Here's my take...
While you seem to look at this more like "they made GT4 and now they are tweaking it to create GT5." I look at it as if "they made GT4 with the PS3 in mind and simply tweaked it to go on PS2."
Although our theories seem similar, yours implies PD is doing little more than tweaking GT4 where as mine implies PD has been doing lots of work for the next project ever since they began GT4.
Really, I feel like GT4 was built for the PS3 and the version we play as "GT4" is actually more like "GT4 beta" and the real GT4 is coming to the PS3 (with everything we expected "our GT4" to have).
Basically, I think they've been working on GT5 as long as they've been working on GT4 and in the end, GT4 was all they were willing to put on a PS2 version of the next GT project.
I half agree with some of what you say here.
My take is that they did great research and modelling for GT4, much more detailed than just what the PS2 could actually use, in prep for future iterations on later consoles.
A lot of work went into the online aspect and AI for GT4 but eventually time constraints meant that these 2 elements went by the wayside for GT4.
The problem for me was those two elements being absent from GT4 detracted greatly from my enjoyment, and aside from the ring i felt very little reward from the title.
Im also thinking the sound model data and recordings they now have in their library were also left largely unchanged, due to the PS2 processing power.
When they released GT4, i believe PD knowing they wouldnt have PS3 dev kits for a long while planned to release GT4 in HD with a few tweaks, also adding in the previously removed online section and finishing off the new AI engine they talked about, to be ready in time for launch of the PS3 as a kind of show piece for Sony and giving them time to work on the next Full GT game.
Along the way i feel PD decided they wanted to start to develop GT5, especially after they got the full dev kits, and decided they would add a taster of that work to the GTHD title, in the meantime I think Sony wanted to use PD and GTHD to introduce us to downloadable content, and a half baked scheme was thrashed out between the execs of both PD and Sony.
I believe GTHD was almost fully ready to go at launch, and was demo'd, but the backlash from the media and consumers over the rip off costs, finally led to the removal of key players at the heart of Sonys decision making machine.
GT with saleable downloadable content was scrapped as a concept, and PD were left whith virtually nothing to show and GT5 years from completion.
Realising the potential long drought between now and the next true PS3 dedicated sequal, i believe Sony and PD have agreed to resurect GTHD, in a new structure to give the public something.
Now GT4 in HD with online, and possibly new AI would be great for me, but i would feel a little let down that they hadnt completely rejigged the physics engine with the power of the PS3.
Im sure the title will be great, I already have a PS3 and G25 waiting for a sniff, in the meantime im endulging in Forza 2, as turn10 really seem to have listened to the consumer, in the delivery of its content!
Maybe thats whats spoiling my opinion of GT right now!
Im sure when GTHD/prologue arrives it will be beautifull in its own right, i just would have liked a much more reworked title.
One thing i have no doubt about is that when GT5 finally does arrive after this interim GT is that it will have been worth the wait!
)
.Ii will try to make some tomorrow at work.
