Sitting comfortably in Sony's flashy 3Rooms events HQ in London, Kazunori told us of the plans he has for his driving simulator, from a huge update this year that'll include car damage, to the whereabouts of the almost mythical PSP version, GT Mobile ... » Read More

Feb 20, 2007

GTHD is dead - Long live GTHD Concept

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

Sonys grand plans for a two-part GT HD, featuring downloadable, hi-def GT4 content on the one hand and an authentic GT5 taster on the other, has bitten the dust. What started as "Vision GT" - a quick ‘n dirty demo designed to show off the future - has, via GT HD, become GT HD Concept. Available only as a free 630Mb download from the PlayStation Store, its a small, but free, look at how GT looks in glorious high 1080p definition-o-vision. And its free. So you cant really complain. Or can ... » Read More

Feb 16, 2007

Gran Designs - Day Five: Gran Turismo HD

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

Well, this was an unexpected surprise. Sony generously decided to hand out a completely free, ten-car and one track teaser demo of Gran Turismo HD to any PS3 owners who wants it. Granted, this isn't GT 5 - it's just an enhanced version of GT 4 - but we'll take it. Your prize for waiting for 650MB to download is a clearly beautiful race game that, and were not exaggerating, looks streets ahead of anything else available. The cars are fantastic models and they look incredibly sharp. There are no ... » Read More

Feb 15, 2007

Gran Designs

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

Theres never a backlash when it comes to Gran Turismo - the public loves the series so much, it can get away with practically anything. Poor old Gran Turismo 4 was delayed a million times and wasnt quite as online as Sony said it would be, but still we adored it and bought it without any fuss. Gran Turismo 3 shouldve been a PS2 launch game, but arrived two years later, but we didnt care then either. And it looks like well be waiting until 2008 for the PlayStation 3 version of Gran Turismo 5, ... » Read More

Feb 15, 2007

Gran Designs - Day four: Gran Turismo 4

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

The fourth title in the series was a labor of love. Twenty programmers, 40 artists and another 20 or so pen-pushers all came together under the guidance of Mr. Yamauchi to create Gran Turismo 4. It was delayed to hell - but we didnt really care. It had its online options removed, but we didnt really care either. The game mechanics were the same, and perhaps too similar to previous games. Common complaints like lack of car damage, no damn Ferraris, and the robotic enemy drivers werent ... » Read More

Feb 14, 2007

Gran Designs - Day three: Gran Turismo 3

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

Gran Turismo 3 was the first game most of us on saw running on PlayStation 2, thanks to the “GT 2000” demo that appeared alongside PS2 when it launched in Japan in March 2000. A little more than a year later wed get the final version of GT3, and boy did it ever show off PS2 to the maximum. Even now, loading up the six-year-old PS2 game is a staggering event. Religious, even. It still has the power to shame the puny efforts being put out by other game-makers today, thanks to its ... » Read More

Feb 13, 2007

Gran Designs - Day two: Gran Turismo 2

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

There were still no Porsches or Ferraris, but what the hell. Gran Turismo 2 came out in December of 1999, just when the world was starting to get excited about PlayStation 2. That didnt matter though - GT2 was a staggering creation that squeezed more out of PSone than had ever seemed possible before. The feel and system was pretty much unchanged from GT1, apart from two enhancements - the number of cars went from under 200 to well over 600, and the tracks were boosted from the mid teens to ... » Read More

Feb 12, 2007

Gran Designs - Day one: Gran Turismo

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

GT STATS Released: May 1998 Cars: 178 Tracks: 15 tracks Music: Ash, Feeder, Garbage Average eBay price: $5.10 So, thinking about it, if you want to thank anyone for starting the whole Gran Turismo ball rolling, thank series creator Kazunori Yamauchis dad. Yamauchi senior did a lot of driving for his work, and luckily enough happened to do all his driving in a fancy Nissan Skyline. Lucky daddy. Often, little three-year-old Kazunori would go with him, spending hours in the car. Probably ... » Read More

Jan 2, 2007

Hands-on with Gran Turismo HD Concept

PS3 Feature | Gran Turismo HD

Recently released on Sony's PlayStation Network, Gran Turismo HD Concept is finally here - although almost nothing has changed since Gran Turismo 4 hit the PS2. But it does feature a brand new circuit, the stunning Eiger Nordwand, a course nestled in crisp, Alpine terrain and shadowed by snow-capped mountains. Initially, you've only one vehicle to cruise in - a Suzuki Cappuccino. By nailing a record lap in the game's time trial mode, you can unlock nine more cars, from Mitsubishi Lancers to a ... » Read More

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