So now I speak. Read and read well.
--- Immersion with Cars ---
One thing I'd love to imagine are believable showrooms. Some of you might like this idea. I'm thinking about a model similar to GT2 and GT4, but kind of like Test Drive Unlimited as well. The idea I have is that I envision checking out a certain nationality of car (like in GT4). Then when at a dealer, have to ability to go to a certain dealer to browse their showroom. The reason why I've taken so long to develop this is because I was trying to prepare a diagram or example of a showroom. TDU showrooms feature as few as one car and as many as four. Showrooms can be a vast and expansive thought. I'm not sure if free-roaming at showrooms is possible or not. Here's the plan I have... when you step into a showroom, the first thing you'll take note of through the door is the information desk for buying a car. Behind that front desk is a collection of cars that are either concepts, tuners, classics, and/or race cars. They are all blocked off by some kind of barrier. Some of those feature cars may even be on turntables. Cars you can buy new will be inside the main showroom. More upscale brands (like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and Aston Martin for example) may have upscale showrooms, some may even have more than one floor. Most regular car companies don't have multi-million dollar showrooms. More upscale places can have expansive showrooms that can look like mansions or small colleges. A small section to the back of the main showroom houses a great collection of classic cars. They, like the race cars and such, are also blocked off. Maybe a nice custodian or someone keeps the cars clean while you gaze upon them. A designated test track at the dealer will give you the chance to test drive a car before you think about buying it. It may range to an empty parking lot area to a short race track adjacent to the car dealer. Here is a diagram I've prepared:
More on this possible in future posts.
GTPlanet, detailed interiors offer up the possibility that we could be able to really feel at one with cars. I always say that you should look ahead whenever there's a sequel to a game because that sequel may have something special for a future game from a group. The possibility of actually being able to sit into cars and be around cars offers that sort of at-one feeling with cars. It was imperative that I offer up a showroom idea (I had one for GT4) so that you still feel like there's a place you can go to to see new cars. You're going to be in them anyhow, so like in TDU, you get a chance to look all around the car and even sit in it. You can do things like open the door, roll down the windows (if the windows can be rolled down), drop the convertible top (or remove the roof for targa cars), turn on the lights, and more. You even get to look around while behind the wheel. This will add to being able to see the car before you actually buy it. This service will always be available to cars you own. Only things I'm not sure of is if starting the engine and stuff would be available. I'm limited on getting into concepts, tuners, and race cars. A crew may be on hand to start race cars so you can feel out every detail of the race car as you're in it.
Like with Test Drive Unlimited, purchasing a certain car gets you a chance to compete in a One-Make Series as well as certain Gran Turismo events. Think about getting the beautiful Ferrari F430. What kinds of races could you sign up for? For each car you have, you are eligible to compete in certain races. Here is a list of race types you can race with the sample car. Look at this link for statistical info on the car to supplement my example: <
http://www.rsportscars.com/ferrari/2007-ferrari-f430 >
* V8-engine race
* Normally-Aspirated races
* Mid/RWD Races
* Spyder and Roadster (only for convertibles and such)
* Italian make races
* European races
* Over 2000cc races (it has 4308cc displacement)
* Supercar festival (it has 490hp. An oil change gets it more power)
* Ferrari Challenge
These are some of the many races getting a car like this can qualify you for. All numbers were based on the 2007 Ferrari F430.
I'll be back with some more ideas when they come around. I want to get to my immersive ideas for tracks, races, and even the general Gran Turismo environment.
