Gran Turismo 5 Prologue arrives stateside April 17

by Justin McElroy { Jan 29th 2008 at 8:58AM }

Were you the sort of kid who could never wait to open their Christmas presents? The tot who would lift one corner of the wrapping paper to catch a glimpse of the treasure inside? Now, would you have paid someone $40 for the privilege to do so? If so, you might be the perfect candidate for the $40 Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, which Sony dated today for an April 17 release.

The sample will feature 60 cars from manufacturers like Ferrari, Audi and Nissan and five tracks like Daytona International Speedway and one on the streets of London. You can get your GT fix either from the PlayStation Network store or on a retail disc, though the latter option ships with an exclusive video. Both also include a parental scolding for not being able to restrain yourself.

Tags: breakingnews, gran-turismo, gran-turismo-5, gran-turismo-5-prologue, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

WiNG @ Jan 29th 2008 9:07AM

Yeah, if I had the money and a good TV, I would buy a PS3 just for this game.

That is simply drool worthy.

ugg.tryptophan @ Jan 30th 2008 2:33AM

love the music (from the cars)

FrankTheCrank @ Jan 29th 2008 9:13AM

God, I can't wait.

Did you see how glossy that Ferrari was? Wow.

And I thought Devil May Cry Demo was a beautiful looking game. These games are looking more and more insane.

BRING IT ON!!!

The Aggie CEO @ Jan 29th 2008 9:15AM

so ummmmmmm yea.....

Clearly I won't be paying $40 for this.....

I hope Gamefly realizes that and order like 10,000 copies so it wont be a big hold on them......

as for the REAL thing.......

I will be Paying for that......no problem

Poisoned Al @ Jan 29th 2008 9:19AM

As pwerty as this is, who in their right fucking mind is going to pay $40 for what is more or less a demo?

KushielsScion007 @ Jan 29th 2008 9:23AM

Exactly my thoughts...

I mean it looks drop dead beautiful but I just don't see why that makes this game worhty of my attention or money.

copa @ Jan 29th 2008 9:33AM

I hope this fails miserably stateside. The last thing we need is companies that start pushing back release dates of their games so that they have more time to sell the demo versions of their games.

Matt B @ Jan 29th 2008 9:46AM

60 cars and 16 player online for $40 and you babies still complain. Most every other racing game out there charges full price for less than what you get here. Maybe the true thorn is it is only on the PS3.

FidliousWong @ Jan 29th 2008 9:48AM

Frankly, I think Sony is nuts for trying to release this in the states.

Why? Well, in Japan, a preview build isn't all that strange. Especially not when it's as full featured as this one is (online gameplay, tournament rankings, DLC, tv show streaming, additional tournaments and content released and a shitton of secrets). So in Japan, where things like this isn't all that uncommon, Prologue releases can fly.

But Americans? Fucks sake, we're bitching about Battlefield Heroes. We bitch about anything and despite this $40 game having more content than a typical $60 racing game, idiots still call it a demo. Go fig.

FOXHOUND @ Jan 29th 2008 9:54AM

I can wait for the full version, but this is still a decent fix for the GT fans(and cheaper than normal PS3/X360 games). Maybe if I have some spare store credit... :d

Dahk @ Jan 29th 2008 10:00AM

Eh, contrary to all of you - I'm buying Prologue.

I've been dying to get a solid Gran Turismo fix on the PS3, and this is finally my chance. Plus its full featured and has more content than most of your full-on games.

That... and I'm a hardcore Top Gear fan as well as a fan of many of the other auto shows comin' to this game's TV feature thing =P So that's actually my main reason.

GT5:Prologue + Driving Force Pro ftw (Haven't gotten a G25 yet, but I will soon.)

Jtenma @ Jan 29th 2008 10:23AM

Lets assume for a second the game is done, (most likely it IS done, since they have got the final code up and running)that means they are holding the game and selling this for 10 dollars less than the real game.

The part that bothers me is not he pricing, and not the amount of cars but the fact they are holding the game back just so they can make bank off a slice of the real game that is finished...come on!

