Gran Turismo 5: Prologue U.S., April 17, 2008

akira3d · 25 March 2008

I figured the time has come to stop updating Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in 2007 with a thread that cuts to the chase.

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(Japanese Intro)

Gran Turismo 5: Prologue is more than a PlayStation 3 playable demo...but it should still be thought of as an "early" sampler/teaser of features to be included in the upcoming proper version of Gran Turismo 5. That said, this preview includes up to 16 player online multiplayer wheel-to-wheel racing (a first for the GT series) and a generous assortment of stock and tuner cars...including Ferrari's F2007 F1 race car. This is not to be confused with GT:HD, which was released as a free demo on the PlayStation Network a couple of Christmases ago.

Note that the full version of GT5 has never been given an official release date, but the media has been speculating the full game will be out at the end of 2008...at least in Japan. A recent comment on the PlayStation blog by an associate producer of SCEA emphasized that the full game is more than a year away.

The Japanese release of Prologue came out at the end of 2007, but PAL territories and the U.S. have been anxiously awaiting their own versions. THIS week, the PAL version ships (and will be available for download via PlayStation Network) and it features a new intro that highlights the new tracks and cars. Judging from one man's impressions of the PAL version, it seems like the wait was worth it.

U.S. and PAL versions include split-screen head-to-head in addition to the up to 16 players over the net. 40 episodes from the BBC version of Top Gear have been confirmed to be coming to Prologue's GT TV feature (but the famous Top Gear test track still won't be included until the full version of GT5 comes out...hopefully later this year).

Here's the complete list of the tracks (each course features alternate configurations):

Suzuka Circuit

Eiger Nordwand

Fuji Speedway

London City Track

Daytona International Speedway

High Speed Ring

Here's the entire list of the cars in the game:

Acura NSX '91

Alfa Romeo 147 TI 2.0 TWIN SPARK '06

Alfa Romeo Brera Sky Window 3.2 JTS Q4 '06

Amuse S2000 GT1 Turbo

Amuse/Opera Performance Gran Turismo 350Z RS

Art Morrison Corvette'60

Aston Martin DB9 Coupe '06

Audi R8 4.2 FSI R tronic '07

Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro '07

Blitz Dunlop ER34 '07

BMW 135i Coupe '07

BMW 135tii '08

BMW M3 Coupe '07

BMW Z4 '03

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6) Tuned Car

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 '06

Citroen C4 Coupe 2.0VTS '06

Clio Renault Sport V6 24V Tuned Car

Daihatsu Copen Active Top '02

Daihatsu OFC-1 '07

Dodge Viper GTS

Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe

Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe Tuned Car

Ferrari 512BB '76

Ferrari 599 '06

Ferrari F40 '92

Ferrari F430 '06

Ferrari F2007

Ford Focus ST '06

Ford GT '05

Ford GT Tuned Car

Ford Mustang V8 GT Coupe Premium '07

Honda Integra TYPE R '04

Honda NSX Type R '02

Jaguar XK Coupe '06

Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione '91

Lexus IS F '07

Lexus IS F Tuned Car

Lotus Elise 111R '04

Lotus Elise 111R Tuned Car

Lotus Elise '96

Lotus Elise Tuned Car

Mazda Atenza Sport (2007 Tokyo Motor Show reference exhibit)

Mazda RX-7 (FD) Special Tuned Car

Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) '02

Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) Tuned Car

Mazda RX-8 Type S '03

Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG '02

Mine's BNR34 Skyline GT-R N1 base '06

Mini Cooper-S '06

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR '05

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR Premium Package '07

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR Tuned Car

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR Tuned Car

Nissan Fairlady Z Version S '07

Nissan GT-R '07

Nissan GT-R Proto '05

Nissan Skyline Coupe (V36) Tuned Car

Nissan Skyline Coupe 370GT Type SP '07

Nissan Skyline Coupe Concept '07

Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nur '02

Nissan Skyline Sedan 350GT Type SP '06

Peugeot 207GTI '07

Peugeot 307cc Premium AVN '04

RE Amemiya FD3S RX-7

Renault Clio Renault Sport V6 24V '00

Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STI spec C Type RA '05

Subaru Impreza WRX STI (18inch BBS Wheel Option) '07

Suzuki Cappuccino '95

Suzuki Cappuccino Tuned Car

Suzuki Cervo SR '07

Suzuki Swift Sport '07

Suzuki Swift Sport Tuned Car

TVR Tamora '02

TVR Tuscan Speed 6 '00

Volkswagen Golf GTI '01

Volkswagen Golf V GTI '05

Summary of differences between Japanese version and the American/PAL versions:

A whopping 30+ additional vehicles (compared to the Japanese version), including tuner cars from Amuse, Mine’s, etc.

