Gran Turismo 6 is finally here and the one thing that needs to be pointed out right away is the fact that GT6 is the first full-length entry in the franchise to be released on time without any form of delay or setback. Could this be a sign of things to come? We can only hope!
Gran Turismo 6 sits in a rather unique position, as it’s likely to be the final AAA first-party title released on the PlayStation 3, and it’s now set to compete against the next generation offerings on the PlayStation 4.
Of course, we know the reason it was released on the PS3 as the platform has a larger install base, and for the past fifteen years the tradition has always appeared to be that of releasing two full-length Gran Turismo titles per console life cycle. Developer speculation aside, Gran Turismo is likely to serve as the bookend for the PlayStation 3 as all attention is turned toward the future.
At the end of the day Gran Turismo 6 is here and is only going to become a better game as time progresses, making it a worthwhile investment for those not quite ready to make the jump into the next generation but are looking for something that still entertains and carries that Gran Turismo charm.
GTPlanet Picture of the Week
This week we’re beginning the focus on all this GT6 and what better way to kick things off than with an all-new racecar to the GT series – the BMW M3 GT2 as it swings around one of the many corners of Silverstone.
This week’s featured image, courtesy of eugene2023, showcases the improved vibrancy and visual appeal of Gran Turismo 6.
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Picture of the Week” and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
BMW M4 Coupé Has Arrived!
As many of you will already be aware of, the all-new 2014 BMW M4 Coupé is now available in GT6 which gives players unprecedented access to the car before it goes on sale worldwide in 2014.
It doesn’t end with the availability of the fifth generation M coupé as there’s a celebratory Superlap Seasonal Event available for the next two weeks. For the full breakdown be sure to stop by the original post here.
A Street Named Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo’s namesake has been immortalized with the honor of Gran Turismo Drive, the newest street in Bathurst City, home to famous Mount Panorma circuit that’s featured in GT6. Gran Turismo Drive is named in honor of PD’s faithful recreation and promoting the renown location for GT6.
For the full breakdown be sure to stop by the original story here.
Gran Turismo 6 Update 1.01
Gran Turismo 6 has a long line of updates ahead of it and the first of those updates is now available, and with it comes some of the game’s major new features which have been announced over the past few months but which were not included in version 1.00.
The update weighs in at a hefty 1.2GB and the community-assembled changelog is as follows:
- Vision GT has been added to the home screen.
- Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo is available as a gift car.
- Online part has been modified on the home screen. 1.00 had 4 available online modes. Community, Open lobby, Quick Match and Seasonal events. In the 1.01 patch there is only Open lobby and Seasonal events in the online section on the home screen.
- GT game server is now online in Europe
- Car tuning menus has been updater to expand/collapse function.
- Freshman Cup added to National B mode.
- Status screen has an updated layout.
- Tyre type fitted to car is now displayed in lower left corner of race display when driving.
- Setting limits for car tuning has been altered.
- Deltawing added to the dealership
- Prize cars added to various events. Open the event again to receive your prize if event is golded pre 1.01 patch.
- Target times for some licence tests and “coffe break” events has been altered.
- Tyre sound has been altered.
- Online events are open for participants with International A licence or higher.
- Online leaderboards added to License tests.
GTPlanet Member of the Week
It is once again time to acknowledge a member of the GTPlanet community; a member who has stood out among the hundreds of thousands of members already here, both old and new alike for all that they’re worth and all they have contributed to the community.
As we’ve come to alternate over the past several weeks it should come as no surprise that we’re once again celebrating a Junior member among the ranks, so let’s give a very warm welcome to the newest member to find a vacant apartment in the ever-expanding MotW madhouse, Blitz24!
The interview is now live and provides the usual share of laughter, but more importantly provides the medium of getting to know your fellow GTP members a little bit better. For the whole kit-n-kaboodble be sure to stop by the official Member of the Week thread.
Anyone you’d like to see recognized as the Member of the Week? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Member of the Week” and fill it out with your choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot nominate yourself.
Gran Turismo 6 vs. Real-life: Ascari Race Resort
The Ascari Race Resort is one of the many real-world tracks new to the game, and was host to a wealth of festivities that brought Gran Turismo to life, but have you ever wondered how close to the real thing the recreation is?
Wonder no more, take a look at the findings here and see for yourselves!
GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week
At the 1999 Geneva Motor Show Lamborghini revealed the Diablo GT which combined the modifications of the Diabo GT2 race car with the outrageousness of the Diablo to offer serious road racing performance.
