planet. jesus.
grow up. seriously. if you hate Sony so much, why must you constantly bitch and moan in EVERY SINGLE STORY about them? i don't care much for the Wii (we have one, and its...underwhelming. we also have a 360 and a PS3. both have been impressive thus far, though i'm eagerly awaiting the titles that are coming out for the PS3 next February and March: Heavenly Sword, Warhawk, Motorstorm, Lair, Virtual Fighter 5, Devil May Cry 4, Ninja Gaiden Sigma), but i don't go into Wii stories proclaiming how "Wii is teh suck!" it's not, and i'm not going to judge it barely a month after it's release. if, say, by December 2007 there isn't anything on it that interests me, then i'll say my piece and move on. until then, i'm reserving judgement. i suggest a lot of you do the same regarding Sony and the PS3. you'll be much healthier and happier that way (unless you're the type that just loves to bitch and moan, as many of you seem to be).
Sam @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:42PM
The problem with Wii Sports is not that it's a tech demo, it's that without it, the Wii would presumably be $199.
Thus it's a $50 tech demo.
Zebulunite @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:09PM
I completely agree with Figboy's (29)post...well, other than the impressions of any next-gen home console, since I don't own any of them (sadly). Whether you view this as a tech demo or a Gran Turismo HD Lite, its completely absurd to somehow complain about it. Even if the demo had only one track and only one car, it still would be free, and still would be infinitely better than nothing.
To attack Sony for releasing a tech demo with a good amount of features for free...wow, if that's not the definition of a fanboy, I don't know what is.
RoroCo @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:09PM
Sorry... It is hard to make positive comments for a free demo. Plus, the 360 have been offering free demos since the beginning. Just because Sony decides to offer us a free demo does not mean that we should praise them for their charity. It call it a demo because it is a tech demo and in no way a full length game.
What will they give out next? Free subscriptions to the PS Network?
Zebulunite @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:13PM
Edit on last post: I didn't realize that the tech demo only has one track. Still, one track, 10 cars, and two gameplay modes is still pretty good compared to some demos (most, I think, have two tracks but less cars).
Any way you slice it, however, releasing something for nothing is infinitely better than releasing nothing at all or charging for it.
Zebulunite @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:16PM
RoroCo (32) - I agree with you that the 360 offers far more in demos than the PS3. Actually, that has been one of my favorite features of the 360, and I certainly applaud Microsoft for offer demos of many (a majority?) of games.
Still, even if Sony offers far less on the demo front right now, releasing something for nothing shouldn't be criticized. Yes, they should offer more, and yes Microsoft is doing better in that area, but that doesn't mean Sony didn't do something positive (however minor it may be) by releasing this demo.
RoroCo @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:25PM
I agree... I was bashing the wording used above more than anything. Calling this a Christmas freebie is just plain over the top.
It is a demo.. plain and simple. Put a downloable date and leave the marketing spin off of it.
KaleOConnor @ Dec 22nd 2006 11:45PM
So basically sony are passing off a demo as a freebie? LOL ! Well inthat case, Microsoft gave me PES6 for free this xmas!
ThreeSixWii @ Dec 22nd 2006 10:08PM
9". fucking wii boys is this wii news........... thats what i thought NO!!!!!!! so keep your mouths shut and go play with ur gamecube 1.5 and thers roms so i can play those 5 dollar games for FREE"
HAHA
Yes i thin k that this news is pretty good for the PS3.
It is like a nice, LITTLE cherry on top.
BUT its just a littel cherry on TOP of a pile of total shit that is the PS3. So it does nothing to take the smell of all that BulShit away...
LOL@ Sony...again!
Cutty @ Dec 22nd 2006 10:30PM
Let's see, PS3 owners get something for free and there are still complainers? What possible angle could somebody complain from over a free demo? Regardless of the minimal content, I fail to see how something containing a track, several cars and two modes in 1080p for free can be a bad thing.
ERrrr @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:03AM
Dear Noid,
I thought you had to be able to type in English to be a programmer for any English Company. To be a programmer you don't pick favorites, you do your job.
I agree with the figboy in calling all joystiq commenters pathetic. I mean really. Sony does one thing right, and all you can do is criticize? Like for real, go play Excite Truck. The closest you'll get to 1080p is 1080 air spinning with your no name brand trucks. Obviously 360 offers more than the PS3 currently, ITS BEEN OUT FOR A FUCKING YEAR ROROCO!
Merry Christmas!
Two Kings @ Dec 23rd 2006 4:36AM
God, why did you Wii fanboys even bother to open this link? Are you jealous that you can't even download demos for the Wii? And this after all the gloating about getting a beta browser that there going to charge for if you don't download by June. Did PS3 owners mention that the PS3 came with a browser and that we can browse online at a resolution that makes online browsing actually possible, no we kept our mouths shut. I mean the Wii has a browsing resolution of a postage stamp, its terrible. Why can you guys be excited about paying $5 on Christmas to play SMB for the billionth time and we can't be excited about a free game to impress our friends with?
Well tonight I'm going to play the awesome Motorstorm demo and tommorrow I'll be playing lot of GT and Resistence (one of the best FPS I've ever played) and maybe a little Zelda (on my gamecube), Let us know when a Wii exclusive game comes out that worth playing and doesn't have N64 graphics. Judgeing by these delay rumors that won't be until next fall.
ThreeSixWii @ Dec 23rd 2006 4:50AM
DEMOS ARE FREE
So.... whay even have this as news?
WOW I download DOZENS of DEMOS and Movies ...FOR FREE on the X-box 360.
So why do the Ps3 queers make a big deal about this?
Because, its the only GOOD thing to come along.
WOW SONY fans...a FREE DEMO????
The 360 has Dozens of those, so shut up.
hahahaha big deal a free demo...
JJ @ Dec 23rd 2006 7:48AM
Three six wii... probably the same reason anytime a big demo comes out for 360 (Lost planet, Dead rising, etc) that htey make a post about that.
Besides GT is technically, THE flagship racing simulator, so this is rather big news.
I guess thats why its news.
Tony @ Dec 23rd 2006 11:45AM
This is really good news, unless you're an idiot...And then it's still good news, but you're simply pretending that it isn't.
ThreeSixWii @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:17PM
43. Yes.
BUT
They never make a big deal about it being a " FREEBEE"
like we have here.
It is assumed to be free, right?
So its so big deal that it is free, right.
Anyways, I will continue to troll the happy PS3 people to make things interesting.
Giro @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:27PM
So, My neighbor gets 1$ for school everyday while I get nothing. Then one day my dad gives me $1, and you gonna say it's not awesome? Well, Fv< you.
Perry @ Dec 23rd 2006 5:09PM
The demo is now available in the US in the PS Store -- 624mb download!
Steve2 @ Dec 25th 2006 11:14AM
Already playing it. Wow, it's beautiful.
Remember when the GT4 replays were so pretty that people said the movies had to be fake but they were real?
It's like that again. Very pretty.
It plays well too, although with only one track it won't hold people for long.
It has settings for the 3 Logitech wheels (GT3, GT Force and something else, no G25). I didn't pull my wheels out though, so I can't say how they work.
VR24 @ Jan 1st 2007 11:16AM
Holy crap... Ciaran just say that Forza 3 has better graphics than HD Concept? Dude, go to google images and compare side by side, Forza isn't even CLOSE to GT HD. The plastic looking cars and dead textures on the buildings, etc.
GT HD looks virtually real.