Another track to race on: an all-time favorite in the series - frantic and chaotic High Speed Ring!

In Drift Mode, measure your drifting technique based on driving line, angle and speed within scoring zones on the course (Drift Mode was introduced in GT:HD)

With the Quick Tune feature, adjust your vehicle’s settings including power, weight, tires and suspension

All new set of online and offline race events and time trials to jump into, win, and unlock cars/features

With Logitech’s new Driving Force GT racing wheel, you can adjust brake bias, traction and damper settings on-the-fly like they do in real-life with Formula One and rally cars. GT5 Prologue will support DualShock 3, too!

Weezer – “Automatic” (LA Riots remix)

Mars Volta – “Goliath” (EL-P remix)

Justice – “Let There Be Light”

SebastiAn – “Dolami”

Kavinsky – “Testarossa Autodrive” (SebastiAn remix)

DJ Shadow – “LOVE LOVE”

Does it Offend You, Yeah? – “With a Heavy Heart (I Regret to Inform You)”

The Earaches – “Not the Kind of Man I Am”

Thin Lizzy – “The Rocker” (Richard Evans Mix)

The Klaxons – “Golden Skans”

Friendly Fires – “On Board”

Pride Tiger – “Let ‘Em Go”

Additional tracks on the North American release (also on International versions):

Masahiro Andoh - "Moon Over The Castle" (Gran Turismo 5 Prologue version)

Nittoku Inoue - "Road Star"

Nittoku Inoue - "100,000 R.P.M."

Nittoku Inoue - "Get Away"

Nittoku Inoue - "V12"

Nittoku Inoue - "Kill Switch"

naomee - "Vanish From Angel"

naomee - "Sky High Mountain Breeze"

naomee - "Twieky 4"

Daiki Kasho - "Surv1v3"

Daiki Kasho - "Edge of the World"

Daiki Kasho - "Flow"

Goose - "Check"

Goose - "3T4"

Goose - "Everybody"

Backdraft ft Tor - "Off The Wall"

Alloy Mental - "We have Control"

Reverend & The Makers - "The Machine"

Ability to completely disable ABS (a first for the GT series)

35 Online Race Events

Time-Trials are limited only by handling model and "Performance Points"

The game will be available via for purchase on the PlayStation Network, but the Blu-ray disc version is the better value...containing an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary "Beyond the Apex". Both versions cost $39.99.

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Greg Z · 26 March 2008

Awesome. Can't freaking wait!

OzzieJohn · 26 March 2008

Eric, Sony should be paying you... I read this, and ordered the game.

The demo looked beautiful & split screen sounds like lots of fun!

akira3d · 26 March 2008

OzzieJohn said:
Eric, Sony should be paying you... I read this, and ordered the game.

Technically Sony does pay me...just not for promoting Gran Turismo! I'm doing this as a total GT fan boy.

NeoNSX · 26 March 2008

Extensive report; you almost tempt me into buying a PS3. Looks amazing

OzzieJohn · 26 March 2008

NeoNSX said:
Extensive report; you almost tempt me into buying a PS3. Looks amazing

Reckon I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking.... it sounds like you're afraid of losing races to that OzzieJohn guy! :biggrin:

Agreed, those videos are totally amazing.

NeoNSX · 26 March 2008

OzzieJohn said:
Reckon I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking.... it sounds like you're afraid of losing races to that OzzieJohn guy! :biggrin:

Agreed, those videos are totally amazing.

haha John... i'll take you on and take you DOWN - anywhere, any time.

demigod · 26 March 2008

Looks like we're gonna have to set up some Prime races soon.. :biggrin:

Klayton · 26 March 2008

NeoNSX said:
Extensive report; you almost tempt me into buying a PS3. Looks amazing

Jup, but for one game? We could import a US PS3s, would make it cheaper.

