Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge
It's free and there's a chance you could become a racing superstar, so what's not to like? Well, the wait for GT5 proper, for one.
What is it?
As we reported earlier, Sony Computer Entertainment is releasing a Gran Turismo 5 demo — yes, another one — on Thursday, 17 December 2009. Unlike GT5 Prologue, however, this one's free.
A track-tuned version of Nissan's 370Z.
(Credit: Sony Computer Entertainment)
It's being released primarily as the tool by which national finalists are chosen for the second GT Academy, although one suspects that it's there to further whet our appetites for the much delayed Gran Turismo 5, which is now due in the first quarter of 2010 in Japan.
If you're from any one of the 17 eligible countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) and set one of the 20 fastest times you'll qualify for national finals, where racers compete on a different GT5 track in the hope of qualifying for a real-world, five-day boot camp at the UK's Silverstone track. Two drivers out of that boot camp will then attempt to gain an international racing licence, with one scoring a year's stint in an RJN Motorsports 370Z racing in the European GT4 Cup.
Dress up as the Stig.
(Credit: Sony Computer Entertainment)
Other countries are running different competitions tied into the Time Trial demo, with US and Canadian winners getting VIP tickets to the 2010 Indy 500 race.
Is it any good?
Only one circuit is supplied with the demo, the Formula One track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and two cars are available, a track-ready version of Nissan's 370Z and its road-going cousin. Predictably, the track version almost handles as if it's on rails, with the road car feeling slow and ponderous on the track.
In terms of overall driving dynamics and visuals, this time trial doesn't seem too different from GT5 Prologue. Indeed, the crash physics, one of the most eagerly anticipated features of GT5, is notable for its absence. Car customisation settings are limited to choice between automatic and manual gear changes and, disappointingly, the game doesn't remember your preferred camera mode between start-ups.
It might be great on the road, but it's slow and roly-poly on the track.
(Credit: Sony Computer Entertainment)
If you're like us, you'll be distracted and frustrated by the ghost car appearing on the track after you set a fastest lap — you can workaround this by deliberately setting a slow "fastest lap", saving a ghost replay and loading it as necessary. A number of racing wheels are supported and it's the first GT game to work with Logitech's new G27, the successor to the much-loved G25.
Conclusion
If you've ever dreamt of being Michael Schumacher, Fangio or Tazio Nuvolari, then this free download for the PS3 is a must have. Qualifying times for the second GT Academy are open from 17 December 2009 until 24 January 2010. After that the demo may no longer function and we'll have to go back to GT5 Prologue and counting down the days.