Grand Valley Returns to Gran Turismo 7

[PJTierney]

This is the discussion thread for an article on GTPlanet:

Grand Valley: How Gran Turismo’s Legendary Circuit Has Changed for GT7​

One of the biggest items in the v1.29 update for Gran Turismo 7 is the reappearance of the famous Grand Valley circuit after a little over five years away...

Good breakdown.

I think the name Grand Valley Highway is a clear statement on the design overall.

• Speedway was a race track, with all the trackside furniture (kerbs, runoff areas, wide roads) you'd expect from a circuit.
  
  
• Highway on the other-hand, is essentially a closed road course. There's little to no "racetrack furniture" to be seen, the road itself has lane separation lines etc.

The only commonality between both really is the road layout, but based on the replies in here it's the scenery that people remember/like most about Speedway.

 

[Vspectra]

 

[jergto]

I miss the Original Grand Valley, but didn't really like the track like I love Apricot Hill or other missing original tracks.

But if you've driven highway 1 going to Big Sur imo you will love this track. I just wish they added a layout where you can let the car rip, there's a section going to Big Sur where its actually a valley and can let the car rip. I will be taking my cars there for sure.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I miss the Original Grand Valley, but didn't really like the track like I love Apricot Hill or other missing original tracks.

But if you've driven highway 1 going to Big Sur imo you will love this track. I just wish they added a layout where you can let the car rip, there's a section going to Big Sur where its actually a valley and can let the car rip. I will be taking my cars there for sure.
View attachment 1234206

I need to get down here again. Haven't driven south of San Jose in years.

Still not a valley.

 

[Yui-san]

One fun thing to do with the new Grand Valley is recreating the Tour d'Elegance.

Sadly I could only afford the Miura...​

 

[jonoholland29]

I guess Americans think a valley is what I would call a meadow or something - a big flat piece of grass? (Which could well be in a valley)

Because the layout of Grand Valley Highway is most certainly in a valley, if not multiple valleys. I mean it even says Valley on real maps

 

[RobertHammer]

I guess Americans think a valley is what I would call a meadow or something - a big flat piece of grass? (Which could well be in a valley)

Because the layout of Grand Valley Highway is most certainly in a valley, if not multiple valleys. I mean it even says Valley on real maps

Grand Valley Returns to Gran Turismo 7

The emphasis on coastal scenery is sure to ruin the element of nostalgia for me. I liked the old location, but this is only a familiar layout in a completely different place. The world has enough games with a scenic coastal highway. Maybe merging with race track elements, such as the run-off...

www.gtplanet.net

 

[jonoholland29]

Grand Valley Returns to Gran Turismo 7

The emphasis on coastal scenery is sure to ruin the element of nostalgia for me. I liked the old location, but this is only a familiar layout in a completely different place. The world has enough games with a scenic coastal highway. Maybe merging with race track elements, such as the run-off...

www.gtplanet.net

I’ve read that - and reacted to it. I’m just confused by all the it’s not a valley posts because, as that article implies, and the pics in this is thread suggest, that it is based on Highway 1 which runs along the coast through Big Sur Valley - which is surely where the name Grand Valley comes from, no?

 

[jergto]

I guess Americans think a valley is what I would call a meadow or something - a big flat piece of grass? (Which could well be in a valley)

Because the layout of Grand Valley Highway is most certainly in a valley, if not multiple valleys. I mean it even says Valley on real maps

People need to look up definition of a Valley. Either way they can cry all the want, the name is the way it is.

This section between hills and some river run offs is 100% a valley.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I’ve read that - and reacted to it. I’m just confused by all the it’s not a valley posts because, as that article implies, and the pics in this is thread suggest, that it is based on Highway 1 which runs along the coast through Big Sur Valley - which is surely where the name Grand Valley comes from, no?

Maybe it's because I've been there a few times, but this area is dominated by bluffs and cliffs into the ocean and mountains with some coastal plains. There are valleys, technically, but it's not exactly the main event. Looking back at the track, the course is nearly entirely along bluffs and doesn't seem to include anything resembling the actual Big Sur Valley. To me it would be like locating a circuit in Central Park, New York, and calling it "Deep Forest". Yes...technically there is a wooded area there, but it's not really the prominent feature.

It's just weird to me. A valley is a long, low-lying area surrounded by mountains or hills on both sides. While these are part of the central coast it's not a really apt description of the region from a macro level, which from Pismo to Monterey is nearly entirely bluffs and cliffs and mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. When I think of a truly identifiable valley, especially "Grand", I think of ones like

The Central Valley
Napa Valley
Salinas Valley
Silicon/Santa Clara Valley

In all of those, the "Valley" attribute is the most prominent geographical feature around.

