for PlayStation®3
On the evening of Thursday 27 March Sony Computer Entertainment UK launched Gran Turismo 5 Prologue™ for PlayStation®3 in spectacular style, bringing the most realistic of driving games to life in the heart of London. An underground car park at London’s Marble Arch was transformed into the GT5 Pit Lane with an incredible array of cars, all featured in GT5 Prologue, on show.
The GT5 Pit Lane showcased a range of highly sought after cars including an Audi R8, Aston Martin DB9, Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper SRT10, Ford GT, TVR Tuscan Speed 6, Ford GT and a Ferrari 599.
The latest version in the Bafta award-winning Gran Turismo series, available from today for the suggested retail price of £24.99, is available both on Blu-ray disc and as a download from PLAYSTATION®Network (PSN).
The release marks the 10 th anniversary of the Gran Turismo® series, which has sold almost 50 million copies worldwide to make it the world’s most successful gaming franchise. Now backed by the graphical power of PlayStation 3, the stunning High Definition format of GT5 Prologue is poised once again to set a new bench mark for driving simulators.
Providing another feather in Gran Turismo’s cap, the event doubled up as the first official UK appearance of Nissan’s brand-new GT-R, a car on which Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi was invited to become a key member of the development team. The Gran Turismo team designed the GT-R’s ‘multi function meter’ that allows the car to inform the driver of the vehicle’s condition.
The sensational 480bhp, 0 to 62mph in 3.6 seconds GT-R is already on general sale in Japan and in racing form scored a 1-2 finish on its debut in the hotly-contested Japanese Super GT Championship. It will be launched in the UK in 2009, but customers can ‘road-test’ the car on GT5 Prologue, the world’s most realistic driving simulation game, while they wait!
The Marble Arch setting for the GT5 Pit Lane was highly appropriate for the game. For the first time the GT Series includes a London city circuit that enables GT fans to roar through Piccadilly Circus, race down Shaftesbury Avenue, hammer past Charing Cross, speed around the National Portrait Gallery and rev their vehicles via Trafalgar Square. Other tracks include the Swiss mountain Alp Eiger Nordwand, the legendary Daytona International Speedway in the USA, the High Speed Ring, andJapanese Grand Prix venues Fuji and Suzuka.
A grand total of 71 of the hottest vehicles from the world’s most iconic manufacturers – all officially licensed, including Ferrari which make its debut in Hi-Def graphics. There are also all-new driving physics for the most lifelike driving experience ever as well as new and improved opponent artificial intelligence for the toughest race challenge yet. For the first ever time in the franchise, there is an online multiplayer option – where up to 16 players go head-to-head against players from all over the world on PLAYSTATION®Network (PSN).
And then there’s GT TV - a dedicated online channel, packed with news and content from the world of motoring and motorsport. Downloadable content will also be available on GT TV. For example downloads will include 40 episodes from the cult BBC Top Gear programme. You can also take a browse through the Gran Turismo museum where you’ll find virtual exhibits on the history of many of the world-class car marques that have starred in Gran Turismo.
Gran Turismo 5 – the full title – launches in 2009. Until then, there’s enough ultra-realistic, high-speed racing in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on PS3 and it’s out now! To find out more, visit www.granturismoworld.com.
Key Features Overview:• The first ever Gran Turismo title with online racing: drive online against up to 16 other Gran Turismo aces• Race a total of 71 stunning, high-performance cars• Race the Eiger Nordwand, the Daytona International Speedway, the London City Track , the Fuji Speedway, Suzukaand the High Speed Ring - and then race them in alternative layouts• All-new physics engine means true next-generation vehicle handling• All-new and improved AI opponents for a nail-biting race experience• Access to Gran Turismo TV : a world of great motoring TV programming online• In-game museum featuring the history and heritage of the top car manufacturers• My Garage - a personalised homepage feature with calendar, clock and map & weather of major race circuitsworldwide• Quick Tune facility allows you to adjust power, tyres, suspension and more• All in stunning High Definition at 1080p• Drift Mode – The player’s drifting technique is measured based on drift angles, racing lines, and speeds withinevaluation zones located at various turns on the course• In Depth Car Tuning – Players have the ability to adjust the vehicle’s performance, including power, tyres, suspensionand the ability for quick tuning whilst racing• Two-player Split Screen Racing – Allows players to race head-to-head offline• New Race Events – Online racing fans can join in on a new set of scheduled events and time trials
