Xenn's GT3 Research Topic (Might not be 56k friendly)

[HDT Commodore]

(Not really but,) Holdens in GT3:

and the "Rover" Mini Cooper

And notice no more all-caps. So the sort function should actually work now. It looks like I overwrote an important value when I changed Opel to Holden. I think that's why the Grand Valley 300 has the text misplaced like this too.

 

[Castrol96]

More beta footage running on GT2000 build.



I have also discovered found some interesting beta images in the manual. The images have a lot in common but some share differences. It seems PD made the manual before the game was even complete.

This image seems to have the Viper RT/10?

There are many more images i'll upload soon including licence, awards, options etc. The images are very small which are hard to capture a focused shot. My scanner does not work too.

 

[Razor440]

More beta footage running on GT2000 build.



I have also discovered found some interesting beta images in the manual. The images have a lot in common but some share differences. It seems PD made the manual before the game was even complete.

This image seems to have the Viper RT/10?

There are many more images i'll upload soon including licence, awards, options etc. The images are very small which are hard to capture a focused shot. My scanner does not work too.

I found beta menus similar in spirit to what you found in the GT2 manual, but I'll leave that to the GT2 research topic. Let's just say the Mazda dealer has the description style of the unfinished paragraph about GT3 in GTAuto.

And the return of the "Goodies" menu option from the demos of GT2? I thought they would've realized how funny that sounded.

 

[Doomotron]

I found beta menus similar in spirit to what you found in the GT2 manual, but I'll leave that to the GT2 research topic. Let's just say the Mazda dealer has the description style of the unfinished paragraph about GT3 in GTAuto.

And the return of the "Goodies" menu option from the demos of GT2? I thought they would've realized how funny that sounded.

'Goodies'? Sounds like PD invented the idea of LittleBigPlanet!

 

[Castrol96]

I found beta menus similar in spirit to what you found in the GT2 manual, but I'll leave that to the GT2 research topic. Let's just say the Mazda dealer has the description style of the unfinished paragraph about GT3 in GTAuto.

And the return of the "Goodies" menu option from the demos of GT2? I thought they would've realized how funny that sounded.

The manual is from GT3. However, playing arcade mode it says goodies. This can be found on the NTSC-J version.

 

[ferrari gt]

Finally got my Japanese copy of GT3

Here are the backgrounds for the Italian Avant Grade *And I think that this might be an error As for me,I can clearly read Italian Avant Garde*

US(Notice the missing sponsors)

Japanese

Unknown(found somewhere deep on GTP)

Also,some video backgrounds from arcade mode different between US and Japanese versions
(For example,the speedway and Mid-Field)
I will try to decode videos from backgrounds but here's an Image for now anyway(When scrolling between tracks video soes not starts immideately,it shows an image for a second,you know what I mean)

Haven't spotted anything interesting in the dealership BG...

And for GT 2000...

I found a couple of photos from various Japanese events and they have some interesting things
For some reason It's called Gran Turismo 2000 A-Spec,I think that this was a half-built Gran Turismo 3 but PD was not quite sure about using 2000 or 3 as a name

There's an interesting shot,GT3 A-Spec with rally cars,old hud and timer,and I think that this is a Laguna Seca and Deep Forest Raceway?

Original game in the box,no hud,unusually high camera,ability to drive other cars(if it's not a replay) and no timer...
(Well,judging by the photos people seem to be playing this game and not watching the replay...)

GT 2000 Demo disk incldes 4 videos in usual .PSS format.
Those are: Intro,background video(colored) unused(?) background video in grayscale and a video that shows a difference between racing and drift setups(which I couldn't see played in the demo too...)
Video that shows different vehicle setups:

Both background Videos:



This BG video makes me unable to figure out when it was recorded.
The thing is:It's basically a PD's own version of GT2 running on PC(and it was never released to the public) and a rally car out there has a static Image-based reflection.(Like GT2 Ingame reflections)

BUT

If you will look back on the GT2 intro videos,you can clearly see that the cars have realtime reflections(It's like when every object around the car reflects on it and moves,like trees,buildings,bridges...) and I think that this might be an earliest prototype of GT2000
(Great example starts from 1:50,notice reflections on the Lexus and Mustang)


Why? Making A big CGI just for realtime reflections would be very expensive,It's much easier to record a gameplay and intros capture real physics of gt2 and not some wierd animated cars


As you might have seen,GT2000 was a first GT in the series with realtime reflections and not the static image reflection(Like GT1\GT2 Ingame) so maybe intros for GT2 were recorded on this base?
I don't know,It's hard for me to say what I want to say,sorry for my English but I hope that you get the thing

Oh and just a little easter egg in GT3\4 on Tokyo r246

Yes,It's exactly the NSX from the GT1

 

[ferrari gt]

Noticed a funny detail about car names in GT3
F1 cars in GT3 are based on real ones and even copy their livery colors,and interestingly,some F1 cars have their real names in the game's memory

 

[Stephan]

Looks like PD really wanted to implement old F1s to the game but licensing prevented them from using the real names of the old F1s in the game but now only one of the F1s in GT3 made it to GT6 and that is the F687/S or the Lotus 97T.

