Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 6 product page discovered at official site]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/rumor-gran-turismo-6-product-page-discovered-at-official-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/rumor-gran-turismo-6-product-page-discovered-at-official-site/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/14/rumor-gran-turismo-6-product-page-discovered-at-official-site/#commentsRumor Gran Turismo 6 product page discovered at official site The Sony-managed website gran-turismo.com now features a product listing for the as-of-yet unannounced Gran Turismo 6. Currently, the link in question leads to its own unique (if empty) page; further URL manipulation produces generic results.

The discovery yields no details, but Sony is expected to announce a new entry in Polyphony Digital's driving simulation series at an anniversary event tomorrow in the UK. Drivers, start your...waiting.

[Thanks, Szczesny!]

JoystiqGran Turismo 6 product page discovered at official site originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 May 2013 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gran-turismoGran-Turismo-5gran-turismo-6playstationpolyphony-digitalps3racingTue, 14 May 2013 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Test drive the 2014 Corvette Stingray in Gran Turismo 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/test-drive-the-2014-corvette-stingray-in-gran-turismo-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/test-drive-the-2014-corvette-stingray-in-gran-turismo-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/14/test-drive-the-2014-corvette-stingray-in-gran-turismo-5/#comments
The latest Corvette model, the 2014 Corvette Stingray, will be available to you for free ... in Gran Turismo 5. It'll be released at no charge tomorrow as DLC. Technically, the car was already available, in a camouflaged "prototype" form; however, now you'll be able to both drive a Corvette and look at a Corvette.

The in-game reveal comes closely after the unveiling of the real car at the North American International Auto Show. On the PlayStation Blog, Sony noted that the new 'Vette gets more than 26 miles per gallon, the best gas mileage of any car in the line. The Gran Turismo version performs infinitely better in this regard.

JoystiqTest drive the 2014 Corvette Stingray in Gran Turismo 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corvettedlcGran-Turismo-5playstationps3Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo now cruising at 67.89 million series sales, GT5 over 9 million]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/gran-turismo-now-cruising-at-67-8-million-series-sales-gt5-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/gran-turismo-now-cruising-at-67-8-million-series-sales-gt5-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/07/gran-turismo-now-cruising-at-67-8-million-series-sales-gt5-over/#comments Gran Turismo now cruising at 678 million series sales, GT5 over 9 millionThe Gran Turismo sales-o-meter is now at 67.89 million, according to the latest stats published by developer Polyphony Digital. Meanwhile, Gran Turismo 5 is in the slipstream of double figures, now up to 9 million units sold worldwide. While it still ranks as the lowest-selling main entry in the series (on PS3), it's closing in on fourth-placed Gran Turismo 2 (9.4 million).

The majority of those 67.89 million series sales come from Gran Turismo 3, Gran Turismo 4, and the original Gran Turismo, speeding in at 14.9, 11.6, and 10.9 million respectively. As impressive as those figures are, Gran Turismo isn't the best-selling racing series out there. That accolade belongs to Need for Speed, which drove past 100 million sales back in 2009. We somehow suspect the two series' sales-per-game figures tell a different story.

JoystiqGran Turismo now cruising at 67.89 million series sales, GT5 over 9 million originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gran-turismoGran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps2ps3sonyWed, 07 Nov 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen@Gamescom: Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controller]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/seen-gamescom-gran-turismo-5s-audi-r8-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/seen-gamescom-gran-turismo-5s-audi-r8-controller/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/23/seen-gamescom-gran-turismo-5s-audi-r8-controller/#comments SeenGamescom Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controllerThe city of Cologne, Germany, home to the country's annual Gamescom convention, is full of beautiful cars (proof!). During our week-long stay, I counted at least six Audi R8s in the wild. That includes this one, used to casually control a game of Gran Turismo 5 (by an underage driver, no less).

As you might imagine, a line held steady around the massive, moving Audi R8 shell. It certainly didn't hurt that the device was smack in the middle of a street fair many blocks away from Gamescom's enormous facilities on the other side of the Rhine. We can only imagine the line had it been anywhere near the hundreds of thousands of Gamescom attendees!

Continue reading Seen@Gamescom: Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controller

JoystiqSeen@Gamescom: Gran Turismo 5's Audi R8 controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi-r8gamescomgamescom-2012Gran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo producer won't discuss release dates for GT6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/gran-turismo-producer-wont-discuss-release-dates-for-gt6/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/gran-turismo-producer-wont-discuss-release-dates-for-gt6/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/13/gran-turismo-producer-wont-discuss-release-dates-for-gt6/#comments Gran Turismo 6 is in development, but don't expect series producer Kazunori Yamauchi to dare tread on the delicate ground of discussing release windows or specific dates for the game publicly.

Andriasang reports the franchise overseer has learned his lesson, saying at the recent Gran Turismo 5 Asia Championship, "If I carelessly say when it will be released, you'll end up with people saying things like 'it's been delayed again!?'"

Gran Turismo 5 was notorious for its long development and delays, which didn't just apply to the game, but to its DLC as well.

[Photo credit: Frank Filipponio; GIF source: jockamo]

JoystiqGran Turismo producer won't discuss release dates for GT6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gran-turismo-5gran-turismo-6Kazunori-Yamauchiplaystationps3Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 'Academy Edition' racing to stores on September 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/gran-turismo-5-academy-edition-racing-to-stores-on-september-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/gran-turismo-5-academy-edition-racing-to-stores-on-september-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/25/gran-turismo-5-academy-edition-racing-to-stores-on-september-2/#comments Gran Turismo 5 'Academy Edition' racing to stores on September 26This fall marks two years since Polyphony Digital's latest Gran Turismo screeched onto retailer shelves, and four years since the company partnered with Nissan on its GT Academy. As a result, the developer's celebrating with a special edition release of Gran Turismo 5 - "Academy Edition" - replete with the various car packs released since the launch in 2010.

More specifically, you'll also get Polyphony Digital creative lead Kazunori Yamauchi's fancy Nissan GTR that he raced in real life during the most recent Nurburgring 24-hour race. If you bought it in real life, it'd cost like a trillion dollars, so this is probably the best way to get access.

