However, I never said that GT is the best sim ever.
Didn't accuse you of saying that, I was just explaining how the game is marketed at a more mainstream audience than a hardcore PC sim. Therefore - the graphical wow factor takes a much bigger focus as a feature (as it isn't a specialty niche title), no matter how you feel about the physics being 'good enough' to sell you (personally) on the game.
GT has always had amazing graphics, you might like it mainly for the physics, and I think many would agree with you - myself included, but the graphics have always been there as a core feature that was always better than the competition. GT5 is the first one where the graphics (and many other aspects) haven't been the pinnacle of this console generation. That is why people are disappointed, if you've been there from GT1.
If you still enjoy the game, thats really great, but it is a personal experience. It doesn't make GT5 close to being as good as past GTs, or not disappointing for many.
I just said that physics are good and the driving experience is great. I am sure that iRacing and rFactor surpass this on PC. But on the consoles I struggle to find the game that will beat GT5. Forza? Dirt? Grid? For me, GT's the best.
Of course, on console the physics are the best, I agree. Thats why I get so disappointed that as a *game*, PD didn't do anything approaching the hype. GT5 had clear potential to define the perfect driving/racing game for years, just with a better game structure, a sense of fun (no grind), more enjoyable races, and graphics quality that was at least consistent and not jarring. It just didn't get there. This is not the AAA game that was promised and waited for, and not even slightly a finished game, which is just horrendous. Again, great if you can find joy in it, but it doesn't excuse the faults.
I usually have relied on GT to fill my racing desires for years after each release, but this time? I just don't have any inclination to play it, it is just too broken for me. Its like my favourite racing title turned into a really bad grindtastic RPG overnight. It just isn't a game I want to play!
About graphics -- a great selling point, I agree. But are you really interested in such "selling points" as a gamer?
Yes, and anyone who says they don't care about graphics, are mostly lying. Everyone loves great graphics, they just don't admit it readily. I agree other aspects are more important (like the actual gameplay content and physics etc). But that doesn't mean graphics don't hugely affect your experience. Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, you love graphics. Any game without AAA graphics in the marketplace generally doesn't do that well. Even more so for a racing game. This is a business reality, and why developers spend so much time trying to make their game stand out graphically.
I'm sure that driving in GT5 is definitely superior to the graphics -- much like in iRacing and such. And let's not forget that PD were building this engine from the scratch using new and unknown hardware technologies.
Of course the driving is the main focus, it is a driving game. Again, doesn't mean graphics aren't hugely important, regardless of whether they are important to you or not. As for the engine excuse, that is the same for ANY PS3 developer. Learning a new console is of course a big challenge, but GT5 came out yeeeeaars after launch. I mean, come on!
Naughty Dog says hi...
never ever will we know what they think!
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well, you can't!
