If one were to interview a hard core gamer whose main interest is driving games, he would say that the driving games from Japan is headlined by only one franchise: the Gran Turismo from Polyphony Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation.
This video game is now on its 5th release with the GT 5 launched exclusively for PS3 last year. Gran Turismo is now on its 15th year of being the top driving game from Japan to beat. This latest GT5 allows up to 16 players, a first time to race on World Rally Championship and NASCAR, and more than 1,000 cars and 71 tracks to choose from.
This franchise is massive on a level never before seen in any other driving game, simulation racing series. Interestingly, the franchise developers know exactly what makes driving game fanatics tick. The graphics are stunning and the race challenges are superb. One can find his personal driving style in the game and practice on others which may not be his forte.
Needless to say, the GT series has won award after award and even has its own Grand Turismo Awards now on its 9th year. Car enthusiasts get a chance to see exhibitors vying for top prize in order for his car to be chosen and included in the next GT release. This year, a 1971 Chevrolet Camaro won Best of Show and the exhibitor was Mary Pozzi.
According to Kazunori Yamauchi who is the creator of the GT series during the 9th GT Awards night held in Las Vegas last Nov. 4, “We continue to be blown away by the quality of the vehicles that are submitted and are excited to add Mary’s custom Chevy Camaro to our list of distinguished winners and to the Gran Turismo franchise.”
Obviously the GT franchise has gone beyond the world of gaming and managed to connect gaming with reality as they successfully get people involved in their game development. They have even launched a GT Academy which will give gamers a chance to become a true blue racing car driver. Can any other game beat that?
This franchise is massive on a level never before seen in any other driving game, simulation racing series. Interestingly, the franchise developers know exactly what makes driving game fanatics tick. The graphics are stunning and the race challenges are superb. One can find his personal driving style in the game and practice on others which may not be his forte.
Needless to say, the GT series has won award after award and even has its own Grand Turismo Awards now on its 9th year. Car enthusiasts get a chance to see exhibitors vying for top prize in order for his car to be chosen and included in the next GT release. This year, a 1971 Chevrolet Camaro won Best of Show and the exhibitor was Mary Pozzi.
According to Kazunori Yamauchi who is the creator of the GT series during the 9th GT Awards night held in Las Vegas last Nov. 4, “We continue to be blown away by the quality of the vehicles that are submitted and are excited to add Mary’s custom Chevy Camaro to our list of distinguished winners and to the Gran Turismo franchise.”
Obviously the GT franchise has gone beyond the world of gaming and managed to connect gaming with reality as they successfully get people involved in their game development. They have even launched a GT Academy which will give gamers a chance to become a true blue racing car driver. Can any other game beat that?