Filed under: First Drive
VIDEO: Alex Roy interviews Gran Turismo's Kazunori Yamauchi on Garage 419
The newest episode of Garage 419 is up and The Driver, Alex Roy, had a chance to sit down with the inimitable director of Gran Turismo, Kazunori Yamauchi. The topics of conversation range from new cars, weather modeling, vehicle dynamics, plans for damage ('bout time), Mr. Yamauchi's favorite track (hint: it's in Germany) and that fact that he plays Gran Turismo every day. Can you say dream job?
Towards the end of the interview, Herr Roy and Kazunori-san discuss the merits of simulators in driver training and the abysmal education standards for drivers here in the U.S. Both of them agree that Gran Turismo would be a great tool for beginning drivers and veterans alike. It would sure beat the Hell out of sitting through some of the utterly useless traffic schools courses we've been forced to endure.
Check the video after the jump – we're going to hook up the steering wheel to our PS3 now.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dan spalinger 2:55PM (12/11/2007)
Anyone who has not bought "The Driver" (Alex Roy's new bestselling book) should run out and get it immediately. Great book...(this message has not been paid for nor promoted by Alex Roy or his publisher...)
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Ian Jenkins 3:09PM (12/11/2007)
Go for it, it'll make everyone happy.
Also, this is a great interview. Very interesting to see Kazunori's take on his own creation.
BILL 3:20PM (12/11/2007)
I think there is a grain of truth in the concept of utilizing Gran Turismo as a form of driver training. Having played every version of Gran Turismo for more hours than I care to know it is my belief that my ability to concentrate on the art of driving has improved considerably.
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James 3:40PM (12/11/2007)
I read somewhere that some professional racecar drivers find that GT is helpful in learning track layouts, especially where they've never raced before.
Probably the biggest drawbacks are the lack of a clutch pedal and not having to deal with the physical strain actually required to drive fast.
EJ25RUN 3:56PM (12/11/2007)
Very good...i love seeing that Kaz it a true auto enthusiast, gt2,3, and 4 displayed it well. i also share his believe of racing simulation on the next level. All the pro flight schools use Microsoft flight sim so no reason why with more developement, pro race schools arn't going to be using GT before you get track time. Cant wait for gt5 plain and simple.
GKenns 3:51PM (12/11/2007)
While it was a good interview, asking questions that I myself had about the GT series, I couldn't take Roy completely seriously in that jacket. Those faux race jackets are usually reserved for use by rappers or some long-haired Italian dude that wears wicked tight jeans sips martinis and goes hunting the streets of Rome looking for young impressionable tourists. If I were going to conduct an interview that people were going to be watching, I would have perhaps dressed a little more professionally. I know hes the Gumball champ and thats the style, but still... lets be serious I would question the seuallity of someone wearing a jacket like that....
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JRodrigues 5:47PM (12/11/2007)
Is GT a simulation??? Don't make me laugh more than i want to please... It's a great game, but a very bad simulation..
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steve 9:00PM (12/11/2007)
Wtf, Gran Turismo has terrible physics.
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Ubizzle 1:52PM (12/12/2007)
^please don't feed the X-Box fanboys^
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