Gran Turismo transitions virtual drivers to professional race car drivers
Kazunori Yamauchi, head of Polyphony Digital previously revealed that helping racing enthusiasts make the leap from gaming to reality has been his life long dream. It looks like this goal will get a boost with a new reality TV show that will revolve around Gran Turismo 5.
Polyphony Digital (PD) holds a training event called GT Academy where the top Gran Turismo racers get an chance to learn to become a pro racer car driver. Usually the gamers with the top lap times on the leaderboards become eligible for the event.
As reported by Gamasutra and Sony, GT Academy will return for a third year and will take place in the US this time around. The competition will be even fiercer with the Speed channel chronicling the events in the form of a reality TV show.
Official registration started on December 6th and the preliminary rounds will make use of Gran Turismo 5 to test driver skills. The top 32 drivers will be invited to a live Gran Turismo 5 National Finals, with the top 16 earning a spot at GT Academy Boot Camp.
As you may recall, participants in 2008’s GT Academy Boot Camp, were flown to Dubai to race in a professional 24-hour endurance challenge race in 2009. GT Academy not only trained those video game racers but also helped them get their official real-life racing licenses.
The team took an astonishing second place during the race with Lucas Ordonez, Gran Turismo gamer, driving alongside British racing legend Johnny Herbert.
Herbert stated: “Lucas did brilliantly, producing a mistake-free drive under big pressure. He has achieved everything we had hoped from him and proved that it is possible to make the transition from virtual racing to the real thing.”
Excerpt from last year’s GT Academy story:
As Lucas’s confidence grew and his lap times improved, it was difficult to believe that just four months ago, the only racing cars he was driving were in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on PlayStation 3. Many people at the event were surprised at how comfortable he has made the transition from virtual to reality, but not Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi.
It is a dream come true for me to see my game develop a real racing driver,” he [Yamauchi] said. I have been hoping for it to happen for ten years.
Lucas’s performance has been excellent, but I would expect that from a driver trained using Gran Turismo. I haven’t had much time to watch him drive but he is very calm and never seems to worry. I always believed that someone good at GT could drive as fast as a professional; in fact, I think that they could even go faster.
Lucas, who had the honour of guiding the Nissan 350Z GT4 racing car over the finish line, beamed as his teammates and family crowded around him……”
As revealed in Yamauchi’s interview with Top Gear, making a racing simulator that can bridge the gap between the virtual and real-world has been a dream of his since childhood. This is one of the reasons why Yamauchi and PD have invested so much into building the Gran Turismo franchise.
Crafting a racing sim as realistic as Gran Turismo 5 is probably a feat Polyphony Digital could only achieve. The studio has invested massive resources by building its own test track to map each vehicle’s performance and braking into the simulator and to also fly to every track location around the world to map out the courses
The race tracks in Gran Turismo 5 are so authentic, professional race car drivers have praised the accurate braking points on the track. It takes two to tango as super accurate tracks will only get you so far. Luckily the realistic handling and braking power of each vehicle in GT5 have complimented the tracks nicely leading to real life lap time improvements.
In addition, the studio helped design the 350Z for Nissan and has a professional Playstation racing team. There really is no other studio that is as closely integrated into the professional racing scene than Polyphony Digital.
With the success of GT Academy, Yamauchi’s vision comes full circle by providing the means through a video game for anyone with a racing passion to become a professional race car driver without being super rich.
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38 Responses to “Gran Turismo transitions virtual drivers to professional race car drivers”
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December 19th, 2010
As a former amateur autocrosser and highway stormer, I can personally admit that it was always GT’s dedication to emulation of reality that drew me to the franchise. Gran Turismo 5 has raised the bar again, giving me some of the same rush and thrills that I used to only be able to attain when behind the wheel. Sure it isn’t perfect, but it has that something that no other game has been able to give me, that brings back the raw dynamic thrills of racing, in some ways. Sure I don’t feel the Gs or the burning in the arms when playing a racing game, or smell the exhaust and hot rubber, but when drawn into the moment of an intense race, I can almost fool myself into feeling the rest of it.
Great article, more indepth than most as of late, and a real treat to read. I am assuaged with the knowledge that I havent been fooling myself via fanboy delusions, but truly enjoying a masterpiece of racing simulation. Awesome.
