Showing posts with label GT5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GT5. Show all posts

Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Gran Turismo 5 License Tests - International

GT5's International License tests are up in this post. All you've tackled in the National License tests will be enhanced as you progress towards the International Licenses. You will race more kinds of cars ranging from sports cars to race cars. More importantly, you must demonstrate your ability to take on these more intense tests and pass them to the best of your ability.

This blog post only concerns the International license tests for GT5. Remember- licenses are NOT required to compete in any race in Gran Turismo 5. You are purely racing these tests to enhance your racing skill. Welcome to "John's Gran Turismo Space" and another set of License Test-themed posts!





--- License Tests ---

Gran Turismo 5 International License Tests
^ You will need to enhance your National License skills to make your International License skills impressive.

As any GT veteran would know, the International License tests require you to further enhance your skills by racing more powerful cars and taking on more intense challenges. All of the basic skills you've learned previously will all be enhanced heading into this series of tests. You must practice hard enough to eventually clear each of the License Tests handed to you in this series of tests. What you will read about here are the International License tests and how to pass them. I will NOT be teaching you how to get Gold. Basically, you must first learn how to clear each test. It will be up to you to get Silver or Gold. Learn to pass the tests for Bronze, then do what you did for Bronze more efficiently to get Silver or even Gold. Be sure to be at the proper level to take on each of the license tests. When you reach the final events of each International license test, you will be taking part in two-lap races rather than the regular one-lap races of the National License tests.

Simply completing each test earns you experience points. To make the most experience points, try to go for the best possible time you can muster in each test. Experience points mean everything because you will be unable to access later licenses. If you are just getting experience points on License Tests alone, then it is safe to say that "just getting by" no longer results in your continued progress up the ranks. You now have to exemplify yourself by getting at least silver in tests just to move forward. There's nothing wrong with Bronze, but you have to try for Silver or Gold to progress better in the License Test zone.

This is a Gran Turismo where going right into racing may not be a bad idea, if just to help your chances of getting more experience. You are mostly doing these license tests basically to enhance your driving skill. No single race in Gran Turismo requires you to have a license. In a way, this is a good thing because the License Tests feel more like a school rather than a requirement for racing. Even if just for money and experience, make the most of your time in the License Test department.



--- International C License Tests ---

(REMEMBER: Your A-Spec or B-Spec level must be at Level 6 to qualify for taking International C-License tests.)

The International C license tests will introduce you to some very fast cars. In addition, you will be taking these more advanced machines through a series of tests that are every bit as advanced as the cars you will be driving.


IC-1: 1000m Stopping Challenge.

Car: 2009 Aston Martin DB9 Coupe
Course: Top Gear Test Course
Start: Standing Start

Get ready to fly, and that's what your Aston Martin can do (not literally, of course). Accelerate hard in this heavy car as you will be sending this car for a 1000-meter run. It is a heavy car in weight and in horsepower. Make good use of both its weight and power, but more importantly- stop this car in the Finish zone without taking out any cones in the process. If you even nudge a cone, your run will be foul.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 26.700
• SILVER: 27.000
• BRONZE: 28.500


IC-2: Hard Braking and Exiting a Corner After a Downhill Straight.

Car: 2008 BMW M5
Course: Trial Mountain Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 91 mph

Trial Mountain will hear the roar of your 2008 BMW M5 reverberate through the forest of Trial Mountain. You must pilot your beastly BMW out of the second tunnel, down the backstretch of Trial Mountain, and then take on the corner after the backstretch. Dig deep inside (using the yellow painted area) within the corner to get a little extra edge.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 16.200
• SILVER: 16.700
• BRONZE: 19.000


IC-3: Taking a Tight Double Hairpin.

Car: 2008 Nissan Fairlady Z (Z34)
Course: Road Course - Indy
Start: Rolling Start at 63 mph

This is the first-ever Gran Turismo test on a "roval." A roval is an oval with a road course, usually a road course that physically uses the oval. Gran Turismo 4 had you race Twin Ring Motegi, which has an oval but doesn't physically use the oval at any point. Here, you will be using the same road course around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as raced by Formula 1. The section used will be the backstretch of the Indy road course. This backstretch is followed by a hard left corner and two hairpins. It will be tough to generate enough speed to power through this section because both hairpin corners are deceptively tight. Try to find a line that will help you clear the corners fast while also having enough speed and power to clear both hairpins to deliver a solid time. This one is a gut-wrencher.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 26.300
• SILVER: 26.500
• BRONZE: 28.500


IC-4: Early Braking When Driving Downhill on Dirt.

Car: 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
Course: Eiger Nordwand G Trail
Start: Standing Start

When going downhill at speed, you will be pushing some serious speed as you decline. You will experience all of this (and then some) in your Lancer Evolution IX. The key to passing this test is in keeping control of your car as it goes downhill. You need to brake properly to avoid going head-on into the outside wall in either sharp corner to this course. Gold should not be too difficult here.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 27.000
• SILVER: 28.000
• BRONZE: 32.000


IC-5: High-Speed Cornering on the Rome City Course.

Car: 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
Course: Rome Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 79 mph

The streets of Rome are calling. You will be driving the 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe around the backstretch of Rome Circuit. You must negotiate a quick chicane (that looks like a simple kink from the track map) that will determine whether or not you receive passing credit. In addition, this backstretch gradually bends to the right, so you will need to keep a steady line while braking hard enough to take on the chicane. Be brave, but also smart.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 18.500
• SILVER: 19.000
• BRONZE: 21.000


IC-6: Blind Corners in the Woodlands.

Car: 2002 Nissan Silvia Spec-R Aero (S15)
Course: Deep Forest Raceway
Start: Rolling Start at 56 mph

One of the most beautiful Japanese cars of all time (at least to me) is what you will be racing in this test- the Nissan Silvia Spec-R Aero. The course for this test utilizes the first two tunnels of Deep Forest. Along the way, you must weave your way around a set of corners. They will be blind with the undulating roads, so you will need to properly judge your distance and keep a consistent line to deliver the best time.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 11.200
• SILVER: 11.500
• BRONZE: 13.500


IC-7: Consecutive Corners With Different Bank Angles on Dirt.

Car: 2010 Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STi
Course: Toscana
Start: Rolling Start at 74 mph

For the first time in the license tests, you will be racing on the Toscana rally course. It was the course featured in demos with time changing. The demo consisted of afternoon eventually becoming sunset, and from sunset to night. It will be broad daylight for this test with the 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. You will be gathering a good amount of speed before winding your way into the W-like series of corners. Don't try to drive with too much finesse here. You want to slide the car out in the corners while not being too overaggressive. You also want to keep the car stable while sideways. Precise control will give you passing credit.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 20.000
• SILVER: 21.000
• BRONZE: 25.000


IC-8: Traversing Monza Circuit's Notorious Lesmo Corner.

