If there’s one thing Polyphony Digital has done right with Gran Turismo 5, it’s the constant updates. What were once blemishes on an otherwise remarkable game have been done away with; load times are down, additional content has been added, and performance points balance races to make them more competitive. But Polyphony Digital isn’t done tuning the game yet.

Kazunori Yamauchi has confirmed via Twitter that Gran Turismo 5 is still going to continue to receive patches, and the next one may be closer to release than you think:

Thanks to everyone for the messages. One year goes by quick. The next update is in the latter part of Dec., near Christmas.

It’s currently unknown what the patch will contain, but you can bet it’ll implement further adjustments and tuning as nearly all previous patches have.

Gran Turismo 5 celebrated its first birthday just two days ago, and although reception has been mixed for the title, nobody can deny its massive amount of detailed content which has made its way into over six million consumer homes. Three seasonal events were added this week which range drastically in-style and offer modest prizes, so be sure to log-in and see what Gran Turismo 5 has to offer now that it’s one year old.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us

It’s been nearly a year since Gran Turismo 5 screamed to the starting line after years of development. Constant updates and seasonal races have been enough reason to come back for some, but now the first set of downloadable content for the game has been released. It includes two tracks, 15 vehicles, racing gear, and paint items, all available under a complete package or individual parts. It’s an enticing package, but is it worth your hard-earned money?

Perhaps the most attractive piece of Gran Turismo 5‘s DLC (in total $11.99) are the new tracks, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Kart Space. Spa is one of the most renowned racing locations in the world, and was probably the only weakness in Gran Turismo 5‘s original set of tracks. Its transition to the game has been remarkable, and every turn, curve, and edge of the track has been brilliantly articulated into the virtual world. Spa is now easily one of the best tracks in the game, and stands confidently next to the famous Nurburgring. Not only does it contain some extremely well-placed and difficult turns, but it is well balanced between speed and technique, offering an easy to learn, but difficult to master experience. This is one of those maps that you can drive around hundreds of times and never get tired of and, unlike Nurburgring, it is average in length, so if you mess up a corner you won’t feel too hard-pressed to completely restart your lap.

Kart Space is a fun little track, and is quickly going to win over anyone who enjoys the kart racing in Gran Turismo 5. There are two styles of map available, one which includes a difficult hairpin turn, while the other avoids it altogether. They might be nearly identical, but the course is extremely fun to race on. The visual atmosphere makes for a light-hearted race to anyone looking for some fun. It’s also excellent for drifting, whether in a kart or a drift-based vehicle, so those looking for a quality track to master will find Kart Space to be a breathtaking winner.

The list of cars offered in the Racing Car Pack range from the all-American muscle of the Dodge Challenger SRT8 Touring Car, to the Subaru IMPREZA Touring Car. While these cars have some unique modifications, and as a result a different feel from their original counterpart, it’s difficult to shake the feeling that these are just modifications of existing cars in the game. Their paint jobs are definitely eye-candy, and if you’re looking for more Skylines and karts you’ll be happy to see that they make up about half of the pack. While the list of cars isn’t particularly satisfying, the Red Bull X2011 Prototype ’11 was an outstanding addition to the package, and now gives players who may not want to deal with the Red Bull challenge the opportunity to use one of the most surreal vehicles in any game. It looks slick, operates like a bat out of hell, and can easily give you another two or more hours of entertainment by itself.

The dozens of helmets and racing suits are a nice touch for those who enjoy B-Spec, but are merely visual. You can now truly stylize your drivers, and show friends that you mean business, but outside of that the package won’t offer anything to revitalize your gaming experience. Similarly, the Paint Pack is a nifty little addition, and offers 100 different paint colors to use. These range from polarized to pastel colors, and cover just about any color type you could want. This is great for the players out there who like to customize their garage, and play online in-style, but once again, outside of that there’s little entertainment to be had here. Also, once you use one of the colors it’s lost forever, so be careful what you use the paint items on if you do decide to purchase the DLC.