December 19th, 2010
So what holidays are people taking?
I can’t play games more than 5 minutes.
I’m taking the next two weeks. Kind of a waste with broken wrists.
December 19th, 2010
No holidays for me this year, too much to do at work, probably take them in feb-march or something.
December 19th, 2010
So… is this game worth buying? I loved GT3, but I’m hearing so many mixed opinions on this one. >_<
Only reply if you actually own the goddamn game.
December 19th, 2010
@Saber
I owned the game and if you loved a GT game before you are definitely going to love this one..
December 19th, 2010
Where is Kev when you want to shove something in his face?
December 19th, 2010
Lol he won’t show in this thread.
December 19th, 2010
Too bad we can’t take the thread to him. lol
All that shit talking about how GT is unrealistic. If that was true things like this would never happen.
December 19th, 2010
Forza tried it once, but none of their drivers could finish due to the car developing RRoD after 2 laps.
December 19th, 2010
@Rhino
Actually the cars didn’t develop RRoD, they all started to flip over during turns and some of them even started to do nose dives.
I heard 1 car launched up into the air and didn’t come back down for 3 days
December 19th, 2010
it’s hilarious how easily you ps3 fanboys are dubed by marketing.
1. “transition from virtual racing to actual racing”? uh…you’re conveniently leaving out the fact the driver has also gone through required high speed driving that was actually responsible for being an “actuall” driver. hilarious how you clowns actually are convinced a TOY can be used to teach actual drivers how be actual racers…lmao…
2. PD “helped” NISSAN 350z. Meanwhile you ps3 fanboys are claiming they designed (singlehandidly) cars for Nissan AND Audi. Priceless… btw; what are did PD “help” Nissan with on the 350z? hee, hee…
3. Praising the braking points of a tracks is nice but falls far short of the reported “photorealism” the ps3 fanboys are claiming.
4. it’s funny the ps3 fanboys are ranting about Forza’s physics when they ignored the linked movie showing GT5′s wonky physics in action.
it’s a good thing Kaz didn’t claim he made the greatest game in history.
Mike Ferro would be writing an “aritcle” about that too as it *must* be fact…LMAO…
December 19th, 2010
There’s the Kev we all know and love
December 19th, 2010
sorry, barn….when I see stupidity, on these levels, I can’t help myself.
I’ll bet these guys think Simon Cowell is really a musical expert….lmao.
I almost don’t have the heart to remind the GT5 fanboys that Kaz’s background was in graphic design. The closest he got to automotive expertise was when he designed marketing materials for auto manufacturers….. hee, hee….
The reality is GT Academy is selling on name. That’s why it’s not called Kaz Yaumauchi’s Academy….
the fact that grown men like the resident ps3 fans fall for marketing spin so easily is just too painful to watch without challenge.
December 19th, 2010
LMAO
December 19th, 2010
You are so funny kev.
December 19th, 2010
Hey Kev, learn t read asswipe:
1. GT Academy not only trained those video game racers but also helped them get their official real-life racing licenses.
2. No-one here has claimed anything of the sort. Please provide a link to substantiate your moronic statement.
3. So what about photorealism, the point being that the breaking markers are in the right places in the game and the in-game cars handle as if they would on the track.
4. We’re not forgetting about the dodgy physics ass wipe, hell I even suffered from it last night playing GT5, but all you’ve shown is that 360 fantards like yourself can’t help but take the bait.
And lets not forget who gives a fuck whether Kaz’s background in graphic design or weather predicting. He’s still at the helm of one of the greatest gaming franchises in history, and a huge supporter of motorsport.
The fact that Nissan or whoever turns to them for some help shows the impact they have had on motoring.
“sorry, barn….when I see stupidity, on these levels, I can’t help myself.” Damn fucking straight fanboy, thanks for making me laugh.
But don’t fret Kev, I’m sure there’s bound to be a Kineytoy academy of some sort comlplete with shitty shovelware and tons of lag.
You and CAD can go blow a couple of nuts together, might even find true happiness lol lol.
December 19th, 2010
OWNED!
December 20th, 2010
Seconded that OWNED
December 20th, 2010
@Kev
You are a disgrace to everything that is 360.
Please remove the Xbox controller from your anus then go outside and get some fresh air.