When the "Academy Edition" of Gran Turismo 5 launches this September 26, it'll cost €29.99/£19.99. The game doesn't have a price or launch date in the US just yet, but we expect to hear more on that front in the coming days.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 'Academy Edition' racing to stores on September 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academy-editiondlcgame-of-the-year-editionGran-Turismo-5gran-turismo-5-academy-editiongt-academykazunori-yamauchiplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3q3-2012release-datescesony-computer-entertainmentspecial-editionWed, 25 Jul 2012 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[New GT5 DLC lands Tuesday with Lamborghini and speed testing course]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/new-gt5-dlc-lands-tuesday-with-lamborghini-and-speed-testing-cou/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/new-gt5-dlc-lands-tuesday-with-lamborghini-and-speed-testing-cou/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/14/new-gt5-dlc-lands-tuesday-with-lamborghini-and-speed-testing-cou/#comments Most of us, in real life, must stay content with occasionally going 10 miles over the speed limit in our used 2004 Pontiac Sunfires. We'll never know the thrill of triple-digit speeds, or experience the bowel-shattering roar of an Italian V12 engine; the harsh reality of reality is precisely why games like Gran Turismo 5 exist.

This Tuesday, equal doses of commuter sensibility and murderous horsepower will be available in Car Pack 3, the latest $5.99 DLC bundle of bumpers for GT5. The pack includes the Lamborghini Aventador, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the endurance-tuned Jaguar XJR-9 LM, as well as the more sensible Mini Cooper S Countryman, all-electric Nisan Leaf and button-cute 1966 Volkswagen 1200.

In addition to the new whips, there's also a new course to test them on. Route X, available separately for $3.99, is a specially designed oval track with banked curves intended for speed testing. The track allows the user to measure their quarter-mile times, g-force and acceleration, so it'll be helpful for obsessive compulsives (read: us) who obsess over the tiniest of modification details.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 (Car Pack 3, Route X)

JoystiqNew GT5 DLC lands Tuesday with Lamborghini and speed testing course originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1966-Volkswagen-1200Aston-Martin-V12-Vantagecar-pack-3DLCGran-Turismo-5Jaguar-XJR-9-LMlamborghini-aventadormini-cooper-s-countrymanNisan-Leafplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3PSNroute-xSat, 14 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition peels out on January 17]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/gran-turismo-5-xl-edition-peels-out-on-jan-17/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/gran-turismo-5-xl-edition-peels-out-on-jan-17/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/06/gran-turismo-5-xl-edition-peels-out-on-jan-17/#comments GT5 XL As prognosticated by retailers last month, Sony has officially revealed Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition. As expected, the game packs in the original GT5 with a host of extra content, including every update through Spec 2.0 right on the disc and a voucher for five pieces of downloadable content.

Finally, if you're looking for a little extra flair, the Blu-ray case will include a reversible insert that features the Red Bull X2011 supercar.

Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition launches January 17 for $40.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 XL Edition peels out on January 17 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5gran-turismo-5-xl-editionplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3q1-2012release-datesonyFri, 06 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 'XL Edition' pops up on retailer sites]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/gran-turismo-5-xl-edition-pops-up-on-retailer-sites/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/gran-turismo-5-xl-edition-pops-up-on-retailer-sites/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/26/gran-turismo-5-xl-edition-pops-up-on-retailer-sites/#comments We're going to go out on a limb and assume that Gran Turismo 5 XL Edition, a mysterious new version of GT5 that's recently turned up on Amazon, Newegg and Buy, isn't a DLC-packed Game of the Year-esque compilation re-release, but rather a literally extra-large version of the original. Bigger cars, bigger tracks, bigger disc, bigger box ... it probably even requires an extra-large PlayStation 3 to play it.

If you're a market analyst looking to make safe predictions, we guess you could infer that GT5 XL Edition is actually the stateside title for Japan's upcoming Gran Turismo 5 Spec II rerelease, but we prefer living on the edge and thinking outside of the box -- until Polyphony Digital makes an official announcement, of course, at which point all knowledge of this post will be disavowed.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 'XL Edition' pops up on retailer sites originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5gran-turismo-5-spec-2gran-turismo-5-spec-IIgran-turismo-5-xl-editionGT5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3spec-2spec-IIXL-editionMon, 26 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 gives away a Toyota, releases new DLC Pack 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/gran-turismo-5-gives-away-a-toyota-releases-new-dlc-pack-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/gran-turismo-5-gives-away-a-toyota-releases-new-dlc-pack-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/gran-turismo-5-gives-away-a-toyota-releases-new-dlc-pack-2/#comments
Don't you hate those "car as a gift" commercials this time of year? If you're in the US, you'll probably know what we're talking about: There's a certain car company that shows commercials during the holidays with an actual car being given as a gift, as if there was some world out there where it was completely appropriate and practical to buy a whole vehicle, put a bow on it, and give it away as a gift. Whatever, Mr. Moneybags.

That said, Gran Tourismo 5 is breaking all the rules, and recently released not only Functionality Update 2.02 with some "community-inspired" improvements, but also the gift of a virtual Toyota 86 GT '12 vehicle (above) for all users. You don't have to pay insurance or registration on it, which, unlike a real car, makes it totally appropriate as a gift.

And Polyphony Digital has also released DLC Pack 2, which brings four new models to the game, including a Nissan GT-R, a Mini Cooper, and a VW Golf, and is available for $3.99 on the PlayStation Store. Four cars for four bucks is also a great gift. An actual vehicle and all of the responsibilities and payments that come with it? Just put the money in a gift card and we'll figure things out ourselves, thanks.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 gives away a Toyota, releases new DLC Pack 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcgiftGran-Turismo-5gt5lexusmini-coopernissan-gt-rplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3sonytoyotaFri, 23 Dec 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 2.02 update and DLC lands Dec. 20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/gran-turismo-5-2-02-update-and-dlc-lands-dec-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/gran-turismo-5-2-02-update-and-dlc-lands-dec-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/12/18/gran-turismo-5-2-02-update-and-dlc-lands-dec-20/#comments You probably wouldn't guess it by talking to one of us, but petrolheads do have the ability to get burnt out on a specific vehicle. It may take a long time, granted, but eventually we'll get bored with our current ride and wish that we had some new iron to tool around with. It's called "Gear Acquisition Syndrome" (GAS), and GAS can be devastatingly expensive if left unchecked.