 

[GTvsForza]

Looks like PD really wanted to implement old F1s to the game but licensing prevented them from using the real names of the old F1s in the game but now only one of the F1s in GT3 made it to GT6 and that is the F687/S or the Lotus 97T.

Have it and love it

 

[tankuroded]

Yet another hidden car video (this is from the Japanese version). Notice the big freakin' generic text logo for the 911 and the sample cars: (editing?)

Looks like PD really wanted to implement old F1s to the game but licensing prevented them from using the real names of the old F1s in the game but now only one of the F1s in GT3 made it to GT6 and that is the F687/S or the Lotus 97T.

F687/S is the 99T (Camel sponsored and Honda engines), although for some reason PD thought that a JPS color would also be appropriate (because it is).

EDIT: Old thread on an hoax about a bike in GT3.

 

[BisharpVercetti]

I'm sure it's editing.

 

[tankuroded]

I'm sure it's editing.

The more I saw that video, the more I feel it looks like editing. (Oh, and use quote function next time for context )

 

[Castrol96]

In the NTSC-J GT3, I found the names Venturi, Plymouth, Vector and rover. The files seem to be left overs from gt2 and may be unacessable.

 

[ferrari gt]

Now I want to compare Seattle circuit and show how it changed from GT2 to GT2000 and GT3


At least 90% of building were left unchanged from GT2 to GT2000,they were just updated with alpha-layered texture for windows and additional golden boxes with reflections insude

(In GT3 there's a lot of stuff blocking the view but some parts are still unchanged fron GT2)

Lots of textures used in GT200 and GT3 were taken from GT2,seems like they kept HI-res versions of them,that also means that they had a HI-res version of GT2 they used to record intros with realtime reflections like in GT2000\GT3, and this means that GT2000 and GT3 might be just extremely overhauled versions of the GT2 on the same engine(which is not likely) or they had a working GT2000 prototype and PS2 dev kits even before releasing GT2

The lowpoly building is still here

Pay attention to the textures of buildings and clock tower,also the geometry of railroad and bridge over it

And all 3 games use the same tower

This is how buildings work in GT2000

But almost everything was changed in GT3,some buildings even have detailed interiors(like rooms with lights)

Also,while driving in GT2 and GT2000 you can notice that asphalt on some corners changes direction too sharp. It's obviously a PS1 version of the road surface,in GT3 they have more polygons and attention to detail

Looks like the GT2000 demo was compiled in hurry and represents very early stage of development with mostly GT2 assets


I'm still looking for some wierd textures(like ones that have words and messages on them) and from the new discoveries there are only strange arrows on Lancia Stratos

Porsche logo texture from GT3's GT3

I will look at GT2000 cars sooner or later

 

[SuperFrizzio]

Great post!

 

[tankuroded]

RE: Seattle, I made an comparison video ages ago:

 

[ferrari gt]

RE: Seattle, I made an comparison video ages ago:

Nice one
I just wanted to focus on details to show that they are exactly the same

 

[Crumpet]

Seattle sure did change a lot. It has always been one of my favourite tracks. I hope it will return to the series at one point, the flow of the circuit is unique in its own right, and as such, a lot of fun aswell.

Oddly enough there are video files on the Volume 2 Store Demo that portray a much narrower version of the circuit. I quite like it actually.

 

[Razor440]

I'm still looking for some wierd textures(like ones that have words and messages on them) and from the new discoveries there are only strange arrows on Lancia Stratos

I think those are instructions for laying down the textures, or something that gives a good idea of how it is supposed to fit on the car.

 

[ferrari gt]

I think those are instructions for laying down the textures, or something that gives a good idea of how it is supposed to fit on the car.

As we remember,models from GT1 and GT2 sometimes had "POLYS" written on free space and reasons for doing this were very strange,because at the time the game came out nobody could even look at the files inside,so there were no need for protection,but that could be at least something.

