Do PD and Kaz realise how many customers they are losing ?

[stucar17]

not sure if this should go in another thread, but here goes anyway....

I race in a league, 3 divisions (about 40 odd racers), and am frustrated by the number of guys that are dropping out of the racing due to GT5 issues with both the network and also the lack of updates to the game itself.

Put simply, people are losing interest in the brand, and i dont think that PD or Kaz get it. I know they have been hit hard in Japan, but as a business and GT5 brand surely they owe it to their 'customers' to keep us informed of upgrades and game improvements. I know that this season we have started to race on the reverse tracks because the others have been done to death. (i will be raising the possibility of a series on custom tracks to refresh things with our guys)

Things like new tracks would invigorate things, as well as refreshing the recommended car list would be a good start. It just seems that so many guys are growing tired of GT5, and i fear that it wont be long till there is only a shell of "competition" GT5 racing left.

Is it just me or does anyone else get the same feel?

Cheers
Stu

 

[STINGer71]

Patience mate, patience

https://www.gtplanet.net/kazunori-yamauchi-on-gran-turismo-5-updates-and-dlc/

https://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-5-online-maintenance-schedule-released/

 

[BarronGeddon]

 

[stucar17]

Yeah stinger all our guys have been talking about the updates but unfortunately it may be too little too late. Also given this info is drip fed to us with no real time lines its understandable that guys get frustrated and get their online racing through other means.

i know that 6 division 1 drivers have dropped out and are now racing another brand.......real shame, i just hope that these upgrades get some of them back

 

[Robin]

I get the impression that PD don't really care much anymore and know they will sell a shed load whatever they put out. I was a big fan of the series but when they released a half finished game after so many years with basic online that would only be impressive 5 years ago it makes you wonder what planet they live on!

As for DLC don't kid yourself, I bet there will be nothing other than bug fixes and tweaks. Kaz even said a while back that DLC content for GT5 would be very unlikely and the way they work your lucky if it will make it in to GT6.

 

[AmyUD06]

I don't understand how they're "losing customers" when GT5 is one of the best-selling PS3 games. And as "disappointed" by GT5 many were, I'd bet a large sum of money that it won't dramatically impact sales of the next installment.

If EA and Activision can continue to plop out re-hashed crap each year and continue to sell their franchises, I don't see why this would be any different.

The die-hard fans of the series will get the game, because it will be awesome (just like GT5 is) despite the inevitable flaws and "missing things" that will come with a game of this magnitude. Maybe some casuals will have been turned off by GT5, but in 3-5 years there will be a whole new slew of them ready to buy.

Remember how we went 3 years between GT3 and GT4 with absolutely nothing? GT5 had twice the content that GT3 did at launch, has had substantial updates thus far, and hasn't even been out a full year yet. Just because most companies love to saturate the market with over-priced DLC 6 months after release, and refuse to patch glitches outside of those DLC packs, it doesn't mean PD needs to follow suit.

 

[Robin]

If EA and Activision can continue to plop out re-hashed crap each year and continue to sell their franchises, I don't see why this would be any different

PD are almost turning into EA except the re hashed stuff comes out each decade! They are never going to loose customers just like EA never does with the big franchises like Fifa which with every installment barely changes. As you said die hard fan will always buy the game regardless and PD is complacent because of this.... that and the fact there is no direct competitor on the same console.

Its a real shame because with a few more staff and less treating the game like 'art' it could be so much more.

has had substantial updates thus far

I personally wouldn't call any update GT5 has had so far as substantial, its just been fixing and tweaking. New cars, tracks is substantial.

 

[AmyUD06]

Its a real shame because with a few more staff and less treating the game like 'art' it could be so much more of a generic racing game with no character or soul.

Fixed that for ya, because that's what would happen if the underlined part was the case.

 

[AmyUD06]

I personally wouldn't call any update GT5 has had so far as substantial, its just been fixing and tweaking. New cars, tracks is substantial.

Remote races?
Seasonal Events? (virtually an unlimited supply of events, pretty much silencing complaints of "there isn't enough to do.)
Racing Suits/Helmets? (people complained there wasn't enough customization)

New cars and tracks are what's substantial to you, and yes to perhaps a large bit of the "gaming community." However inconsequential they are to your enjoyment of the game, those have been pretty large things. And they were free updates.

