Are Fictional Courses Good for the Gran Turismo Series?

[Stevisiov]

I think that fictional circuits are a good thing because they allow Polyphony the opportunity to create a circuit that challenges the player moreso than your average circuit. Because let's face it: given the choice between racing on El Capitan or racing on Motegi (Road), most people are probably going to choose El Capitan. There's a much greater variation of corners and they can produce much mor interesting results sometimes. That's not to say all the real-world circuits should be scratched, but moreso that the diversity should compliment one another. Beause real-world circuits aren't always that great; to me, Laguna Seca is very over-rated. The only really interesting corner is the left-hander before the hill up to the Corkscrew (which I consider to be a bit like GOLFINGER: the one everybody knows, and it's got a few iconic parts scattered throughout it, but the rest of it is about as interesting as bat droppings); fictional circuits subvert that because they create the potential for much more demanding gameplay.

+1

Not to mention visuals, because almost 90% of all world circuits has no scenery at all.

Without "original" (ficitional, such as Midfield, Grand Valley or HSR), city (from night SS and R circuits, to Lodnon) and nature circuits (also fictional, from Trial Mountain to Eiger) GT would not be 50% of what it is.

+1

I say bring back ALL of the fictional courses from GT1-4, including variations (like GT1/3's SSR11), but don't add any new ones. New tracks should be real world only, or demolished tracks that had existed in the past. I understand that GT wants to become the Real Driving Simulator, and for that to happen it must have all of the tracks in the world, but it would be a sad day if PD/KY ever decides to scrap the original fictional tracks, seeing as the first ever GT has fictional tracks only.

Honour what started the legacy 👍.

+1

It's quite hard to add to that.

For me the fictional tracks add a lot to the game, sure its great to see more and more real circuits like we got in GT4 but keeping the fictional tracks coming is also equally important. I am hoping to see a return of previous fictional tracks which have disappeared from the series.

 

[TheCracker]

I just hope that GT5's track count doesn't go too far towards adding real circuits at the expense of not introducing many, or any, new fictional ones.

As much as i love the idea of being able to drive the world's best real-life circuits, with a few exceptions, it's the made-up ones that look prettier and generally flow much better. 👍

 

[Christhedude]

In my opinion its not a good idea.

I use racing sims (GTR EVO and GT5P) for practicing real life racing tracks that i haven't driven on yet.
For example at one of my last races in Doha / Qatar i had to get GTR2 and download Losail track so i could learn it before i get there in real life.

PD should keep away the fictional tracks but add more real life tracks, or at least as an payable add on after wards. The more real tracks there are, the better of a racing sim / practice it gets!

Chris

 

[Stevisiov]

I just hope that GT5's track count doesn't go too far towards adding real circuits at the expense of not introducing many, or any, new fictional ones.

As much as i love the idea of being able to drive the world's best real-life circuits, with a few exceptions, it's the made-up ones that look prettier and generally flow much better. 👍

Agreed, I want a good mix really, the fictional circuits allow courses that aren't necessarily feasible due to building a race track high in the mountains in the middle of a forest, the fictional circuits look good, flow well and are fun to drive.

Of course there are big pro points real circuits too, the opportunity to drive a 'real car' on a 'real track' is a great thing, perhaps a track you have tracked before or spectated at.

I think good variety is very important. For me fictional tracks do a lot more than simply make up the numbers.

In my opinion its not a good idea.

I use racing sims (GTR EVO and GT5P) for practicing real life racing tracks that i haven't driven on yet.
For example at one of my last races in Doha / Qatar i had to get GTR2 and download Losail track so i could learn it before i get there in real life.

PD should keep away the fictional tracks but add more real life tracks, or at least as an payable add on after wards. The more real tracks there are, the better of a racing sim / practice it gets!

Chris

A can certainly see with where your coming from, certainly it can be a benefit for you and other race drivers. The majority of people who play Gran Turismo however, are not real racing drivers so the benifit of learning a real track without going there, is lost.

I like real tracks, but the fictional courses are so well designed that I like them a lot too.

