B-spec mode

[enphynity]

just saw this on gamestop. looks kinda thrown together to me


The focus of today's Gran Turismo 4 press conference was the game's newly announced B-Spec mode. Compatible with both the Arcade and Gran Turismo modes of play, the B-Spec option will essentially be an all-new way of playing (or not playing) the game. If you select the B-Spec option ahead of any race, you'll basically be choosing not to drive the car yourself but, instead, to just influence the way that the CPU driver in your seat does its job. You'll view the race from the same camera angles used in replays, and you'll determine how hard your driver pushes by hitting buttons numbered one (cruising) through five (driving on the edge). In addition to those buttons, you'll have the option to hit an overtake button that will see your driver actively trying to improve his position, and a button with a large letter "P" on it, which will have your driver pull into the pits at the next opportunity. Now, you might be thinking that the B-Spec mode is going to require you to do little more than stick your car on number five with the overtaking option highlighted. You'd be wrong.

For one thing, the CPU driver in your seat is capable of making mistakes, and is more likely to do so when he's driving aggressively. Yamauchi also pointed out that, in lengthy races, you'll need to look after your tires if you don't want to have to make lots of pit stops. Speaking of lengthy races, incidentally, Yamauchi--while demonstrating the B-Spec mode's Race Monitor screen--mentioned that it'll be possible to speed up races by up to four times, so you could theoretically run the Le Mans 24 Hour race in just six hours. The Race Monitor screen, which updates on the fly, will allow you to check out the current race standings as well as the distances between each of the cars so that you might make more informed decisions as to how to have your driver proceed.

 

[LoudMusic]

So you just copied everything from the article?

Frankly I think it's going to be lame. Much like old Tyco slot cars. How hard do you want to squeeze the trigger? Too hard and it'll fly off in the curves. The fun lasts for about 15 minutes.

Even people who aren't good at driving in GT3/4 aren't going to like this. The fun factor won't be there.

 

[dunkee]

I don't know if I'm gonna like it, but I won't knock it till I try it. I'll def use it for endurance races.

 

[LoudMusic]

I guess it could be nice to sit back and watch the races.

 

[Dev_Zero]

I don't know if I'm gonna like it, but I won't knock it till I try it. I'll def use it for endurance races.

yeah it could be useful in endurance races alright. But only if you don't have to say when the AI needs to pit all the time. I hope the intelligence of the AI is high enough this time around so it can make better choices.

 

[TwinTurboJay]

Maybe the intelligence level will increase with every win, so by the time you get to the endurance races, your AI dude can do it himself !

 

[Jugend]

This was not something I excpected to come from PD, I thought they were trying to make the best DRIVING simulator. Sounds boring this Bspec feature, and as LoudMusic said, kindof like slotcar racing.

 

[shorty2white]

Well, let me offer my own humble opinion about B-spec.

Look at it this way: If you watch any of the upper tier forms of motor sport, strategy is an important part, almost as important theese days as the actual driving. Watch any modern F1 race and you'll see that the "Race Engineer" can make or break a race. As good as my hero Schumacher is as a driver (and he's damn good) Ross Brawn's superior pit strategy has been the reason for a fair share of Schumi's wins. Pit Strategy also plays a huge role in NASCAR. I think it will be a great secondary mode, that will explore the strategic side of racing. Something that's overlooked by alot of people.

-David

 

[Kutscher80]

That´s Right!!

Racing Strategy is in the formula very important!!

I would like to use this "bspec" mode for Races
on Tracks I don´t like. Seattle for Example.

 

[Nemo2]

They just keep pumping all these minigames into it, makes me think either the normal career part is perfect or their trying to compensate for something...

 

[Robin]

^ when you say the word minigames it reminds me of mario party!.......*shivers with horror*

 

[Sven]

This was announced one and a half years ago. It was called GT-TV then.

I think it will be pretty neat as an extra, and I can see how some people who are just simply car nuts but aren't into the physical act of racing could really get into this, but I don't think I'll use it much. It'll be nice for enduros though...getting hungry? set it on autopilot and go eat!

 

[SaintKamus]

useless feature that just delyaed the game more.... i see photo mode a tad more useful, even though i think it's worhtless too because all cars look stock (what's the point of taking a pitcure of a car if it looks the same in evryone else's pitcures?)
car personalising would make photo mode a tad more fun, i can't belive they went for these useless features instead of giving players online capability, just goes to show where their priorities are.

but how about that new mountain track? hope it drives half as good as it looks.

 

[F310B]

Still it will be a laugh for a little while, not take it seriously but just watch what happens when you order the AI to 'drive on the edge' for a whole endurance race with no pitstops.

 

[Scaff]

i can't belive they went for these useless features instead of giving players online capability, just goes to show where their priorities are.

A bit harsh, PD appear to have work damn hard to get GT4 on-line, only having pulled it because of un-resolved prolems that would have failed to deliver the high stndards we expect. The delay to fix it would have pushed the lauch date back even further (and well into 2005).

The new features look far from useless to me. As an avid photographer the photo mode looks great and even if the cars are stock it still takes more than a few clicks to get a good photo (composition being the main thing).

Also the B-spec feature reminds me of Grand Prix World (an F1 management sim) and sounds like it will considerably increase the life span of the game. Personally I will go with two games saves and run each mode side by side, gives me a choice depending on my mood.

 

[Jedi2016]

It sounds like an interesting feature, but probably one that's more for novelty than anything else, and that's probably all I'll use it for.

I'm guessing it will be flawed right out of the box, simply because it's an AI driver, even if we're the ones telling him what to do. Most likely, you might try using it to win an endurance or some such, get fed up with how lousy the computer's driving, then get behind the wheel yourself to take the race.

