Gran Turismo HD resigns itself to demo world

by Nick Doerr { Dec 1st 2006 at 2:00PM }

That was fast! Right after some amazing screenshots were revealed, Sony and Polyphony decided to cut the crap and halt production of Gran Turismo HD, focusing solely on Gran Turismo 5 due out in 2008. GTHD is, however, going to come out as a demo on December 24th, offering a little less than a dozen cars and two variations of one track. It's supposed to be a Japan-only demo, but they couldn't possibly keep it away from everyone else. Could they? Now... while this is pretty sad news (even though people were complaining about the microtransactions idea and people will know complain about a free demo... go figure), we have to think... could this demo truly be more of a lead-in to Gran Turismo 5 instead of the resignation of GTHD? A taste of what to come, one may say. Leave us your thoughts.

Tags: Gran Turismo, GranTurismo, Playstation 3, Playstation3, Polyphony, PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

stumpie @ Dec 1st 2006 3:21PM

This is a Sad attempt to distract Japanese gamers from the Wii Launch.

At this point my anger towards Sony is just turning into pitty. So many horrible mistakes in so little time. Modern day Greek tragedy.

Microdot @ Dec 1st 2006 3:43PM

giving away a game for free.... how exactly is that horrible, OR a mistake?? please enlighten us stumpie.

i'll give it to you... sony has made plenty of mistakes to get pissed at. this however, is not one of them. this is actually the smartest decision they have made yet. the game, just as they stated, was going to be nothing more than gt4 in hi res with very few differences. i have gt4... and im not going to repurchase it just to get hd. by them offering it for free... they are allowing people to get a taste, and see what it will be like, without having to spend money on it.

Joe @ Dec 1st 2006 3:46PM

I think this is great news it means GT5 will be out sooner and may be come out at the same time GT moblie for the PSP does. I also wonder if they will keep the same engine that they where using on HD or get a whole new one and if GT5 will be in 1080P.

Wii360dsPSPpc @ Dec 1st 2006 4:01PM

Which will come first GT5 or GT for the PSP? haha
Polyphony bastards! GT HD is reduced to a tech demo.

Neil @ Dec 1st 2006 5:26PM

This is great! Free tech demo in Gran Turismo fashion.

And stumpie, you can hate Sony all you want and long for Nintendo to hold you but neither of them know you even exist. So in other words, free demo of a good looking racing game wahooo!

Mr. Khan @ Dec 1st 2006 5:32PM

My guess is that at its core, the DEVELOPERS of GTHD would intend the game to be for those NEW to the PlayStation Franchise, similar to how the core meaning of the Virtual Console is for people NEW to Nintendo to CATCH UP on older games

While i'm sure Sony would love it if everyone with a copy of GT4 would buy a copy of GTHD (and all those scrummy Microtransactions), my guess is that the "intent" of the game is really for those new to the fold, and also eye candy to draw in outsiders

edz0r @ Dec 1st 2006 6:04PM

"'In Christmas eve of this year no charge download (*) being similar from PLAYSTATION®Store, we deliver [gurantsurisumo] HD concept' to everyone as the mini- version which bodily sensation can do the real value of 1.PLAYSTATION®3 promptly."

Will @ Dec 1st 2006 9:37PM

I think this is great.

I wasn't planning on getting GT HD (hypothetically, I lack the funds for a PS3, plus the whole "there's none in stock" thing, haha), but a free demo with 2 tracks? That's really pleasing. I know people that play GT4 and only race 2 tracks.

Can we set our PS3 usernames to Japanese regions so we can download it from the store?

Please make the two tracks the Nurburgring and Laguna Seca, Polyphony!

stumpie @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:21AM

It's sad because now folks have to wait till 2008 to maybe finally play GT online. It's sad because Forza 2 will be out in a few months complete with Steering wheel and robust online features...by the time 2008 rolls around there may not be many GT fans still waiting for the damn game anymore.

Pulse @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:06AM

Stumpie, do you yourself even know what you are talking about?

This is GT, the game reknown for having more cars included then any other game ever made, for having such sleek gfx, and attention paid to the driving of the car, its is not a chance to make just another racing game for 360 or PS3 which Forza is, you cannot compare Forza to GT, if we gave half a donkeys arse about Online capabilities and smashing and editing a car, we wouldn't even need to pick up Forza because there is bloody NFS and Burnout for that, all we want is a car simulator, not a car smashing simulator, and especially not one that has pathetic damage where at 100 miles an hours you hit a wall and a tiny dent appears on the car, thats just stupid. Stop moaning, if you want Forza go get it then, its your cash, do as you wish, the rest of us now will gladly wait for GT4, why, because we aren't as impatient or as game nerdy as there impatient ones.