Car: 2006 Alfa Romeo Brera Sky Window 3.2 jTS Q4
Course: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Start: Rolling Start at 57 mph

Italian track with Italian power. This challenge tests your ability to negotiate Lesmo Corner. You really need to be careful here because it can be too easy to overshoot either corner and go off into the gravel. The first corner dips downward when you take on that corner. Use the inside curbing if you have to. Both corners require hard braking. Keep your front-wheel drive Alfa Romeo stable throughout the duration of the test while also cautiously attacking both corners.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 21.300
• SILVER: 22.000
• BRONZE: 25.000


IC-9: Using Late Braking to Overtake.

Car: 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C6)
Course: Fuji Speedway F
Start: Rolling Start at 84 mph

Late braking into a corner is an aggressive tactic to pull off passes. You will need to rely on this technique to succeed with great results. Your car is a Corvette C6 (the game says a C5), and it is another test around Fuji Speedway F. Rather than the front stretch, you will be racing down the backstretch of Fuji Speedway F. You should be able to pass the first two cars easily. The real key is in passing the leading car. Pulling a late braking move here should be easy. However, care is required in trying to exit this brutally sharp chicane. You could say that this test is easy to pull late braking, but difficult to get out of the chicane with the lead. You may as well try the test again for Gold if you fail to escape the chicane cleanly.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 2nd
• BRONZE: 3rd


IC-10: Rome City Course 2-Lap Challenge.

Car: 1976 Ferrari 512BB
Course: Rome Circuit

One lap isn't enough. You will be given two laps to pass 11 other cars in your 1976 Ferrari 512BB. Your beautiful '70s Berlinetta Boxer is a handful to drive. An old car on a track like Rome Circuit should be very challenging. If you're an skillful driver, you will have already made it to (or eventually will) get 3rd Place by the time you reach the backstretch on Lap 1. The remaining two cars will be at the chicane after the backstretch. Try to keep pace with the leading cars and attack carefully to get Gold. Remember to avoid heavy contact with either walls or other cars. Otherwise, your run will be foul.

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 3rd
• BRONZE: 7th




The next batch of tests are coming up. Get your Level up to Level 9 to take in the Level IB tests. Click "Read More" if you are not reading the full post and would like to continue reading.




--- International B License Tests ---

(REMEMBER: Your A-Spec or B-Spec level must be at Level 9 to qualify for taking International-B License tests.)

The IC tests pushed your skills further. Up next are the International-B license tests. These tests involve some more advanced skill sets. Always look to enhance and enrich your skills all the further to score big in each given test.


IB-1: Wet Road Stopping Challenge.

Car: 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V
Course: Top Gear Test Track
Start: Standing Start

On a rain-soaked course, you are credited with the task of trying to stop on wet roads. Roads dampened by rain or snow lack traction. So your job here is to try to stop a car on a wet road precisely. Doing so requires you to take your four-wheel drive Nissan GT-R from the starting line to the finish line 400m away.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 14.900
• SILVER: 15.400
• BRONZE: 16.800


IB-2: Tackling the First Corner of Circuito de Madrid.

Car: 2009 Audi R8 5.2 FSi Quattro
Course: Circuito de Madrid
Start: Rolling Start at 81 mph

The beautiful Audi R8 road car is yours to take around the streets of Spain's beautiful capital city, Madrid. It isn't so beautiful trying to take on the first corner of Circuito de Madrid, unfortunately. This first corner is reminiscent of Seoul Central, only that this isn't a roundabout. It is instead a super-sharp hairpin attached to a moderate-speed kink. Your Audi R8 has a mid-engine layout and four-wheel drive. You'll need to utilize all of that mid/4WD power to properly navigate these streets. Get ready for a sharp bend to the right followed by a swift shift to the left. It is going to be a tight fit trying to attack the inside of this corner. However, don't give up. Hard braking is a must for both parts of this section. Try to develop enough speed to get out of the section with a good enough lap time.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 16.000
• SILVER: 16.500
• BRONZE: 18.600


IB-3: FR Cone Slalom Challenge.

Car: 2009 Toyota FT-86 Concept
Course: Top Gear Test Track
Start: Standing Start

You did a slalom earlier in the license tests, but that was a front-wheel drive car. You must now try out a rear-wheel drive car in a slalom test. Rear-wheel drive will give you more athletic ability to take on the cones in the slalom. Be careful- rear-wheel drive cars can oversteer; and if you get too aggressive behind the wheel, a RWD car will snap on you into a spin. So cautiously use this car's power as you weave your way around the cones.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 18.500
• SILVER: 19.300
• BRONZE: 22.500


IB-4: Snow Driving Challenge.

Car: 2008 Suzuki SX4 WRC
Course: Chamonix Main
Start: Standing Start

This is NOT the Chamonix of Gran Turismo 4. This is your first license test in GT5 involving any race car. You are given the 2008 Suzuki SX4 WRC to try to take on a smooth set of corners around Chamonix Main. Snow and ice handle much differently than most other surfaces. Snow and ice have much less traction than dirt, gravel, mud, or anything like that. Snow tires are even suited specifically for snowy and icy conditions. In this license test, you must try to keep your car stable as you take on a set of smooth corners.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 19.900
• SILVER: 20.300
• BRONZE: 23.500


IB-5: High Speed Blind Corners on Tokyo Route 246.

Car: 2002 Honda NSX Type-R
Course: Tokyo R246
Start: Rolling Start at 78 mph

Your license test around Tokyo R246 begins after the brutally sharp first corner and utilizes Turns 2 and 3. Turn 2 is an off-balance left corner that leads to the oval-like portion of Tokyo R246. As you see the Diet Building in the distance heading into Turn 2, take your Honda NSX from the left side to the right side to set yourself up for Turn 2. The most important part of this section is your exit. Don't get overaggressive attacking the inside curbing. Otherwise, you might induce a spin or whack the outside wall hard exiting Turn 3. Find the right balance of power and precision to clear this test with a solid time.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 14.200
• SILVER: 14.500
• BRONZE: 17.000


IB-6: Tackling the Final Corner at Tsukuba.

Car: 1988 Toyota Supra 3.0GT Turbo A
Course: Tsukuba Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 76 mph

If Tsukuba Circuit isn't challenging enough with its short length, the final corner is just as tricky as any of its three hairpin corners. It looks easy because the sweeping final corner rides like an oval. However, it takes a certain amount of throttle control to properly clear this corner without losing too much speed or going off into the gravel. Trust me- this corner will test your patience like you won't believe. Power your way down the backstretch and think about your attack. You need to brake hard enough so you don't overshoot the corner. Then as you drive through the area, you will need to let off the throttle momentarily while keeping a decent speed up. Try to follow the Racing Line as best as you can.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 18.700
• SILVER: 19.000
• BRONZE: 22.000


IB-7: Undulating Consecutive High-Speed Corners on Dirt.

