2011 U.S. GT Academy champion Bryan Heitkotter has been featured in a short documentary as part of Polygon’s “Human Angle”, a web series which highlights important and unusual people in the video gaming industry.
(Curiously, the series is sponsored by Microsoft as they promote their Internet Explorer browser.)
The feature presents a side of Bryan that GT Academy followers don’t often see, offering a look at his championship-winning autocross career and the relationships he’s maintained with people in grassroots motorsports, even as his professional driving career has taken off with Nissan.
Watch the video feature above, or head over to Polygon for the full article. Thanks to @Redswipe for the tip!
See more articles on Bryan Heitkotter.
anyone knows what app is using the tablet in those cars @1:42 mins
Kinda cool considering I have an autocross career as well.
Amazing feel good story I tried to share it with my social media peeps but, I got an error. I’ll try see if its on YouTube because I know my Motorsports fans will feel it..
are you a The Simpsons Family? )))
Great video.
+1,
and there was great cars!
GT6’s is getting announced this week , I haz my sources !
We shall see
you better be telling the truth! :)
or we will use force! :)
Driving Gee Force! :D
Gran Turismo has given hope and turned dreams into reality for these young people like Bryan. Other games are just that: “games,” whereas the GT series goes the extra mile. I love GT5 and cannot wait for GT6. My only hope at this point is a bit more communication from the PD team as to their plans for the next GT game. But I wish them and these cool drivers all the luck in the world.
Yeah, but that’s actually a fault with GT though. Spending all this time promoting the Academy is taking away time that could be used to make a (better) game.
+1 HarVee
Yeah. Good luck to this guy, whoever he is, but real people like us get screwed because of it. To hell with GT Academy, or at least hire a team that takes care of it so the rest can work in what 98% of GT fans are interested in: THE GAME.
I feel the same as harvee
except that PD had a side team working on the last GT Academy. the one before that wasn’t even close to be as elaborate as that one.
@Husky You don’t think they do already have a separate team who takes care of GT academy? I don’t think a bunch of programmers and artists would have anything to do with it for example.
-1 HarVee
As a cg artist in the industry I know that the promoting of these events etc. relies very little if none on that of the hard working artists and coders grueling to bring your racing games to life behind the scenes. Yes they may create the “games” for the competitions that are used for these events but think about it…they are essentially using material that has already been created for the existing game on the market or new material that PD has been great about implementing into the current game. I don’t know of any other companies that have worked so hard to continue working on an older game such as GT5 with their continued support.
I’m sure the reason you hear very little, next to none on GT6 is based on marketing decisions, because even the hard core fans of the series are quick to bitch, especially when there are delays! Look at this site for example…I see more complaining and whining then I do praise for an absolutely great game! Yeah, it could be better…but so could all games! I think PD is much smarter then given credit for marketing wise along with Sony. Right now they have launched into new territories that do give these racers an opportunity to launch into their careers and I think that’s great! Not to mention it gives you some cool cars to play around with and in the last case a new track.
Sorry for taking the long route to the point, but I doubt this really slows production down that much from the art/code side of things if any at all. I’d rather them take their time and release something great then rush things out and release something mediocre. Please don’t take this as an argument but rather just a few pointers from the industry side of things and probably business decisions that relate to past troubles (think of GT5) related to delays, etc. I think Sony and PD are doing a great job and rather excellent job at keeping things hush hush in terms of development which is killing us with anticipation. Cheers mate and I hope this puts things into perspective a little. ;)
Good luck Bryan.
GT Academy hasn’t came to Australia :(.
This Year im hoping my bros from “Down Under” get their chance Reshiram.
I was literally less than 80 spots away from winning GT Academy 2012. this year I might make it in! And Bryan, you’re amazing!
Really? thats pretty cool
I was 34th… Blows. But you’re right, lets be positive!
I wish him a successful, long career.
Good for him :D
Cool