is a 2009
racing video game
Racing games are a video game genre in which the player participates in a racing competition. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to fantastical settings. They are distributed along a spectrum between more realistic rac ...
developed by
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital is an internal Japanese first-party video game development studio for PlayStation Studios. Originally a development group within Sony Computer Entertainment known as Polys Entertainment, after the success of '' Gran Turismo'' i ...
and published by
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), formerly known as Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), is a multinational video game and digital entertainment company wholly owned by multinational conglomerate Sony. The SIE Group is made up of two legal co ...
for the
PlayStation Portable
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
. The game was announced at Sony's
E3 press conference on May 11, 2004, alongside the original PSP. Following five years of delays and speculation, during which it was variously known as ''Gran Turismo Portable'', ''Gran Turismo 4 Mobile'', ''Gran Turismo 5 Mobile'' and ''Gran Turismo 4.5'', it made a reappearance at E3 on June 2, 2009, in playable form. It was released on October 1, 2009, as one of the launch titles for the new
PSP Go
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
. As of September 2017, ''Gran Turismo'' has sold 4.67 million units, making it one of the best-selling PSP games. On June 1, 2010, the game was re-released as part of Sony's Greatest Hits budget line of video games.
Gameplay
The game is centered on an open-ended design. The single player menu presents players with three variables: mode (Time Trial, Single Race, and Drift Trial), car, and track selection. Rewards such as credits and cars earned based on the difficulty, performance and number of laps they have chosen. Players can select from one to 99 laps. ''Gran Turismo'' is centered on completing driving missions in order to advance in the game, unlike ''
Gran Turismo 4
''Gran Turismo 4'' is a 2004 racing video game for the PlayStation 2, the fourth installment in the main ''Gran Turismo'' series and the sixth for the overall series. It was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertai ...
s open-ended map. The game uses a new trading system to allow players to acquire cars.
There are 45 tracks (including layout variations) plus the added bonus of reverse on most tracks, which takes the track number to 72. For the first time in the series, the game features the use of custom soundtracks that enables players to play their own songs while racing, but this option must first be unlocked by completing section B or C of the Driving Challenges. The music tracks can be used for offline or online races.
There are some hidden tracks which are removed prior to release (notably Smokey Mountain and Tahiti Circuit from ''
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec'' - both which initially debuted in ''
Gran Turismo 2
''Gran Turismo 2'' is a 1999 racing game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the sequel to '' Gran Turismo''. It was well-received critically and financially, shipping 1.71&nbs ...
'' with some differences). These tracks are only accessible on systems with modified firmware and running
Gameshark
GameShark is the brand name of a line of video game cheat cartridges and other products for a variety of console video game systems and Windows-based computers. Currently, the brand name is owned by Mad Catz, which marketed GameShark products for ...
-like programs, and some issues have been reported with them. During an interview at E3, it was revealed that tracks featured in the game (such as
Valencia Ricardo Tormo) are directly sourced from ''Gran Turismo 4'' and ''
Tourist Trophy'', while the game's physics engine is based on ''
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
''Gran Turismo 5 Prologue'' (グランツーリスモ5 プロローグ, ''Guran Tsūrisumo 5 Purorōgu'') is a 2007 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. ''Gran Turism ...
''.
''Gran Turismo'' features 833 vehicles, each modeled accurately and statistics derived from their real life counterparts. The exotic car manufacturer
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as ''Auto Avio Costruzioni'', the company built its first car in ...
is featured, and for the first time in the main ''
Gran Turismo'' series,
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. () is an Italian brand and manufacturer of luxury sports cars and SUVs based in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The company is owned by the Volkswagen Group through its subsidiary Audi.
Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916–1993) ...
,
Bugatti
Automobiles Ettore Bugatti was a German then French manufacturer of high-performance automobiles. The company was founded in 1909 in the then-German city of Molsheim, Alsace, by the Italian-born industrial designer Ettore Bugatti. The cars w ...
and various other cars were introduced and fully licensed. There is no damage model in the game.
Players begin with a low-powered car, but can upgrade to better cars as they progress through the game. The dealerships available change after every other race, so players will not always be able to buy what they are looking for.
Four cars are featured in a race at any one time, the player car and three opponents (with the AI having improvements since ''
Gran Turismo 4
''Gran Turismo 4'' is a 2004 racing video game for the PlayStation 2, the fourth installment in the main ''Gran Turismo'' series and the sixth for the overall series. It was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertai ...
'').
This is down from the total of six cars in previous games in the series, but the player can race against three cars also in the rally races, which was never possible in every previous game, considering that in previous games the player can race only against one car in a rally race. Multiplayer is available for up to four players via local wireless play across a handful of modes, with various options that allow players of all skill types to play together. There is no online play, although it supports
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning literally 'to this'. In English, it typically signifies a solution for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a generalized solution adaptable to collateral instances. (Compare with ''a priori''.)