 

[TheCracker]

I've not got a problem with PD adding more real circuits - for me they can add every single real-life circuit that's ever existed. But i don't want all their effort heading in that direction at the expense of dramatically cutting down on new fictional ones.

Like you've said Chris, there are racing sims out there that are more dedicated sims than Gran Turismo ever will be and are great at simulating real tracks. and that's where you can go if you want or need that sort of thing.

For me Deep Forest / Trial Mountain / Midfield > Motegi / Fuji / Laguna Seca.

 

[Fruitcake]

3 words: Grand Valley Speedway


(not my video)

 

[Aloha62_2]

Personally i have always preferred PD's own tracks, probably goes back to playing autumn ring, high speed ring and then grand valley with a silly smile on my face as a kid.

As much as i like the real tracks i have much more fun on the PD customs, a lot of the real tracks are just dull or naff.

 

[TAFKADY]

I'd be devastated if they should drop Trial Mountain. The track that has the least changes through the whole GT series of all tracks as far as I remember. I used it as a test track. I dominated the AI. My first track moment in GT3 was at Trial Mountain in a Altezza.

Please keep Trial Mountain! Please don't change it! The Mini Green Hell!

 

[premhz]

Yes they are and they are all good tracks,however i`m sure all of us have done a billion laps on HSR,Grand Valley,Trial mountain,deep forest etc From GT1 to GT4/5P. Maybe some new fictional tracks are they way to go??

 

[Aloha62_2]

bring back red rock and i will be happy.

 

[Kinetic]

I think the Fictional courses define what Gran Turismo was and is all about, and the heritage and pedigree that these courses have gained is testament to how well designed and important to GT they are.

They will be incorporated into GT5 and so will the real life tracks which add a bit of balance, but as been said before, the limitations of health and safety stop the real tracks from being as exhilirating as the fictional tracks.

Trial mountain feels so intuative and smooth that i'm sure it will find its way into GT5 so will the majority of the old fave's aswell as hopefully some new fave's

 

[balang_479]

bring back red rock and i will be happy.

Yes... Red Rock!

 

[Tenacious D]

I think the Fictional courses define what Gran Turismo was and is all about, and the heritage and pedigree that these courses have gained is testament to how well designed and important to GT they are.

They will be incorporated into GT5 and so will the real life tracks which add a bit of balance, but as been said before, the limitations of health and safety stop the real tracks from being as exhilirating as the fictional tracks.

Trial mountain feels so intuative and smooth that i'm sure it will find its way into GT5 so will the majority of the old fave's aswell as hopefully some new fave's

I was going to quote one or two lines, but the whole thing reflects my opinion. From way back in 2005, a month after GT4 came out, I began speculating with a few of you on GT5 and what it should have. And one of the first things I mentioned was including ALL of the fictional tracks from the previous Gran Turismos, and some new ones besides. These guys know racecourse design, and as has been stated before, with a fictional track you don't have to adjust your dream course to the landscape.

After lasting a decade and more, and becoming one of the world's favorite franchises, Kazunori has to celebrate this lineage by including all the content from the previous games in this anniversary game, including those marvelous fictional tracks.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Yeah, just imagine Deep Forest and Trial Mountain with the new lighting, how the sun will shine through the trees while youre driving with high speed through the fast corners.
Or in Citta di Aria, with the shadows of the buildings. 8)

 

[Kinetic]

I want HD Trial Mountain and i'm glad you liked my sentiments and i agree entirely with your post Tenacious

 

[Antti-san]

I don't mind fictional circuits, as long as they look realistic and are well designed.

 

[Tenacious D]

I'm imagining Grindelwald and Red Rock Valley in high definition, and I really like what I see. I hope both of those make it into GT5, but no less than any of the others. I want every single track of Gran Turismo lineage in GT5.

 

[Antti-san]

I'm imagining Grindelwald and Red Rock Valley in high definition, and I really like what I see. I hope both of those make it into GT5, but no less than any of the others.

It'd be nice to see Red Rock Valley return, but I'm a little bit sceptical about Grindelwald making a comeback. That's because Eiger Nordwand is almost identical (well, almost, you get the idea!).

