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Sony throwing an adhocParty in North America this month

by JC Fletcher { Nov 13th 2009 at 1:30PM }

North American PS3 and PSP owners will no longer have to go through a complicated process to access adhocParty, the once Japan-only application that lets local adHoc PSP games be played online. SCEA just announced that the PS3 app will be available in North America this month! The application works with "select online multiplayer games" for PSP, using the PS3's internet connection. It is currently unknown whether it will support the same list of games available in Japan, but Sony specifically named Gran Turismo and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite as compatible.

We're hoping that, some time in the next year, Sony will enhance its platforms even more with a new technology called the "space bar." It could really work wonders for adhocParty on PSPgo.

2009 Gran Turismo Awards choose 1970 Ford Mustang 'Trans-Cammer' for inclusion in GT5

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 9th 2009 at 8:30PM }

The 1970 Ford Mustang "Trans-Cammer" you see above will soon be getting the digital treatment in Gran Turismo 5 after taking home this year's Gran Turismo Award honor at SEMA. For the seventh year in a row, a handful of judges (including Gran Turismo 5 lead Kazunori Yamauchi) chose a car from the auto event for inclusion in an upcoming Gran Turismo title.

Yamauchi said of the event, "We have been very pleased with the high quality of vehicles vying for the award the past seven years, and look forward to having this 1970 Ford Mustang 'Trans-Cammer' join our list of distinguished past winners as part of the Gran Turismo franchise." The 1970 Ford Mustang "Trans-Cammer" by Philip Koenen follows Marcel Horn's HPA Audi TT in 2007 and Brian Filoteo's high-performance Infiniti G37 in 2008, both seen below in the gallery.

[Image credit]

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 (SEMA winners 2007/2008)

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

Gran Turismo 5 cost roughly $60 million to develop

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 5th 2009 at 4:58PM }

At the annual SEMA car show in Las Vegas this week, Gran Turismo 5 creative lead Kazunori Yamauchi was on-hand demoing his game for showgoers and talking to the press. Amidst a torrent of questions from Autoweek, Yamauchi roughly calculated the cost of creating Gran Turismo 5: a cool $60 million. That's what five years of development on a single game has cost Polyphony Digital thus far, an amount Yamauchi says was totally justified in order to "get it right."

"We threw away the legacy code from GT4 and started from scratch ... It's been five years from [the release of] GT4, and that's the same amount of time it took to develop the first GT4." And rather than dodging the reasoning behind the lack of a solid GT5 release date anywhere outside of Japan, Yamauchi flatly offered, "That's more depending on SCEA marketing decisions." Allow us to venture a guess – first half of 2010, perhaps?

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Via VGChartz]

Rumor: Gran Turismo 5 to feature track editor

by JC Fletcher { Nov 2nd 2009 at 7:00PM }

The site E4G reports that Gran Turismo 5 will include a very exciting option: The ability to create your own tracks or edit the existing tracks. Eurogamer checked in with Sony to confirm this new feature, and, while Sony refused to confirm the news, the company also refused to deny it, in a carefully worded statement that makes the news suddenly seem more plausible: "We haven't confirmed this and aren't offering any other comment at this time," Sony told Eurogamer.

We contacted SCEA but have yet to hear back, so this rumor is going to have to remain a rumor. Hopefully we'll find out before the game comes out, although Sony also has yet to announce the release date beyond a possible "early 2010." Okay, we'll simplify the whole thing: Gran Turismo 5 is an unconfirmed rumor.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Original image credit]

Gran Turismo 5 making-of video reveals mysterious packaging [update]

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 20th 2009 at 1:00PM }

It's quite clear to us that Gran Turismo 5 creative director Kazunori Yamauchi knows way more about cars than we do. Take, for instance, this latest making-of video discovered by GT Planet (embedded after the break), where he gets down to the nitty gritty on the inclusion of Mercedes' 2011 SLS AMG in his game. Before he delves into the possibility of the car appearing on the game's cover, he's shown with co-workers handling a box with three disc cases -- one blue, one red, one black. Though he makes it clear over the course of the clip that this isn't the final packaging, he doesn't exactly spell out what these mysterious cases might hold. Millions of cars? Top Gear episodes? Micro Machines?! Our best guess is that it's a Collector's Edition of some sort, though we'd love for such a thing to include a miniature SLS AMG (just sayin'!).