Thankfully though, the GAS methadone clinic known as Gran Turismo 5 is here to keep those urges in check with a title update and several new sets of wheels, all of which become available on December 20. Car Pack 2 will set you back $3.99 and will furnish your ever-growing garage with a 2012 Nissan GT-R Black R35, a 2010 Volkswagen Scirocco R, a 2010 Volkswagen Gold VI R and the 2011 Mini Cooper S. Additionally, anyone who has purchased GT5 DLC in the past will also receive the Gran Turismo Racing Kart 125 SP, which is go-kart for some reason.

The (free) 2.02 title update also includes a set of wheels: The recently revealed 2013 Toyota GT-86. Beyond that, the update boasts a slew of interface improvements and even nets you 10 oil change and car wash coupons (in-game, of course). Hopefully this will keep our greasy little mechanic hands busy enough to prevent us from taking out a second mortgage and buying that Thunderbird we've been eyeing.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 (December DLC)

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 2.02 update and DLC lands Dec. 20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.02DLCGran-Turismo-5GT5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3title-updateSun, 18 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 DLC delayed to October 25]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/gran-turismo-5-dlc-delayed-to-october-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/gran-turismo-5-dlc-delayed-to-october-25/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/18/gran-turismo-5-dlc-delayed-to-october-25/#comments When it comes to release dates pertaining to the Gran Turismo series, fans know better than to expect developer Polyphony Digital to actually meet those deadlines. It should come as no surprise, then, that Gran Turismo 5's first big DLC release, originally intended to launch on October 18, will now be drifting to October 25 in North America.

As previously explained, the DLC can either be purchased in one big $11.99 bundle, or piecemeal as tracks, cars, racing gear, and paint jobs. Sony apologized for the delay but didn't provide a reason for it. Instead, the company will include a "special bonus" with the DLC on October 25, so you've got that going for you.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 DLC delayed to October 25 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delaydlcdownloadable-contentGran-Turismo-5playstationplaystation-networkplaystation-storepolyphony-digitalps3psnq4-2011release-datescesceaTue, 18 Oct 2011 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 DLC coming October 18, update out today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gran-turismo-5-dlc-coming-october-18-update-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gran-turismo-5-dlc-coming-october-18-update-out-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/11/gran-turismo-5-dlc-coming-october-18-update-out-today/#comments The hefty hunk of expansions for Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 5 has been dated, priced and torn asunder. That is to say, you can buy each of the constituent parts of the update -- the tracks, the cars, the racing gear and the paint jobs -- separately, or as one big, $11.99 piece of DLC. Or, you could buy some of the piecemeal parts, and then the whole package, if you were a crazy person with tons of money to waste.

You'll be able to get your rich, crazy hands on the new content starting October 18. Meanwhile, the Functionality Update 2.0 that adds mid-race saving and other free features to the game, launches today.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 DLC coming October 18, update out today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcdrivingGran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3release-dateTue, 11 Oct 2011 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 officially getting update, DLC, and a price drop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/gran-turismo-5-officially-getting-update-dlc-and-a-price-drop/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/gran-turismo-5-officially-getting-update-dlc-and-a-price-drop/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/gran-turismo-5-officially-getting-update-dlc-and-a-price-drop/#comments Gran Turismo 5's photo mode is getting updated The Official PlayStation Blog has official details on the official Gran Turismo 5 update, officially coming in the next few weeks. The new patch offers new official interior views for all of the cars in the game, reduced load times, adjustable weather conditions, the ability to save during an extended race, and updated photo and shuffle modes. The game will also now officially support the Logitech G25 and G27 racing wheels, and the patch even adds official (of course) versions of the 2011 Nascar racing cars.

And perhaps most exciting, Polyphony Digital will be officially dropping a "full batch of downloadable content" for Gran Turismo 5 in the next few weeks, including new vehicles, new tracks, and "some additional surprises." Sony says you can watch the official website for more details. And what's more, the official price on the game is officially dropping, down to $39.99.

Unofficially? With Forza Motorsport 4 due out next week, it sounds like Sony's aiming to do a little crowdpleasing among the Gran Turismo faithful.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 officially getting update, DLC, and a price drop originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcGran-Turismo-5nascarnewphoto-modeplaystationps3sonyupdatevehiclesWed, 05 Oct 2011 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 getting big update next month, DLC to follow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/gran-turismo-5-getting-big-update-next-month-dlc-to-follow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/gran-turismo-5-getting-big-update-next-month-dlc-to-follow/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/28/gran-turismo-5-getting-big-update-next-month-dlc-to-follow/#comments Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi recently announced on Twitter that Gran Turismo 5 will be widely expanded next month -- though he didn't really explain how. According to the Tweet, the game's "Spec 2.0 update" will launch during the 3rd week of October, with a new DLC pack scheduled to launch the following week.

Kaz didn't mention any of the contents of either the update or DLC, leaving us to use our imaginations to determine their constituent features. We're gonna guess the update adds a fifth wheel to most cars, while the DLC's proximity to Halloween ensures it will contain some spooky vehicles, like a ... um, a werewolf bus.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 getting big update next month, DLC to follow originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcGran-Turismo-5kazunori-yamauchiplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3updateWed, 28 Sep 2011 13:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Polyphony Digital shipping a third of its employees out of Tokyo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/polyphony-digital-shipping-a-third-of-its-employees-out-of-tokyo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/polyphony-digital-shipping-a-third-of-its-employees-out-of-tokyo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/polyphony-digital-shipping-a-third-of-its-employees-out-of-tokyo/#comments Gran Turismo 5 developer Polyphony Digital is transferring 50 of it's 150 employees to a new location in Fukuoka, over 500 miles away from their main HQ in Tokyo. According to EDGE, the partial relocation has been prompted by mounting concerns over another devastating earthquake in the Tokyo region, as well as the Fukushima nuclear crisis that followed last March's tsunami.

