Thank you to everyone who participated in this special round of the Livery Editor competition. I have invested the last 19 years of my life into this community, and to see so many people contribute their talents to help commemorate GTPlanet is always very special and quite humbling. Of course, I would like to extend a special thanks to @Cytoria for doing such a great job of maintaining the best-organized GT Sport Livery Editor competitions you can find anywhere.
Now, it's time for me to make some decisions...
Although we have had two previous years of GTPlanet-themed competitions, this one — with its Gr.3 category restriction — is the most challenging for me to judge. Because the cars themselves are so similar, it forced you, as designers, to work within those constraints to find ways to express your creativity on utilitarian car bodies. I have always had an affinity for realism in video games, so in my opinion, these constraints have resulted in this community's best work yet.
In no particular order, here are some of my thoughts on each of the finalists:
@Marfless' Huracan instantly became one of my favorites when I first saw it, and I'm so glad it was recognized as a finalist.I will admit, it does have a slightly unfair advantage considering the fact that the Lamborghini Huracan is one of my all-time favorite cars. To see it in Gr.3 form, wearing an expertly-crafted GTPlanet livery is just... WOW!
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@Barboosa, you are a wizard. This is one of the most striking and breathtaking liveries I have seen in a long time. To assemble a design with this level of complexity and end up with a livery this cohesive and elegant takes raw talent. I can only imagine trying to replicate this livery on the RSR or another vehicle... for someone of my skill level, it seems nearly impossible.
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@NBDESIGNZ, this was a very bold choice! In previous competitions over the years, I have been consistent in selecting liveries which stay true to GTPlanet's theme and color scheme. (I assume most people think GTPlanet's colors derive from Gran Turismo's branding and, although it is convenient, that is not the case. Red, black, blue, and white have always been my favorite colors since I was a young child, so of course I design my own website around those preferences.)
This is one of the first designs which used a different color scheme which I could actually consider awarding as the overall winner, which says a lot about just how well-executed and simply beautiful it is!
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@Cytoria, this livery is so good, it feels like you hacked into my brain and decoded what I would consider the "perfect" GTPlanet livery to look like.I love the simplicity and the clean lines combined with the colorful accents. It is, somehow, both complex and minimal at the same time! The logo placements are also superb. The way the "planet" logomark is emerging from the hood vent above the logotype is brilliant!
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To ultimately make my decision, I have to narrow down the finalists to two: @Cytoria's NSX and @NBDESIGNZ's AMG GT.
On one hand, we have one of the best "traditionally"-branded designs in the competition. It only seems logical to reward a livery that looks like it could have driven right off the pages of GTPlanet itself! On the other hand, we have a design that startled me in its boldness, creativity, and beauty. Likewise, that remarkable effort is also worthy of reward!
I have wrestled with this decision over the past several days, and I will admit, I came very close to awarding both designs with co-victory. However, that would ultimately be a cop-out, and while doing some chores away from the computer yesterday, I suddenly realized what I had to do.
Six months, nine months, and years from now, this competition will ultimately be remembered for @NBDESIGNZ's stunning work on the AMG GT. The very fact that I, a stubborn devotee to the GTPlanet branding I have created, am even considering this unusual livery to be the winner is a testament to just how exceptional it really is. I keep thinking about it and I keep coming back to it, and I think that means — regardless of color scheme — it has to be my choice for overall winner.
Congratulations, @NBDESIGNZ, and thank you so much for sharing your talents with us!
Now, it's time for prizes! I am awarding all four finalists a free year of GTPlanet Premium membership. @NBDESIGNZ, as the overall winner, I'm also sending you a free copy of our book, GTPEDIA: GTPlanet's Guide to the World of Gran Turismo, and a GTPlanet logo vinyl sticker. Just send me a private message with your mailing address at your convenience. All of the top liveries will also be featured on our homepage and social media, so expect a lot of comments and downloads in GT Sport's community over the next few days!
This is a really challenging time for everyone in the world, and I hope this contest provided a nice escape from all the doom-and-gloom we now see on a daily basis. I know it certainly did for me, and I have enjoyed looking at everyone's work. Thank you once again to all who participated, thank you to @Cytoria for his organizational efforts. Stay safe and healthy, guys!