When it boils down to it, the first round of downloadable content for Gran Turismo 5 contains a brilliant new course, a fun go-kart track, and 15 vehicles which are modified versions of existing cars. It’s not much for those looking for a significant reason to come back to the world of Gran Turismo and play another hundred hours, but Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a highlight that can’t be ignored. If you’re a fan of automotive racing, or just enjoy playing Gran Turismo 5, you’re going to want to purchase the Course Pack as soon as possible, and if you enjoy B-Spec and/or customizing your garage, then pick up the Complete Pack so you can receive everything for a reduced price.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us

It’s been a long time coming, but Gran Turismo 5‘s first avalanche of downloadable content is now only days away. We know the details, but is it good enough to bring players back to the world of Gran Turismo?

We’ve gotten our hands on more than a dozen screenshots of GT5‘s upcoming DLC, and surprise is the first word that comes to mind. The two new tracks can be see in the ingame images, and to put it lightly, Spa Francorchamps has made a remarkable transition to GT5‘s engine, and is set to eclipse the level of detail found in the original map set, which have remained the bar to beat since the game’s release a year ago. Check them out for yourself:

Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is located in Belgium, and features some gorgeous scenery similar to Nürburgring. It’s roughly a 4.3 mile long track, and has been a favorite for several famous racing drivers over the years due to its inclusion of some highly advanced turns and high-speed points which allow for highlight-worthy moments of takeover.

Gran Turismo 5‘s DLC will be available on Tuesday after the weekly PlayStation Store update. You can read more about what it will entail as well as pricing in our announcement article.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Yesterday we saw one of the most content-rich patches in gaming history with Gran Turismo 5‘s Spec 2.0 update. Not only did it address nearly every criticism that the game has received since launch, but it added more content for those looking for a reason to jump back into the world of racing simulation. However, there was one thing left unaddressed in the update: downloadable content. Don’t worry, though, as next week’s PlayStation Store update will bring enough content to get you back onto the track.

Gran Turismo 5‘s first round of DLC will provide the following options for your wallet:

Course Pack (2 Tracks, 5 layouts for $4.99)

• Spa Francorchamps
• Kart Space I/II

Racing Car Pack (15 cars for $7.99)

• Red Bull X2011 Protytpe ’11
• Dodge Challenger SRT8 Touring Car
• Honda CR-Z Touring Car
• Mazda Roadster Touring Car
• Mazda RX-7 Touring Car
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Touring Car
• Nissan GT-R R35 Touring Car
• Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 Touring Car
• Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Touring Car
• Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 Touring Car
• Subaru Impreza Touring Car
• Toyota Prius Touring Car
• Gran Turismo Racing Kart Jr.
• Gran Turismo Racing Kart 100
• Gran Turismo Racing Kart 125

Racing Gear Pack (90 items for $2.99)

• Includes suits and helmets of 8 famous WRC and NASCAR drivers and 12 new helmets.

Paint Pack (100 colors for $1.99)

• Includes 100 new paint colors.

Complete Pack (everything above for $11.99)

• Includes all content mentioned above in one bundle.

You’re probably just wanting to see a new Gran Turismo altogether, but despite Gran Turismo 5‘s 2010 release, the routine patching and additional content has evolved the experience into a completely new and improved beast. Loading times are down, Performance Points offer balance, online features make it more competitively engrossing, and more cars means more power.

This DLC will be available next week on the PlayStation Store’s October 18th update. Look below for a preview of a few of the many items that’ll be available for purchase.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Gran Turismo 5 released late last year, to positive reviews. Although the game has yet to see DLC in any traditional sense, it has seen numerous updates. Version 1.11 has gone live, featuring a new NASCAR seasonal event among other perks.

Available as an automatic update to Gran Turismo 5, patch 1.11 is 62 MB in size. Various glitches and bugs have been fixed and squashed, and no new features are arriving here. However, a new seasonal event in the NASCAR area of the game is attached to this update. Succeed at this event, and various in-game rewards will be yours, including Jeff Gordon’s racing suit and helmet and a gift car coupon which unlocks a car in the “Classic Muscle” category. The event runs until September 12th, so get to it! The online car dealership has also been updated with the following cars, listed below followed by price:

