While digging through TechCrunch‘s live CES coverage, I uncovered one of Kazunori Yamauchi‘s most unique interviews. It’s live, uncut footage, showing everything from the moment TechCrunch editors first meet the Sony press representative, talking with the infamous “Translator” alone before Yamauchi arrives, to a funny interruption at the end. Although no new information was revealed, I found it enjoyable and refreshing to watch and I think you will, too.
[HTML1]
Jump ahead to 30:00 in the player above to see all the preparations, or skip to 42:00 for the actual start of the interview. Here’s what to watch for:
- Yamauchi’s English translator, whose ever-presence has brought him notoriety among GT fans around the web, talks about what kinds of questions Yamauchi does and does not like to receive. For obvious reasons, he doesn’t like being asked specific details about GT5. He’s also tired of being asked about damage: “It’s in all the games now, it’s going to be in our game now. It’s not really a major thing.”
- A direct question about the track editor is deflected, as Yamauchi states “Unfortunately, it’s really just a rumor right now, so I can’t really comment on that.”
- Yamauchi’s favorite game of all time is the arcade version of “Marble Madness”. He also enjoyed Star Wars on the Atari.
- After creating Motor Toon Grand Prix, he created over 100 different concepts for games before finally settling on the first Gran Turismo.
- The U.S. release date is “still not decided”.
Now, before you let off steam in the comments about the US release date (or lack thereof), keep in mind that’s out of Polyphony Digital’s hands. GT5 will be finished in March – deciding when to publish it is the responsibility of the game’s publisher, Sony Computer Entertainment.
See more articles on CES 2010 and Kazunori Yamauchi.
Delaying the Japanese version if the best decision business standpoint to prevent imports and to force you to wait
Bit sad to hear that Japanese GT5 has been delayed. Had a hint that this might happen a few weeks ago. but still if its a world wide release could we be looking at June.
Translator san has a good job, its also a cool top I want it….
I really have to say but between Gran Turismo and the Fast and Furious series they both have re kindled my intrest in all things cars. Still look forward to quite possibly another demo before the release if not the game itself.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/3720803813_8ed251f923_o.jpg
They look …………. suspicious :D
I have a question. When you import the game. Can you still use are U.S psn Account or do you have to make an JP account?
Well because of an expected delay for NA and EU, expect a lot of importsf from Japan including me hehe
andre Says:
“January 11th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Gran turismo 5 is not simulation it’s 100% ARCADE game, i’am a proffesional race driver but graphic is very nice”
I`m Michael Schumacher and I believe this game simulates realism 1:1. C wut I did tharr troll?
@andre
of course it is 100% arcade compared to real racing, it is a game !! But compared to anything else out there it 100% kicks ass.
The release date is very close now… The new physics engine seems very improved, have to drive a car I can drive in reality to say for sure (can’t judge from a 370Z never driven it), but seems great !
Can’t play right now, have to study :-(
@chris
I’m pretty sure he could if he wanted to, but he’s probably not comfortable enough and takes pride in speaking his own language. I know he can understand a fair amount of it.
you know what i cant understand, why can Mr Yamauchi create the best racing game ever, but he cant speak english???
Very interesting (and somewhat awkward) interview. I was in stitches when that noise was going on with the roof. Dan must’ve have sent his troops to spy in on Kaz, that or the Spec ops team raided the wrong building, lol.
“Bit rude of the cnt to demand the translator hold the wireless mic. “Hey you.. you’re a translator… hold this would ya.” If I was the translator I would’ve told him to shove it up his arsehole.”
Do you think ‘Translator-guy’ really gives a crap about holding the mic for Kaznouri? Best believe he is very well compensated (>$150K US/yr). He gets to hang out with a legend in video games, travels all over the world, stays in world class hotels, because his boss Kaz refuses anything less, and probably bangs all the groupie whores he meets at the all gaming, car, electronic conventions and racetracks around the world his boss frequents. He is living a lifestyle that many of us would kill to have. So holding a mic is nothing when you know what you are experiencing daily 99.99999% of the world’s population will never do.
I care. We care, trust me.
Sam__ NY who cares, it comes when it comes.
The SLS video was just released on GT TV, in the US that is, and, not that I’ve seen it already, it’s interesting because at the end if the video the narrator says, “The SLS won’t be available till spring 2010 both in the real and the virtual world. This points to, what I’m guessing, a late spring release in NA and EU.
So Perhaps since we all Know that the release date is out of PD’s hands. Maby us GT fans should be directing more intention of questions towards Sony it self. That only makes the most logical sense at this time
I just hope the launch will not be so late, maybe May will do.
Thanks for a Fun interview, Nothing useful for the GT5 interest though besides the rumour LOL what a rumour, But great knowledge from the Little big man. I have no doubt in my mind, that this man is the golden ticket to success. hehelet him point at a tree, and there will be wine.. glurp!!hehe
Sadly no explanation regarding the weather system it self, Ex:will it be real dynamic weather system, and will it be volumetric clouds, will it rain in some places of the track, and dry out as in real life, meaning living wet surface in pits where the rain just have been, or snow for that matter, and will altitude mean, different temperature on the surface, and even frost in some places and foggy mornings again only in some places orjust the simple one – just on and off :O) .. Damn Hehe.
And about the Car decals (Car skin -Texture) I would have loved, if the interviewer, had asked again about the possibility to get a Team Related Car skin into GT5, by paying $$ or for winding great Races in competitions, and then PD has a system to incorporate it into GT5 ( EX: weekly Team skin Update ) .. I really ( like a million or 2 ppl) would love to have my own Team_MoFF Race Car skin when i drive for real in GT5, because our intention and focus is as if we are driving for real, and It would mean a lot to the Huge community, and really make GT5 the ultimate choice of Online Race Simulator ( just think about the emotional connection as a person it will be, when driving with a proud skin on your Car, we will see much more professionalism in general .. Sorry for the novel hehe
And then he should have given Mr.Kazunori Yamauchi some time to just tell us about GT5’s new features that hasn’t been reviled yet, and some more interesting pointers, to why GT5 is the Game to buy.