Fukuoka, while no stranger to earthquakes itself, is Japan's second-youngest and second-fastest-growing city, according to 2000 census information. The city is positioning itself as a developer-friendly environment, counting Professor Layton developers Level-5 among its denizens. Polyphony Digital's arrival bodes well for the district, as it may encourage other developers to reduce operational risk by spreading their teams across the nation.

JoystiqPolyphony Digital shipping a third of its employees out of Tokyo originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earthquakeFukuokaGran-Turismo-5japanLevel-5Polyphonypolyphony-digitalrelocationSat, 09 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi wins class victory in real-life 24-hour endurance race]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/gran-turismo-creator-kazunori-yamauchi-wins-class-victory-in-rea/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/gran-turismo-creator-kazunori-yamauchi-wins-class-victory-in-rea/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/26/gran-turismo-creator-kazunori-yamauchi-wins-class-victory-in-rea/#comments Alright, stick with us here because we're about to get super inside baseball: In Europe, there's a country called Germany, and in Germany, there's a village called Nürburg. Now, built around Nürburg is the Nürburgring, which is one of the deadliest race tracks in the entire world. The serpentine course spans nearly 15 miles of hairpin turns and arrow-straight straights, and is used by supercar giants like Ferrari and Lamborghini to test the mettle of their latest creations.

"The Ring" (as car-folk call it), is home to an annual GT and touring car endurance challenge called the 24 Hours Nürburgring, where teams of drivers from all over the world take shifts racing one car around the track for 24 continuous hours. This year's 24 Hours ended earlier today, with Gran Turismo producer Kazunori Yamauchi and his team claiming a first-place class victory with their Nissan GT-R.

Similar to a "Best of Breed" award at a dog show, a class victory means that even though the team may not have placed first over-all, they were still first out of cars of their type. This win comes on the heels of the team's recent victory at 24 Hours of Le Mans, where they grabbed second in-class. Drift past the brake for an exceedingly German video of the car/driver in question, and see if you can spot one of the many boners graffitied around the track.

[Thanks, Marco!]

Continue reading Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi wins class victory in real-life 24-hour endurance race

JoystiqGran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi wins class victory in real-life 24-hour endurance race originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5kazunori-yamauchiLe-Mans-24NurburgringNurburgring-24Sun, 26 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Track logos point to possible Gran Turismo 5 DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/track-logos-point-to-possible-gran-turismo-5-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/track-logos-point-to-possible-gran-turismo-5-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/track-logos-point-to-possible-gran-turismo-5-dlc/#comments GTPlanet recently did a bit of internet sleuthing into the Gran Turismo 5 official website, and uncovered logos for 24 tracks which aren't currently available in the game. A few have appeared in past titles, including Gran Turismo 4 and Gran Turismo PSP -- but all 24 have never appeared together in the same title. Check out the process through which these logos were divined on this GTPlanet forum post, and check out the full list of tracks after the jump.

It's unclear whether these logos are actually indicative of a batch of tracks that are coming to Gran Turismo 5 as DLC -- though it's worth noting that the list contains the track "El Capitan," which was shown as a GT5 track in a cross-promotional video posted (briefly) by Red Bull last year. If that particular track actually ends up in the game, that would mean that Polyphony Digital has been working on it for a while! Why, that doesn't sound like them at all.

Continue reading Track logos point to possible Gran Turismo 5 DLC

JoystiqTrack logos point to possible Gran Turismo 5 DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3Sony-Computer-EntertainmentMon, 11 Apr 2011 22:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo goes from racing lines to clothing line]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/gran-turismo-goes-from-racing-lines-to-clothing-line/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/gran-turismo-goes-from-racing-lines-to-clothing-line/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/gran-turismo-goes-from-racing-lines-to-clothing-line/#comments Not to be outdone by another blockbuster franchise -- Metal Gear Solid -- the Gran Turismo brand has spawned its own clothing line. But where Konami is going for authenticity to its game and characters, Sony is focusing on neatly cut (and expensive!) coats and shirts.

Being sold through the newly launched Gran Turismo Boutique, the threads range from a $25 T-Shirt with barely a hint of GT branding up to a $200 "endurance jacket" with the series logo embroidered across the back.

Here's hoping the site's shipping isn't as delay-plagued as the series the clothing represents.

JoystiqGran Turismo goes from racing lines to clothing line originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clothinggran-turismoGran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3pspsonyThu, 07 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Yamauchi: Gran Turismo 5 to get in-race game saves]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/yamauchi-gran-turismo-5-to-get-in-race-game-saves/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/yamauchi-gran-turismo-5-to-get-in-race-game-saves/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/yamauchi-gran-turismo-5-to-get-in-race-game-saves/#comments So, you're in the middle of the big race. In your sleek, modified land-rocket, you pour through the turns, inching out the opposing steel beasts while hurtling through space at half a football field-per-second. You're playing Gran Turismo 5, of course.

You catch the draft behind your rival and slingshot past the -- OH MAN! You're telling us all of Scrubs is on Netflix Instant Watch? Like, every single episode? Sorry, high-intensity driving action, but we're done here.

Fortunately, stoppping in the middle of a race won't have to mean losing your progress following an upcoming GT5 update. In a recent tweet, Polyphony Digital CEO Kazunori Yamauchi said -- as translated by GTPlanet -- that a feature which will allow players to save in the middle of the game's lengthy endurance races is "currently under development."

Soon, friends. Soon you'll be able to watch all the Scrubs you want, and that unforgiving vehicular gauntlet will be waiting for you when you get back.