Car: 2008 Ford Focus RS WRC
Course: Toscana
Start: Rolling Start at 45 mph

In what seems like one very long sweeping turn, you are given a 2008 Ford Focus RS WRC to take on what is really a sweeping right-hand corner that goes uphill, downhill, uphill again, and downhill again. Not as easy as it looks, right? A consistent line and consistent speed will do the trick here. Be careful in your attack of this course.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 32.000
• SILVER: 33.000
• BRONZE: 34.000


IB-8: The Carousel at the Nürburgring.

Car: 1992 Ferrari F40
Course: Nürburgring Nordschleife
Start: Rolling Start at 68 mph

It's called "Green Hell" for a reason. The Nürburgring Nordschleife is introduced for the first time in these series of tests. I personally hate racing this course. While I hate racing it, I absolutely respect it. Your mount is a Ferrari F40. Use this Ferrari's power and handling properly to get a solid run through this section. That means heavy braking along with going as deep inside as you can while powering out properly. Most of the track comes in blindly, so learn to use proper judgment in taking on the Carousel. If you need to better familiarize yourself with the Nordschleife, try the AMG Driving School exercises in the Special Events menu.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 17.200
• SILVER: 17.600
• BRONZE: 19.000


IB-9: Strategic Driving on the Final Section of Tokyo Route 246.

Car: 2009 Honda Insight LS
Course: Tokyo R246
Start: Rolling Start at 67 mph

Tokyo Route 246 ends with a sharp and wide left-hand corner. Leading up to that corner is a series of lefts and rights that can be taken at full speed or in brief intervals of throttle. None of the cars (including your Insight) is super-fast, so you won't need to do any serious braking from seriously high speeds. Take this course like IC-9. Use late braking while also diving as far inside of the final corner as possible. Or you may have to try to win a drag race down the front stretch if you fail to get the lead coming out of the final corner. Don't give up!

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 2nd
• BRONZE: 3rd


IB-10: Deep Forest Raceway 2-Lap Battle.

Car: 2008 BMW Z4 M Coupe
Course: Deep Forest Raceway
Start: Rolling Start at 80 mph

A beautiful blue BMW is given to you as part of a two-lap race around Deep Forest Raceway and 11 red-colored European cars. Deep Forest is a gut-wrenching, technical racing track with three tunnels and a handful of blind corners. Make good use of your BMW's power and performance to properly navigate your way around this technical course.

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 3rd
• BRONZE: 7th


Congratulations! You got your IB-License! Now get ready for the IA-License tests when you get to Level 12.




--- International A License Tests ---

(REMEMBER: Your A-Spec or B-Spec level must be at Level 12 to qualify for taking International-A License tests.)

Consider yourself accomplished if you manage to clear the International A License tests. Some of the fastest cars and most grueling tests await you in the IA series of tests.


IA-1: Mastering Circuit de la Sarthe's "Indianapolis" Section.

Car: 2007 Nissan Skyline Coupe 370GT Type SP
Course: Circuit de la Sarthe 2009
Start: Rolling Start at 100 mph

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is contested on an 8.5-mile (or about 13.6 kilometer) race track that mostly consists of public roads. You will be racing a certain part of Circuit de la Sarthe for this test in your Nissan. You must take on a corner called Indianapolis. The reason why the corner is called Indianapolis is because it is a banked left-hand corner, just like the turns on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval. Your approach will be very fast as you build up loads of speed heading into Indianapolis. Hard braking is required to set yourself up for Indianapolis and going through Indianapolis. But after this corner, you will face a much tougher corner (and what I think is the toughest of all corners on this track)- Arnage. Dig deep into both Indianapolis and Arnage with a combination of heavy braking and proper steering.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 38.200
• SILVER: 38.800
• BRONZE: 42.000


IA-2: Braking from Hunaudieres into Mulsanne.

Car: 2007 Lexus IS-F
Course: Circuit de la Sarthe 2009
Start: Rolling Start at 78 mph

After the second chicane of the Hunaudieres (often called the Mulsanne Straight), you head into a road that banks to the right a bit followed by an intensely sharp right-hand corner. That is what you need to do in this test with the Lexus IS-F given to you. Don't even think about braking or letting off the throttle until you actually reach the part where the road quickly and sharply goes to the right. No excuses- heavy braking and a strong exit are both required for you to clear this test with passing credit.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 30.300
• SILVER: 31.000
• BRONZE: 33.000


IA-3: The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Car: 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (C3)
Course: Laguna Seca Raceway
Start: Rolling Start at 73 mph

The most famous corner at Laguna Seca Raceway is the Corkscrew- a blind downhill chicane that trips up even the best racers. The Corkscrew also makes for some great photo opportunities as racing progresses on this track. This corner takes lots of practice to master. It can be fairly simple on most courses to properly go through a chicane. Here, however, it is blind and downhill. If you raced Laguna Seca in past GT titles, then you know what to do here. This course only utilizes the Corkscrew and not the following Rainey Curve. Don't start braking hard until you get to almost atop the hill where the Corkscrew awaits. Afterwards, you want to be able to carve a line that smoothly takes you downhill while not losing a lot of time. The Corkscrew can be very crucial to where as much of a full second can be earned or lost in this corner alone. If you have to, keep racing this test to help enhance your skill of tackling the Corkscrew.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 18.500
• SILVER: 19.000
• BRONZE: 21.000


IA-4: Braking Into Consecutive Corners on Snow.

Car: 1995 Toyota Celica GT-Four Rally Car (ST205)
Course: Chamonix Main
Start: Rolling Start at 70 mph

Toyota made one of the finest rally cars of the 1990s with their Celica GT-Four. Now, you are given the honor of racing one of these capable cars around a portion of Chamonix Main. This section is reminiscent of both Swiss Alps and Tahiti Maze... only that this is on snow as opposed to those two dirt tracks. Try to keep the Toyota as far inside of the corners as possible without jumping the snow banks. Be also mindful of how blind your approach will be heading into each corner.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 40.000
• SILVER: 41.000
• BRONZE: 47.000


IA-5: Driving Around Madrid's Puerta de Alcalá.

Car: 2009 Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce
Course: Circuito de Madrid
Start: Rolling Start at 93 mph

You are back at Circuito de Madrid for this test. This time, you are given the powerful Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce around the Puerta de Alcalá part of the track. This is a section that is essentially a roundabout. It is obvious that this Lamborghini you are using is immensely powerful and fast. To stand any chance of pulling a decent time, you need to properly control this beast by getting a proper setup into the corner followed by precise steering. The shift to the right followed by a sudden shift to the left will quickly unnerve your car. If you can keep the car within the inside at a decent speed, you will be able to complete this test with a great time.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 15.500
• SILVER: 16.000
• BRONZE: 18.500


IA-6: Visualizing a Driving Line Through Blind Corners.