But really a entertaining Stream..
In PD/KY I Trust!! :O)
Bit rude of the cnt to demand the translator hold the wireless mic. “Hey you.. you’re a translator… hold this would ya.” If I was the translator I would’ve told him to shove it up his arsehole.
SUPERGT IN CAR VIEW!!! FINALLY
andre is a 100% lier
GT5 is 99% arcade, I’m a professional crasher!
My new commercial jingle:
“Traaaans-laaator, Translator, Translator-San!
He juuusst, doesn’t give a f*************k!”
:D
@gtkillers
you are right… and i hope too
not or “with” car sounds
is there a lady just for the table cleaning ? ::D funny interview, loved it.
They don’t need F1 FIA License in order to include F1 cars in the game. If you remember, first Colin McRae Rally games had licensed WRC cars (with real driver names and real liveries) and the game wasn´t licensed by FIA.
F1 cars are property of their respective brands, and most of that car makers will be included in GT5: Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus, BMW, Honda, Ford…
Just imagine a McLaren-Honda MP4/4 in wet Nürburgring…
@ravellron
I don’t think were going to get dynamic weather more like pre-set conditions that have been programmed into the game. Maybe sometimes it rains and sometimes it doesn’t. But dynamic, I think it’s bit much for the PS3 to handle. We all know weathers been confirmed in the newest issue of PSM, they just haven’t mentioned if it’s dynamic or not.
Dan_ Says:
January 11th, 2010 at 7:50 am
Some say, that the Stig has a part time job as a translator for a famous game designer…..
If KY’s translator is the stig then its true that the stig can change his form size and color ….
I wonder is this Japanease he is talking to KY or car sounds with diferen frequencies
I wish Luca O. would post an honest assessment of the realism of the physics in the GT5 TT.
@ Andre…
Being a ProFessional Race (Car) driver, and given only one choice… which game then would you choose to play or that you think best represent reality?
Where can i pre-order the jap version ?!?!
well it was nice to see a rather different interview from yamauchi, nothing great revealed or anything but none the less a very enjoyable interview!
Gran turismo 5 is not simulation it’s 100% ARCADE game, i’am a proffesional race driver but graphic is very nice
I also think that some F1 cars will be included.
GT5 IS the best car selection with WRC,Nascar,SuperGT,Indy and all the rest we know from earlier parts, but with a complete F1 Series it would be nearly perfect as RacingGame.
I often thought about it: know they have full pitstop animation, 16 or more cars on a track,damage,weather…
and it would be easier than ever before to include a pretty nice F1 part to GT. But i think it wont happen in GT5.
I agree to Paul Mc comment but,
release this fuckin thing on march, break the rules sony! Show everybody out there that YOU can sell 3-4 TopGames in the same Month!
God i want it so much but its worth the wait no matter how long it will take because i know i will play much longer than i waited.
Greetz Me.Switch
Wiki says Formula 1 is licensed. Probably just some cars and not the ENTIRE series. Eccelstone is too stingy to let that happen!!
March is perfect :)
The reason Sony are stalling on a release date is that March is a horrible month to launch this game. They want other important games like Heavy Rain, God Of War 3 and Final Fantasy XIII to sell well and they are just a few weeks apart. Launching GT5 in March will kill that month completely for Sony. They should hold the game until May/June
thanks jordan nice updates..
The sounds right above them was really funny. I think it’s Turn 10 trying to listen in. xD
Good interview, didn’t learn anything new, but still worth while.
Translator-San <3
however they ask about him about dinamic weather and he told that it will be in further step of hardware… so weather is not confirmed…
Keep watching past the Kaz interview as they continue to the booths and get a run down from Chris Hinojosa-Miranda on the GT team at SCEA, he confirms hand over steering animation.
Some say, that the Stig has a part time job as a translator for a famous game designer…..
wow! what a great insight on the gaming press. interesting to see.
again they dodge the launch date for EU and NA , at least if its in December, we have something to buy in December
LOL the wub woofers above the meeting room LOL i started cracking up.
Translator guy!!! hahaha
What’s up with the table cleaning. LOL
Chris Hinijosa-Miranda confirms hand cross-over!
The Stream isn’t working for me. No AdBlocker installed. Using Firefox on a mac.
wikipedia says that GT5 has a license for Formula 1 cars. That right?
Import getting more probable than ever before.
Gotta love the translator guy. too funny
It’s pretty logical not to give any NEW information to some interviewers whose last GT try was Gran turismo 4, not even gt5 p or the demo.
+ I think we’ll get a release date on the playstation blog… not at some event
Finally someone told the press people that damage questions are annoying.
I really love that KY speaks english and has a translator. I’d totally do that if I were a Japanese business supremo. Why waste his grey cells decrypting chit-chat of lower beings?
KY probably has henchman ‘knocking off’ reporters who ask the wrong questions.
Legend.
Nice find. Not particularly enlightening though…
EU release date would be equally as useful as a US release date. I really hope there isn’t much difference between them.
Thanks for the video. Seems to be GT5 news everyday :)
Fear not. I’m not going to rag on PD for not talking release dates. I can wait. I still don’t even have a PS3. I have more patience than more of the “gimme-gimme-gimme!” folk. I want the game as bad as any other GT fan.
Anyhow, this is a nice post of this interview. And I still can’t see a Track Editor for Gran Turismo 5 unless it’s for Autocross (which I wouldn’t mind in GT5).