We are looking at the final release date being AUG-NOV!!! I wanna customize my car, not drive some premade plain vehicles!

FidliousWong @ Jan 29th 2008 10:57AM

jtemna, here's the problem there.

GT5 is NOT done. In fact, between GT4 Prologue and GT4's final release, dramatic changes to the engine and graphics did take place. AND GT5 Prologue has been out in other regions since December. Not to mention this is the ONLY game Polyphony is working on. If GT5 was really done, shouldn't they be working on the next thing?

Noshino @ Jan 29th 2008 12:16PM

Poisoned Al,

I guess that's why 199,786 have bought the retail version...and who knows how many bought the PSN version.

Hey, if you aren't a fan, just don't bitch about it, I'm glad that the Prologue sells, it has ALWAYS sold, but yah, this isn't my kind of game (or any racing sim for that matter)

Jtenma @ Jan 29th 2008 12:21PM

Oh I believe it is...but why are they doing this?

1) Need to regain dev costs somehow(game will sell well but development costs alot.)
2) Buying themselves some time to make final touches on game, nothing major.
3) Waiting for HOME to be fully optimized, how on earth can this game be released without HOME? It is supposedly to go hand in hand with HOME...
4) Waiting for install base to rise just a little more...why not? Why wouldn't you want to maximize profits?!?!?!?!
5) its Polyphony....if the leather in the driver's glove doesn't bend right, they are gonna put 50 people on the job to fix that graphical error..then delay the game 20 yrs from now( LOL BTW)

Anyway like I said they have it, they are just taking thier time, cause if they really wanted to release the game come FEB-Apr (FULL GAME) You know they could....

Agree or disagree with my theories?

AGREE OR DISAGREE!!!!!!!!!!!

Noshino @ Jan 29th 2008 12:36PM

Jtenma

I agree with 2 and 5, but then again, they are pretty much the same

as for the other ones

1) regain cost? they have always regained the cost, have you seen the sales history of the GT franchise...

Not only that, but PD is famous for working hand in hand with car manufacturers, hell, they were even working on the dashboard for the EVO I think.

3) I don't think they would have to wait for Home, actually, I think the game was further delayed BECAUSE of Home, Home is already on Beta stages, so I bet that by now PD already got their act together.

4) Once again, look at the sales history of the Gran Turismo franchise, these games sell like hotcakes...profits are maximized as soon as they announce the next installment of the series...lol

Jtenma @ Jan 29th 2008 1:19PM

Hmmm. seems you are correct my friend...but development costs have gone up since (especially on PS3) "last gen", do you still believe that they could recoup costs with just the FINAL game??? Maybe, but just to make sure though...I would do what they are doing now, 1)use final engine 2) take SOME cars from select manufacturers 3) ????? 4) profit!!!!

klitorisaurus @ Jan 29th 2008 5:13PM

Noshino

It was the on-board computer for the Nissan GT-R that polyphony helped with. Just to clarify :) Does anyone know if completing this game will give you any sort of advantage when the full release comes out? Similar to the way you could skip some of the licenses in GT4 if you had a GT3 save file. Will my garage transfer over?

Unless thats the case there's not a chance I'd buy this. It's not about the $40 dollars it's more about not spoiling the real game. I don't wanna spend time progressing in prologue if I'm just gonna have to start back at the bottom when GT5 drops.

paragraph @ Jan 29th 2008 9:22AM

Here is an idea... only release GTV:P on PSN... that way you drop $40 for the first half of the game, and $20 for the rest. Meaning that Sony gets $60 and has to press one less disc...

Makes sense to me, but then again, i don't pay 3/4 the price of a game for not even 1/2... even if it is awesomely good looking and Gran Turismo...

FidliousWong @ Jan 29th 2008 9:29AM

IF the mech from Omega Boost makes it into the US release, I'll snag it on clearance racks...

lostboy @ Jan 29th 2008 9:31AM

Seriously, did you people who are all huffy about the price actually read what comes with Prologue? 60 Cars and Five Tracks. Hell, thats more than most games put out nowadays. I'm guessing the people whining are just looking for any excuse to poopoo on it, and don't even have PS3s. I'm looking forward to this, so whatever.

