Gran Turismo 5 Update: one-year out, damage modeling being considered

Click above for more stills from Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
If you're lucky enough to own a PS3, you're most likely deciding whether or not to fork out $40 for GT 5 Prologue. While that might seem like a lot of money for a "demo" game, the latest news on the full version is that it's still a full year away from launch. That's quite a while to wait, so we're guessing most people will break down and buy the Prologue when it's released on April 17.
Part of that wait will hopefully be because GT 5 may include realistic damage to vehicles for the first time. While manufacturers still aren't keen on the idea, Gran Turismo creator Kazanori Yamauchi says that they are coming around to it. Damage modeling appears in other driving games like Forza Motorsport 2, so we don't see why manufacturers would mind seeing it Gran Turismo, as well.
Since we are still a few weeks away from the launch of GT 5 Prologue, you can whet your appetite with the trailer, refresh your knowledge of the track and car list, or drool over the gallery below.
Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
[Source: Joystiq.com, VideoGaming247.com]


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Quattrofan 11:43AM (3/28/2008)
Blech. GT5 is Chevy Camaro of video games...years in the making... and still not there yet.
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srDRIVEN 12:04PM (3/28/2008)
more the GT-R of games, can you mention one that is better? has more vehicles to choose from? has more player control over setup? has more sensational graphics? has the world most famous tracks?
tifosiotaku 3:23PM (3/28/2008)
An appropriate metaphor, as Gran Turismo loads up on the Skyline GT-R's, including useless tuner variants with negligible performance enhancements, at the expense of everything else. Forza 2 is still king, IMHO. No license tests, no minivans that you're forced to race, and it has Sebring. ^_^
John 5:17PM (3/28/2008)
Hmm, I've been playing GT5 Prologue for a week now, and it's pretty good. Of course it's all in Japanese, but I imagine I'll enjoy it even more when I can understand what's going on.
Mulad 11:45AM (3/28/2008)
At least it's not Duke Nukem Forever...
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Zeus.:God 11:46AM (3/28/2008)
Meh... Forza 2 will remain king for those who have played it... Prologue is a scam- its pretty much an extended demo.
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why not the LS2/LS7? 11:56AM (3/28/2008)
That's the game with huge load times, barely above Xbox-1 level graphics and only works with one force feedback wheel, and an awful one at that?
There is plenty still left to be desired that Forza 2 doesn't deliver. If GT5:P delivers it, it'll stand a good chance of winning some people over, including myself. My G25 awaits.
dustandechoes91 1:54PM (3/28/2008)
Thats the whole point. Besides damage, the engine is done, but the cars and courses are so detailed that they take forever to make. So they release an extended demo now, with like 35-50 cars and 5-6 courses, and then in a year get a few hundred cars and a lot of courses.
As for damage, it will be hard to do, but i think the ps3 can handle it hardware-wise.
PJ 3:21PM (3/28/2008)
I enjoy Forza a great deal, but compared to GT4, it's an arcade racer. It's great-looking and -sounding, but the vehicle physics (especially between specific models) leave a lot to be desired. GT gives a much better sense of their actual dynamic personalities.
That said, we should probably be thanking FM2 for GT5's in-car cam. When the full game comes out with the usual encyclopedia of classic models... oh, man, it's going to be like having the world's best automotive museum in your living room.
Zeus.:God 5:15PM (3/28/2008)
I've seen videos (at relatively high resolutions) of GT5, and I'm definitely not impressed at all- especially considering all the work that is claimed to have been put into the game.
That being said, it does look better than Forza 2, I'm not denying that- but Forza 2 definitely has more features as far as tuning and customization goes, along with an auction house and a very active online community.
Also- PJ, there is absolutely no comparison to GT4 and Forza 2; Forza 2 stomps it. GT5 will have an advantage in graphics and an in car camera. The amount of cars it will have, while amazing, is still mostly bloat as there are numerous variants of the same cars.
