https://youtu.be/jmR1qGbk6Uo
Although it has been many years since Polyphony Digital released its first Gran Turismo game on Sony’s powerful PlayStation 2 platform, we still remember it as if it was only yesterday: the impact it left, the presentation it offered. Today marks the 15th anniversary of Gran Turismo 3’s European release, so join us on a trip down memory lane.
The project for a next-generation Gran Turismo title began under the codename Gran Turismo 2000, but was subsequently changed to Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec due to a prolonged development period, requiring the game to be released a year later than originally planned.
The game launched in 2001 as a much different title compared to its predecessors. In place of the sprawling garage of GT2, players were met with a smaller list of largely modern cars: less than a dozen were from the 80’s or earlier. The cars lucky enough to make the cut utilized the new system’s extra horsepower however, presenting surprising amounts of automotive detail. Metallic paints sparkled in a way players hadn’t seen before, which in combination with meticulously-modelled cars increased the joy of (virtual) car ownership to a higher level.
Despite the smaller count, Polyphony made strides to curate a broad selection of cars. In terms of road vehicles, strong bonds with the automakers were highlighted with early access to cars. The Acura RSX, for example, launched in the real world barely before the game found its way onto shelves in Japan. The Lancer Evolution VII had only just recently gone on sale, alongside its WRX STI nemesis also featured in the game. The latest sports car concepts from Mazda and Nissan appeared, paving the way for the Concept series of titles that came after.
Most (in)famously, GT3 saw the inclusion of not only open-wheel formula cars, but Porsche and Lamborghini. The F1 cars were given different names, which just so happened to make deducing their origins all the easier: The F090/S was Senna’s V10-powered entry from 1990; the F686/M, the turbocharged six that Nigel Mansell steered for Williams.
Lamborghini arrived in the form of the Diablo JGTC racer for Japanese players, but a licensing issue scuppered its chances of appearances elsewhere around the globe. Similarly, the Porsche 911 GT3 was buried deep within the code, available only to those with game-modifying items like the Action Replay. Mechanically quite similar to the RUF RGT that also debuted in the game – and owned by Kazunori himself at the time – it remains the only time a Porsche has appeared in a Gran Turismo title.
Stronger hardware allowed Polyphony to implement things it simply couldn’t do before. For the first time in the series, the team managed to develop a different weather condition. Although the feature was limited to only one track and required a reduced number of AI opponents, Special Stage Route 5 looked amazing all soaked, boasting some of the most impressive water effects of that time.
There were other advancements outside of improved graphics. The Data Analyzer, for instance, allowed the player to make direct visual or graphical comparisons between two laps of their choice, and check their progress across multiple sectors. The Special Dynamic Replay mode turned our races into music videos, adjusting its visuals according to the beat of the music that was playing.
GT3 was the first installment in the series capable of running at 60 fps during all races. The first Gran Turismo hit the same target in the vaunted Hi-Fi mode, but it was limited to only one car on track at the night circuits. This increase in framerate performance allowed the game to significantly out-do GT2 in terms of overall presentation and the flow of the gameplay.
As ever, physics were an important part of the equation. The car handling model received significant improvements, modelling oversteer and wheelspin more realistically than ever before. However, cars remained relatively easy to operate to keep the fun factor high for casual players too. A good balance between realism and approachability was always a hallmark of the Gran Turismo series and in GT3 it was further refined.
Just as the physics themselves came in for improvement, the methods players used to drive them were tinkered with. Steering wheel support became a major focus: Polyphony specifically cooperated with Logitech to introduce special GT-branded peripherals. This partnership would expand over the years, with numerous wheels arriving alongside the latest GT installments.
The traditional Simulation Mode featured a massive career, dwarfing the original PlayStation iterations in terms of depth. It became distinguishable for its long championship events and pronounced usage of pit stop strategies during tougher events. Some of the hardest and longest races in the history of the Gran Turismo series were found in GT3 specifically: some of us still shudder at the thought of completing not just the entire Formula GT championship, but even the notoriously difficult one-make Vitz series!
By scoring a technological breakthrough on a newly-developed console, Polyphony achieved remarkable progress in the series, and set a firm benchmark for all future installments of the series. Spin-off titles like the Concept games, and GT4 in particular, benefitted from GT3’s strong foundation. Eventually it also became one of the best-selling titles for the platform – shipping almost 15 million units – and remains the best-selling GT title in franchise history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yVgpRaTvws
GT3 15th Anniversary Competition & Contest
To celebrate this milestone, our Editor Kyle has dusted off his PS2 and revisited the game. Stay tuned for the full details on the competition later today. GTPlanet members with access to GT3 will have a chance to win a prize… but so will those that don’t!
See more articles on Gran Turismo 3, Kazunori Yamauchi, PlayStation, and Polyphony Digital.
Definitely the pinnacle of the series everything just fell into place, especially the less is more approach to car content.