The Aggie CEO @ Jan 29th 2008 9:38AM

I have a PS3 and point blank suuuuuuuure its a good way to get out a game that has been talked about fot the last 4+ years.........

but I aint paying for it.........

I will rent it until The REAL thing comes out this fall........

I suppose it may take me that long to get thru all 6 stages and whatever else is on there

AoE @ Jan 29th 2008 2:51PM

You can't tune your car though :( Unless they added that to the US release. I played the Japanese release around xmas and was very disappointed by the lack of tune-ability.

timnc @ Jan 29th 2008 9:34AM

Gran Turismo is the whole reason why I bought a PS3. I went ahead and bought the system when I learned they were taking out the backwards compatability. So... now I wait and watch the occassional movie. I am on the fence about buying this though...

Nate @ Jan 29th 2008 9:42AM

I'll have to hear more about what is included before I can decide if $40 is acceptable or not. To be fair, 60 cars and 5 tracks and 15 player online is a hell of a lot more than a demo (most racing demos have 1 or 2 tracks and 1 or 2 cars and no online). And we don't even know if that's all of it or not.

Of course, the clincher will be whether or not you get a discount on the full game for buying Prologue.

Ghaleon @ Jan 29th 2008 10:21AM

Are graphics really a good reason to play a racing game? Daytona USA plzz

This would be cool if the demo price went toward the full game purchase.

Mike-453 @ Jan 29th 2008 10:50AM

Ditto, it looks real, big deal.

I can watch a real race and it'll look moar real.

But ah well, don't get excited over racing games anyway

deaftly @ Jan 29th 2008 10:22AM

Yeah.... I think i'll stick with Burnout Paradise and not some expensive demo.

Norm @ Jan 29th 2008 11:50AM

You'd certainly have more fun that way. I mean I know I would.

Ninja Dood @ Jan 29th 2008 2:26PM

Everything about this sounds great for $40. I might buy it once I find out how many tracks there are. If its less than 10 i'll wait for the real game. And some kind of coupon would be great towards the actual game.

ThornedVenom @ Jan 29th 2008 11:32AM

But..but...but!!!

GoonieGooGoo @ Jan 29th 2008 11:42AM

Are they ever going to add real damage to the GT series??

It could be just me.....but I've kinda lost the love for the GT series.

Definitely a very in-depth game, but I just don't have the time anymore to unlock all the cars and tune and accessorize.

Now let's hope they don't f up WIPEOUT HD.

randomshagz @ Jan 29th 2008 11:54AM

So is there Damage to cars in the game?

Shimrra @ Jan 29th 2008 12:06PM

Damn all I have to say is that I so hate this franchise. I love racing games but and I tried to get into the GT series but I just cant get into anymore. After GT1 came out it was great a breath of fresh air and I did like GT2 and what it offered but after that there is nothing else GT3 and 4 where the same in a way to 1 and 2 the only major difference is that it look prettier. But I still felt like I am do the same thing over again and over again. GT5 looks amazing I am not going to say it doesn't but underneath all its buff and shine to me it is the same game I played on PS2. I give more credit to Burnout for changing things around and that is what GT should have done with all this time in development I wanted so much more from this franchise.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 29th 2008 12:19PM

i think your right in that it is the same game with prettier graphics, but as someone who can still pick up any of the first ones and play for hours, the prettier graphics do it for me. more games do need to take risk like Burnout did though, but now we will see a gazillion new sandbox racers instead. creativity is dead.