And then we have GT3 cars with arrows and words pointing at different parts of a car,and that's very odd,because this techinic is not used by anyone.

By looking at the GT3's models you can easily see that they were made by not a lot of people,and they have their major differences like drawn wheel arch with alpha(GT2 system) vs 3D wheel arch,so maybe one(or two,since some writings are on japanese) of the 3D modellers were making notes FOR SOME UNKNOWN purposes because it's literally useless,even making an easter egg writing could make more sense

Anyway,here are some of the examples

Note how C5 differs from C5R - some part is missing and has been removed.It makes me ask "why?" again

Haven't noticed anything like hidden messages on the F1 cars which would be cool,the only thing was this seatbelt

And do you remember the hidden MX-5 which we think might have been one of the team members personal car? It has a GT badge on it and it clearly shows the GT2 logo(Also it has a metal sign inside)

 

[BisharpVercetti]

As we remember,models from GT1 and GT2 sometimes had "POLYS" written on free space and reasons for doing this were very strange,because at the time the game came out nobody could even look at the files inside,so there were no need for protection,but that could be at least something.

And then we have GT3 cars with arrows and words pointing at different parts of a car,and that's very odd,because this techinic is not used by anyone.

By looking at the GT3's models you can easily see that they were made by not a lot of people,and they have their major differences like drawn wheel arch with alpha(GT2 system) vs 3D wheel arch,so maybe one(or two,since some writings are on japanese) of the 3D modellers were making notes FOR SOME UNKNOWN purposes because it's literally useless,even making an easter egg writing could make more sense

Anyway,here are some of the examples

Note how C5 differs from C5R - some part is missing and has been removed.It makes me ask "why?" again

Haven't noticed anything like hidden messages on the F1 cars which would be cool,the only thing was this seatbelt

And do you remember the hidden MX-5 which we think might have been one of the team members personal car? It has a GT badge on it and it clearly shows the GT2 logo(Also it has a metal sign inside)

Interesting find....

 

[Epic B]

Looks like PD really wanted to implement old F1s to the game but licensing prevented them from using the real names of the old F1s in the game but now only one of the F1s in GT3 made it to GT6 and that is the F687/S or the Lotus 97T.

Actually, the F687/S is the Lotus 99T. The 97T (Which is from two years before) wasn't in GT3.

 

[Castrol96]

Seattle sure did change a lot. It has always been one of my favourite tracks. I hope it will return to the series at one point, the flow of the circuit is unique in its own right, and as such, a lot of fun aswell.

Oddly enough there are video files on the Volume 2 Store Demo that portray a much narrower version of the circuit. I quite like it actually.

Judging from the 3rd image. The image seems to be narrowed down. They look like a 4:3 scale images but the last one has a 16:9 looking scale.

 

[t3hgt3ftw1n]

WARNING! Long post ahead! Reader discretion is advised!

Hello researchers!

I recently got a hold of a PS2 (after catching a sudden raging case of nostalgia) and dusted off my copy of GT3. Now, because I'm lazy as all Hell, I went and downloaded the save file in MattJ155's YT video that includes most of the hidden cars. Now, one caveat was that the save is from a PAL copy; and therefore my (NTSC-U) copy won't recognize it. So I thought:

Well, just rename the file so that the game can think it's an NTSC save.

And so I did, and the results were... ehm... not as I expected, honestly. Now keep in mind that all of this is using actual PS2 hardware, and not from one of those fancy shmancy "PS2-on-a-PC" things you young folks all use nowadays So forgive me for the semi-potato quality on some of these pictures (even though my camera takes pictures in 4K resolution).

====================

And now, our feature presentation. Take a look:

Right off the bat, the main menu added "The Real Driving Simulator" and switched "Simulation Mode" to "Gran Turismo Mode". So does this mean the game (which is NTSC-U, mind you) thinks it's in PAL? Let's find out!

...but first let's look at the options menu, and--

Whoa, it seems you PAL users love Lenny Kravitz, eh?

Now I know that the soundtrack changes between regions (we don't have Feeder here in America, and PAL gamers (probably) don't have Snoop Dogg), but I'm pretty sure that Daiki Kasho appears everywhere. So the fact that not even Kasho appears in the tracklist is very weird to me.

But then again, the game is currently having an identity crisis, so I don't blame it.

Anyways, let's jump into Simula- er, "Gran Turismo Mode":

Not much has changed, apart from "GRAN TURISMO MODE" up top and switching the day format. Hey wait, what's that at the bottom?