Getting back to the SLS AMG, Yamauchi says that the to-be-released car is in the running for a starring role on the game's cover. "The foremost reason is that the SLS AMG will probably be the most exciting car in the world when Gran Turismo 5 is released ... Also, in terms of styling and driving performance as well, it's probably the hottest car around right now," Yamauchi teases. We've asked Sony for details on the mysterious three-case box and will update this post when we hear more.

Update: Sony has responded by declining to comment. And now we play "The Waiting Game."

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Thanks, Sean]

Continued →

Gran Turismo 5's Yamauchi: 'We could release it any time we want'

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 13th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Gran Turismo 5's Kazunori Yamauchi says he could give you his studio's next entry in the venerable racing-sim series right now ... but he won't. Speaking with Famitsu last week (translated by 1UP), the Polyphony Digital studio head explains that while "We could release it any time we want," he's more interested in trying to give the game "that classic GT-style." And though "daily progress is slow," the Japanese developer assures us that "it's still going forward at a steady clip."

Unlike the PSP iteration's somewhat lackluster feature set, Yamauchi intends on going "way beyond gamer expectations" with GT5, even confirming the export of cars earned in GT PSP to next March's PS3 sequel. We're hoping he goes way beyond our expectations as well and delivers the game to other territories in a more timely fashion.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

Buckle up for some more GT5 screenshots

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 5th 2009 at 7:00PM }

Click to see the hi-res gallery.

Hope your chair has a seatbelt. SCEA has released a brand new batch of Gran Turismo 5 screenshots, this time focusing on the world-renowned Ferrari and Lamborghini brands. Considering these cars go for at least $200,000, GT5 will be the closest you'll ever get to ever being inside the cockpit.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 (Ferrari & Lamborghini)

Review: Gran Turismo (PSP)

by David Hinkle { Oct 1st 2009 at 9:56AM }

Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo racing series has careened onto the PSP, just in time for the launch of the PSP Go. Its arrival on PSN and retail shelves is likely a big event for most Gran Turismo fans, but for me, the game hasn't had the impact I'd expected. There just isn't much here to validate this version of the long-running series as special or unique.

Gallery: Gran Turismo PSP

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TGS 2009: Interview: Gran Turismo 5's Kazunori Yamauchi

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 28th 2009 at 12:19PM }

During Tokyo Game Show last week we crashed Polyphony Digital's studio and chatted up Kazunori Yamauchi about ... Gran Turismo 6? Wait -- what? Just watch the interview.

Selected excerpts below:

Joystiq: Are there any plans to bring Gran Turismo PSP's "Party Mode" to GT5?

Yamauchi: I'm glad you noticed that. What we really worked hard to make the PSP portable fun and interesting is in those types of details. Obviously, these are ideas we worked hard on and they will be carried over in some form into GT5.

In Gran Turismo, with its ten years of history, the people that who good at playing the game are really, really good at playing the game. Of course, there are a lot of first-time players that want to get into the game, and it was a major theme for us to develop the game so it would be easier for them to get into it. With the party races and these game modes we've developed for the PSP, we've come to one solution for that aspect.

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Gran Turismo 5 international release likely early 2010

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 28th 2009 at 11:00AM }

Sony announced a March release for Gran Turismo 5 at Tokyo Game Show last week, a release window that was specifically targeted for the Japanese market. However, don't expect a surprise 2009 release (sorry Amazon!). "I don't think it's going to be that different for US and Europe," Polyphony Digital head Kazunori Yamauchi told journalists at a GT5 event last week. "Marketing is still discussing their issues," which is the reason why a specific date hasn't been pegged yet for those markets.

Yamauchi then went on to list a befuddling list of features that should ship on the disc next year. GT Mode will return with all the features of classic GT games, like the garage, the car dealer, the tuning shop, and license tests. However, more exciting are the new features, such as a brand-new physics model that includes damage and deformation for all "normal" cars. Hybrid and electric cars are going to be added to the livery, too, with over 950 cars available on the disc. There will also be over 70 variations of over 20 locations to race through.