JoystiqYamauchi: Gran Turismo 5 to get in-race game saves originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5kazunori-yamauchiplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3savesonySony-Computer-EntertainmentupdateTue, 01 Mar 2011 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 patched to 1.06, Remote Racing enabled]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/gran-turismo-5-patched-to-1-06-remote-racing-enabled/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/gran-turismo-5-patched-to-1-06-remote-racing-enabled/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/gran-turismo-5-patched-to-1-06-remote-racing-enabled/#comments If you prefer to keep a safe distance from your driving sims -- or consider them an adequate venue for expressing your obsessive, controlling nature -- you should have someone pop in your Gran Turismo 5 disc today. According to the official site, an automatically administered patch (bumping the game up to version 1.6) enables support for Remote Racing, a mode that allows you to manage drivers in B-spec races via the Gran Turismo website. You could be earning money at work right now.

In addition, the patch allows tracks from the Course Maker to be used in online races, which also dole out more experience points. Gran Turismo 5 v1.6 supports multi-monitor, multi-PS3 setups, and claims to have optimized the speed at which games are saved. It's a significant (and free) update, so be sure to have your assistant read the full documentation and report back to you.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 patched to 1.06, Remote Racing enabled originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5patchplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3psnracingremote-racingFri, 18 Feb 2011 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony: GT Academy round two ruined by cheaters, won't count]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/sony-gt-academy-round-two-ruined-by-cheaters-wont-count/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/sony-gt-academy-round-two-ruined-by-cheaters-wont-count/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/08/sony-gt-academy-round-two-ruined-by-cheaters-wont-count/#comments Sony's GT Academy competition, which was intended to provide the world's best Gran Turismo 5 players with a chance to win a spot as a real race driver using their virtual driving skills, has hit an ugly speed bump. The game's publisher has announced that the second round of the five-round tournament is being stricken from the records -- and the third round delayed -- because some participants were taking advantage of flaws in the game in order to achieve seemingly impossible lap times.

Specifically, cheaters were able to cut corners on the Rome and Madrid courses without being penalized by the game for doing so. Rather than reward the cheaters or end the competition entirely, Sony has decided to allow everyone who participated in round two to proceed to round three. Developer Polyphony Digital says that it's working to fix any potential exploits before conducting the third round of races, but can't put an ETA on the completion of the patch. That being the case, the planned start of round three on February 14, 2011 has been delayed indefinitely.

We're glad that the competition is (hopefully) being made fair for everyone, but have to admit that it would have been pretty funny to see one of the "winning" cheaters cutting corners on a real race track.

JoystiqSony: GT Academy round two ruined by cheaters, won't count originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheatingcompetitionGran-Turismo-5GT-Academygt5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3sonyTue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo Anywhere to launch in early February]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/gran-turismo-anywhere-to-launch-in-early-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/gran-turismo-anywhere-to-launch-in-early-february/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/gran-turismo-anywhere-to-launch-in-early-february/#comments First announced at Tokyo Game Show last year, Gran Turismo 5's long-awaited Remote Races feature is finally gearing up for launch. A tweet from series head Kazunori Yamauchi confirms an "early February" release for the update.

Formally known as "Gran Turismo Anywhere," Remote Races allow you to control B-Spec races from a PC or mobile device by logging onto the official Gran Turismo website. You won't be able drive, but you will be able to issue commands during the race to a virtual racer that levels up (and down) over time. While not particularly engaging, it is a good way of earning money to use towards better cars in-game.

With the update arriving in early February, it seems Polyphony Digital is making good on its plans to release near-monthly updates for the PS3 driving sim. Update 1.05 came out in late December, and added 608MB of new features and tweaks. What else could be in store for 1.06?

JoystiqGran Turismo Anywhere to launch in early February originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>b-specGran-Turismo-5gran-turismo-anywhereplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3psnremote-racesupdateMon, 17 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 moves 560,500 units in December, 1.14 million sold between Nov. and Dec.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/gran-turismo-5-moves-560-500-units-in-december-1-14-million-sol/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/gran-turismo-5-moves-560-500-units-in-december-1-14-million-sol/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/gran-turismo-5-moves-560-500-units-in-december-1-14-million-sol/#comments Despite not making December's NPD top 10 list, Gran Turismo 5 sold 560,500 units last month in the US and Canada. IndustryGamers got the number straight from the NPD Group -- a number which looks like an apparent dropoff from Sony's late November launch numbers, which heralded 5.5 million units shipped worldwide, 1.25 million of which were in North America alone.

And hey, let's not kid ourselves: a good amount of December's "sales" figures are also accounted for in November's "shipped" figures. All of them, in fact -- 1.14 million copies of Gran Turismo 5 have been sold in the US and Canada thus far, a representative from NPD told us this afternoon, leaving approximately 110K copies from the initial shipment still on store shelves.

That said, plans for periodic support in GT5 were highlighted by developer Polyphony Digital as recently as last month. Add that to the fact that the 2011 Formula One season is just around the corner, and we'd say it's likely that racing fans will continue to pick up the game as early 2011 progresses.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 moves 560,500 units in December, 1.14 million sold between Nov. and Dec. originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5npdnpd-groupplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3racingsalesscesimulationsony-computer-entertainmentFri, 14 Jan 2011 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 races against reality on German track]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/gran-turismo-5-races-against-reality-on-german-track/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/gran-turismo-5-races-against-reality-on-german-track/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/gran-turismo-5-races-against-reality-on-german-track/#comments Sony has a video comparing the real-life Nürburgring with its digital re-creation in Gran Turismo 5. It naturally features the amount of impressive detail work one would expect from a game that was so long in development.

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 races against reality on German track

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 races against reality on German track originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A serious unboxing of Thrustmaster's official GT5 racing wheel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/thrustmaster-gt5-racing-wheel-unboxing/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/thrustmaster-gt5-racing-wheel-unboxing/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/03/thrustmaster-gt5-racing-wheel-unboxing/#comments Inside Sim Racing does not mess around. When the site got its hands on what it says is one of the first Thrustmaster T500RS units in the US (a.k.a. the official Gran Turismo 5 racing wheel), it made this epic unboxing video. Carrying a $600 price tag [Ed.'s note: Not a typo!], the peripheral is expected to ship in North America and Europe on January 5 ... which, coincidentally, is when this blogger's car payment, less than half the price of the T500RS, is due.