The Diablo GT featured a comprehensive list of features that set it apart from previous iterations of the Diablo, such as a larger V12 engine (6.0L vs. 5.7L), and a radical carbon fiber body which made it lighter and faster. Much of the GT’s lightweight diet can be attributed to the extensive use of composite materials, including the bodywork which was composed almost entirely of carbon fiber. The only non-composite panels were the aluminum doors and steel roof.
The front bodywork accommodated a wider track with brake cooling ducts and a front-mounted oil cooler which allowed air to enter from the front of the car and was exhausted through an extractor atop the bonnet. A large engine scoop sat atop the engine cover which fed the V12 with fresh air, and unlike the SV the airflow was dynamically controlled by the on-board computer.
Only 80 examples of the GT were constructed, each in either orange, titan-silver, black or yellow bodywork. Depending on the customer’s use, each came with custom ratios, the longest of which offered a top speed of 215 mph.
Have a suggestion for next week’s featured image? Drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Vehicle of the Week” and fill it out with your two choices and they’ll be featured in upcoming Rewinds. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
GTPlanet Tune of the Week
This is it folks, or should I say this might be it – the final GT5-specific tune to be featured in the Weekly Rewind before turning full attention toward those made for Gran Turismo 6.
This week’s featured tune, recommended to us by tuning aficionado danbojte and courtesy of Slender_Man, features the 2005 Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STI spec C Type RA tuned to 481PP and is your ticket to victory should you accept it.
Victory is the name of the game as usual and if it’s a deserving victory that you’e after and you want to do so using a little bit of World Rally prowess, then you’ll want to stop by and see the tune for yourself.
Exactly like the Picture and Vehicle of the Week features, if you have any suggestions for the upcoming Rewinds be sure to drop me a private message, entitle it “GTPlanet Tune of the Week” and let me know. NOTE: You cannot elect your own work.
/Drive: Torque Monster: The Mulsanne Motor – Inside Bentley
GTPlanet Photomode Competitions
We’ve reset the counter for the sixth chapter in the Gran Turismo series and the photomode competition is back and better than ever.
In Week 1 of the Standard and Advanced competitions for GT6 you are to put your best foot forth and show the community just how seriously you take your in-game photography. All you need to know is as follows:
Week 001, Standard – We start off our tour of GT6’s Photomode with an open theme, because why should there be any limitations on what we take pictures of this first week? Show us whatever it is you want!
Week 001, Advanced 2.0 – We start off our tour of GT6’s Photomode with an open theme, because why should there be any limitations on what we take pictures of this first week? Show us whatever it is you want!
For all of the relevant information pertaining to this week’s challenges be sure to stop by here and here.
Closing Thoughts
I’m sure it came as a surprise to many that there wasn’t a Rewind last week, but I was too busy enjoying the game to rip myself away from it! Now that the new game novelty has all but evaporated things have returned to normal, and over the next couple of weeks the Rewind is going to become increasingly more interesting to read. How do I know that? Well you’ll just have to hang around and find out for yourselves.
Surprisingly, my sanity is still in-tact but I shant celebrate until we’re clear of the upcoming holiday. Speaking of the upcoming holiday, it snowed earlier this week in New York and while it was welcome (not to mention quite the visual and cold; I love cold weather) it wound up planting a rather negative thought in my head, typically when it snows in the early days of December it doesn’t happen again until after Christmas.
There’s something about the fabled ‘White Christmas’ that makes one feel just a little empty inside should they not experience it themselves. I guess I’m just romanticizing about something I still remember fondly from my childhood and would like to revisit.
Skip ahead to “That about does it…” for those of you that know what comes next:
Remember folks if you want to share your opinions on this week’s entry you’ll have to stop by the official Rewind thread to do so, which is where you’ll eventually be re-directed once the new comments system is put into active service so you’d might as well get a head start!
Now a message from our sponsor, me:
While you’re salivating at the very thought of Gran Turismo 6 finding itself into your PlayStation 3 this coming December why not take the time to become a full-fledged member of our wonderful community. It’s free and we have cake! Okay, we don’t have cake (the cake is and always will be a lie, remember this!) but we do have a strong community and we’re always talking about something interesting. If you aren’t already a member you should join today and maybe you can work out a patented antidote for “Lying Cake Syndrome”. Seriously, it’s been years since I’ve had cake.
That about does it for this week’s Rewind packed-to-the-brim with GT6 so until next week, keep racing!
GT6 Photomode images by Speedster502, Fyshokid, xI Crazy-J Ix, and GT_johan.
See more articles on GTPlanet Member of the Week and GTPlanet Weekly Rewind.