Yes, more courses would be good...and some newer street cars would be nice too. But even when you discount varying trims and years of one car, there's still 500+ unique vehicles in the game. Have you already mastered every one of them?

 

[Robin]

Remote races?
Seasonal Events? (virtually an unlimited supply of events, pretty much silencing complaints of "there isn't enough to do.)
Racing Suits/Helmets? (people complained there wasn't enough customization)

New cars and tracks are what's substantial to you, and yes to perhaps a large bit of the "gaming community." However inconsequential they are to your enjoyment of the game, those have been pretty large things. And they were free updates.

Well as you said its a matter of opinion but I feel those GT5 updates offer nothing special over any other franchises functionality, updated online events and customization are nothing new for most racing games with both long and short dev cycles.

 

[mr_serious]

Remote races?
Seasonal Events? (virtually an unlimited supply of events, pretty much silencing complaints of "there isn't enough to do.)
Racing Suits/Helmets? (people complained there wasn't enough customization)

Seasonal Events? These are just glorifed license tests. How many real 'racing' formula can you name where 1 guy always has to start at the back 30 seconds behind first place with no qualifying and then 'catch the pigeon'?

The only content in GT that is even close to racing is organised online racing. Everything else is more 'arcade' than any game I have seen in years.

As a Die Hard GT fan from the GT1 onwards I can tell you - I have moved on just as Kaz has. I think he would prefer to remove tracks and race cars from the game all together and really make it simply a 'driving' game.

I will never blindly buy a GT version again as I no longer have any confidence that PD care about actual racing at all.

 

[steve30x]

I thought all this whinging and crying would have died off by now. No matter how GT will be there will always be the ungreatful few that are never happy. I personally love the game and cant see what all this crying is about. Maybe they brought out GT5 the way it is because of all the cry babies that couldnt hold on until the game was completely finished.

 

[mikekhel30]

Here's a thought, how many GT5 players would still buy GT6 with the current state of GT5? This might sound to ridiculous, but I will probably still buy the next GT whenever that comes out despite with all the missing contents in GT5.

 

[mr_serious]

I thought all this whinging and crying would have died off by now. No matter how GT will be there will always be the ungreatful few that are never happy. I personally love the game and cant see what all this crying is about. Maybe they brought out GT5 the way it is because of all the cry babies that couldnt hold on until the game was completely finished.

Thanks for that incredibly constructive post.

I feel so ashamed that I prefer racing against a competetive field to an arcade game with no racing but some lovely barbie suits that always tries to make sure everyone is a winner.

 

[Gejabo]

Here's a thought, how many GT5 players would still buy GT6 with the current state of GT5? This might sound to ridiculous, but I will probably still buy the next GT whenever that comes out despite with all the missing contents in GT5.

I'll buy it for sure

 

[steve30x]

Thanks for that incredibly constructive post.

I feel so ashamed that I prefer racing against a competetive field to an arcade game with no racing but some lovely barbie suits that always tries to make sure everyone is a winner.

I dont just play GT. I play rFactor , NetKar Pro , Live For Speed , NFS Shift 2 , Forza 3 , Dirt 3 and most racing games once they arent too arcadey I will play it. I am not a picky game player. Once its fun to play I dont care what it does or doesnt look like nor do I whinge if it doesnt have other features some other racing games have. I just get on with the game playing.

Here's a thought, how many GT5 players would still buy GT6 with the current state of GT5? This might sound to ridiculous, but I will probably still buy the next GT whenever that comes out despite with all the missing contents in GT5.

I will buy GT6.

 

[AmyUD06]

Thanks for that incredibly constructive post.

I feel so ashamed that I prefer racing against a competetive field to an arcade game with no racing but some lovely barbie suits that always tries to make sure everyone is a winner.

GT has never, ever been about "racing against a competitive field" of AI opponents. If that's what you're looking for, you've been playing the wrong series. It's also never been an "arcade" game, and has always featured some of the most realistic driving physics found in a console game.