The online features have been expanded to include both text and voice chat, with support for lobbies and private rooms. There will be online photo albums and online replay albums as well; with the ability to export replays to YouTube. Gran Turismo TV, the video service introduced in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will also be expanded with a brand new UI, progressive downloading (so you can watch the video content while it downloads), and the ability to export these videos to PSP. While this may seem like the kitchen sink of features, Yamauchi teased, "we have much more planned."

Considering it's been five years since the release of Gran Turismo 4 on PS2, fans of the franchise are expecting only the best, if not more.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

TGS 2009: Gran Turismo 5 coming to Japan in March 2010

by Ben Gilbert { Sep 24th 2009 at 1:00AM }

Announced just now at the second -- that's right, the second -- Sony press conference at Tokyo Game Show, Gran Turismo 5 will be coming to Japan in March 2010. Series creator Kazunori Yamauchi announced the launch window without specifying any other regions. We'll pester Sony and Polyphony Digital all this week for more info. Promise.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

60 FPS trailer for Gran Turismo PSP is sharp and smooth

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 14th 2009 at 11:20PM }

We've seen pieces of media for Polyphony Digital's impossibly good-looking racer Gran Turismo PSP -- though no videos have offered looks of the game running at 60 FPS. We're not sure why a video game would need sunblock that powerful, but we -- what's that? Oh. Frames per second. We see.

Eurogamer's Digital Foundry has assembled a lengthy gameplay clip running at 60 frames per second -- though you may need to download a special version of the video from the site to truly see all those frames. The big brains over at DF also break down how the game's buttery-smoothness is scientifically possible, which more or less dismisses our "Elfin magic" theory out of hand. Click here to watch the video.

Gallery: Gran Turismo PSP (9/1)

Kazunori Yamauchi talks Gran Turismo, promises car transfers

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 10th 2009 at 5:30PM }

Who knows when Gran Turismo 5 will ever come out? While some are suspecting a surprise early launch for the game, Polyphony Digital's penchant for long development time has us suspicious. In the interim, there's one reason a PS3 owner will want to check out Gran Turismo on PSP (besides the fact that it's portable): the ability to transfer cars from the PSP game to the upcoming console game. That should be incentive enough for collectors to try and "catch 'em all."

The video also details the various Ad-Hoc multiplayer modes: Standard, Party, and Shuffle. Although a mode named "Party" makes us Gran Turismo with green shells, the franchise isn't toning itself down for casual gamers just yet: this mode simply balances the playing field by sending more skilled players farther behind. No lightning bolts? Boo.

Gallery: Gran Turismo PSP

Gran Turismo PSP bundle arrives October 20 for $200

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 2nd 2009 at 4:14PM }

Click to embiggen.

SCEA has announced yet another addition to its growing lineup of PSP "Entertainment Pack" bundles. The upcoming Gran Turismo pack joins Rock Band Unplugged and Hannah Montana this October by packaging a "Mystic Silver" PSP-3000 with a UMD copy of Gran Turismo, downloadable white Corvette ZR1, 2GB Memory Stick, and vouchers for movie and music downloads from the PlayStation Store and Sony Music Pass.

At $199, the limited edition bundle seems like quite a bargain, especially when you consider how much cheaper it is than a PSP Go. The announcement of yet another PSP-3000 package reaffirms Sony's stance on supporting UMD as a format -- but also places into doubt the viability of ending PSP piracy any time soon.

Gallery: Gran Turismo PSP

First Gran Turismo 5 screenshots released

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 1st 2009 at 2:30PM }

Click to embiggen. You know you want to.

It's still hard for us to believe that Gran Turismo 5 is actually getting closer to completion. After years of teases and updates to Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Polyphony Digital has finally released the first ever official screenshots of the upcoming retail game.

The screenshots aren't particularly revealing. In fact, nothing was quite as telling as the game's trailer from E3 this year. Also, the screens look terrific -- but don't be surprised if they resemble Prologue quite a bit.

In addition to the first ever screens of Gran Turismo 5 for PS3, SCEA has also provided brand new real screens (unlike the renders provided earlier this year) of the upcoming Gran Turismo for PSP.