But then again, you never know with PD!

 

[G.T.Ace]

Well Grindelwald is a village directly at the Eiger. 8)

 

[Kazanski]

I find most of the fictional tracks to be quite boring...eiger is garbage. I also find their real world track selection as pretty terrible. Where is Monza, Spa, Bathurst, Adelaide, Brazil, Gilles Villeneauve, Silverstone, Hockenheim? I don't find Fuji or Tsukuba that fun to drive.

I did like some city tracks like new york & Citta di Aria in gt4, but ones like Tokyo and Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul Central, the long rally one around the beachfront, and alot more were so wide and boring. Also, sick of the ones from Gt1...I thought HSR would be cool in GT5P, but its just boring.

 

[TeamStig]

I think the Fictional courses define what Gran Turismo was and is all about, and the heritage and pedigree that these courses have gained is testament to how well designed and important to GT they are.

This pretty much sums it up for me too. I would like to see most of the classic GT courses return, even at the expense of most real world circuits.

I'm not saying real world circuits are worthless - far from it. But as much as I love Gran Turismo, it will never be a hardcore, full-on, punishing racing sim, nor do I want it to be. That's what the PC is for. Don't get me wrong; this isn't criticism directed at GT or Polyphony. The series should continue to evolve and improve. But I don't want Gran Turismo to be something it's not.

By that I mean that in GT5 I want to see the staples of the franchise, including fictional tracks, fictional racecars, and yes, even the hugely underrated elevator music in the menus

 

[xStretch-]

I think a mix of both is the right thing for GT.

I would be far from satisfied if the fictional tracks were not in the game as I like some of the fictional tracks more than the real ones. But I agree GT needs some more real ones like SPA and Monza etc to bring a element of realism to the game.

The fictional tracks in GT over the years have become part of the game since we started on GT1 and we all have grown to love them. A few new ones would be nice but I really hope they re make all the old tracks as its part of GT's history.

Sometimes I wish Trial mountain was real its that good .

 

[Nomino]

If you had been locked away and never knew of any real-life courses, ALL courses in the game could be considered fictional. Only the fact that you KNOW some courses are based on real-life, and have either been there or seen them on TV, influences your thought process. So, the debate is a moot one.

All that really matters is how good a course is to drive around. There are real-life courses in the GT series that I think are naff, and there are also some fictional courses in the game that I think are naff. The fact that they are real or fictional is completely irrelevant. Having said that, I happen to think Trial Mountain is one of the best tracks PD ever devised, so in the regard, yes, fictional courses are good for the GT series.

 

[semilife]

Definately yes. The developers/designers can potentially create certainly very interesting tracks as well as technically very testing tracks which may not otherwise exist in reality.

 

[Lucas]

Absolutely. Midfield Raceway, Deep Forest Raceway, High Speed Ring, Special Stage Route 5 are some of my favourite tracks in GT4, so I can positively say they are good for Gran Turismo.

 

[nissman]

Grand Valley for me is one of the best tracks that I ever driven in a racing game.I hope PD includes all fictional tracks in GT5.

 

[kjb]

Red Rock from GT2 is my all time favorite fictional track. As a matter of fact most of my favorite tracks in GT are fictional.

 

[Monkey House]

What can I say? I love Trial Mountain. It's where I started in GT3

 

[Earth]

Of course they are good, the more tracks the better, yet the fictional courses in GT have been hit and miss.

Grand Valley (GT1-3 layouts. GT4 layout is overly technical and too slow), The Special Stages, High Speed Ring, Autumn Ring, Trial Mountain, Apricot Hill, Deep Forest, Tokyo R246, have all been great fictional courses in my book

Hong Kong, London, Seoul Circuit, El Capitan, George V. Paris, and New York have all been misses in my opinion.

SSR11 (GT3) is my favorite PD fictional course. It's long, not overly technical, flows well and driving it feels like you're going somewhere

 

[G.T.Ace]

El Capitan a miss? I think its incredible, one of the best fictional tracks ive ever seen in any game. I agree about HK and NY though.