Car: 2000 TVR Tuscan Speed 6
Course: Nürburgring GP/F
Start: Rolling Start at 106 mph

When racing on any circuit, you always want to envision and imagine the proper racing line, and you want to use that racing line to properly carve a path through the track. Here, you will be racing the wild TVR Tuscan Speed 6 around the first few corners of the difficult Nürburgring Grand Prix course. This section consists of a kink, a very sharp hairpin, and a couple of sweeping (yet blind) corners. Keep in mind that blind doesn't always mean turns with apexes blocked off by barriers. Blind can also relate to tough corners based on elevation changes. This test will be a gut-wrencher. It will not be easy to clear this test with a fast time. Take your time on this one.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 30.700
• SILVER: 31.200
• BRONZE: 34.500


IA-7: Toscana's Tricky High-Speed Consecutive Corners.

Car: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRC
Course: Toscana
Start: Rolling Start at 45 mph

The track is Toscana, and your mount is the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRC. What you need to do here is take your Impreza around a high-speed part of Toscana. Two jumps come up early. As you approach the first corner, you'll need to dig inside followed by keeping the car stable as you head into the sweeping right. Be proficient in your attack of this test.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 31.400
• SILVER: 32.000
• BRONZE: 35.000


IA-8: Cape Ring - Spiral Bridge.

Car: 2008 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG
Course: Cape Ring
Start: Rolling Start at 75 mph

Cape Ring is the first truly original course in a long while from the Polyphony Digital team. Its most distinctive feature is its spiral bridge. You will be racing this spiral bridge in your Mercedes-Benz. I would probably tell you to dig far inside to take on this corner. But if you go too deep into the red parts of this spiral bridge, you'll be considered out of bounds, and your run will be foul.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 27.000
• SILVER: 28.000
• BRONZE: 33.000


IA-9: Strategic Driving on the First Corner of the Grand Valley Speedway.

Car: 2009 Volvo C30 R-Design
Course: Grand Valley Speedway
Start: Rolling Start at 91 mph

You are given the keys to the stylish Volvo C30 R-Design for this test. What you must do is go from the final corner of Grand Valley to the first corner while passing three other cars. Try to enter the slipstream of the 3rd Place car. Once you've built up enough speed, think about making some bold late braking moves to pass the 1st and 2nd place cars. You may end up taking a whack from one of the two cars, but make sure you have enough speed to hold off the other cars.

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 2nd
• BRONZE: 3rd


IA-10: Grand Valley Speedway 2-Lap Battle.

Car: 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4
Course: Grand Valley Speedway
Start: Rolling Start at 98 mph

If you want your International-A License so badly, complete two laps around Grand Valley Speedway in a Lamborghini Gallardo while passing 15 other cars. Sounds easy, right? Well... it isn't. A big reason why is because the Gallardo can be very unstable in the corners. I remember how much I struggled trying to keep the Gallardo stable despite its mid-engined 4WD layout. Getting gold will require you to tame this Italian beast while also driving fast enough to pass as many cars as possible. Enjoy the Gold prize if you manage to pass all the cars within this two-lap seqence.

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 3rd
• BRONZE: 7th


It was long and hard, but you pulled through. Go show the world your International-A License!





That's all, right? Of course not! You can complete your license collection by winning yourself a Super License. Stay tuned to John's Gran Turismo Space for more on that. Thank you for reading!

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Gran Turismo 5 License Tests - National

Licenses are not required to compete in any race for Gran Turismo 5. However, you can learn to enhance your racing skill by taking part in these tests. This blog post features advice on how to pass each one (you're on your own for Gold). This post only concerns the National License tests. Experience the world of Gran Turismo 5 while taking on some interesting challenges.

Welcome to "John's Gran Turismo Space" and another set of License Test-themed posts!





--- License Tests ---

GT5 National License Test
^ Basic operation of a car and basic racing skills are both demonstrated in the first set of License Tests.

The National-level license tests have always been simple driving tasks designed to challenge and enhance your driving skills. This is no different in GT5. The new level system requires you to be of a certain level to take on certain tests. Don't worry about this until you reach the National-A tests, which require you to be at Level 3. Every other license test will be available at every three levels.

Simply completing each test earns you experience points. To make the most experience points, try to go for the best possible time you can muster in each test. Experience points mean everything because you will be unable to access later licenses. If you are just getting experience points on License Tests alone, then it is safe to say that "just getting by" no longer results in your continued progress up the ranks. You now have to exemplify yourself by getting at least silver in tests just to move forward. There's nothing wrong with Bronze, but you have to try for Silver or Gold to progress better in the License Test zone.

This is a Gran Turismo where going right into racing may not be a bad idea, if just to help your chances of getting more experience. You are mostly doing these license tests basically to enhance your driving skill. No single race in Gran Turismo requires you to have a license. In a way, this is a good thing because the License Tests feel more like a school rather than a requirement for racing. Even if just for money and experience, make the most of your time in the License Test department.



--- National B License Tests ---

Start your Gran Turismo experience by taking on the B-License tests. These are simple tests that educate you on the basics of operating and driving a car in Gran Turismo 5.


B-1: 200m Stopping Challenge.

Car: 2007 Toyota Vitz RS 1.5
Course: Top Gear Test Course
Start: Standing Start

Remember on Test Course that you had markers on the track and on signs telling you how many meters ahead you are? Well, welcome to the Top Gear Test Track- an airfield course! You now have to judge your distance and make a choice on the fly on when to brake. This will be tough for Gran Turismo veterans (like myself). But as us veterans know, you have to take baby steps. You will eventually learn when to brake when you take control of the Toyota Vitz you are given for this test.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 13.300
• SILVER: 13.600
• BRONZE: 15.000


B-2: Steering.

Car: 2006 Alfa Romeo 147 Ti 2.0 TWIN SPARK
Course: Tokyo Route 246
Start: Standing Start

Practice your ability to steer through a corner by taking on the carousel at Tokyo R246 (the northwestern part of the track). Because this is a front-wheel drive car, you will need to delicately balance turning while accelerating. The car will more than likely be tough to turn since the car is doing two duties at the same time using the front wheels. This should be an easy test to get even a Bronze. Practice a little harder to get Silver or better.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 22.200
• SILVER: 22.600
• BRONZE: 25.000


B-3: "Out-in-Out" - The Most Basic Cornering Line.

Car: 2007 Suzuki Swift Sport
Course: Deep Forest Raceway
Start: Standing Start

By now, if you've played a number of Gran Turismo games, this one should be no stranger to you. You are given the first corner of Deep Forest Raceway, and your car is the Suzuki Swift Sport. Be sure to use the Driving Line to help you navigate the car while also help you plan your attack on the course.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 26.300
• SILVER: 26.500
• BRONZE: 28.500


B-4: Braking Into a Corner.

Car: 2008 Honda Civic Type R
Course: Autumn Ring
Start: Rolling Start at 60 mph

Autumn Ring is one of my least favorite tracks in Gran Turismo. You're racing one of my reasons why in this test. Your Civic Type-R must clear the first corner of Autumn Ring effectively. Be careful negotiating this hairpin corner. Clear this corner and power out with efficiency to deliver a solid time. You are driving a front-wheel drive car, so be mindful of FWD characteristics as you take on this corner.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 13.800
• SILVER: 14.000
• BRONZE: 16.000


B-5: Basic Cornering Theory - Slow In, Fast Out.