GT isn't for everyone, never has been. It's been for automotive enthusiasts, who enjoy getting a chance to drive real street cars they might not otherwise, in addition to drive cars they see on an everyday basis in a track/race situation. For those who enjoy the little biographies on each car. For those who appreciate detail. Not for those who just want to race in dedicated racing machines.

GT1-3 were not high-profile games for their respective systems, and neither was 4 to a great extent. Somehow, 5 got hyped up into something that would be impossibly satisfying to everyone.

 

[DingoDile]

I get the impression that PD don't really care much anymore and know they will sell a shed load whatever they put out. I was a big fan of the series but when they released a half finished game after so many years with basic online that would only be impressive 5 years ago it makes you wonder what planet they live on!

They bought Nascar & WRC licenses , but where are they ?! only a Nascar Event and 3,4 Jeff Gordon School ! where are the rally events ?!!!!! rally in GT4 was on of the best features i experienced in my gaming life but in GT5 ... only a few schools and 4,5 races ?!!
GT5 have a very beautiful day/night cycle but how many races used it ? how many races we had in Chamonix or Toscana & Night circuits ?
+1000 cars & about 30 tracks (and more in course maker) but how many events ?!!!
I want to play with Chaparral & many other Standard cars but I cant access them because of ridiculous random list of cars !
I agree with you ! I wonder what planet they live on ...

 

[steve30x]

They bought Nascar & WRC licenses , but where are they ?! only a Nascar Event and 3,4 Jeff Gordon School ! where are the rally events ?!!!!! rally in GT4 was on of the best features i experienced in my gaming life but in GT5 ... only a few schools and 4,5 races ?!!
GT5 have a very beautiful day/night cycle but how many races used it ? how many races we had in Chamonix or Toscana & Night circuits ?
+1000 cars & about 30 tracks (and more in course maker) but how many events ?!!!
I want to play with Chaparral & many other Standard cars but I cant access them because of ridiculous random list of cars !
I agree with you ! I wonder that planet they live on ...

Picture Deleted (Apparently its childish because somebody didnt like it )

 

[mr_serious]

GT has never, ever been about "racing against a competitive field" of AI opponents. If that's what you're looking for, you've been playing the wrong series. It's also never been an "arcade" game, and has always featured some of the most realistic driving physics found in a console game.

If that's the case why did they even bother with AI opponents?

We'll have to agree to disagree.

I enjoy racing stock cars as well as race cars and if the racing is good then reading the little details about the cars is nice etc...

GT1's was quite challenging, license tests etc.. the AI weren't particularly sophisticated but the digital controller made it quite a challenge and there was nothing else that could come close on a PS1. It pretty much instantly gained legendary status - even being mentioned in songs etc..

The sales weren't massively high because racing games are always niche. A lot of people find them too hard and can't ever seem to come to terms with the fact that in a field of say 20 cars, only ONE can win & why should that automatically be the player?

GT2 had dumbed down handling and was horrbly buggy and they still hadn't improved the AI.

GT3 despite people screaming about the poor AI it still didn't improve, however they did move back towards better handling.

GT4 was probably the best of the lot (at least for me personally) the PP point was well implemented and at least in quick races you could set the AI level by number rather than easy medium & hard

The GT series used to have qualifying, where's that now?

The GT series has gone from a series that was about racing, with some extra stuff. To a game with extra stuff & no racing.

I'm glad you guys enjoy it, but I am completely disillusioned by the direction PD is taking GT.

I no longer play it - I prefer S2U, F12010 even grid & dirt are more enjoyable.

Finally if you think GT is in anyway realistic you are fooling yourself - no tyre physics modelling, no damage (hence no consequences from mistakes - very realistic!). Why is ot so hard to roll a car? Why does it happen in slow motion?

GT's handling is simply based on heuristics, not a mathematical system designed to give a constistent interaction with it's virtual environment.

You touched on the reasons for this yourself. Racing simulator games are niche as I said before, but they wanted a mass market flagship product for the PS3. So they released an incoherent dumbed down game with virtually all the actual racing removed.

I expected the museum, helmets, race suits, and all the other fluff to be additional goodies on top of a decent racing game.

I was very very disappointed.

