Autoblog

Nissan and Playstation preview second season of GT Academy

Zach Bowman — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:20:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Nissan, Celebrities, TV/Movies

Nissan has announced the second season of Nissan GT Academy is set to premiere on SPIKE TV starting later this week. Starting on November 1 at 11:30 pm EST, the show will follow the top 32 Gran Turismo video gamers that qualified as finalists out of the 400,000 registered online players who took a shot at becoming a real-life race car driver. That number dropped to just 16 after a show down in San Diego, and that lucky crew got to take a trip to the Silverstone Racing Complex in England for the final series of tests.

The tests in question included both physical and psychological challenges to prepare the would-be racers for time in the cockpit. Each episode will see one contestant sent home after evaluations from professional drivers Danny Sullivan, Maryeve Dufault and Boris Said. Of course, should you miss the episodes on the air, they'll reappear on YouTube the following Monday. Check out the show's teaser as well as the full press release below.

Continue reading Nissan and Playstation preview second season of GT Academy

Nissan and Playstation preview second season of GT Academy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 5 Academy Edition coming Sept. 26 [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:44:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

The Gran Turismo video racing simulator franchise is four years into its tie-up with Nissan that created Gran Turismo: The Academy. One might have thought taking third-in-class at the 24 Hours of Dubai would have been enough, but no, there's more, and it's called Gran Turismo 5: GT Academy Edition.

When it arrives on September 26, the shiny disc inside will contain the packs available for the last two years: Car Packs 1, 2 and 3, Course Packs 1 and 2, the Special Paint Pack and Racing Gear Pack, and the very same Nissan GT-R that Kazunor Yamauch drove in the Nürburgring 24-Hour race this year. Well, not that one, but a digital representation of it.

According to Playstation's EU people, it will cost the equivalent of €29.99, which is about $37 at current conversion rates. You have two months to save up and a video below to keep you in the mood until then.

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 Academy Edition coming Sept. 26 [w/video]

Gran Turismo 5 Academy Edition coming Sept. 26 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan's all-gamer driving team earns podium finish at 24 Hours of Dubai

Zach Bowman — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Toys/Games, Middle East, Racing

Psychology researchers at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in Illinois have discovered a funny thing about podium finishers. Often, the happiest person on stage is the one with the bronze medal around his or her neck. Despite having missed first place by two spots, competitors on the lowest rung of the podium tend to find themselves deep in the throes of counterfactual thinking. They aren't focused on how close they were to winning an event; instead, the third-place competitors are thinking about just how close they came to missing the podium entirely.

That may help explain why Lucas Ordonez, Jordan Tresson, Bryan Heitkotter and Jann Mardenborough are so thrilled at the moment. The four drivers helped bring RJN Motorsport a third-place finish at the recent 24 Hours of Dubai. That's no small feat for any professional race team, which makes the win even more unbelievable. The four drivers aren't pros in the normal sense. Each driver started his career behind a controller as part of the Nissan Playstation GT Academy.

Heikotter and Mardenborough had less than a year to transform themselves from gamers to racers. The two won the most recent GT Academy competitions in the U.S. and Europe, respectively.

Nissan's all-gamer driving team earns podium finish at 24 Hours of Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan fielding driving team of only GT Academy winners for Dubai 24 Hours

Zach Bowman — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Middle East, Racing

Nissan is headed to the Dubai 24 Hours with a specially prepared 370Z. While the 410-horsepower Z is an impressive piece of hardware, we're more interested in who's behind the wheel. This year, Nissan will take to the track with a full team of racers who have graduated from the company's GT Academy. The four-man team is made up of individuals who got their start on the virtual tracks of the Gran Turismo video game franchise before beating out the competition for a spot on track.

Lucas Ordonez of Madrid won the 2008 GT Academy, and the young driver has since managed to take second place in the LMP2 class of the 2011 Le Mans series. The 26-year old also took home the honor of being named Rookie Of The Year in the 2011 Le Mans International Cup. Ordonez will be joined by 23-year-old Frenchman Jordon Tressman, who won the 2010 GT Academy and the 2011 Blancpain Endurance Series.

Jann Mardenborough, the 20-year-old racer who won the 2011 GT Academy will also join the team alongside this year's GT Academy USA winner, Bryan Heikotter. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Nissan fielding driving team of only GT Academy winners for Dubai 24 Hours

Nissan fielding driving team of only GT Academy winners for Dubai 24 Hours originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Speed teases reality show chronicling Nissan/Playstation GT Academy

Noah Joseph — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos, Nissan

If you're looking for the ultimate example of life imitating art imitating life, look no further than the Nissan/Playstation GT Academy. The program pits thousands upon thousands of gamers playing Gran Turismo 5 against each other in a fight over a spot on Nissan's actual racing team. Now that competition is jumping onto television screens as a reality program.

