Episode 16 - Touring Mars
Our guest today is a manager of the Long running F1 Caption Game. Please welcome, Touring Mars!
What has brought you here to GTP? How long have you been a member?
There were a couple of reasons... I joined GTP over 9 years ago, as I was heavily into GT3 at the time. I was also discovering the internet and all its treasures for the first time around then too, including internet forums, file sharing, and an abundance of free pictures of naked ladies. I only really became a habitual user of GTPlanet during the much-anticipated release of GT4, though.
How has GT5 been for you?
On the whole, it's been great. I was slightly disappointed to begin with, but I picked GT5 back up again after taking a fairly lengthy break (in order to finish FF13 - I can't multitask...) and I started to enjoy it alot more. B-Spec remains a perplexing mystery to me, but the sheer gorgeousness of the cars and tracks more than makes up for any shortcomings. While there was (and still is) much room for improvement, it's still an incredibly good game and incredibly good value, esp. given how much work has clearly gone into it. I'm also looking forward to more DLC packs!
What has been your favourite vehicle to drive at the moment?
Uggh, tough choice! But I've always been a fan of Super GT cars, and I currently love using the NSX's - they look incredible, esp. from the cockpit view, and they are ideal for just jumping into for a tight race against the other Super GT's. They also handle like they are on rails, which I like, since I feel like I can push harder in them. They also sound great too.
What about tracks? Are there any particular favorites you have?
Real circuits appeal to me most nowadays - Monza, Spa, Suzuka, Nurb, and Le Sarthe. I particularly love the 24 Hour tracks, though, and I hope there are a few more tracks given the 24 Hr treatment (like Spa, for example!).
Have you played around with photomode at all? If so, how do you like it?
I can see you are a big fan of
my gallery I've always loved Photomode, it's good fun and quite rewarding when you get a good shot! Although some people on these forums have taken it to another level - the skill, creativity, and artistry of many galleries and competition entries never ceases to amaze me. Being able to share your artwork on forums such as GTP turns photomode from a minor add-on to a major feature of the game. I only wish that it was a bit easier - I wish we could upload images straight from the PS3 onto the web from within the game. Also, a Videomode would be awesome too
What is your favourite GT game and why?
Not easy to say, since each one has been a marked improvement on the last. It's a bit like picking which of the 5 pints I had at lunchtime was the best... heck, they were all good!
I would have to say GT3 because it turned me into a GT addict, and is still the only GT game that I ever completed soup to nuts. GT3 was also special for other reasons - a PS2 and GT3 was my gift to myself for completing my Ph.D, hence why I only bought GT3 when it was already a Platinum title. Owning GT3 also aided my flathunting in London, as it was a very cool thing to be able to add to a flateshare! I ended up playing GT3 for hours with my housemates, earning myself the nickname of 'Turismo' in the process. Golding the S license at Laguna Seca remains the hardest thing I ever did in a computer game - I remember celebrating by ordering a Dominos pizza and cracking open an ice cold beer. Great memories *
sniff*
Are there any other video games do you enjoy playing?
GT used to dominate my gaming life back in the GT3 days, but I also enjoy several other games, albeit mostly other racing games! I love WipEout HD/Fury, and I finished FFXIII recently. I also play F1 games and Forza 3. And I'm hoping that Santa might bring me Forza 4 - or an inflatable Kylie Minogue.
Switching over to real life, what do you drive? Is it in the game and if so, how does in compare?
Must confess, I have never owned a car, but I occassionally drive a Citroen C4. It's in GT5 - well, obviously! - but I don't drive it enough in real life, or with a steering wheel in GT5, so I can't really compare them that well. The GT5 version doesn't have sherbet lemons in the glove compartment, nor does it smell of burnt toast, which its real counterpart does occassionally.
Whats your favorite car and what is it about it that you like so much?
Always had a thing for the Ferrari 512 BB - not sure why, but I just think it's a thing of beauty and it's one of the few cars I would actually like to have one day. More realistically, I love the Alfa Romeo 8C.
What's your other hobbies?
Right now, I mostly partake in other forms of gaming - boardgames, card games, dominoes and dice games. I play guitar and write songs, plus I spend vast amounts of my time listening to music. I'm also an amateur astronomer.
Anything else you'd like to say?
Something beginning with S
I've spent the majority of my gaming life playing GT, and most of my internet life on GTP, and it's been a privilege to have been able to do both for so long. Some highlights for me have been: flying to San Francisco to attend SFGTP2 at Smallhorses/itgirlxx's place; attending several UKGTPs organised by Famine; being invited to join the mod staff during the pre-GT4 expansion of GTP; being invited to the weddings of
three different GTP members (OK, so two of them were marrying each other!), and actually being able to attend one of those weddings!; meeting, watching and racing against some amazing GT drivers in person, both in the UK and the US (e.g. all UK and SFGTP attendees!). Also, I'd like to say big props to Kazunori and Polyphony Digital for creating such a fantastic series, and to Jordan for creating such a great community to complement it 👍