Car: 2007 Peugeot 207 GTi
Course: Tsukuba Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 50 mph

Demonstrate your ability to navigate the super-slow hairpin at Tsukuba. To do this, you will need to use the Peugeot 207 GTi effectively to clear this test. You will begin passing under the Dunlop Bridge and must weave your car to the left followed by another left. As you approach the hairpin, the radius sharpens and then loosens. Try to find the best possible line to attack the corner while delivering a strong exit.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 18.900
• SILVER: 19.500
• BRONZE: 21.000


B-6: Exiting From a Looping Corner.

Car: 2008 Renault RenaultSport Megane Renault Sport
Course: Nürburgring GP/F
Start: Rolling Start at 70 mph

The Nürburgring will be a course you will have to race a number of times in this game. I am not just talking about any course that utilizes the Nordschleife, you know. You will be asked to take on the second hairpin of the Grand Prix course. Thankfully, this one is less brutal than the first hairpin. This corner still needs a sufficient amount of care in navigating properly.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 14.600
• SILVER: 15.200
• BRONZE: 17.500


B-7: High-Speed Driving Lines and Throttle Control.

Car: 2005 Volkswagen Golf V GTi
Course: Autumn Ring
Start: Rolling Start at 48 mph

Take on the more complicated portions of Autumn Ring in a 2005 Volkswagen Golf GTi. You will be asked to take on the roads between the Autumn Ring hairpin and around the Start/Finish line of the Autumn Ring Mini course. The course you are running is almost like a street course the way the roads look. Of course, this is not like most typical city courses where almost all corners are blind and blocked off by barriers. Find the proper line for each section and attack accordingly.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 19.000
• SILVER: 20.000
• BRONZE: 23.500


B-8: Finding a Line Through an S Bend.

Car: 2006 Honda S2000
Course: High Speed Ring
Start: Rolling Start at 77 mph

When racing a track that has an S-bend to it, you will have to try to carve the best line through the S-bend to effectively clear it. That is your task with this test. The Honda S2000 has always been a joyous car to use in almost any game it is featured in, and it is no different a joy in this game. Don't enjoy the sights of High-Speed Ring for too long- you have some corners to tackle! Don't swing the car out too wide to where it is tough to recover. Just take it easy and try to power your way through the corners with a great racing line.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 21.000
• SILVER: 21.600
• BRONZE: 25.000


B-9: Overtaking Using Slipstreams.

Car: 2007 Mazda RX-8 Type S
Course: Fuji Speedway F
Start: Rolling Start at 71 mph

For the first time ever in Gran Turismo history, you are involved in a license test that involves other cars being on the track in competition. You are using the front stretch of Fuji for this license test. Three cars are in your way. Your job is to overtake all of them using drafting techniques. Do not try to whack into the cars too hard or anything. Make as many clean overtakes as possible to get the best possible result.

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 2nd
• BRONZE: 3rd


B-10: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 1-Lap Battle.

Car: 2010 Honda CR-Z
Course: Superspeedway - Indianapolis

This is the first time in Gran Turismo history that a license test involves a race. You are engaged in a one-lap battle around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A Honda CR-Z is obviously the last car you'd want to take around a high-speed course like Indy. Then again, neither is your competition. You must finish in a qualifying position to receive credit. Use slipstream techniques and carefully navigate through traffic to get the highest-possible result.

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 3rd
• BRONZE: 9th




That's all for the B-License. up next, the National A! Click "Read More" if you are not reading the full post.






--- National A License Tests ---

(REMEMBER: Your A-Spec or B-Spec level must be at Level 3 to qualify for taking National A-License tests.)

Your itinerary for the National A License consists of a number of advanced driving tests. You will be doing tougher tests in faster cars. Nothing is impossible or out of the ordinary here.


A-1: 400m Stopping Challenge.

Car: 2009 Audi TTS Coupe
Course: Top Gear Test Track
Start: Standing Start

The first of the National A tests involves you in a faster car and a track 200m longer than the test in B-1. A more powerful car obviously means you have to judge your braking points quicker to properly pass the test. It also helps this car has four-wheel drive, which aids its acceleration by providing the traction of front-wheel drive along with the accelerating prowess of rear-wheel drive in one package. So make the most of this car's capabilities to pass this test. Just remember to find the proper braking point to help you pass this test. Your car must come to a complete stop in the finish zone. If you overshoot the finish zone and hit the cones, you will be disqualified.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 16.300
• SILVER: 17.000
• BRONZE: 19.000


A-2: Approaching a Blind Corner.

Car: 2007 Mazda Atenza Sport 25Z
Course: Rome Circuit
Start: Rolling Start at 87 mph

The Mazda 6 (Mazda Atenza in Japan) is your car, and Rome Circuit is your course. One of the challenges of racing city courses is the challenge of properly navigating a car around a race course with such confined space and with bumpy streets. Your order is to navigate the peppy 6/Atenza around the streets of Rome effectively. Turns 1 through 3 are used in this test. The course features a left-hand kink with a little undulation in the road. The determining factor to this one is how you take the long Turn 2 followed by the sweeping Turn 3. Remember that your Mazda in this test is a front-wheel drive car, so don't expect butter-smooth handling through these corners.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 27.000
• SILVER: 27.400
• BRONZE: 30.000


A-3: Cone Slalom.

Car: 2007 Mini Cooper S
Course: Top Gear Test Track
Start: Standing Start

A slalom is a test of efficiency and control. You may know what slaloms are like if you watch skiing. You are asked to take the 2007 Mini Cooper S around a set course. The key is to adjust your throttle and steering effectively while properly weaving your way around the cones. If you so much as to even nudge a cone, that is a foul, and you will be disqualified. Thankfully, the Mini is no speed demon. You have some leeway here speed-wise. Still, you must be proficient in your steering as well as in carrying a consistent speed.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 20.000
• SILVER: 21.000
• BRONZE: 25.000


A-4: Tackling the Monza Chicane.

Car: 2007 BMW 135i Coupe
Course: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Start: Rolling Start at 95 mph

BMW provides you their 135i Coupe to take on the chicane on the Start/Finish straight. Properly judging your distance and adjusting properly will determine whether you pass or fail. Brake hard heading into the chicane. As you go through the chicane, try to find a decent line to not only clear both corners, but to power out effectively towards the Finish line. Silver shouldn't be impossible for this test. Be careful not to leave the course at any time. Otherwise, your run will be foul.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 18.900
• SILVER: 20.000
• BRONZE: 22.000


A-5: Tackling Continuous Urban Right-Angled Corners.