Com ...
Party for PlayStation Portable, nor are there any online
leaderboards
A ladder tournament (also known as a ladder competition or pyramid tournament) is a form of tournament for games and sports. Unlike many tournaments, which usually have an element of elimination, ladder competitions can go on indefinitely. In a lad ...
for
time trial In many racing sports, an athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athlete or team sets off at ...
times or the ability to share ghost laps with other players. ''Gran Turismo'' also allows online play through the free downloadable
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
(PS3) application Ad hoc Party for PlayStation Portable (PSP).
It was initially announced that
downloadable content
Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content created for an already released video game, distributed through the Internet by the game's publisher. It can either be added for no extra cost or it can be a form of video game monetization, enablin ...
(DLC) would not be released for ''Gran Turismo'',
although seven cars, the 2003
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (C199 / R199 / Z199) is a grand tourer jointly developed by German automotive manufacturer Mercedes-Benz and British automobile manufacturer McLaren Automotive and sold from 2003 to 2009. When the car was develope ...
, 2009
Nissan GT-R SpecV, 2008
Citroen GT, 2009
Bugatti Veyron 16.4
The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engine sports car, designed and developed in Germany by the Volkswagen Group and Bugatti and manufactured in Molsheim, France, by French automobile manufacturer Bugatti. It was named after the racing driver Pie ...
, 2009
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, 1974
Lamborghini Countach LP400 and the 2002
Ferrari Enzo
The Enzo Ferrari (Type F140) is a mid-engine sports car manufactured by Italian automobile manufacturer Ferrari and named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was developed in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fi ...
, were made available for download via the
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store (PS Store) is a digital media store available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 game consoles via the PlayStation Network.
The store offers a range of downloadable content ...
.
In the game also the Ferrari F2007 has been added, in two different colors, which will go to compose, with the Formula GT, the second F1 car available in the game.
Parts of the game are narrated by TV personality and car enthusiast
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir Leno (; born April 28, 1950) is an American television host, comedian, writer, and actor. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's ''The Tonight Show'' from 1992 to 2009. Beginning in September 2009 ...
.
The controls are unusual because the PSP does not have pressure sensitive buttons, meaning the player cannot control the degree of acceleration or braking. Creator Kazunori Yamanuchi was against the idea of using external controllers via PSP Plus for more accurate control, telling an interviewer "if you want to play on ''Gran Turismo'' using a PS3 controller, you will have to play on ''
Gran Turismo 5
is a 2010 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released for the PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010 in Europe and North America, and November 25, 2010 in Japan and Australasia, and ...
''".
Development and marketing
Fitting a full-scale ''Gran Turismo'' on the PSP platform was a challenge for
Polyphony Digital
Polyphony Digital is an internal Japanese first-party video game development studio for PlayStation Studios. Originally a development group within Sony Computer Entertainment known as Polys Entertainment, after the success of '' Gran Turismo'' i ...
. Series director
Kazunori Yamauchi
, nicknamed "Kaz", is a Japanese game designer and professional racing driver. He is CEO of Polyphony Digital and producer of the '' Gran Turismo'' video game series.
Polyphony Digital
He became the president of Polyphony Digital after designin ...
stated that the main problem was trying to fit the game in such a small memory space. Regardless, ''Gran Turismo'' runs at 60
frames per second
A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent.
Frame and FRAME may also refer to:
Physical objects
In building construction
*Framing (con ...
and takes up only 1GB of storage.
Originally titled ''Gran Turismo 4 Mobile'', the game was initially to have a release date sometime in April 2005 —
however, it was notably absent from the 2004
Tokyo Game Show
, commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in September in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) and Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. The ...
and then from E3 2005, a year after it was first announced.
At the end of 2005, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that the game would be pushed back to sometime in 2006.
Despite no news for most of 2006, Kazunori Yamauchi assured audiences that ''Gran Turismo'' for the PSP was still in development and on its way.
Development was slowed to focus priorities on ''
Gran Turismo 4
''Gran Turismo 4'' is a 2004 racing video game for the PlayStation 2, the fourth installment in the main ''Gran Turismo'' series and the sixth for the overall series. It was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertai ...
'' on the PlayStation 2 and ''
Gran Turismo 5
is a 2010 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released for the PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010 in Europe and North America, and November 25, 2010 in Japan and Australasia, and ...
'' on the PlayStation 3. Polyphony president Kazunori Yamauchi wanted the game to be a "fully specced" title, not merely "a subset to the series". Yamauchi also cited difficulty in designing the game for the
PSP Go
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
. As the Go features a relocated analog nub, the developers had to make adjustments to ensure the experience felt the same as with a standard PSP.