[Thanks, Chris]

Continue reading A serious unboxing of Thrustmaster's official GT5 racing wheel

JoystiqA serious unboxing of Thrustmaster's official GT5 racing wheel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5peripheralsplaystationps3racing-wheelsonyThrustmasterThrustmaster-T500RSunboxingMon, 03 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 receives 608MB of bodywork for v1.05.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/gran-turismo-5-receives-608mb-of-bodywork-for-v1-05/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/gran-turismo-5-receives-608mb-of-bodywork-for-v1-05/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/gran-turismo-5-receives-608mb-of-bodywork-for-v1-05/#comments Gran Turismo 5 is ready to go back to the shop for a major 608MB, version 1.05 patch. The update includes seasonal events, upgrades for winning races and save data backups.

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 receives 608MB of bodywork for v1.05.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 receives 608MB of bodywork for v1.05. originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5Patchplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3psnMon, 20 Dec 2010 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GT Academy competition to be featured in Speed Network reality show]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/gt-academy-competition-to-be-featured-in-speed-network-reality-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/gt-academy-competition-to-be-featured-in-speed-network-reality-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/18/gt-academy-competition-to-be-featured-in-speed-network-reality-s/#comments Not only are the best Gran Turismo 5 players getting a chance to be professional racecar drivers, but they're gonna be on the teevee, too! The competition, which started up this month, is turning into a reality show on the Speed Network next year. When the finals start up in March of 2011, the last 32 contestants and their travels and travails will be filmed for the show as they go through the last of the contest and the race training process.

It's not mentioned whether or not the contestants will have to perform stunts on a desert island, live in a house together while under the watch of cameras 24/7, or give roses to each other but we'll just assume, since it's a reality show, that all of those things will happen. We also wonder which contestant will be the plucky, charismatic racer that eventually becomes a D-level celebrity.

JoystiqGT Academy competition to be featured in Speed Network reality show originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5gt-academynissanplaystationps3reality-showsonyspeed-networktelevisiontvSat, 18 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 gets three free premium cars for Christmas ... in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/gran-turismo-5-gets-three-free-premium-cars-for-christmas-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/gran-turismo-5-gets-three-free-premium-cars-for-christmas-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/gran-turismo-5-gets-three-free-premium-cars-for-christmas-in/#comments Sony Japan is putting a special Christmas gift in the stockings of Gran Turismo 5 owners in that territory. From December 24 to January 31, Japanese GT5 drivers will be able to download a Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640, a BMW M3 Coupe and a Jaguar XJ13 completely free for use in the game. The Lambo and the Beemer were originally included in the game's collector's edition, and the Jag was a promotional extra from Facebook.

The promotion is currently for Japan only, so you US and European players will have to live with the usual coal in your stocking. Maybe next year, try not being so naughty?

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 gets three free premium cars for Christmas ... in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwchristmasdlcfreegran-turismoGran-Turismo-5japanlamborghiniplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3sonysony-computer-entertainment-japanThu, 16 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 creator wants monthly updates, plans premium car upgrades]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/gran-turismo-5-creator-wants-monthly-updates-plans-premium-car/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/gran-turismo-5-creator-wants-monthly-updates-plans-premium-car/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/gran-turismo-5-creator-wants-monthly-updates-plans-premium-car/#comments Gran Turismo 5 may be out in stores, but its creators don't consider their work complete just yet. Since its release, Polyphony Digital's racing game has already received a few updates, with more on the way. Series creator Kazunori Yamauchi explained to Famitsu that "it would be good to have one update every month."

Of particular note for car enthusiasts would be the expansion of the game's premium car offerings. Although the game launched with over a thousand cars, only one fifth of the vehicles are represented with "premium" models, which feature higher resolution textures, fully modeled interiors and undercarriages, and damage modeling. Yamauchi promised that new premium cars would be made available for download, but Andriasang notes that he failed to confirm whether or not the updates would be free.

Although the team is working on adding new features and updated models into GT5, there are a few items you shouldn't expect via patches: new cars and courses. "They may be added as expansion content," Yamauchi explained, "or we may leave it until the next title."

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 creator wants monthly updates, plans premium car upgrades originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>famitsuGran-Turismo-5kazunori-yamauchiplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3psnWed, 15 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 loading times slashed with SSD install]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/gran-turismo-5-loading-times-slashed-with-ssd-install/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/gran-turismo-5-loading-times-slashed-with-ssd-install/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/gran-turismo-5-loading-times-slashed-with-ssd-install/#comments Sick and tired of sitting through loading screens between races in Gran Turismo 5? If you've got yourself the cash, slap a solid-state drive (SSD) into that puppy and watch the loading times plummet -- at least, so says Phil over on the Beyond3D forums.

Taking two PS3s (an older "fat" with the game installed on a Corsair F120 SSD drive and a Slim with the game installed on its standard SATA drive), Phil timed how long it took for the game to initially load up and checked out several different tracks' loading times in the game's Arcade mode. He found a sizeable, consistent drop in loading times. The biggest factor seems to be the architecture of the SSD itself -- it has no moving parts, so there are no mechanical heads moving around frantically to access the thousands and thousands of tiny, incremental files that make up the Gran Turismo 5 installation.

While SSD seems like it would be better for installing games compared to regular storage, the drives are still costly. Factoring in the affordability of other compatible 2.5" HDDs and the SSD solution seems more and more impractical -- despite the impressive loading times you see above.

Update: Some commenters brought it to our attention that we inaccurately reported the compatibility of some solid-state drives with the PS3 Slim. We apologize for this oversight and have updated the article accordingly.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 loading times slashed with SSD install originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3ssdssd-harddriveTue, 14 Dec 2010 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 ships 5.5 million worldwide]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/gran-turismo-5-ships-5-5-million-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/gran-turismo-5-ships-5-5-million-worldwide/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/gran-turismo-5-ships-5-5-million-worldwide/#comments Sony's pretty confident in its latest big release, Gran Turismo 5. The publisher shipped 5.5 million copies of the game to retailers worldwide since launching in late November, pushing the entire franchise's worldwide lifetime shipped numbers to just over the 60 million mark (61.41 million, precisely). Gran Turismo 5 debuted on November 24th and placed 8th on the NPD's software sales ranking for that month.