• Honda CIVIC 1500 3door CX ’79 – 4,785
• Nissan BLUEBIRD Hardtop 1800SSS 9910) ’79 – 6,340
• Honda 1300 Coupe 9 S ’70 – 6,400
• Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR ’74 – 7,100
• Honda Z ACT ’70 – 7,900
• Mitsubishi GALANT GTO MR ’70 – 10,900
• Nissan SKYLINE 2000GT-B (S54A) ’67 – 11,900
• Nissan BLUEBIRD 1600 Deluxe (510) ’69 – 12,850
• Honda N360 ’67 – 18,000
• Subaru SUBARU 360 ’58 – 18,000
• Nissan SKYLINE 1500Deluxe (S50D-1) ’63 – 18,400
• Mazda Carol 360 Deluxe ’62 – 19,250
• Isuzu 117COUPE ’68 – 19,450
• Isuzu Bellett 1600 GT-R ’69 – 21,000
• Nissan SILVIA (CSP311) ’65 – 22,500
• Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR Rally Car ’74 – 25,000
• Nissan Fairlady 2000 (SR311) ’68 – 27,500
• Nissan 240ZG (HS30) ’71 – 27,500
• Honda S800 ’66 – 29,000
• Honda S600 ’64 – 30,000
• Honda S500 ’63 – 31,250
• Mazda Cosmo Sport (L10B) ’68 – 34,400
• Mazda Cosmo Sport (L10A) ’67 – 37,000
• Nissan SKYLINE HT 2000GT-R (KPGC10) ’70 – 40,000
• Nissan SKYLINE 2000GT-R (KPGS110) ’73 – 42,500
• Nissan BLUEBIRD Rally Car (510) ’69 – 62,500
• Honda S800 RSC Race Car ’68 – 125,000
• Nissan SKYLINE Sport Coupe (BLRA-3) ’62 – 160,000
• Dome-ZERO Concept ’78 – 250,000
• Gran Turismo Formula – 2,500,000

Of course, as soon as there is news of another update or the promised DLC, PSLS will let you know.

© Paulmichael Contreras for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Gran Turismo 5 elegantly graced the PlayStation 3 last year, and while it was packed to the hood with content, car enthusiasts have been begging for more. We’re now halfway through the new year, and no downloadable content has been announced. We’re sure it’s in development, but when will it arrive?

Editor Guillaume Couturier had some predictable but exciting information to share on the French PlayStation Blog. In reply to a question regarding DLC for Gran Turismo 5, Guillaume posted the following (translated from French):

“Polyphony has begun with the new update, and DLC should follow, but I have no confirmation yet.”

The update he is referring to is the v1.10 patch which just released last week and added a mountain of new features and fixes. Speaking of which, Gran Turismo 5 has evolved tremendously over the past seven months. Whether it be balancing online play, making menu navigation quicker, or even new content, Polyphony Digital has delivered the goods. With that said, some new premium cars or tracks would be extremely exciting. Myself and many other feel at this point that we’ve raced around Nurburgring enough times with each of the cars, and experiencing some new machines would be appetizing.

PlayStation LifeStyle will update you with any information regarding Gran Turismo 5 DLC as soon as it is available, so check back for more.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us

With the PlayStation Network in shambles over the past month, it was thought that it would be an eternity before Gran Turismo 5 saw any new updates. However, that notion seems to completely false, as Polyphony Digital has just released the latest update for the acclaimed racing title.

While most of the changes are bug fixes and new events, there are a few nice additions, such as the ability to exit out of championship races, and then re-enter to finish at a later time.

The full change-log for Gran Turismo 5 v1.10 is as follows:

Racing Gear Items

• New racing gear items consisting of helmets and suits have been implemented. These can be used by players in A-Spec, or for any of the “My Drivers” in B-Spec.
• There are plenty of variations to the racing gear items and, in addition to several sets being given out as presents when you start GT Mode, players will be able to win new ones when successful in online events. Players can also take a photo of their drivers wearing their favourite gear, and use that custom photo for a driver profile.
• For more details, please refer to “Racing Gear” under Top Menu -  [Manual] – [GT Mode].

Special Online Event Campaign

• For a limited time, all event prizes will be tripled, and all cars appearing in the Online Collector’s Dealership will be brand new (0 mileage) and at half price.