It'll probably just be something I fiddle with when I'm bored.. controller in one hand, pizza in the other.. hehe.

 

[Lambo88]

Just another crappy mode like the Photomode. PD just waisted their time with these features, about 5 % of the palyer will use it. And if I want to watch a good race, i'll watch it on TV, there will be more than 6 opponents.

Sounds like a cheap 👎 👎 👎 replacement for their online failure, a kind of plan B, ya know.

Just useless, It's a driving game, not a watching game. If you don't want to drive, don't play the game.

See ya

 

[Mr P510]

To everyone winjing about Photo & B-Spec mode....there are options not to indulge and play familiar sim mode. I think PD have done a great job with all these new modes....bring it on.

 

[35mm]

It sounds like an interesting feature, but probably one that's more for novelty than anything else, and that's probably all I'll use it for.

I'm guessing it will be flawed right out of the box, simply because it's an AI driver, even if we're the ones telling him what to do. Most likely, you might try using it to win an endurance or some such, get fed up with how lousy the computer's driving, then get behind the wheel yourself to take the race.

It'll probably just be something I fiddle with when I'm bored.. controller in one hand, pizza in the other.. hehe.

Exactly what I think. 👍
It will be "make it or brake it" for AI.

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

There's no mention about Qualifying. Does this mean the AI will qualify too? Or will PD give you the chance to Qualify and get the car up into a good spot? Sounds like a stupid question I know, but it had to be asked.

 

[Hikari]

When you tired, B-spec will be a pretty good thing.

 

[240Z]

I actually really like this idea. The whole idea of being like the race team manager and "running the show" as it were sounds interesting. Should be a good addition.

 

[hellnback]

To me the appeal of B-Spec is doing the game via B-Spec after you've completed the game as a player...

Who said GT4 will have no replay value???

 

[ALPHA]

The reason for the B-Spec mode is to make the game more accessible to those who aren’t so much as good drivers themselves and for those who are too lazy to do endurance races.

I quite like this new feature because it will help you to develop strategies for your own success as a driver. Yes it sounds like a dumb idea but if you can master pit stops, settings, fuel levels, tyres, oil and track position on an AI car you will be set to do it yourself. With all these new variables in GT4 it is going to be hard to keep track of them while you’re in the heat of racing, that is if the AI is any decent. So if you can keep track of everything and win in the B-Spec style of racing it is going set you up and make it when you drive the races yourself, a hell of a lot more enjoyable. Or boring, you choose.

To me B-Spec mode if it is supposed to make the game more accessible to those who can’t drive, don’t some of the races need specific licenses? If Joe Bloggs can’t drive his way out of a box he has no chance of getting these licenses to access the races. So B-Spec becomes rather obsolete.

And photomode is a brilliant feature, deal with it. If you think by adding photomode it has cut down on the AI performance it hasn’t. I don’t think the AI algorithm programmers will be involved in the development of photomode. The photomode programmers will be instead. So eat it.

 

[Caligula1]

Also the B-spec feature reminds me of Grand Prix World (an F1 management sim) and sounds like it will considerably increase the life span of the game. Personally I will go with two games saves and run each mode side by side, gives me a choice depending on my mood.

Yeah I was thinking the same. I'd probably run B spec save a little/lot behind my main save game.

 

[JohnBM01]

If you ask me, I think this is rather unique. It's kind of like my college football game. Sometimes, I don't even play the game, I just watch and listen to the wonderful commentary by Brad Nessler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit. Pick some teams, watch them play, repeat. Anyhow, I kind of like this option. And Alpha's points are well-stated. I guess if you are good and just want to set up a little race, you can. Just lay back and do some coaching. I made a topic in this forum called "Coaching." And in that, if you're not really good at one part of the track, you can be coached to do better, and even learn how to better attack the corner. So, I'm going to like this.

As a bit of off-topic detail. My goodness. I'm not really big on China, but that Shanghai road course is a thing of beauty! And I think the JGTC may go there after this season (not to mention the race at Fontana, of course). To all involved in the Shanghai circuit, congratulations on a job well done! (murmuring) Now let's see this track in GT5!

 

[RedOak]

I rather like this system too. Its really a 'race manager' mode, just like Football (europeen) or football (american) games... or any other types of managers for that matter.

Another thing that would make this mode even better, is if an Online-mode is eventually released (2005), there could be an option to have a player race and a player manage. Good for groups/clans/guilds. Interesting to have little icons on your screen and someone talking to you, telling you where opponents are, and suggest strategies for the duration of the race. I'd get a kick out of that.

Its a first and one of a kind mode, and opens up an all new aspect of the racing sims out there. It kind of reminds me of Microsoft's Flight Simulator, where there was this addon you could install that would let you run ATC (Air Trafic Control)... You could actually join ATC servers, where a player would host a game, and be the ATCer and guide you through your landings and stuff, it was really cool.

 

[Impreza04]

I've read this in a magazine over a year ago, it wasen't exacly the same, it said:
You train a driver, the more experienced, the more he can push without making mistakes and the faster he can go. it mentioned you could train a team, but with only 6 cars, whats the point of teams.
I think this is a great idea I hate 2 hour endurances, especially in rome. Although, I still want to save part way through an endurance race.

 

[yeti]

Do you know what I want...

I want the ability to be able to switch in and out of A-spec/B-spec during pit stops...

So you race the first stint... throw it into the pits and let the Computer take over for a while whilst you rest... then you can pick it up again and carry on.

C.

 

[Kutscher80]

Yes, Yeti is right!

If that works, 24hour Races are possible!! (if the AI is good enough...)

That would be great!!