GOTTSPD · 26 March 2008

If you don't have a PS3 and you don't have a BR DVD, get a PS3! I bought the 60GB version to get the emotion engine backwards compatability w/ PS2 games and it's just awesome - even GT4 is remarkable! Pick up a remote control (for DVD playback) and a steering wheel too....

akira3d · 26 March 2008

Klayton said:
Jup, but for one game?

SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT! I would strongly recommend Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (the game I worked on) as well...so make that two reasons to buy a PS3. Fortunately, I'm not the only one who thinks so.

And don't forget that PS3 is the not only the most affordable, but best (and only Profile 2.0) Blu-ray player on the market!!!

drivingnirvana · 26 March 2008

I sold my 360 because I didn't use it anymore. OKEY it does have Halo 3 but after that it was just laying there collecting dust. The HD-DVD player SUCKED, the accessories were expensive and the quality was no where near japanese...

Buy PS3 you guys won't regret it whatsoever, it's the coolest gadget on the planet ATM. I use the USB to hook up a external harddrive of 500GB and use it as a DivX jukebox with movies, every Simpsons/Seinfeld/Southpark/Sopranos episode whenever I want to

Rock solid wifi connection so I use it to surf the net... Download demo's and trailers... Pretty much a complete console.

The Bluray playability is almost beyond what stand alone players offers.

No, Sony doesn't pay me either. Just been a diehard Gran Turismo fan since 1998 - and I didn't even like cars back then!

You guys are considering upgrading to PS3 and I'm considering getting Full-HD TV and Logitech G25 steering wheel because of this game

I have been through every single driving game on the market (and I mean with real cars, no Burnout or Need4Speed titles here) and Gran Turismo is by far in a league of its own... Forza came nowhere near it, Project Gotham Racing is a arcade game...

Oh and I'm such a sucker for hypes so don't listen to me

robr · 26 March 2008

As soon as I can find a sale on the PS3, I'll be buying one simply for the BR aspect and the fact it has all the extras for such a low price compared to a standalone BR player. I just sold the last of my HDDVD gear on eBay (and made a profit overall).

But I won't buy anything at list price, I'm just waiting for that CC 10% off coupon where they won't exclude the PS3.

kilika89 · 26 March 2008

Will the GT5 prologue be downloadable on the Playstation network soon?

ltan667 · 26 March 2008

Akira, Polyphony should be paying you for your work! lol I've been anticipating this for a while and recieved my G25 steering wheel last week and have been playing the demo to prologue non-stop!!

If anyone is considering getting a G25, get it from Amazon for $229 and free shipping or if you're impatient like me just use the free trial Prime membership and get one day shipping for 3.99. I just cancelled the trial after my order was sent out with no penalty :biggrin:

akira3d · 26 March 2008

kilika89 said:
Will the GT5 prologue be downloadable on the Playstation network soon?

Should be downloadable from the PlayStation Store on April 17, 2008.

akira3d · 27 March 2008

For those of you with the Japanese version, the aforementioned Gran Turismo 5: Prologue Spec II update will be posted around noon on Friday, March 28 Tokyo time (or tomorrow around 8 PM Pacific Daylight Time). I'm guessing that this will update the Japanese release to have all the latest features of the PAL and North American version...so I'll be borrowing the office copy to check it out!

Klayton · 27 March 2008

I just read you can watch topgear via granturismo tv, I think I'm going to buy a PS3 and GT5 tomorrow.

Wonder if it's compatible with my current setup, we'll see..

drivingnirvana · 27 March 2008

Been playing it all day.

Bought a Honda ITR to begin with, as soon as I had 'nough credits I bought a Berlina Black 1991 Acura NSX. Now it sits a Nissan R35 GT-R and a F430 in teh garage. And a 1995 Suzuki Cappucino with 69 hp turbo-engine lol! Virtual life is gooood.