Car: 2009 Lotus Evora
Course: London
Start: Rolling Start at 50 mph

The streets of London are pretty narrow. The course in GT5 is quite short. You will be asked to treat a series of successive 90 corners with a 2009 Lotus Evora. This is a GREAT handling car! Make the most of its handling to clear these corners. You can powerslide the car a bit for some fun drifting. Believe me, this car is a joy to drive. Just pay attention to the road and attack the corners bravely.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 14.500
• SILVER: 15.000
• BRONZE: 17.000


A-6: Mastering a Set of Undulating Corners..

Car: 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster (NA Special Package)
Course: Trial Mountain
Start: Rolling Start at 62 mph

A track with substantial elevation changes can make even the simplest of roads a multitude more challenging to navigate. While your car is nowhere near the performer the Evora's performance from the previous test, the Miata (Eunos Roadster in Japan) is still a handful to drive. You'll need to prove this point by taking on the first few corners of Trial Mountain. This is the first test involving a car from the 20th Century. It's the oldest car you will have raced so far in a license test. The key to great times here is to drive a consistent line. No braking or letting off the throttle is needed as long as you have a great line going. This is essentially a racing line test. Just floor the gas and use great steering technique to clear this test for a somewhat simple Silver. Be more efficient to gain Gold.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 19.000
• SILVER: 19.300
• BRONZE: 21.000


A-7: Driving a Mountainous Dirt Track.

Car: 2006 Ford Focus ST
Course: Eiger Nordwand K Trail
Start: Standing Start

Welcome to your first off-road test! Laps around this course can take over four minutes in the fastest rally cars. You will only be navigating a very quick kink followed by a knife-sharp hairpin. My first time doing this test- 31.472 time. I can tell you that if you drive the Focus just right, it will seem like you're lagging behind very much, but you'll still nail an impressive time. The game's low-speed physics on off-road courses is brutal to me.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 32.000
• SILVER: 33.000
• BRONZE: 34.000


A-8: Tackling the High-Speed "Schumacher S."

Car: 2007 BMW Concept 1 Series tii
Course: Nürburgring GP/F
Start: Rolling Start at 68 mph

After the second hairpin of the Nürburgring Grand Prix course, you wind your way towards the "Schumacher S." The road goes a bit downhill before progressing a bit uphill. It is a two-corner series that progresses uphill. If you clear the first half of this section, you will be set up properly to take on the second half of this section. Use up all of your BMW Concept 1 Series tii's ability to clear this section with passing credit.

LICENSE TIMES:
• GOLD: 13.800
• SILVER: 14.200
• BRONZE: 16.000


A-9: Using Braking to Overtake on the Inside of a Corner.

Car: 2005 Citroen C4 2.0VTS
Course: Fuji Speedway F
Start: Rolling Start at 68 mph

Like in B-9, you are using one specific part of the track and are asked to pass three other cars. You are using the road-going Citroen C4 for this test. This car is the street version of the C4 rally car. You will start from the final corner of Fuji Speedway F. What you need to do is pass as many cars as possible to get the highest score possible heading into the brutally sharp Turn 1 of this course.

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 2nd
• BRONZE: 3rd


A-10: High-Speed Ring 1-Lap Battle.

Car: 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR P.P.
Course: High-Speed Ring
Start: Rolling Start at 100 mph

You will earn your A-License only as long as you place high enough in a one lap run around High-Speed Ring. Your Lancer is a powerful rally-bred monster taking on an asphalt course like High-Speed Ring. All you have is one lap to pass as many cars (15 total) as possible. Effective slipstream battle strategy will determine whether or not you clear this challenge. You may have a capable car, but this race is NOT easy. It is best to draft the first car ahead of you, then pass that car to the right to trail the leading RX-8 heading into Turn 1. If there is one thing I can recommend, do all of your passing on the outside before the bridge. Most of your passing after the bridge should be done inside of corners. What awaits you from getting your National A License are 15 cars ahead of you. How many can you pass?

LICENSE POSITIONS:
• GOLD: 1st
• SILVER: 3rd
• BRONZE: 7th


Congratulations! You got your A-License!





There's more License Test insanity to work towards. More posts to come! Get your Level up to Level 6 to take on the International C tests. Thank you for reading!

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Saturday, 26 December 2015

Deep Forest Raceway

The challenge of Deep Forest is to "experience racing through a forest" (to quote Gran Turismo 1). Deep Forest has long been a formidable course combining both rhythm-based sections with a lovely forest setting. It has been featured in every Gran Turismo game including Tourist Trophy. This is one of many true original courses in Gran Turismo history. This blog post is about the unique racing challenge known as Deep Forest.




--- Deep Forest Raceway ---
Deep Forest
^ (picture from Gran Turismo 2)
"Experience racing through a forest." -Gran Turismo 1

Deep Forest Raceway had always been under sunset conditions. It used to be that Deep Forest was a romp through a forest. The track is not exactly about a thick and dense forest, but it certainly lives up to its billing as being a race track through a forest. High trees and a very natural landscape make this course quite the task to race. The undulations in the road will easily unnerve your car if set up poorly. The backstretch features a tunnel along with a nice little look at the My favorite part of Deep Forest is the final corner, which you could aggressively take at full speed if you got a good line set up. This track can be quite difficult to race on in a mid-engine car, so take this into consideration if racing this course in a mid-engine car.

You briefly head up a hill and come back down as you enter Turn 1. The first corner comes up quickly, but smoothens out as you go further into this left-hand corner. As you head up the hill, the many switchbacks and chicanes heading into the first tunnel will unnerve you and your car. A smooth right takes you into the second tunnel. Coming out of that second tunnel, you'll go downhill and face a left-hand corner followed by a smooth uphill right followed by a seemingly long left-hand corner. Then, another left follows that leads onto the backstretch. The backstretch features a gradual climb in elevation that goes back down as you enter the third tunnel, then slightly uphill heading into the fourth tunnel. After the fourth tunnel, light to moderate braking is needed. You don't need to do any more hard braking unless you have to. Go full speed down the following straight. Depending on your line and how well your car can take high-speed corners, you can let off the throttle a bit and take the final corner at high speed. Climb up the hill and back down, and you've completed a lap of Deep Forest!


Deep Forest: Gran Turismos 1 and 2.

If you go on Gran Turismo 2, Deep Forest is somehow a German race track. Both GT1 and GT2 have this track as a track at sunset with plenty of high trees.




Deep Forest: Gran Turismo 3.

Gran Turismo 3 still has a sunset race around Deep Forest, but only in the Reverse direction. GT3 signaled the current daytime races around Deep Forest. Part of me tends to miss racing this course at sunset. Also, the sunset is more like early evening than a true sunset race. The capabilities of the PS2 allows for some more dramatic elements. A nice touch is how the sun rays illuminate through the trees. You can see a lot more high hills and mountains with many trees on them in the distance. The third tunnel has some openings on the left side so you can have a small glimpse at the trees on the other side of the river or stream. The experience of Deep Forest is more natural and more beautiful than in GT1 or GT2.



Deep Forest: Gran Turismo 4.