All it’s competitor’s could do was watch copy after copy fly off the shelves. Far superior to any racing game at the time. Still play it from time to time.
I went into a Best Buy, found the last copy in the store, and then found that they were out of memory cards! I went back five days later when they were restocked. But I remember it was tough playing GT3 without a memory card for 5 days. I gotta say, GT4 was even more epic. It had way more cars, tracks, better sound, and just so much more! Kind of how GT2 is to GT. But every GT had its place in time. I can sit and play any GT.
GT3 was the peak of the series. After that the series slowly fell downward. And now the series seems to not know which fanbase to even cater to anymore and feels like it lacks any sense of direction and the only thing that even gets the game recognized is brand logo.
I was just going to reply the same :)
Spot on.
I remember endlessly (like seriously endlessly) driving and fine-tuning my R34 GTR on Laguna Seca to a point where ppl on these boards didn’t believe my lap timing and wanted a video, didn’t believe my screenshot (with a camera) with my timings… Had no way to doing up a video back then and didn’t save the replay.
What happened GT…. i used to love you
Happy birthday Gran Turismo 3 A-spec. I didn’t get you any presents, I’m sorry
I met Kaz at a NYC launch event for GT3…I have a signed copy of GT3, both the case and the CD, I also have a signed racing flag….
I wonder how much money this could fetch? Ive displayed the racing flag in my home ever since that day !
Amazing how time flies, I don’t remember well the first time, but I do remember how this piece of history made muy childhood, kunos to PD and Kaz for those times!!
So GTPlanet celeberates the 15th anniversary of GT3 but not Poly. You know Poly, it’s your best selling game for a reason. Fun, addictive, crazy graphics, huge career… I’m sure that on the 15 million copies, only maybe 1/15 was a true sim racer. Most people don’t care about tyre fle, brake fade.
Amen.
Sony might. Speculations says a classic GT game is heading towards Augusts ps plus free game roster.
Ah, the memories. They only worsen the pain that is caused by this upcoming joke of a game. Personally, i prefer 4, but that’s because my expectations where huge after 3, and they delivered.
I thought 4 was the best I found the cars in 3 would kinda go all over the place but yes a great game and like so many people it was my intro to the series. Only if PD went back to what made 3 & 4 great. 5 had a pretty small offline and 6s is pathetic. But 3 and 4s were massive I still remember so many things about them and I’ve not played it in ages I remember playing for hours on end.
Board Challenge anyone? <3
Jerome
Ah, I have memories of trying to shave thousandths off my full race time in the Spoon S2000 Race Car at Apricot Hill. Such a sweet-handling car.
Speaking of Apricot Hill…
Still my favorite in the series. Any reason to revisit it us a good reason, so bring on that competition.
No complex ring time trials please!
There is no GTS!
GT3-4 forever! I still Connect my G27 to PS2 from time to time and play these two immortal masterpieces…
Heart
I still have this game and plan on finishing up simulation mode and it’s soo much fun playing GT3 I still remember when I was little and could never get past the first race in this game :D
I can’t remember if one of my brothers got it or if it came with our PS2. Three was my introduction to the series. Too young to have realized the awesomeness-ness of this beast though.
Who cares anymore? PD completely ignores their fanbase and is going to vanish very soon with GTSport being a massive failure.
Don’t like? Don’t read.
Same would apply to you and his comments.
The magnum opus in GT series.
Wish GTS to become another 3, but it’s seems not.
Well, time to dust off the PS2, but first…. Uhm, where did I store it again?
First Gran Turismo
Favorite Gran Turismo, and got me into cars and racing.
I remember I got it on my birthday, and I started it up and sat there watching the PAL intro and it was just EPIC (Just a Day – Feeder) and it got me into the band as well!
I remember I would make “wheelie cars” and see how fast i could make them go on Test Course, the TS020 being the fastest for me.
I also remember trying for hours to break out of the Seattle Map, only succeeding once.
Many, many days were put into this game, and yet I’ll never get tired of it. Happy Birthday Gran Turismo 3, there is always a special place for you in my heart.
Also was the first time the 787B was introduced to me, and so began my newfound love for the car and rotaries. Jeez I could go on! This game has given me so many good memories…
It’s not my personal favourite Gran Turismo, I remember being disappointed by the smaller Car Roster etc, with that said it was still a solid game.
But I still prefer 2 and 4 when it comes to Gran Turismo.
IMO this is still the most fun Gran Turismo. Was the first game I ever played on the PS2 and I remember having tons of fun just endlessly doing quick races on Midfield Raceway in different cars (Mostly the A Class sports cars). The handling was easily the best out of all the games, blending realism and arcade perfectly. Still remember the first ever race I did, which was taking the Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (R34) round Midfield Raceway, which I chose because I loved the R33 GT-R in GT1 and 2.
Fun! Exactly. Back when GT was fun and not trying to target the sim racing community.