Polyphony Digital's busy schedule with releases of ''
Gran Turismo 4
''Gran Turismo 4'' is a 2004 racing video game for the PlayStation 2, the fourth installment in the main ''Gran Turismo'' series and the sixth for the overall series. It was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertai ...
'', ''
Tourist Trophy'', ''
Gran Turismo HD'', and ''
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
''Gran Turismo 5 Prologue'' (グランツーリスモ5 プロローグ, ''Guran Tsūrisumo 5 Purorōgu'') is a 2007 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. ''Gran Turism ...
'' also slowed ''Gran Turismos development. The company also refused to outsource the game to another developer, describing that move as "unthinkable".
Several other titles were considered, including ''Gran Turismo 4 Mobile''
and ''Gran Turismo 5 Portable''. The title ''Gran Turismo Spyder'' was also considered, but was dropped as the developers felt that both it and the ''Gran Turismo 4 Mobile'' title did not represent a "fully-specced Gran Turismo".
In April 2008, Yamauchi stated that developing ''
Gran Turismo 5
is a 2010 racing video game developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was released for the PlayStation 3 on November 24, 2010 in Europe and North America, and November 25, 2010 in Japan and Australasia, and ...
'' on the
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
"took much more time and effort and this was because loads of new stylish cars have started to come out so it took longer to develop than we had first imagined", and that it was unlikely the PSP version would be released by the end of 2008.
A version of ''Gran Turismo'' for the PSP was shown during Sony's
E3 2009
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 (E3 2009) was the 15th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 2, 2009, and ended on June 4, 2009, with 41,000 total attendees.
Majo ...
keynote on June 2, 2009. Called simply ''Gran Turismo'', its October 1, 2009 release date coincides with the launch of the
PSP Go
The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...
, which was announced at the same conference.
As part of its promotion of the game, Sony had a crane built at
Gamescom
Gamescom (stylized as gamescom) is a trade fair for video games held annually at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Since 2018, it has been organised by ''game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche'' (English: Associa ...
in
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
that would hang the journalists 15 meters above the ground to try out the game. Sony Canada has also been known to advertise the game on various billboards in the
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
region. Sony also ran a TV commercial campaign,
with one advertisement shot at
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Laguna Seca Raceway (branded as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and previously Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) is a paved road racing track in central California used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, built in 1957 near both Salinas and M ...
. It featured a real
Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 competing against a person playing ''Gran Turismo'' in the passenger seat.
The real Corvette was driven by
Rhys Millen
Rhys Millen (born 6 September 1972) is a New Zealand-born racing driver.
Nephew of IMSA GTS driver Steve Millen, son of Rodney and older brother of Ryan, is one of the America's top competitors in drifting. Prior to that he was a top rall ...
while
Tanner Foust
Tanner Foust (born June 13, 1973) is an American professional racing driver, stunt driver, and television host. He competes in rally, drift, ice racing, time attack, hill climb and rallycross with multiple podium placements, national championshi ...
drove the same car in the game.
''Gran Turismo'' is available as both a
Universal Media Disc
The Universal Media Disc (UMD) is a discontinued optical disc medium developed by Sony for use on its PlayStation Portable handheld gaming and multimedia platform. It can hold up to 1.8 gigabytes of data and is capable of storing video games, ...
(UMD) at retail and as a digital download from the
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store (PS Store) is a digital media store available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 game consoles via the PlayStation Network.
The store offers a range of downloadable content ...
.
Users are able to install part of ''Gran Turismo'' on their memory stick. The install takes about 1GB of space. The UMD still needs to be in the PSP's UMD drive to run the game. The loading times of the game are drastically reduced after installing.
Reception
''Gran Turismo'' received "mixed or average" reviews, according to
review aggregator
A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews of products and services (such as films, books, video games, software, hardware, and cars). This system stores the reviews and uses them for purposes such as supporting a website where users ...
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
.
It was praised for still featuring the same realistically handling cars for the console games (which has improved from the
GT4 version) as well as having a large number of cars, including AI improvements, but it was criticized for not having a traditional career mode nor the ability to upgrade cars.
The game was a commercial success. In its first year it had sold 2.22 million copies worldwide.
On June 1, 2010, the game was re-released as part of Sony's Greatest Hits budget line of video games.
As of September 2017, ''Gran Turismo'' has sold 4.67 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling PSP games.
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gran Turismo (2009 Video Game)
2009 video games
Gran Turismo (series)
PlayStation Portable games
PlayStation Portable-only games
Sony Interactive Entertainment games
Video games developed in Japan
Video games with custom soundtrack support
Racing simulators