And a life
December 20th, 2010
Not good when the xbots call you a disgrace to the 360. Lol
December 20th, 2010
Kev. Is ivans evil twin.
December 20th, 2010
@Kev
Here is what Ars Technica has to say about FM3/GT5
“Playing GT5 and FM3 back to back in similar cars on the same tracks makes one thing abundantly clear. GT5 is the better looking game. Let’s start with the cockpit view. There is an evident attention to detail there: the way that your car will vibrate over bumps, the subtle tint you get from looking out behind a windscreen, even the way little bits of grass or dirt get thrown up when a car in front puts a wheel off the course”
December 20th, 2010
Rhino –
1. you obviously haven’t been here long enough to read the insane ramblings from the GT5 fanboys for the last year. I have.
2. Nissan wanted a hud designed by Kaz to resemble a video game. They commissioned him for his GAMING knowledge, genius. He has zero automotive knowledge.
3. There are many racing academies. GT is only one. They do not use a ps3 to train their drivers or they would lose their accreditation pretty quick.
4. The “greatest franchise in history” is an opinion as the Halo franchise has broken sales records not seen by any other game in history. Yes the GT franchise sold a lot in it’s history, but with 9 various games to add to the count. not hard to sell a lot when you’re the only sim on the market for as long as GT was.
Next time but out. EVerything I’ve stated, the fanboys have stated in the past. If you can’t keep up, but out. When I want your opinion, i’ll ask….
Roca – I wonder if that includes the last generation, ps2 cars that were imported into GT5 without proper mapping, lighting or textures….. The cockpit view is nice, but am wondering how many GT5 cars offer detailed cockpit views and since when is that enough to determine the overall graphics of a game.
GT5 also has 2d backgrounds, skidless tracks, screen tearing, poor lighting and mapping in the vast majority of cars and piss poor damage modeling, but the reviewer conveniently left out these facts….
if GT5 was realy as great as you promised, Roca,, it wouldn’t be sitting at 84 at metacritic. Heck, even Xplay gave it 4 out of 5…… hardly worth $60 and a 6 year wait…bleh…
December 20th, 2010
Fahkin – funny. I, and most gamers, believe that you ps3 gamers are a disgrace to gaming.
December 20th, 2010
@Kev
You can’t argue the facts
“Playing GT5 and FM3 back to back in similar cars on the same tracks makes one thing abundantly clear. GT5 is the better looking game. Let’s start with the cockpit view. There is an evident attention to detail there: the way that your car will vibrate over bumps, the subtle tint you get from looking out behind a windscreen, even the way little bits of grass or dirt get thrown up when a car in front puts a wheel off the course”
December 20th, 2010
New GT5 patch now Live
See full list of changes below:
*[Seasonal Events] have been added to the upper left side of the [GT Mode] – [GT Life] screen. From here you can participate in official online events from the Polyphony Digital team. In these events, all participants race under the same regulations, and if you complete the event you will win rewards and experience. In Time Trials and Drift Trials, compete on the leader boards with players around the world.
*An [Online Dealership] has been added to the left center of the [GT Mode]-[GT Life] screen. In here you will find popular and rare used cars. You might just come across that one car you’ve always been looking for, that you haven’t been able to find in the [Used Car Dealer]
*Online Race Rewards and Experience
When you complete a race in the [Open Lobby] or [My Lounge], you will now gain rewards and experience points. Therefore if you are focused more on playing online, you’ll still be able to gain rewards and levels that you need to progress in [GT Life].
*Driving Distance and Number of Wins in Online Races
The driving distance and the number of wins you achieve when you complete a race in [Open Lobby] or [My Lounge] will now affect your stats in [Profile] and the [Garage]. Here again the results from your online play will c*mulate within [GT Life].
*Improved Rewards
The rewards for winning races in both A-Spec and B-Spec in [GT Mode]-[GT Life] have been increased for a limited time only. (This applies until the end of January 2011). This is a great chance for those who were previously having difficulties getting ahead in the game, due to a lack of funds for tuning and purchasing required cars.
*Race Information Display
[Race Information Display] is now available in [Start]-[Quick Options]. (You can also see this in [Race Display] in [Options]).
*Save Data Backup
You can now copy and restore your save data. For details, please refer to the in-game [Manual].