The international competition is the subject of a new reality TV show that is set to air its first of five episodes on the Speed Network starting tomorrow, September 20. The show documents how a group of gamers were honed into a select team of actual racers, and the series was shot at England's legendary Silverstone race track. As is typical with such reality shows, the winner will be announced in the final episode.

Whether you had opportunity to enter the competition or not, it looks to be an interesting watch. Follow the jump for a preview video and for the full press release for all the details.

Continue reading Speed teases reality show chronicling Nissan/Playstation GT Academy

Speed teases reality show chronicling Nissan/Playstation GT Academy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan/PlayStation GT Academy winner Ordonez training for Le Mans on UK roads

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Nissan, UK, Racing

Lucas Ordoñez takes off on a 24-hour road trip - Click above to watch video after the jump

Oh, what a life...

Lucas Ordoñez went from racing cars on his couch to sitting behind the wheel of a real-life Nissan LMP2 racecar. After winning the Nissan/Playstation GT Academy contest, Ordoñez earned a shot at putting his virtual skills to the test. He's running a full Le Mans Cup schedule this year, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nissan is prepping him for a full day of racing, and to do that they've sent him and his teammates on a trip around England.

Armed with a Nissan GT-R, an RV, trainers and a dietitian, Lucas Ordoñez and his team will split driving duties as they travel around the country. The team knows this isn't as dramatic as spending hours behind the wheel of a racecar, but it's still a good warm-up to the real thing. Click past the jump to watch Lucas and friends on their research road trip.

Continue reading Nissan/PlayStation GT Academy winner Ordonez training for Le Mans on UK roads

Nissan/PlayStation GT Academy winner Ordonez training for Le Mans on UK roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT Academy 'Sweet 16' head to Silverstone

Zach Bowman — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Technology, Toys/Games

Of the more than 52,000 contestants who originally entered into the United States version of GT Academy, jointly hosted by Nissan and Sony, just 16 have advanced to the final competition being held in Silverstone in the United Kingdom. The top 32 virtual racers from the four U.S. regions descended on Orlando, Florida this week to go pixel-to-pixel for a spot among the sweet 16. But this is about more than just bragging rights. Those that made it into the final round will face a battery of new challenges, including physical fitness tests and evaluations behind the wheel of real-live race cars.

The top winner will have a shot at becoming a professional race car driver by joining a legitimate team, just like GT Academy Europe winner Lucas Ordonez. As you may recall, Ordonez and his team managed to finish second at the 12 Hours of Sebring with a Signatech Nissan LMP2 racer, and the 25-year-old Spaniard is headed to this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans for a shot at taking home the checkers at one of the world's most grueling race events.

Nissan and Sony are currently working up a reality TV show about the GT Academy's U.S. contestants. While the winner will be chosen after the throwdown in Sivlerstone this summer, look for the show to hit the airwaves this fall. Hit the jump for the full list of final contestants.

[Sources: Sony, Nissan, GTPlanet | Image: Zach Bowman/AOL]

Continue reading GT Academy 'Sweet 16' head to Silverstone

GT Academy 'Sweet 16' head to Silverstone originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan/Playstation GT Academy winner to go from armchair to racing seat at Le Mans

Aaron Richardson — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Nissan, Racing

Lucas Ordonez is a 25-year-old Spaniard who began competing in Nissan and Playstation's GT Academy when it first got started back in 2008. Of the initial 25,000 participants, Lucas weeded himself out as the quickest and was given the chance to take his skills from Gran Turismo to a real race track. Three years on, Lucas is preparing himself to take on a full LeMans Cup schedule in 2011.

Lucas' season begins in March, behind the wheel of a Signatech Nissan LMP2 machine at the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida. From there, it's on to the holy grail, the 24 Hours of LeMans, followed by five more LeMans Cup races across the globe.

There are likely to be more people like Lucas coming down the pike: the European GT Academy will start its fourth installment on March 4, and Nissan and Gran Turismo recently started the American version. More details can be found in the official release after the jump. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan/Playstation GT Academy winner to go from armchair to racing seat at Le Mans

Nissan/Playstation GT Academy winner to go from armchair to racing seat at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony: GT Academy round two won't count because of cheaters

Zach Bowman — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games

If you've been feeling slighted by the fact that the top three contenders in Polyphony Digital's GT Academy are cheating curs, don't sweat it. Sony has announced that round two of the Gran Turismo 5 challenge won't count. Instead, everyone who participated in round two will also be able to give it a go in round three. The company says that its already hard at work on a way to prevent gamers from cutting the same corners in the Rome and Madrid circuits that allowed the contentious lap times in the first place.