 

[stano666]

It's ridiculous a game needs patches, updating, etc. Imagine buying GT5 and not having internet! That says enough.
Greetings stano666
PS: DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE..,

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Figure they were losing people but I doubt they care much right now, I'm sure they have a plan for F1 2011 and FM4 releases to keep people interested. I doubt it will work though, especially when new games with different features come to the scene for people to play.

 

[steve30x]

Dont they have better things to think about right now anyway. How about them moving offices or Fukishima that is still leaking radiation. Jesus some of you are selfish cry babies that only care about your own needs and not the needs of others. Get over yourselves.

 

[mr_serious]

Dont they have better things to think about right now anyway. How about them moving offices or Fukishima that is still leaking radiation. Jesus some of you are selfish cry babies that only care about your own needs and not the needs of others. Get over yourselves.

Any chance you could stop resorting to insulting people for having a different view from yours?

Maybe you could find that real racing formula that they base the format of the seasonal events on instead?

 

[steve30x]

Any chance you could stop resorting to insulting people for having a different view from yours?

Maybe you could find that real racing formula that they base the format of the seasonal events on instead?

How many times have I insulted anybody in this thread or in my other posts so far? I state fact and if you dont like it then its an insult?

 

[mr_serious]

How many times have I insulted anybody in this thread or in my other posts so far? I state fact and if you dont like it then its an insult?

Jesus some of you are selfish cry babies that only care about your own needs and not the needs of others. Get over yourselves.

That's a fact is it? I consider that to be an opinion and a rather insulting one at that. Simply dismissing my legitimate complaint on the fact that you like the thing that I don't like.

I didn't bother quoting your earlier posts but I make it twice.

 

[steve30x]

That's a fact is it? I consider that to be an opinion and a rather insulting one at that. Simply dismissing my legitimate complaint on the fact that you like the thing that I don't like.

I didn't bother quoting your earlier posts but I make it twice.

Yes it is a fact. They are moving office and Fukishima is still spreading radiation. I stand what I said though and if it gets me banned then so be it. Also you cant be bothered quoting the sencond post because my posts are only insulting because you dont like to face the truth.

 

[DingoDile]

Dont they have better things to think about right now anyway. How about them moving offices or Fukishima that is still leaking radiation. Jesus some of you are selfish cry babies that only care about your own needs and not the needs of others. Get over yourselves.

only care about our own needs and not the needs of others ?!!
PD had 6 years (from GT4) or 4 years (from TT) in their hands but they made only 220 cars , some tracks , outstanding physics & unused features. GT5 hasnt mechanical damage in A-Spec until now (mechanical damage for a sim in 2010 !). lots of technical problem from shadows to frame drop & absent features from GT4 . what did they do in these years ? you can search for another crying baby pic but GT5 wasnt that perfect game we expect from PD (developer of 2 best racings of all time) after these years.
and months after GT5 , we havent any news about GT6: Prologue or even a real information about GT5 DLCs ...

 

[steve30x]

only care about our own needs and not the needs of others ?!!
PD had 6 years (from GT4) or 4 years (from TT) in their hands but they made only 220 cars , some tracks , outstanding physics & unused features. GT5 hasnt mechanical damage in A-Spec until now (mechanical damage for a sim in 2010 !). lots of technical problem from shadows to frame drop & absent features from GT4 . what did they do in these years ? you can search for another crying baby pic but GT5 wasnt that perfect game we expect from PD (developer of 2 best racings of all time) after these years.
and months after GT5 , we havent any news about GT6: Prologue or even a real information about GT5 DLCs ...

Oh no lets sue them over that then. Honestly I dont care about all that. At the end of the day its the needs of yourselves you are thinking about there. Its only the minority of people care about this. If you have proof millions of others who bought the game that care about those issues then I would like to see that proof , because the only proof I see is 9,667 on the feedback that have issues with the game where the game sold a few million.

You want news about GT6 prologue. Well I wouldnt blame them if there isnt one , becvause GT5 got flamed for being a glorified demo and then there is the issue of people complaining that its taking so long etc.

Just get on with your whinging guys while I sit back and watch.

 

[Ya Pops]

Just get on with your whinging guys while I sit back and watch.

Good call, but we all know that isn't going to happen.