Prizes for online events

• GT5 will now offer online events in which players can win Racing Gear items and cars as prizes, according to performance. The content of the prizes and the conditions for winning them will vary per event.
• Details of the various events are found in [GT Life] – [Online Events].

Parts purchases through the Settings screen

• In the Settings screen, parts that players have not yet purchased will now have a shopping cart icon appearing next to them. These can now be purchase on the spot. Purchased parts will immediately be equipped on their car.
• For details, refer to Top Menu –  [Manual] – [GT Life] – [Settings]

Improved Opponent AI Algorithm

• The search range of opponent AI has been expanded and their intelligence algorithm has been improved.

Interrupting and resuming Championship races

• In the championship races of A-Spec and B-Spec modes within [GT Life], there is now an interrupt button in the quick menu which appears after completing individual races.
• If the interrupt button is pressed, the event will be interrupted and a player’s record up to that point will be saved, and the game will end. The next time the player starts the game, they can continue the championship race from where they left off.

Additional music track

• After playback of the ending movie (*short version), “Day To Live/daiki kasho” will be added as a bonus music track.

Other Changes

• Check the physical endurance of drivers that are resting in the B-Spec endurance races.
• Sort the garage by [Last Car Driven]
• In [Weight Adjustment] of [Settings], players can now see changes in the front to rear weight balance when the ballast position is changed.
• The A-Spec driver is now displayed in the profile screen.
• In the pit menu of B-Spec, the time limit for being able to direct pit work has been changed from reaching “0″ in the count down, to “Until the car comes to a complete stop”.
• The sorting order of the music album has been improved.
• When selecting a track created in Course Maker from the course album of Arcade Mode or GT Mode, players can now run single races with up to 16 cars. (Excluding some tracks such as those made before the update, and dirt tracks.)
• It is now possible to take 3D photographs even without connecting a 3D compatible TV.
• It is now possible to export 3D photographs to [Photo] on the XMB™.

Correction of Known Issues

• PDI has addressed the issue of the maximum speed set in the transmission settings of the settings menu differing from the actual top speed of the car. This will affect cars equipped with the relevant transmission tuning part, and almost all racing cars. Cars for which each gear ratio was adjusted manually with a full customised transmission in update versions 1.07 and earlier will not be affected.
• An issue with the increase and decrease of the online logon bonus has been corrected.
• An issue where the player’s car and opponents’ cars braked at the wrong timings in the pit lane during B-Spec has been corrected.
• A problem where racing sound effects were turned off after changing settings in the quick menu has been corrected.
• An issue of how dirty the oil is when players purchase a used car not being affected by the car’s mileage has been corrected.
• An issue where some of the driver gear colours had changed after the 1.06 update has been corrected.
• An issue in the championships of GT Life where opponent cars kept using the same tyres in the second race and onwards has been corrected.
• An issue where the menu BGM was being played back during remote racing rather than the race BGM has been corrected.
• An issue of the program freezing when opening a garage containing nearly the maximum number of cars has been corrected.

“Expert Challenge Race” is now available in the Seasonal Events section with the following races:

• Trial Mountain in a Fiat 500
• Tsukuba in a Lotus Elise 111R
• Laguna Seca in a Subaru Impreza Sedan

The long-awaited ability to exit out of endurance races in order to finish at a later date is nowhere to be found, but players can rest assured that this feature will probably make an appearance somewhere down the line. Still, when it comes to Gran Turismo, any update is a welcome update.

© Mike Hartnett for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Gran Turismo 5 for PS3 has been on the market and delighting racing fans for some time now, but just recently a discovery was made of some 25 track logos… that aren’t in the game… yet.