"home_doc" eh? I never knew we played as a doctor. The More You Know(TM)[/obvious_sarcasm]

After further investigation, it seems that every description is completely nuked out of orbit, and replaced with a placeholder title. Example: the home description is replaced with "home_doc", the GT Auto description replaced with "gtauto_doc", etc.

Also, you wouldn't believe how many photos it took just to get that home_doc picture to be at least somewhat legible. Christ, at least in GT4 you could pause the scrolling.

Moving on, let's go home, shall we?

Well now, this is a legitimate surprise. Every text that isn't pre-made (like the GRAN TURISMO MODE on the Sim Mode menu) is written completely in Japanese (Katakana, to be exact). From the Tune Shop to GT Auto and so on, it's completely in Japanese.

So I decided to test drive one of the cars (an F1 to be exact) to see if I found anything out of the norm while racing, and for the most part: not really. That is, until I looked at the speedometer:

Holy mother of Mary! It is actually reading in km/h. And here I was thinking it wasn't possible at all. So that means that NTSC-U IS capable of replacing MPH to km/h. Which begs the question: why didn't PD include an option to switch between MPH and km/h? Guess we'll never figure out.

But anyways, that's enough for Gran Turismo Mode, let's jump into Arcade Mode and see if we find any treasures inside:

From the get-go, we see "Goodies" instead of "Clear Status", which is something the 8-year-old in me would've appreciated back then, rather than thinking it was where all my stats would disappear permanently off the face of the Earth....sorry, lost my train of thought.


Anyways, let's see if there's a surprise inside for us:

Whoa! Smokey Mountain South! So this made it into the final game, and not the track itself? Come on, PD!

And if we go choose a track:

Yep, there it is, in all it's text glory.

=======================

So in conclusion, it looks like NTSC-U copies have most (but not all) things from PAL, from the text to km/h speeds. Some of the things it didn't convert were the prices for the cars and parts, and the videos that showcase the tracks.

In fact, one thing I noticed while finishing this research was that in the video that showcases Midfield Raceway, you only see 5 cars shown all the time, but if you take a close look at one of the clips before it transitions to the next, you can spot the hidden NOMAD Diablo GT out in the distance.

(If you want to see it for yourself, it's the first clip as soon as you highlight Midfield. Pay attention to the last segment of the corner, and you'll see the Diablo just before it hides behind the scenery)

=======================

That is all for now, but stay tuned for a bonus post I'll be making soon that showcases an interesting side effect when I drive one of the Sample cars (Sample 001 in this case)... The PS2 freezes when it tries to load Sample001. The end.

Thanks for reading this post!

=======================

BONUS ROUND: Some of the text at the bottom that changes from NTSC to PAL in Arcade mode:

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

Whoa! Smokey Mountain South! So this made it into the final game, and not the track itself? Come on, PD!

That's because Swiss Alps is technically Smokey Mountain South, it's just that Polyphony remade the track from the ground up when going to GT3 to make it it's own course rather than a layout of Smokey Mountain.

 

[t3hgt3ftw1n]

That's because Swiss Alps is technically Smokey Mountain South, it's just that Polyphony remade the track from the ground up when going to GT3 to make it it's own course rather than a layout of Smokey Mountain.

That makes sense. Just sorta bummed out, since in earlier posts Xenn showcases SM:S from one of the demos. But hey, we have Swiss Alps!

 

[BisharpVercetti]

I have also discovered found some interesting beta images in the manual. The images have a lot in common but some share differences. It seems PD made the manual before the game was even complete.

There are many more images i'll upload soon including licence, awards, options etc. The images are very small which are hard to capture a focused shot. My scanner does not work too.

1. It seems to me that the pre-race menu was exactly like GT4, showing the course from above, before getting changed into what it is...
I really would love to see it in action. Can anyone check and fiddle around and see if any remains are left?

2. Where are the rest?

 

[KaterinUA5]

I had found another video about them Sample Cars. It's interesting, why they didn't manage to make driveable TVR Cerbera and Hakkinen's F1 (alternative Sample 001), but use them only as sample cars to test colours and skins?...

 

[Doomotron]

Gran Turismo 3 is still one of the best racing games ever made, and people are still playing it and hidden stuff is still being found for it.
And there's GT3's mysterious brother, Gran Turismo 2000...

 

[Razor440]

If I'm not mistaken, the car on the right is a Dodge Stratus. There is is no Stratus in GT3, but one is in GT2. Look closer and you'll realize this is a picture of the sound of the car being recorded.