I thought I could see names above cars in the screen grabs, implying it's "networkable". Can't imagine why it wouldn't be if it's made as a course maker circuit, never mind an ordinary circuit. A free roam area, like Ronda could potentially be, is a very different prospect.
Some good points. I could see these as CM locations, I don't buy they mapped Sierra/Zahara using the said to be coming to the game GPS feature (as to what kicked all of this off). Nurb if I'm not mistaken is not a "tunnel" track and has a lot of off track detail so new tracks not being tunnel tracks doesn't surprise me, and in itself is no connection.
How could the GPS tool make the landscape? PD have modeled the area (like they did with Toscana, Alaska etc.), the theory is that we can run routes over that area as we see fit - either by choosing routes through the existing road network (which they'd have got with whatever reference material they used to model the area in the first place), or by "generating" a track like in GT5, or by feeding that same mechanism with a trace from a GPS device...
Look at this image:
Notice how the terrain is largely featureless, except for localised clustering of "interesting scenery" (like wooded areas, or villages etc.), and the comparatively high-detailed track "ribbon" is laid over the top; there is no intersection between the terrain and the ribbon. In ordinary circuits, the ribbon is carved and stitched into the surrounding terrain, and there is no terrain geometry (under) where there is ribbon geometry.
What's the benefit of modeling a large open area when you can only stay on the track area that PD provided? I'd be less surprised if Eifel (eventually) returned as a course maker theme than if Sierra Time Rally turned out not to be built on one...
Also the rocky edges that run alongside the track look rather 'cosmetic', they drop down on the opposite side instead of looking like the earth was excavated out for the road to run along. And even if that's debatable, you can go to some of these places on Street View and see there was no rocky edge in real life.
I seriously think if the GPS feature ever comes out it'll be limited to people in Andalusia, and any other locations they specifically build for it, so I'm not sure it's something I'd ever get to use anyway.
Yeah, the specifics of the scenery aren't up to the highest detail / fidelity we're used to for a static, single course; not like PD's other work (e.g. Nurburgring, Goodwood etc.). It implies that a lot of the detailed, up-close geometry is generated / procedural, such that it could be put anywhere... If that's the case, it's a clear improvement over GT5 (unless PD have hand-placed the "procedural bucket" assets).
The GPS feature shouldn't be restricted like that; I imagine the datum will be adjustable, like it was shown to be with the circuit / data logger demos (you have to line the trace up on an outline of the circuit). That means I can go and do laps of my back garden (assuming the precision in the measurement is there
) and import the trace into Andalusía, placing it by the reservoir, or up in the hills etc.
I'm saying the in game feature said to be comming IMO was not what they used to establish the track layout for the upcoming Track Sierra/Zahara that the FT-1 video showed long ago.