*Personal BGM (Menu)
From [Options]-[Hardware]-[Audio], it is now possible to set the [Personal BGM] (Menu)]. (This can also be accessed from the [Music Library] within [GT Mode]).
*Car Name Change
The official name of “Red Bull X1? has been changed to “Red Bull X2010?.
*Integration with the Website
The main features within [GT Mode]-[Community] can now also be accessed through the “gran-turismo.com” official website.
*[Important Note:]
We have made improvements to the [Log] within [GT Mode]- [Community] section, in order to make its operation more stable. Please note that the information that was here before the update has been reset.
December 20th, 2010
I’m so glad they’ve introduced exp to the online play. This game just seems to get better . . . .
December 20th, 2010
@dans303
I glad they removed the copy-protection for its save file. Now I’ll start playing more often since I spend the weekends at my girl’s place.
earning credits and EXP in online races is a nice addition as well.
December 20th, 2010
You guys are throwing bread crumbs at the troll. Don’t give him attention, and he won’t have a reason to post, simple.
December 20th, 2010
@Kev
“Fahkin – funny. I, and most gamers, believe that you ps3 gamers are a disgrace to gaming.”
Funny how you always try to lump me in with the PS3 fanboys.
I am a True Gamer first and foremost. I’m not an Xbot or a PS-fagboy, or even a NintenDolt. I play games, regardless of the system. If I don’t like something I will say so, regardless of the system it is on.
You on the other hand are a retarded XBot.
I hope your 360 gets RRoD for christmas
December 20th, 2010
Kev Kev Kev,
1. I’ve been here a lot longer than you might think. Just because you say so doesn’t actually make it so.
2. Again, I asked you for a link to substantiate you’re claim. Please provide it or shut the fuck up.
3. There are plenty of racing academies, and I never said that they used PS3 to train anyone. Obviously you never passed 1st grade reading.
4. Again, you never actually read what I wrote. Just so that I’m a nice guy and feeling sorry for you today, what I wrote was “one of the greatest gaming franchises in history”. I never said it WAS the greatest gaming franchise. Once again you’ve shown your total lack of understanding or reality.
Next time I won’t but out, and man did I LOl at “When I want your opinion, i’ll ask…”
All you’ve done is prove to the world what a fucking childish tool you are. I’ve seen kids in my son’s first grade class with more maturity than you.
Now how about you man up and provide the link like I asked?
December 20th, 2010
Don’t bother Rhino, he will only respond with bullshit and ignores the core points of any argument. And when he is asked to back up his bullshit he goes silent.
Kev is pure fluff, and not worth a second of effort.
December 21st, 2010
Hey Kev, I know how you’ve previously stated how GT5 didn’t have skid marks on the track.
Well you obviously never played it, cause check out the following 2 pictures.
My 850+BHP Lambo on the Rome circuit.
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/onihR/Rome_1.jpg
And 2 laps later
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l232/onihR/Rome_2.jpg
Ohhh look at that…skid marks.
December 21st, 2010
Roca–
I really find it amusing you defend GT5 so fervently, but you never play it man!!! Get on the track mate! Fuck these haters on GB, GT5 is brilliant, and only those with the game can offer opinions, you know that.
And I was wondering how you found that Chevelle I gave you. Awesome, no? Oh and Dans– if you need another rematch…
December 21st, 2010
http://www.polyphony.co.jp/english/list.html
Hey kev. feel free to provide the Halo series sales.
December 21st, 2010
@Birdman
GT5 is a time consuming game, I tend to play those when I finish up playing the other games.
Remember it took me 6-8 months to finish both Bioshock 2 and ModNation Racers. It took me a year to finish Dead Space. So even if you don’t see me playing a game right away I will definitely get to it.
I have also been very busy lately (family coming over from NY and stuff) which ain’t helping.
I still haven’t figure out how get the car you gave me. I’ll be playing more often now since I can take my save file to my girl’s place. Let’s see if we can do the “Season Events” together.
December 21st, 2010
@bird
Definately now that there’s exp online. As long as you don’t use the awsome might of your superior cars against me.
December 21st, 2010
Roca-
I think u check the items, but I’m not sure on that. I still have yet to receive a car from a mate online
Stingy buggers…
But Dans, I’ve been modifying lower end cars so methinks we can have a fair-er race LOL but don’t try to fool me–that F1 McLaren is a beast…