Forza 2 has great physics, good (not great) visuals, very good sound, and is much easier to pick up and play than any GT game to date.
PJ 5:44PM (3/28/2008)
Without a doubt, FM2 is visually superior to GT4. My arcade-racer remark was aimed at FM2's vehicle physics, which IMHO account for the easier pick-up-and-playability. Grip, balance, weight transfer, and reactions to surface changes are far better modeled in GT. This will make me sound like a jackass, but I think anyone who's driven several of the featured cars on track in the real world would agree.
why not the LS2/LS7? 11:26PM (3/28/2008)
I disagree. GT4 looks better in many ways in its ersatz hi-def mode than Forza 2 looks. Which is pretty sad for Forza 2.
But hey, looks aren't everything. Forza 2 has a lot better physics than GT4, and the AI is far superior. Oh yeah, and it has online play!
I still don't think Forza 2 is unreachably good, if Polyphony Digital plays their cards right, they might surpass it.
Speaking of "pick up and play", both games could learn a lot from TOCA 2. TOCA 2 not make you earn licenses early on like GT4. It also doesn't stick you on that crappy test track like Forza 2 does for a large number of the early races. Heck, the repetition of the small number of tracks in Forza 2 is a turnoff in general. TOCA 2 not only doesn't do this to new players, but it actually has a story to keep the less hardcore players interested in playing.
Anyway, I liked Forza 2, despite the flaws (mostly notably MS only supporting their own awful wheel) and I liked GT4 too, and I look forward to GT5. I'll probably even buy GT5P, even though it's not a full game. I'd certainly buy it if it were $30 instead of $40.
srDRIVEN 11:58AM (3/28/2008)
I wonder if the delay in a damage decision is linked to their commitment to authenticity. i.e. damge in other games happens the same way every time (get hit in the rear, it all looks the same), but the GT series is so painstakingly realistic, i wonder what level of detail they will try to achieve with damage. i can't imagine them settling for something that looks the same every time no matter what the impact, speed, angle, etc. and doesn't appear 100% realistic
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e90+335i 7:03PM (3/28/2008)
they said that they won't implement a damage system unless it can be done realistically - which means unique damage models for each car.
Personally, I don't really see why having a damage system is such a big deal for people. Sure, I would like to have it if available, but at the expense of development resources? I'd rather them improve in other areas. It's not like you frequently crash in-game.
Red Star 12:00PM (3/28/2008)
I think I have waited long enough for GT5 nonsense. I'll probably go with xBox 360 and Forza 2.
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Tagg 12:09PM (3/28/2008)
Careful with X-Box and the "red ring of death". I had 2 X-Box 360's and I got the red ring twice and ended up getting a Best Buy in store credit for the last which was used to by a Nintendo Wii. I already had a PS3 which is great, especially with all HD DVD's being Blu-Ray.
I am not alone in my problems. Currently the government is looking into the issue because it has bee reported that pretty much 1 out of 4 X-Box 360's have this problem. I think its between a 18-30% failure rate .
PS3 had its problems too but their defective rate is in the low single digits now. So buy cautiously.
DA_U 12:49PM (3/28/2008)
The ring of fire is a problem, but microsoft is really good at replacing the units. Friends that have had theirs die had no problems getting microsoft to send them a new one.
why not the LS2/LS7? 1:19PM (3/28/2008)
Yeah, but it takes a month! I know, I had mine replaced 3 times.
I'll take something that doesn't break over a good warranty any day.
DA_U 1:41PM (3/28/2008)
takes no longer than a week.
And the ps3 does break, from what ive witnessed they are no better.
why not the LS2/LS7? 2:02PM (3/28/2008)
It takes a month. Like I said, I've sent mine back 3 times. Amongst myself and my friends, we've sent about a dozen back. It takes a 3 weeks minimum, usually around 4 weeks (oddly, 28 days exactly for me twice).
If you don't have useful into to contribute, don't bother posting.