Some of those gold medals are hard, though. 2nd place is piece of cake lol :biggrin:

Seems like a short game, but lots of cars to collect so it was worth it. Can't wait for the final product, this is "off the hook". The graphics are so nice I want to lick the TV screen. The "Track guide" function absolutely rocks - the Fuji Speedway part shows a lot of JGTC/SuperGT NSX's :biggrin:

I can't believe how much time they spent on the details and how much effort they've put in this game - must be the most expensive car/ racing game ever. And MAN IT'S GOOD TO FINALLY HAVE FERRARI IN THIS FRIGGIN' GAME! I've always missed that. Too bad they don't have Porsche in it, a 997 GT3 in the garage collection and my virtual life would be complete.

My 0.02

drivingnirvana · 27 March 2008

Klayton said:
I just read you can watch topgear via granturismo tv, I think I'm going to buy a PS3 and GT5 tomorrow.

Wonder if it's compatible with my current setup, we'll see..

That's awesome. I'm getting a G25 setup when the final version arrives, hopefully the Ferrari game will be ready by then too.

You won't regret a PS3 buy whatsoever, I'm sure

H-carWizKid · 27 March 2008

I am pre-ordered since February. When it comes in the mail I may take a duvet-day just to play until I can put an F430 in the garage.

This game will probably be what it takes to get me away from COD4 (which has pretty much been in the drive since I bought it in December)

PS3 is the way gentlemen- If you are contemplating a purchase, I highly recommend acting on it.

P

akira3d · 27 March 2008

For those of you with the Japanese version, the Spec II update went live earlier today (ahead of schedule). Anticipating an early update, I brought the office copy of Prologue home last night. The update wasn't live by the time I left in the morning...and I accidentally left the office copy in my PS3 at home. D'oh! I could have been playing it today during my lunch break!

Oh well.

Can't wait to get home tonight (though I hear the Spec II update may take some time to download). Reports suggest that it does indeed add High Speed Ring and the cars that are in the PAL and North American versions.

Klayton · 28 March 2008

Ok I'm ready for some online battle.

Just need more cash to buy a NSX-R.

akira3d · 28 March 2008

First impressions of the Spec II update:

All single player events are indeed new...meaning I no longer have any trophies from beating previous events. That said, I still have the credits and vehicles I earned and/or bought. And, though I have no "C Class" awards, the game acknowledges that I completed "C Class" and lets me go straight to the "B Class" events (which is good, because winning here is worth more).

High Speed Ring is even better than I remember it...and it is included in the single player events. The dynamic tone mapping for the HDR lighting as you exit the tunnel shifts exposure far more dramatically than in previous Prologue tracks (it's nearly blinding white until just before you exit). Awesome!

AI of other drivers is a bit better about accident avoidance than the original release. I got into a pretty hair spin and every AI car managed to swerve to avoid me, even as I crept on to the track.

'91 NSX - car handling feels a little bit tighter...interior has a more realistic vinyl and leather shader and the radio has illuminated details I hadn't noticed before (I forgot to see if the clock is functional)...looks sweet

I earned enough credits to buy the Audi R8, which I previously needed to advance from B to A Class....but didn't really need to since that event got changed. The car exterior looks better than I remember it...at least I didn't recall seeing the little LEDs around the headlights in the previous version. I'm guessing that there are other details added to pre-existing cars and tracks throughout this update.

I quickly flipped through some of the new cars in the dealership...the detail is astonishing on the tuner cars and the new Ferraris. And I like that they didn't cheapen out it any way...you can see the 3d modeled engines through grills and mesh engine covers (even on the NSX-R).

Still have a way to go to earn enough for any of the prancing ponies. I had stopped playing the offfice copy once the North American version got announced (since I didn't want to replay the entire game). Now I'm just playing it because I want to see what's new!

SoCalDude · 28 March 2008

I'm ordering my PS3 today. What's the difference between the different Logitech steering wheels? Should I wait for the Driving Force GT wheel (out in May)?

Saw this deal at Wal-Mart today:

GT 5 Prologue & Driving Force EX wheel

Gran Turismo 5: Prologue U.S., April 17, 2008

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