Casually checking out the official Gran Turismo website looking for track logos, a user noticed something interesting. After cracking the code behind the intentionally obscured names of the images, he found what it seems like he wasn’t supposed to find, namely these 25 track logos:

Those are are a little small, but their names are:

Super Speedway
Driving Park (20r60r)
Apricot Hill
Citta di Aria
Costa di Amalfi
Grand Canyon
Hong Kong
Ice Arena
Infineon Raceway
Driving Park (Kashiwa)
Las Vegas
Midfield Raceway
Twin Ring Motegi
New York
George V Paris
Opera Paris (Tarmac)
Seattle Circuit
Seoul Circuit
Swiss Alps South
Tahiti Maze
Valencia Circuit
El Capitan
Cathedral Rocks (Dirt)
Cathedral Rocks (Dirt Mini)
Cathedral Rocks (Dirt Short)

What these mean exactly cannot yet be said. Are they for future DLC? Parts of Gran Turismo 6? Could they simply be leftovers of unused, unfinished ideas that didn’t make it into the game and never will? Lord knows I’ve uploaded my fair share of redundant and/or accidental stuff onto webspace, so the developers could have easily done the same thing here. Humans make mistakes.

Whatever this does or doesn’t mean, we’ll be waiting to make a report if something comes of it.

[Source]

© Knifefight for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us

It crept in rather inconspicuously, as Gran Turismo 5 update v.1.09 is now live. But what does this update hold you ask? Well, let’s take a look.

This update is actually quite small, and more-so designed to fix numerous bugs that allow for cheating, namely the ability to cut through certain maps like Nurburgring and exploit the lap system in order to gain fast cash. Also, the online dealership has been updated, and the overall theme seems to revolve around muscle cars, with a pinch of Suzuki Escudo goodness thrown in for good measure.

If you haven’t hopped on Gran Turismo 5 in a while (it’s easy to say that with all the love that the PS3 has been getting), why not give it another spin? And again, this update is fairly lightweight, weighing in at only 49MB, so those who fear long updates need not be afraid!

For all the latest Gran Turismo 5 news and updates, be sure to stay tuned to PlayStation LifeStyle!

© Mike Hartnett for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Kazunori Yamauchi has confirmed that his team is looking to add the option to save mid-race in Gran Turismo 5. Here is what Yamauchi had to say on Twitter:

I’m sorry. Game saves during endurances. They are currently under development. RT @andrepeniche: as I simply don’t have 4, 9 or even 24 hours available to stay in front of the TV to do endurance races, as much as I love GT5, unfortunately it’s not possible for me to complete them.

So long will be the days of swapping between friends, or leaving the PlayStation 3 on overnight to complete 24 Hours Nurburgring. How many of you have been waiting for this specific feature? I know I have.

[Source]

© Joseph Peterson for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Sales figures for Gran Turismo 5 have finally been released, and as usual Polyphony Digital has hit an ace in the hole. By the end of December, the title has already managed to sell over 6.37 million units worldwide. While numbers in North America were well over one-million, Europeans seem to have eaten the game up with a total nearing four-million. Also, in less than two months Gran Turismo 5 has already managed to move more copies than Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, making GT5 the new driving king of the PS3.

Below are the official sales numbers for each Gran Turismo title as of December of last year. Please note that these numbers do not include anything beyond December 2010, and that they are likely figures on copies sold to retailers, rather than consumers.

Worldwide Title Units (K)
Gran Turismo 10,850
Gran Turismo 2 9,370
Gran Turismo 3 A-spec 14,890
Gran Turismo Concept Series 1,560
Gran Turismo 4 Prologue 1,400
Gran Turismo 4 11,190
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue 5,200
Gran Turismo PSP 2,320
Gran Turismo 5 6,370
Total 63,150

It’s remarkable to think that a racing simulator like Gran Turismo could accrue over 63 million sales in less than 13 years. Gran Turismo 5 has already become a solid contributor to the success of the heralded series, and is on its way to meeting the sales numbers of Gran Turismo 2 in the same length of time.

Gran Turismo 5 just received its first major patch (v1.06) which included an huge amount of additions and changes. Check out the patch notes if you’re wondering why Gran Turismo 5 has become a hot topic on forums around the web in the last week.

[Source]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us

As announced earlier in the week, the first big update for Gran Turismo 5 is now live. Numbered version 1.06, the update includes a garage of new additions and changes to make both the single-player, split-screen, and online experiences even better.

Below are the full list of additions and changes in Gran Turismo 5‘s v1.06 update, as detailed by Polyphony Digital’s update notice:

[Major Changes and New Features]
・Remote Racing
[Remote Races] have been added to the bottom left of the [GT Mode] – [Community] screen.
Here you can start a fully automated B-Spec race using yours and your friends’ “My Drivers”, and gain rewards and experience from it.
For details please see section 8-4 [Remote Races] in the [Manual] accessible from the main menu, and also the new “Remote Race” page on gran-tursimo.com, under the GT5 product information section.