I've drawn a red box around big Sur (and surroundings) here with the terrain showing. It's a rugged mountain range that plunges into the ocean. It's represented well in that respect by the circuit. In blue, I've circled the Big Sur Valley - really the only area along highway 1 where the road is actually surrounded by hills on both sides. If you're looking at this I think it's pretty obvious that calling this area "Grand Valley" makes zero sense. Yellow highlighted areas are actual valleys prominent enough to be identifiable on a map and named - with the Salinas Valley being the one closest and the very grand Central Valley off to the right (which extends 50 miles wide to the Sierra).

I'm not mad it, but it just seems incorrect.

 

[Since80three]

This is just Highway number 1 so who knows what other tracks they have in mind in this "Grand Valley". Highway 2? Grand Valley Highway connecting 1 and 2? A new "speedway"? Valleys are big so plenty to create. They also could just offer a "historic" version of the track.

Is rain an option on the track? Haven't played it as of yet.

It is actually on the real life HWY 1 and Bixby Bridge here in Norcal. You could be right, but assumed they named it HWY 1 to base it off of the real location.

 

[jonoholland29]

Maybe it's because I've been there a few times, but this area is dominated by bluffs and cliffs into the ocean and mountains with some coastal plains. There are valleys, technically, but it's not exactly the main event. Looking back at the track, the course is nearly entirely along bluffs and doesn't seem to include anything resembling the actual Big Sur Valley. To me it would be like locating a circuit in Central Park, New York, and calling it "Deep Forest". Yes...technically there is a wooded area there, but it's not really the prominent feature.

It's just weird to me. A valley is a long, low-lying area surrounded by mountains or hills on both sides. While these are part of the central coast it's not a really apt description of the region from a macro level, which from Pismo to Monterey is nearly entirely bluffs and cliffs and mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. When I think of a truly identifiable valley, especially "Grand", I think of ones like

The Central Valley
Napa Valley
Salinas Valley
Silicon/Santa Clara Valley

In all of those, the "Valley" attribute is the most prominent geographical feature around.

View attachment 1234241

I've drawn a red box around big Sur (and surroundings) here with the terrain showing. It's a rugged mountain range that plunges into the ocean. It's represented well in that respect by the circuit. In blue, I've circled the Big Sur Valley - really the only area along highway 1 where the road is actually surrounded by hills on both sides. If you're looking at this I think it's pretty obvious that calling this area "Grand Valley" makes zero sense. Yellow highlighted areas are actual valleys prominent enough to be identifiable on a map and named - with the Salinas Valley being the one closest and the very grand Central Valley off to the right (which extends 50 miles wide to the Sierra).

I'm not mad it, but it just seems incorrect.

I think that probably explains it - it’s a locational thing. Wales in the U.K. is colloquially know for its valleys - which is nothing like you have described.

I think most likely Grand = Big, they dropped the Sur bit as it doesn’t translate and added Valley to make Grand Valley.

 

[Tired Tyres]

I'm not fond of it but I'll get used to it in time. The GT3 version will always be MY Grand Valley.

Since each of the changed tracks in listed as American or European that opens the door to PD releasing the original routes based in Japan with the new routes being licensed to other countries...

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I think that probably explains it - it’s a locational thing. Wales in the U.K. is colloquially know for its valleys - which is nothing like you have described.

I think most likely Grand = Big, they dropped the Sur bit as it doesn’t translate and added Valley to make Grand Valley.

It's interesting that they would fictionalize it as much as they have, considering the fairly faithful recreation of the place and the fact that it's actually located on the globe where the real life location is. It's not any less transformed of a location than T10 or PG typically do while those developers stick with the real world names. They could have easily called this "Big Sur Highway 1" or "Big Sur Speedway"

The whole thing is a bit of an oddball. They can't really call it something else owing to the fact that the layout is nearly identical to the old Grand Valley but it's really not that circuit at all. I'm glad the circuit exists but I wish it wasn't Grand Valley. They should have located that one in like maybe the Willamette Valley up in Oregon (now THAT is one hell of a Grand Valley) and called this one something else.

Kaz works in mysterious ways.

 

[tre]

Kaz works in mysterious ways.