Shimrra @ Jan 29th 2008 12:30PM

I do not think creativity is dead but as developers and yes as gamers we are getting lazy about what we want and what we accept. Look for example at a game like Portal something that just came out of left field or look at the number of DS games that have popped up that took us by surprise. Who knew a game like Brain Age would be a hit? Who? We as gamers tho a majority of the time are like sheep and we just live off this rehash of games. How many reiterations of Final Fantasy do we need to endure the games basic plot line doesnt change its the same game we played years ago but they still release it and like sheep we buy it. Untill this trend is stopped (which I seriously doubt) creative games are going to be rarity this generation. I personally do not like paying $60 for a game that plays like its predecessor. I am more than happy to wait for it to be at a $30 range because really alot of these games just arent worth it these days.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 29th 2008 12:16PM

god i love Gran Turismo but i cant see paying $40 for this when im going to buy the full game later anyway. i mean full featured or not, there is still a better version of it right around the corner. that being said, i would gladly rent it at blockbuster if they decide to carry it but my local blockbuster still doesnt even have Uncharted yet so im not holding my breathe. maybe ill try Hollywood Video instead.

KayRazy Ken Kutaragi @ Jan 29th 2008 12:16PM

GT5 will have real damage on some cars not all (some manufactures STILL won't allow it) and we are talking damage on a level never seen b4. Polyphony has said since GT2 that they will NOT do damage until it could be done right (i.e. REALISTIC) not Forza2 damage where a certain number of impact points cause the same "damage" every single time.

Kazunori has stated that each car has hundreds of modeled parts that you can put in and out of every car. In other-words, an engine, a trans, a quarter-panel, a mirror, the hood, perhaps a wheel...ALL of these are the parts that Kazunori was referring to in the interview I am basing this on. They will deform as much as possible as they would in a real impact.

This is why each car takes so long to model...it is not just the exterior and the interior that Polyphony has to model, hundreds of other parts that we may NEVER see are actually there.

That boys and girls is just one of the many, many reasons why GT is the STILL the best driving sim around and why it will raise the bar once again when the full GT5 comes out late this year.

and yes, I am buying this game (no it is not a demo, demos contain 1 maybe 2 levels or in this case 1 or 2 races) day one.

Polyphony has said that a DL patch will come out on the PSN for damage and real-time weather effects for Prologue and will be standard in the final game.

Kazunori also has said that just like the other Prologues this game will help them make the final version that much better...in other-words think of Prologue like a massive open beta.

I am so glad I hired him, Gods I am a genius.

Praise be to ME.

Mr.ESC @ Jan 29th 2008 12:45PM

Well if I had a PS3 I would buy it but just if I get a discount or something when the full version is released.
The problem is that I don’t have a Ps3 and this is Sony which means that even if I had a Ps3 I won’t be able to download it because Sony refuses to give service to this territory in particular.

So **** U Sony.

Now the game looks awesome, I think it looks even better than Forza 2 (Yeah Sony fan boys precede to upvote me)

The thing is that I hate racing games, I mean realistic sims are great but the thing is that they require such dedication to the point is a second job, for example I never finished Forza 2 because there was appoint when it was frustrating, I don’t have anything against challenge in videogames but is freaking ridiculous when you have to replay the same section 20 times or more and then when you pass that section do the same again.

Realistic sims are great for people without lives or people addicted to suffering, frustration and misery. I like to play for fun so I’ll stick to Burnout, Outrun and well I was going to mention Need for Speed but Pro street well No just No.

FM @ Jan 29th 2008 12:49PM

I'll rent it. I rather save my money until the real thing comes out.

umm....hello??? @ Jan 29th 2008 3:50PM

pass....I hate driving sims anyways. I'm set with my Burnout: Paradise copy....WalMart sent it to me for $39.99 from their pricing errored website despite telling me the order was cancelled. Wonder if anyone will get a cheap copy of Haze or SuperSmashBros??

Myke @ Jan 29th 2008 5:59PM

I may get this but....

To be honest, I dont think GT5 will release this year.

Why?

GT4:P was released in JP on Dec 03 and GT4 (the actual game) was released a year later. It would be a rip-off if anybody paid for a "demo" and then the actual game releases in the same year! I guess we'll see...

The_Game21x @ Jan 30th 2008 2:10AM

$40 for what's essentially a glorified demo? Please.

As much as I like racing games, that's just a bit too hard to swallow, especially since I have Forza 2 just sitting here.