Gran Turismo 4 was a huge makeover of Deep Forest. The bad news, however, is that a lot of the trees that gave Deep Forest its character were gone. A good deal of deforestation took form. In essence, the track was slowly starting to feel more like a proper racing facility rather than a fantasy masterpiece. GT3 was the last GT game to feature sunset settings around Deep Forest. In addition to a lot of missing trees, the lines on the road have mostly been removed, making Deep Forest look and feel even more like a proper road racing circuit. The same configuration could be raced in Gran Turismo PSP and Tourist Trophy.



Deep Forest: Gran Turismo 5 (on impressions).

I don't have a PS3 as of this blog post. It seems like Deep Forest in GT5 is mostly unchanged since GT4, only there seems to be even fewer trees at certain points. Is this a sign of the times that even the video game world has problems with the environment?






I think there are a lot of people who hate fantasy courses just because they seem too unreal or because a race track is too incredulous to be believable. Deep Forest is surely a race track that tests you, whether it's a real course or not. It is as much of a staple to Gran Turismo than almost any other course. Have to wonder what the future would hold for a future Gran Turismo with this track. There has NEVER been a Deep Forest endurance. Could it be possible to have maybe a six-hour race going from afternoon to the late evening around Deep Forest? Would Deep Forest actually retain its forest atmosphere, or is this track somehow losing its natural character to where there are more grandstands and fancy buildings than an actual forest? Could it be possible to race this course in wet conditions, or would wet racing be too much a nightmare around Deep Forest? Maybe could some night racing happen around this place (granted you will need a bunch of flood lights)? Either way, Deep Forest will surely challenge you. It has always challenged Gran Turismo racers and Tourist Trophy riders since the late 1990s.

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15 Years of Gran Turismo

Fifteen years of Gran Turismo! Fifteen years of a game franchise that would basically become the gold standard of realistic racing. I have endured a great deal of memories with the Gran Turismo franchise. This blog post is a look at my own experience with GT in this 15th Anniversary. For people who may be visiting "John's Gran Turismo Space" for the first time ever, here is your chance to know my story regarding the GT franchise.





--- 15 Years of Gran Turismo: My Story ---

With Gran Turismo celebrating its 15th Anniversary, I figured it is time for me to share my story with this franchise. A lot of the key points of my GT experience will be separated.

• Back in 1998 or so, I bought a PlayStation at a pawn shop for about $60 US dollars. The first game I ever bought for it was Gran Turismo. GT1 was a game I had play-tested at a Best Buy once. This tour of duty I was about to embark on for GT1 was going to be a lengthy and complicated one. I still remember trying to drive cautiously with rear-wheel drive cars. Certain license tests really drove me crazy (no pun intended). Eventually, I would just buckle down and drive the wheels off of every car I owned in Gran Turismo 1.

• My experience would later shift to Gran Turismo 2. If GT1 was a challenge, I imagined GT2 would be even more so. A lot has changed including the debut of rallying. I kind of didn't enjoy GT2 as much as I did GT1. There was still plenty of fun to be had. I was really loving the enhanced array and appeal of cars in Gran Turismo 2 compared to GT1. I also enjoyed going at speeds faster than what I almost never did in GT1 (except for the Megaspeed Cup). For as much as I liked GT2, I always felt GT2 missed a number of things that would make it better than GT1. I found it the most disappointing GT I've played yet.

• When the PlayStation 2 came out, it was priced at about $300 US dollars. I so wanted to play Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec. I got both the PS2 and GT3 for Christmas in 2001. The beautiful graphics and updated play mechanics of GT3 kept me busy for quite some time. After a while, I mostly felt GT3 was more like a pretty GT2... with much less execution. When I won my first Formula car in GT3, it opened my eyes to a new way of thinking of Gran Turismo. It made me envision if the series could possibly explore some new avenues to enhance the series for years to come. That leads to the next title...

• I wanted to follow news on Gran Turismo 4. What I did was join a message board called GTPlanet. I saw a handful of pictures and magazine scans showcasing the latest news on GT4. I joined GTPlanet on December 5, 2003. It has basically been my online home since (as well as my favorite forum). It was much better than some other message board I was previously a part of, where I was mostly treated like chopped liver by a group of people.

• As news on GT4 was coming through the pipeline, a new racing game was coming along when some people seemed disappointed with GT4. This game- Forza Motorsport- looked to woo over GT fans to the XBOX. Part of peoples' frustration with GT4 was in the fact that the much-promised online play was dropped for GT4. Also, people thought GT4's lineup of cars was severely lacking compared to the cars offered in Forza Motorsport. At times, I even had to keep people interested in GT4. I wanted to play GT4 as much as everybody else. I just hated for people to worry about certain things inconsequential to whether or not GT4 really becomes a classic.

• Gran Turismo 4 was well worth the wait. While it may have not seriously blown me away, the amount of action and enjoyment were well received by me. The one thing I hated was how so many people hated that GT4 didn't have supercars. I had to keep telling people- the supercars are there. As if people thought GT4's lineup of cars were Japan-heavy and lacking supercars. So... Pagani doesn't make supercars? The Ford GT isn't a supercar? The Saleen S7 is not a fake sports car? The Mercedes-McLaren SLR is just another luxury car? I was mostly upset that people think Ferrari and Lamborghini and such is REQUIRED for a racing game to be great. Complain about the lack of true online play for GT4, but it was still a great game. People had too many complaints and not enough convincing that this game is really better than what most people made it out to be. I eventually just got tired of GT4, but I still thought it was better than a lot of people thought of it.

• The PlayStation 3 was in kiosks at stores starting around 2006 or so. This (then) nearly $700 USD console was too much for a lot of people to afford. You had a reason to care about this console when a game called Gran Turismo HD was created for the PS3. GTHD stemmed from the Vision Gran Turismo video unveiled at E3 once. The kicker for GTHD was the fact one manufacturer made its debut to the Gran Turismo franchise- Ferrari. How many years have most GT fans wanted to see Ferrari in the game? That opportunity came, and the deal was sweetened when "Gran Turismo 5: Prologue" became the first Prologue us Americans would get. As of this blog post's initial posting, I have NEVER played GT5P.

• I have also never played Gran Turismo PSP- which was meant to be a compliment to GT5. You could unlock cars in GTPSP, then take your earned cars to use in GT5. I played this game one time at a kiosk at a Fry's Electronics store, and I felt this could have been a more complete title. My PSP experience is very limited and poor.

• In the time leading up to GT5's grand debut, there was a time when I played a kiosk demo to GT5. I posted first impressions of my kiosk experience on "John's Blog Space." Little did I know that my blog post would generate extreme amounts of traffic from various sites- including my friends on GTPlanet. I could only hope that GT5 would surpass my modest expectations based on the kiosk demo I played. That post remains one of the most-viewed posts on JBS as well as moments where I've gotten the most traffic to JBS.