The news is welcome for anyone who feared that Sony might pull the plug on the competition all together. There is a downside, though. The next round of the GT Academy has been permanently postponed until this whole mess can be properly sorted, and Polyphony hasn't said when we can expect a patch to fix the gamers' cheating ways. Stay tuned.

[Source: Joystiq]

Sony: GT Academy round two won't count because of cheaters originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT Academy flaw exposed by cheaters who currently top the podium [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

GT Academy cheaters - Click above to watch video after the jump

A handful of Gran Turismo 5 players are currently battling it out for a shot at becoming a real-world race car driver in Polyphony's GT Academy, but according to GT Planet, there may be a bit of an issue. Currently, the top three drivers are using a less-than-sanctioned route to get around the track by dipping off of the asphalt and cutting two corners entirely to come up with a significantly quicker lap time than everyone else.

To put it simply, the three players who are on the podium right now are cheating.

Now, cheating is a staple of both video gamedom and the hallowed halls of racing, so it should come as no surprise that someone has figured out a way to get around a track quicker than everyone else by ~~bending~~ obliterating the rules. Still, it kind of ruffles our feathers to know that the top award could go to the shadiest man (or woman) standing.

So far, there's no word on whether or not Polyphony will step in to quell the competitor's cheating ways. Hit the jump to have a look at the videos for yourself.

[Source: GT Planet]

Continue reading GT Academy flaw exposed by cheaters who currently top the podium [w/video]

GT Academy flaw exposed by cheaters who currently top the podium [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony and Nissan announce GT Academy for U.S. [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Nissan, Toys/Games

If you've been a long~~-suffering~~-standing fan of Gran Turimso here in the U.S., you probably know all about the game franchise's GT Academy. The clever marketing ploy pitted European Gran Turismo fans against one another for a chance to hop behind the wheel of a real-life Nissan 350Z race car. Now it looks like American gamers will get the same chance. Nissan has announced that Sony is firing up the GT Academy in our neck of the woods. Racers will campaign various Nissan hardware in time trials, unlocking free content as they race.

Finally, the top 32 racers will compete live for just 16 slots in the finals. Those 16 gamers will go lock horns in a variety of competitions, including ones that involve hot-shoeing genuine Nissan 370Z and GT-R race cars around a track. Finally, the winner will have a chance to train with professional drivers and race as part of a professional team. Hit the jump to watch a video and for the full press release.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Sony and Nissan announce GT Academy for U.S. [w/video]

Sony and Nissan announce GT Academy for U.S. [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Nissan, Toys/Games

GT Academy demo screenshots - Click above for high-res image gallery

The GT Academy, the partnership between Sony's Gran Turismo game and Nissan, released a time trial demo last month to begin searching for a racer good enough to jump from high-def screen to high-speed chicane. Last year Lucas Ordoñez was the first to go from gamer to racer, scoring a podium in his first race with the GT Academy team. You need to get on it if you want to follow in his footsteps, because you've already got a million competitors - that's how many folks have downloaded the time trial in the first three weeks.

If that isn't convincing enough, there is another less appealing reason to download the demo: GT5's release has been delayed indefinitely. Sony didn't indicate on its web site what caused the delay, saying only, "We apologize for any inconvenience." It was not, however, the previously attributed marketing issues. Some reports point to "production issues" with the $60 million game. London's Times newspaper, however, said analysts think this could be a deliberate Sony strategy. They suggest that Final Fantasy XIII did so well that Sony wants to release GT5 in the next financial year, after March, to lengthen the sales boost.

We'll lean toward production issues as opposed to a deliberate strategy. Heck, we'd believe werewolves caused the delay before we'd believe this was planned. The game does look phenomenal but it's already three years overdue, meanwhile Forza 3 eats into market share. On top of that, we have never heard of a successful business strategy that involved telling your biggest fans, repeatedly, "We don't have it yet," then switching to, "We don't know when we're gonna have it... um, we'll call you."

Will GT5 do well whenever it shows? Of course. But we will wonder how well it could have done. For now there's always the GT Academy demo, and among those million downloaders you'll want to look out for the one who goes by the name Duke Nukem Forever (whose initials are, coincidentally, DNF). There's a press release on the time trial after the jump, and a pretty bunch of high-res screenshots below. Thanks to everyone who sent tips!

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 Demo

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Source: Reuters]

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely

Gran Turismo 5 demo hits 1M downloads in three weeks, game delayed indefinitely originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]

Chris Shunk — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Technology, Videos, Nissan, Toys/Games

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Just when we thought we were going to wait until the end of March to get our hands on Gran Turismo 5, our friends at Joystiq tell us that Polyphony Digital will release a demo version of hotly anticipated racing game on December 17. The demo will be available on the Playstation Network for download both in Europe and North America, giving long-patient fans a taste of what the full game will be like when it finally arrives in stores.