・Remote Racing from a Web Browser
In [Remote Races], you can visit the official “gran-turismo.com” website using a web browser, and remotely control your PS3® at home. You can start races, monitor its progress and check results from the website. This is a new playing style allowing you to play Gran Turismo anywhere.
Sign in from the [GT5 My Home] button on the upper right corner of the website to get started.

・Using the Course Maker in Online Races
You can now use one of the “My Courses” created in [Course Maker] for your online races (in Open Lobby, My Lounge), or select themes and generate courses on the spot. (Please note you’ll only be able to use My Courses created after this update).

・Introduction of Performance Points in Online Races
We’ve now introduced Performance Points (PP), a numerical index of a car’s performance for online races. You can set PP restrictions in the online race regulations (in Open Lobby, My Lounge) to limit participating cars.
For details, see 6 -15 [Performance Points] in the [Manual] accessible from the main menu.

・Increased Rewards and Experience Online
The amount of rewards and experience gained from online racing (in Open Lobby, My Lounge) have been increased.

・More Event Settings in Online Races
[Auto Race Start Cycle] and [Tire Wear/Fuel Consumption] have been added to the event settings for online races (in Open Lobby, My Lounge).

・More Penalties for Special Events
Penalties for improper driving such as driving off course and hitting walls have been increased for the [Special Events] under [GT Mode] – [GT Life].

・Event Rewards and Experience Adjusted
The rewards and experience gained in [License] and [Special Events] in [GT Mode] – [GT Life] have been adjusted. Experience for A-Spec and B-Spec events have been increased, while rewards have been reduced back down to levels seen before the 1.05 update.

・Car Loan in Events
In A-Spec, B-Spec and [Special Events] in [GT Mode] – [GT Life], you can now borrow cars that your Friends have set to share with friends.
For details see 6-16 [Borrowing and Lending Cars] in the [Manual] accessible from the main menu.

・More Car Settings
Gear ratio adjustment, power limiters, and weight adjustment have been added to the settings. For details see [18. Settings Guide] in the [Manual] accessible from the main menu.

・Multi-Monitor Feature
From [Options] – [Hardware] – [Multi-Monitor], you can now access the multi-monitor display settings using multiple PS3™ systems.
You can now enjoy Gran Turismo 5 in a wide display environment combining multiple PS3™ systems and TV’s/monitors.
For details please see the support section on gran-turismo.com.

[Changes and Additions to Gameplay]
- It is now possible to replay and save [2P Battle] races.
- [Controller Steering Sensitivity] has been added to [Driving Options].
- [Corner Bank Angle] has been added to the section settings in [Course Maker].
- In A-Spec events including endurance races, a confirmation prompt has been added before restarting a race from the beginning.
- In replays, B Spec and while watching races, you can now change viewing targets directly from the screen without having to use a separate window list.
- Personal BGM can now be used when voice chat is disabled in a [Lounge].
- Cars in your garage that are not registered as ‘Favorites’ can now be used in a [Lounge].
- When tire restriction is enabled in a Lounge regulation, only cars with tires that qualify will be displayed in the garage.
- Driver and car display selections during races will be saved.
- Karts now have [Quick Menu settings.
- You can now select multiple items in some important menu screens, such as when registering your favorite cars in your [Garage].

[AI Adjustment]
- Race choreography and opponent car AI controls for licence tests and A Spec events have been adjusted.
- Opponent car AI controls during B Spec races have been improved.
- The evasive maneuver of opponent cars when a players car blocks the track has been improved.

[Correction of Issues]
- Corrected an issue where it was possible to gain points unfairly in drift trials.
- Corrected an issue where it was not possible to view the 4th sector in the live monitor.
-Corrected an issue where the sound effects would not change when replacing the exhaust system or turbo kit.
- Corrected an issue where the save data becomes unable to load when exceeding a certain file size.