Sony and developer Polyphony Digital also noted their dedication to expanding the world of GT5 in the future. "Polyphony Digital Inc., will continue hereon to vigorously promote development of the Gran Turismo series, which can be expected to evolve even further through the PS3 platform and broadband network environment." Let's hope for more notable additions, like the recent introduction (v1.03) of tiered vehicle damage to online races.

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 ships 5.5 million worldwide originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3salessonysony-computer-entertainmentFri, 10 Dec 2010 09:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 patch v1.03 adds tiered damage to online races]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/gran-turismo-5-patch-v1-03-adds-tiered-damage-to-online-races/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/gran-turismo-5-patch-v1-03-adds-tiered-damage-to-online-races/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/gran-turismo-5-patch-v1-03-adds-tiered-damage-to-online-races/#comments Those of you taking Gran Turismo 5's detailed vehicles onto the information superhighway will be glad to hear that the latest patch for the game adds selectable car damage. After downloading the patch, GT5's "My Lounge" section allows you to choose how much mechanical damage you're willing to suffer during online play, from "None" to "Heavy" ("Mechanical damage will be more severe, and can only be repaired by making a pit stop ... damaged parts will be indicated with on-screen icons"). The "Light" damage option means parts of your car can be damaged, but its health regenerates (no, we're not joking). It's not clear whether the update also adds cover for your cars to hide behind while said health regenerates.

The patch is available as of right now and it takes up approximately 150MB of HDD space -- Polyphony Digital has yet to detail any other fixes/additions the patch brings with it. If you spot anything else, feel free to drop us a line!

[Thanks Russ!]

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 patch v1.03 adds tiered damage to online races originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car-damagedamageGran-Turismo-5patchpatch-1.03playstationpolyphony-digitalps3scesceasony-computer-entertainmentsony-computer-entertainment-americaTue, 07 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Michael Jackson: The Experience moonwalks up UK sales chart, Black Ops king of the hill]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/michael-jackson-the-experience-moonwalks-up-uk-sales-chart-bla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/michael-jackson-the-experience-moonwalks-up-uk-sales-chart-bla/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/06/michael-jackson-the-experience-moonwalks-up-uk-sales-chart-bla/#comments Gran Turismo 5 ran out of gas after its debut week, dropping 61 percent in sales and into fourth place on Chart-Track's UK All Formats chart. The top three titles were Call of Duty: Black Ops, FIFA 11 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. The big premieres for the week were Donkey Kong Country Returns and Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary at 13 and 22, respectively.

So, last week we almost neglected to mention Disney Epic Mickey, because it didn't make the Top 40. We thought its performance might have been an anomaly ... until it missed out again on the Top 40 and maintained its place at #11 on the Wii Chart. Not a good sign.

Comparatively, Ubisoft's Michael Jackson: The Experience, which debuted down at #38 last week, had a thriller of a second week, shooting up to sixth place. It's now holding hands with Ubisoft's stalwart Just Dance franchise, which had its numerical sequel in the fifth spot. Find the full UK top ten after the break.

Continue reading Michael Jackson: The Experience moonwalks up UK sales chart, Black Ops king of the hill

JoystiqMichael Jackson: The Experience moonwalks up UK sales chart, Black Ops king of the hill originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-brotherhoodBritainCall-of-Duty-Black-Opschart-trackchart-track-weeklyFIFA-11gran-turismo-5just-dance-2michael-jackson-the-experiencemicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3UKwiixboxMon, 06 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Thrustmaster teases Gran Turismo 5 racing wheel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/thrustmaster-teases-gran-turismo-5-racing-wheel/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/thrustmaster-teases-gran-turismo-5-racing-wheel/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/thrustmaster-teases-gran-turismo-5-racing-wheel/#comments Look, you've waited 800 years for Gran Turismo 5 to arrive; don't you think you've earned the right to play the game the way God (and Kazunori Yamauchi) intended? We're speaking, of course, about playing the game using a beefy racing wheel created by the most suggestively named peripheral manufacturer on the planet: The Thrustmaster T500RS, which was recently teased on the company's official site.

Previously, Logitech's Driving Force wheel (which is currently available for the PS3) was the only peripheral to grab the Gran Turismo license, but judging by the aforementioned (GT5-branded) teaser, Thrustmaster managed to get its hands on it as well. According to Engadget, the wheel appears to be equipped with the same magnetic sensors built into the HOTAS Warthog flight stick, and is rumored to hit retail at around $500. Thrustmaster hasn't revealed any official details quite yet, but promises more information will surface during CES 2011.

JoystiqThrustmaster teases Gran Turismo 5 racing wheel originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5peripheralsplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3racing-wheelSony-Computer-EntertainmentThrustmasterSun, 05 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GT Academy returns, best Gran Turismo players become professional racers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/gt-academy-returns-best-gran-turismo-players-become-professiona/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/gt-academy-returns-best-gran-turismo-players-become-professiona/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/gt-academy-returns-best-gran-turismo-players-become-professiona/#comments Think you have what it takes to be a real professional racer? If so, you'll want to enter in this year's GT Academy. The tournament challenges Gran Turismo 5 players to take on a series of online time trial events. Over the course of five weeks, players will compete to record the fastest lap times, and the top 128 players per region (four regions total) will move on to the second round, one step closer to the grand prize: an opportunity to join a real racing team and compete in a real race.

Registration begins next week, December 6th. But even if you're not a racing expert, you should consider registering just to score some digital swag. Each week, players that compete will get a free digital download, regardless of your ranking. So don't be ashamed to drive like a grandma on the virtual course. No one's going to judge you, we promise.

