Gran Turismo (video game)

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Gran Turismo
North American cover
Developer(s)	Polyphony Digital
Publisher(s)	Sony Computer Entertainment
Series	Gran Turismo
Engine	Custom
Platform(s)	PlayStation
Release date(s)	JP December 23, 1997[1][2] NA May 12, 1998[1] EU May 8, 1998[1]
Genre(s)	Racing game
Mode(s)	Single-player and limited double
Rating(s)	ESRB: Everyone
Media	CD-ROM
Input methods	Gamepad

Gran Turismo (commonly abbreviated to GT or GT1) is a racing simulator designed by Kazunori Yamauchi. Gran Turismo was developed by Polyphony Digital and first published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1997 for the PlayStation video game console. The game was originally only sold in Japan but the popularity of the game led to an American version and then a European version being sold in other countries. After five years of development time,^[3] it was well-received publicly and critically, shipping a total of 10.85 million copies worldwide as of April 30, 2008,^[1][2] and scoring an average of 95% in GameRankings' aggregate. The game has started a series, and to date has spawned over 10 spin-offs and sequels.

[edit] Gameplay

Gran Turismo is fundamentally based on the racing simulator genre. The player must maneuver an automobile to compete against artificially intelligent drivers on various race tracks. The game uses two different modes: arcade and simulation. In the arcade mode, the player can freely choose the courses and vehicles they wish to use. Winning races unlocks additional cars and courses.

However, simulation mode requires the player to earn different levels of driver's licenses in order to qualify for events, and earn credits(money), trophies and prize cars by winning race championships. Winning one particular championship also unlocks a video and a few additional demonstration tracks. Money earned by winning championships can be used to purchase additional vehicles, and for parts and tuning of all vehicles.

Gran Turismo features 178 cars and 11 race tracks. Two Honda del Sol cars from 1995 were included in the Japanese version, but were removed from the North American and European versions. They can be found in the North American version's code (and unlocked by using a Gameshark, so unofficially it has about 180 cars). In addition to the hidden del Sols, there is also a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette and a 1998 Mazda Roadster exclusive to Arcade mode. The Corvette and Roadster can also be accessed via Gameshark.

[edit] Music

Screenshot of gameplay using a Mitsubishi FTO GPX on Trial Mountain Circuit

The opening song for the North American and PAL versions is a Chemical Brothers remix of the Manic Street Preachers song "Everything Must Go". The opening song for the Japanese version is "Moon Over The Castle", composed by Masahiro Andoh; this song is used for the opening movie in the Japanese version of every Gran Turismo game to date.^{[citation needed]}

The game itself had a small selection of songs, including "Lose Control" by Ash; "Chicken On A Bone" (reworked instrumental), "Shade" (instrumental), "Tangerine" (instrumental), and "Sweet 16" by Feeder (PAL version); "As Heaven is Wide" by Garbage; and "Oxyacetalene", "Skeletal", "Autonomy", and "Industry" by Cubanate (North American version). The Japanese version, however, used a completely original score. Most of the songs from the Japanese version ended up in GT2. The in-race music ended up in the Japanese version of GT4.

[edit] Reception

The game was praised by critics, including IGN (9.5/10), GameSpot (8.6/10) and the Official Playstation Magazine (5/5). As of April 30, 2008, the game has shipped 2.55 million copies in Japan, 10,000 in Southeast Asia, 4.3 million in Europe, and 3.99 million in North America for a total of 10.85 million copies, in which to this day, remains the greatest selling video game for the PlayStation.^[1][2] It was also a high seller in Australia selling over 100,000 units in the first two months and with sales exceeding 130,000 as of October 1998.^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Gran Turismo official site
• The Greatest Games of All Time: Gran Turismo, GameSpot
• Gran Turismo (video game) at MobyGames
• Official soundtrack
• Gran Turismo at the Open Directory Project
• The Gran Turismo wiki, an external wiki