[Other Changes]
- A searchable item called [Race Type] has been added for room creation in the [Open Lobby].
- The lap times for the [X Challenge] in [Special Events] have been adjusted.
- Game save speed has been optimized.
- The HDD access warning message that was displayed at game startup has been disabled for faster startup.
- Car demo backdrops during an [Auto Demo] is now displayed randomly in 4 types (Morning/Day/Night/White) as is in the　[Dealership].
- The “S-AWC” integrated four wheel drive system of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X has been adjusted.
- The [Force Feedback Strength] of the Thrustmaster T500RS can now be adjusted across a wider range.

I spent a few hours playing with the new Gran Turismo 5 patch, and it’s clear that Polyphony Digital has listened to the community. The new performance points (PP) system coupled with some exciting new adjustable settings have vastly improved the online and split-screen modes by allowing for fairer, more compelling competitive races. The Course Maker has finally been given the attention it deserves, and you can expect to see some custom layouts by Polyphony Digital in the seasonal events section of GT Mode. I have also noticed that menu navigation is much quicker, and subtle changes like being able to see which cars you own in the dealership have made the experience more fleshed-out.

With this successful patch, and tons of new seasonal events available to engage in, now’s a great time to pop Gran Turismo 5 back into your PlayStation 3 and enjoy the most realistic racing simulator on the market.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Gran Turismo 5 released two months ago with the most content ever seen in a racing simulator. Even then, Polyphony Digital swore to continue adding content and adjustments as time goes on, and so far we’ve seen some outstanding implementations including Seasonal Events, online mechanical damage, and more. But Kazunori Yamauchi and his team at PD aren’t done yet, and we are closing in on an even bigger update than we’ve seen before.

In reply to a user, Kazunori Yamauchi, designer of Gran Turismo, tweeted an exciting confirmation that the next big patch for Gran Turismo 5 will debut on February 18th which is now only days away. Below is a roughly translated version of the post by Yamauchi:

In the next update. What day 18 February. RT @ driftlover35r: @ Kaz_Yamauchi PP scheme is implemented or when? Have the same advantage in torque power difference, I get the penalty (° д °;)

So what does this mean for us? Judging by the reply, it looks like the Performance Points system from Gran Turismo: Prologue may be returning. The system allowed for quick tuning which modified a car’s weight, power, suspension, and more in order to provide a way to balance cars for races. While it had a few flaws, it was a great idea, so if executed properly this could mean a lot for the online experience on Gran Turismo 5.

There’s sure to be additional features included, with the potential for the long-awaited addition of premium cars. So the countdown begins. What would you like to see added in the upcoming update? A premium Bugatti Veyron? Or perhaps you’d like to see more A-spec races? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us

Polyphony Digital has already sold over six-million units of Gran Turismo 5, and it’s only been two months since release. The competition clearly isn’t happy, so much in-fact that they’re willing to play dirty (see above image).

Okay, so the sign is likely just a misunderstanding or a typo, but it’s definitely funny. It looks like it was taken at a North American convenience store. Maybe an employee planned this sabotage? What do you think?

[Thanks to geekfill.com for the image!]

© jleack for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us

2010 was a brilliant year for gaming, in particular for PlayStation 3 gamers, with several blockbuster exclusives released to the PS3 faithful including the likes of Yakuza 3, MAG and 3D Dot Game Heroes, as well as heavy hitters such as God of War III, Heavy Rain and Gran Turismo 5. But with such stiff competition, which PS3 exclusive dominated the sales chart for 2010?

God of War III has outsold its PS3 exclusive counterparts in the US becoming the third best selling PlayStation 3 title in the country. The Sony Santa Monica game only lost out to Call of Duty: Black Ops and Madden NFL 11. God of War III‘s great commercial success was evident since the game’s launch with the title racking in $33 million in sales on release day.

Although Heavy Rain and MAG both sold more than a million units, both exclusives failed to make it into the top 10 list, overshadowed by the likes of the over-2-million-units-sold Medal of Honor and Ubisoft’s extremely successful Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. Despite a late release last year, Gran Turismo 5 still managed to take the 7th spot, making the game the 2nd best selling exclusive of the year.

[Via]

© Zak Islam for PlayStation LifeStyle, 2011. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us