Continue reading GT Academy returns, best Gran Turismo players become professional racers

JoystiqGT Academy returns, best Gran Turismo players become professional racers originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5gt-academynissanplaystationps3Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 speeds past 430K sold to top weekly sales in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/gran-turismo-5-speeds-past-430k-sold-to-top-weekly-sales-in-jpn/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/gran-turismo-5-speeds-past-430k-sold-to-top-weekly-sales-in-jpn/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/01/gran-turismo-5-speeds-past-430k-sold-to-top-weekly-sales-in-jpn/#comments Not quite Pokémon numbers, Gran Turismo 5's launch week sales were still plenty enough to land the long-awaited racing sim firmly in first place atop Japan's bestsellers list for the week ending November 28. With 430,707 units sold (by Media Create's count) in its first four days at Japanese retail, GT5 is well on its way to recouping development costs that were estimated at $60 million a year ago and becoming a commercial success for Sony.

But slow down, tiger -- Yamauchi's latest "game" is still far from topping the series' standout entry, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, which has amassed lifetime sales of 1.89 million units in Japan (14.89 million worldwide), according to developer Polyphony Digital.

Back to the present: Sony also enjoyed a tremendous spike in PS3 hardware sales last week in Japan, with 68,840 units sold -- nearly a 140-percent increase from the previous week. Complete Japanese software and hardware sales for the GT5 launch week are listed after the break.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 Racing Pack (Japan)

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 speeds past 430K sold to top weekly sales in Japan

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 speeds past 430K sold to top weekly sales in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Gran-Turismo-5hardwareJapanlaunchmedia-createplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3salessoftwaresonyWed, 01 Dec 2010 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Yamauchi talks future Gran Turismo 5 updates, cut features]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/yamauchi-talks-future-gran-turismo-5-updates-cut-features/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/yamauchi-talks-future-gran-turismo-5-updates-cut-features/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/30/yamauchi-talks-future-gran-turismo-5-updates-cut-features/#comments You didn't really think that work was finished on Gran Turismo 5, did you? Car-obsessed creator Kazunori Yamauchi has been fielding questions from fans on his Twitter feed (translated at GTPlanet), revealing that a variety of fixes are in the works -- but also shedding light on some features we'll probably never see.

Yamauchi confirms that his team at Polyphony Digital is working to implement mechanical -- not just cosmetic -- damage in GT5 sometime in early December. Less time-consuming fixes include nixing the game's odd-looking "blocky" shadows, adding more online functionality (the lounge is mentioned) and possibly offering the option to disable the HUD overlay. Work to support Logitech's G25 and G27 racing wheels in still underway, he adds.

As for what we won't be seeing, it sounds like face-tracking in GT mode and YouTube uploading of replays are out due to memory constraints. We'll also never get a chance to experience the cut "free roam" mode, in which players would have been able to drive around the gameworld, obeying traffic laws and stopping to get out of their cars to explore on foot. We imagine this was referred to internally as the "We Need Another Year of Development Time" mode.

JoystiqYamauchi talks future Gran Turismo 5 updates, cut features originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gran-turismoGran-Turismo-5kazunori-yamauchipatchplaystationpolyphony-digitalps3RacingsonyupdateTue, 30 Nov 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Digital Foundry pops the hood on Gran Turismo 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/digital-foundry-pops-the-hood-on-gran-turismo-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/digital-foundry-pops-the-hood-on-gran-turismo-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/digital-foundry-pops-the-hood-on-gran-turismo-5/#comments
 Interested in pages of thorough analysis on the technical proficiency of Gran Turismo 5? Of course you are! We all want to see how GT5 compares to previous entries of the franchise and learn about the game's other neat features -- including 3D integration and head-tracking through PlayStation Eye.

DigitalFoundry once again did its due diligence and broke down Polyphony Digital's latest in the only way it knows how: through extensive testing. While the massive tech report is best left read in full, we will offer a brief summary for all of you aspiring turismoers out there: basically, Gran Turismo 5 is quite the feat ... but you already knew that, right?

JoystiqDigital Foundry pops the hood on Gran Turismo 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digital-foundrydigitalfoundryGran-Turismo-5playstationpolyphony-digitalps3sonyMon, 29 Nov 2010 20:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gran Turismo 5 starts at pole position in UK sales chart]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/gran-turismo-5-starts-at-pole-position-in-uk-sales-chart/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/gran-turismo-5-starts-at-pole-position-in-uk-sales-chart/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/gran-turismo-5-starts-at-pole-position-in-uk-sales-chart/#comments Gran Turismo 5 raced into first place on the UK sales chart last week, becoming the sixth largest PS3 launch ever in the region. In a good sign for the oft-delayed franchise installment, sales were up 6 percent from Gran Turismo 4's launch week numbers in March 2005 on the PS2 (according to Chart-Track).

Call of Duty: Black Ops and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood both took one step back this week, grabbing silver and bronze, respectively. CoD:Blops dropped another 42 percent in sales two weeks after its record-setting premiere, while AC:B slipped off a Borgia tower, but caught itself 32 percent of the way down.

FIFA 11 took the fourth spot with a sales surge, and fifth belongs to... yup, loyal chart watchers, you got it: Just Dance 2 is unstoppable as it waves its arms in the air, selling copies like it just don't care. As for debuts on the chart that didn't go vroom-vroom, Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare shambled in at 14, while Ubisoft's Michael Jackson: The Experience had the late king of pop make one duke-y of a debut down at 38. Find the full UK top ten after the break.

Update: We just noticed that Disney Epic Mickey began its retail quest in the UK last week. It didn't even make the Top 40 in the All Formats chart. It debuted at the 11 spot on the Wii Chart. For comparison's sake, Michael Jackson: The Experience premiered at number five on the Wii chart, which ended up being 38 on the All Formats.

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 starts at pole position in UK sales chart

JoystiqGran Turismo 5 starts at pole position in UK sales chart originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-brotherhoodbritaincall-of-duty-black-opschart-trackchart-track-weeklyfifa-11Gran-Turismo-5just-dance-2microsoftnintendoplaystationps3ukwiixboxMon, 29 Nov 2010 09:07:00 EST