And as cool as it is that the demo arrives within two weeks time, even cooler is the fact that gamers will be given the opportunity to compete for some nifty prizes. All you have to do is post your best time trial by January 24, 2010. The best time from the U.S. and Canada wins a trip to the Indianapolis 500. A sweet prize, no doubt, but it doesn't come close to the top Euro prize. The best driver from select European countries gets to enter the GT Academy. After completing training the ~~lucky~~ skilled gamer will race in the European GT4 Cup in a non-virtual race-spec Nissan 370Z. How amazing is that?

It would be even better if GT5 actually shipped on December 17, but it looks like we won't be racing one of the world's best driving simulators until March at the earliest. Hit the jump to view a slick video that contains more information about the GT Academy.

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5 screen shots

Gallery: Gran Turismo 5

[Source: Joystiq]

Continue reading Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO]

Gran Turismo 5 demo coming to PSN on Dec 17, GT Academy returns [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ordoñez becomes first racer to make transition from virtual world to racetrack podium

Damon Lavrinc — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

We've all dreamed it, but Lucas Ordoñez gets to live it. As the winner of the Nissan/Playstation GT Academy contest, in which Gran Turismo gamers competed to win a slot as a pilot in the European GT racing championship, Ordoñez spent the latter half of 2008 training under Johnny Herbert in preparation for this year's season.

At his first outing in the GT4 series at Silverstone this past weekend, the GT Academy team started in 11th place, moved to 6th, 4th and then 1st before the safety car was called out, the 350Z came into the pits and Ordoñez took the helm. With time running out, Ordoñez began his battle for the podium and after a crash on the final lap, our Playstation protagonist seized the opportunity to land a third-place finish - far better than the top-six result the crew's captain set for the team. Ordoñez and the GT team are due to run in Italy next weekend, followed by four more races this year.

Continue reading Ordoñez becomes first racer to make transition from virtual world to racetrack podium

Ordoñez becomes first racer to make transition from virtual world to racetrack podium originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 May 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony picks GT Academy winners to race in Dubai 24 Hours

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:39:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Supercars, Nissan, Toys/Games, Lifestyle

First art imitates life and now video games do the same, with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Nissan having joined forces to create the GT Academy. Over the course of eight months, the academy culled a group of wannabe racers from a field of entrants who posted the best lap times in GT5 Prologue. Then, for five days at Silverstone, the finalists competed in the game and on the actual track, watched by ex-F1 racer Johnny Herbert and a panel of five judges.

The two winners were just announced, and Top Gun status went to Lars Schlomer and Luis Ordonez. Schlomer is a taxi driver in Bonn, Germany; Ordonez is an MBA student from Spain. Now that they've won, they'll be thrown into boot camp for four months to learn to how to race for real silver: in four months, they'll have to earn their racing licenses and get ready to drive a factory-backed Nissan 350Z in the 24 Hours of Dubai this coming January.The rest of us will have to be content with GT5 Prologue for now...

[Source: Sony]

Sony picks GT Academy winners to race in Dubai 24 Hours originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GT Academy competition to put GT5 Prologue player in real race

John Neff — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Nissan, Toys/Games

This is either the stupidest idea ever or the most brilliant co-promotion for two brands in the history of mankind. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, the distributor of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue across the pond, and Nissan are joining forces to host a competition that could place a really good gamer behind the seat of a real Nissan 350Z at a very real 24-hour endurance race in Dubai. The competition is called GT Academy, and the first round will be an online GT5 Prologue tournament hosted on the PLAYSTATION Network (for Europeans only, we presume). Based on the picture provided, it appears that entrants will be racing a Nissan GT-R in a special livery when the competition begins later this month. The rest of the competition will span some eight months, at the end of which the winner will receive a four-month training program to earn actual racing licenses. With his or her newfound knowledge of real physics and how actual damage occurs, the winner will then be given a stint behind the wheel of a Nissan 350Z in the 24-hour endurance race in Dubai.

Based on the press release after the jump, we're a little unclear exactly how GT Academy will whittle down all of these entrants over eight months or how much driving the winner will actually be doing in Dubai. Having raced GT5 Prologue online using the PLAYSTATION Network, we can't imagine qualifying is going to be a pretty sight. There are always plenty of jerks willing to brake late in a corner and buddy bump you into the wall regardless of the game's imposed penalties, especially if they know that seat time in a real 350Z is beyond their own reach.

[Source: Nissan, SCEE]

Continue reading GT Academy competition to put GT5 Prologue player in real race

GT Academy competition to put GT5 Prologue player in real race originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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