To me it almost seems like he has fallen partially out of love with racing and is now more or less just obsessed with teaching car culture and photograhy. To me as someone who has played GT from the start Photo Mode is killing the racing game it was and is turning it into a photo travel with cars game. Maybe Photo Mode should have been spun of as a separate title where the locations have the real roads of the area to drive on instead of shoehorning pretend race tracks into them.

And I still don't like neither the looks nor the feel of GVH...

 

[dimassa19]

Something I really don't know: is the original Grand Valley really situated in a valley?

 

[OJBrit]

California has some very diverse landscapes.

I never said it didn't. Just that there is less diversity in the game by having loads of circuits situated in one small area of the map. It's already looking very crowded on all 3 maps.

 

[Magog]

I never said it didn't. Just that there is less diversity in the game by having loads of circuits situated in one small area of the map. It's already looking very crowded on all 3 maps.

My point was as long as the vistas and scenery is diverse the arbitrary difference between being in a fictional part of one state or a fictional part of another isn't that important.

 

[cjr3559]

I love the new version. Narrow lines, no curbs, elevation changes, blind curves, tunnels, bridges, big scenery.

And the amazing long corner coming out of the tunnel on the short reverse version. It’s like the first turn at Daytona RC but better.

And I’m still reeling from Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen. The track list in GT7 is becoming one of my favorites of all GT games.

 

[Magog]

I love the new version. Narrow lines, no curbs, elevation changes, blind curves, tunnels, bridges, big scenery.

And the amazing long corner coming out of the tunnel on the short reverse version. It’s like the first turn at Daytona RC but better.

And I’m still reeling from Road Atlanta and Watkins Glen. The track list in GT7 is becoming one of my favorites of all GT games.

It has a terrific flow. The laps feel shorter than they are which is funny because I remember the laps feeling like they took forever in the older versions of Grand Valley.

 

[Sprite]

It’s certainly a track I’ll be using quite a bit. As I’ve said Previously it’s got good flow with lower powered cars.

 

[Destroy321]

 

[Nielsen]

It has a terrific flow. The laps feel shorter than they are which is funny because I remember the laps feeling like they took forever in the older versions of Grand Valley.

Strange you’d say that, because I was thinking the opposite a few days ago. The old circuit had sectors that felt distinct from each other because of subtle scenery changes, and this made laps feel more interesting. The new track is just green and brown all over the place, and nothing stands out apart from the bridges.

 

[polizei]

I don't mind the track but it's not Grand valley speedway. Was really hoping to see it come back as I have amazing memories snail racing GVE years ago.

 

[Magog]

Strange you’d say that, because I was thinking the opposite a few days ago. The old circuit had sectors that felt distinct from each other because of subtle scenery changes, and this made laps feel more interesting. The new track is just green and brown all over the place, and nothing stands out apart from the bridges.

Old track was just some grass and trees. The new one has the ocean, wildlife, cliffs, escarpments and 100 times the detail.

 

[Nielsen]

Old track was just some grass and trees. The new one has the ocean, wildlife, cliffs, escarpments and 100 times the detail.

The old track also has all the things you say the new one does, and on the old track it felt varied.

More detail is a really odd counterargument, because Grand Valley Speedway would most likely have had the same level of detail as Grand Valley Highway 1 if they had chosen to properly remaster the old track.

 

[polizei]

Having such fond memories of grand valley speedway snail racing AND having driven that section of highway 1 dozens of times really felt weird turning this on and running a lap the first time. I went in blind and had zero knowledge that the track had been completely reworked. It's grown on me but I really wish they would give us speedway.

 

[CarreraGT]

Have to say, I am enjoying this circuit far more than I thought I would. I was disappointed at first that they hard turned into more if a road circuit, but it's got a great flow to it

 

[narutaki]

I really like the new Grand Valley. I think the elevation changes help out quite a bit in terms of flow. I really like the California scenery. I'm trying to figure out if you can drive off the cliff at the first hairpin.

I've been playing GT since GT1, though GT2 was the one I sunk the most time into. I never had much nostalgia for the old Grand Valley Speedway. It just looked like a mix of Japanese race track and 'gotta hide the bad draw distance'. The blue bridge is cool and some of the arena like grandstands are nice. But even the PS3 update never did it for me.

 

[05XR8]

True, the versions up to GT6, still looked like it is in no man’s land. I can also understand how many aren’t feeling having to look at brown rock for parts of the lap. To me, it comes down to racing in PSVR2. Sure, not everyone has it(PSVR2) and may still be getting used to it. After reading how GT7 was designed for VR, that’s when everything, about the visuals, is making sense why those things look the way they do.