• It was November 2010 when Gran Turismo 5 was released. I was still on my PS2 playing GT4 around this time. Any impressions I got on GT5 were from online reviews and online videos. At times, I had my doubts about GT5 before actually playing the game. I didn't get my PlayStation 3 and GT5 until June 2011. After playing through most of the game, most of my fears were confirmed. The more I thought about GT5 over some period of time, the more I began to feel that GT5 disappoints harder than GT2 did for me. Even with online play and a very stacked lineup of cars, something inside of me still thinks this game could have been infinitely better.

• GT Academy [USA] on Spike TV was something I experienced in November 2012. GT Academy is the reality TV show challenge that takes Gran Turismo gamers from gaming to pro racing. I didn't catch every single episode of the 2012 competition, but I got a general idea after I was eventually drawn to seeing this show. It made me ponder a bit more about if elements from GT Academy could possibly make Gran Turismo a bit more fun to play and enjoy.


Regardless, I have been more than proud to be part of this 15-year thrill ride by Polyphony Digital. I enjoyed every car, every mile/kilometer, every Credit spent, every car wash, every wheel change, every tuning part... everything. I wouldn't trade these experiences with anything else in racing games.



--- 15 Years of Gran Turismo: What's Next? ---

I really think Polyphony Digital should think about what GT5 offered and try to make great improvements to make the next GT much better than GT5. GT5 was good, but I hope GT6 can be better. I even explore ways GT can be better here on JGTS. I really think Gran Turismo needs to take a much harder approach on racing and driving. I am not saying "let's make GT into a proper racing sim," but "let's make Gran Turismo just that extra bit better to be a classic." How GT eventually gets to that level depends on PD and some other sources.

My own thoughts are on how to improve the flaws GT5 had so that the next GT will be infinitely better than GT5. Improve on the flaws while also making the next GT as solid as possible. Introduce more racing series. Bring on many more cars. I don't work for Polyphony Digital- all I am hoping for (as a fan) is for the next GT to be several steps ahead... rather than running backwards.





Nonetheless, congratulations to Gran Turismo on 15 years of existence. I only want the series to continually expand and improve. Not sure how long Gran Turismo will last as a Triple-A franchise, but I want this series to last for a long time. How do you feel about 15 years of Gran Turismo? Let me know with some comments. Thank you for reading!

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Sunday, 20 December 2015

Version 2.02 Update and Review

As a holiday gift, Version 2.02 of Gran Turismo 5 lends itself a number of updates and fixes to a host of items in GT5. The download comes in at around 240 megabytes. Is this an update to be proud of or not? This blog post will fill you in on the latest updates to GT5 as well as some of my own thoughts and observations.





--- Gran Turismo 5: Version 2.02 Update ---

You can read more about the 2.02 update by reading the official 2.02 Update Notice from the US Gran Turismo site

So what does the 2.02 update feature? Read below. Any thoughts of mine are expressed in bold letters.


New Car Pack 2.

The latest pack of downloadable cars include the following:

• 2012 R35 GT-R
• 2011 Mini Cooper S
• Volkswagen Golf VI R
• Volkswagen Scirocco R

Pretty sweet batch of compacts and one beastly GT-R.


Major Changes and New Features.

• Standard cars can now have wheels changed.
VERY welcome news. Now, you won't have to worry about being stuck with a boring set of wheels for your Standard rides!

• Family Upgrade - users registered on one PS3 can all use the same settings
I have only one account with my PS3 (mine), so I can't speak on this.

• cars purchased as downloadable content now appear in Dealerships.
You can now purchase as many of a car as you like from the Dealership.

• copy feature now added to car settings
This can come in handy for saving copies of your setups or applying elements of one setup to another. Take full advantage of this, tuners!


Gifts.

• Everyone gets a 2012 Toyota 86 GT in GT5 just for downloading the Version 2.02 update!
I like this car. Come on now... who doesn't love a free car? You can even slap on some aero kit parts to this car and make it look hot for Christ's sakes! Just enjoy the danged car!

• Free Coupons for GT Auto
These are good for free customization and maintenance of your car. Save Credits and freely use these coupons to take care of your car. You get about ten of these coupons. They are good for washing your car for free, changing your oil for free, overhauling your engine for free, and restoring rigidity of your car for free.

• A gift for those purchasing the DLC's; gifts made available for purchasing any package; made available only once per account.
Among others, you pick up a nice-looking kart for kart racing in GT5.


Other Improvements.

• Pressing [SQUARE] will allow you to exchange all car coupons at once (maximum of 100).
Exchange away as many cars as you like with these changes.

• Tire Wear speed adjustment
(can't comment...)

• In the Garage and Drive List menus in A-Spec and B-Spec events, pressing [SQUARE] shows the garage, and [TRIANGLE] shows the Driver List.
Comes in very conveniently. GREAT change.


• "Max Number of Participants" now added
(can't comment...)

• Added star marks mark the number of Gold trophies in Event Selection of Seasonal Events.

• Racing sound effect improvement
The one thing I really noted was certain air sounds as you are drafting an opponent. Other than this, there isn't really much I've noticed.

• steering assist controls adjusted
(can't comment...)


Correction of Known Issues.

• fixed issue where you'd overrun without resetting, mostly due to entering the pits at slow speeds.
• fixed issue with Performance Points calculations with the Red Bull X2010 and X2011.
• fixed issue with the rear wing/aerodynamic settingss reset when switching setting sheets.
• an issue resolved involving a certain condition in an endurance race Tsukuba. The issue in question is when your car is stuck in Autopilot from Pit Lane. The entry route during pit stops and speed adjustment have also been adjusted.
• multi-monitor stability has been improved.



--- Changes I Noted ---

Again- comments noted are in bold.

• more options to adjust the HUD
You can toggle things like the driver list, the tire load indicator, and more from Quick Options in the Pause Menu. I personally want to be able to adjust the volume of sounds and music from the Pause Menu. That is a change I'd REALLY want to see when paused.

• dynamic new chase cam
This updated Chase Cam can be pretty fun. Makes the Chase view more interesting, but not interesting to the point where you get a distorted experience.

• better-arranged menu for races
Accessing the Garage in the race screen is cleaner. I love being able to quickly access the Garage and (B-Spec races only) the Driver List menus.

• rather than exiting out from Seasonal Events after completing a Seasonal race, you stay in the same Seasonal menu with the same Seasonal event.
This is a welcome improvement because I hate going right back to the GT Life menu after doing a Seasonal. I can stay within a Seasonal and keep racing away to my heart's content without having leave the menu entirely.

• Coupons won for winning all races of a Seasonal
When I checked back on Seasonals I have cleared, many of these have awarded me with Level tickets. This is good for me because it means more cars for me. Of course, these can be earned only once per Seasonal.





So if you haven't downloaded the 2.02 Update yet, please do so to update your copy of GT5. Thank you for reading!

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Tokyo R246

Tokyo Route 246 is based on a bus route in Tokyo. Let it be known that Tokyo is one of my favorite cities in the world, so I was more than pleased to see this track featured in Gran Turismo starting with Gran Turismo 3. It is a three-mile stretch of city streets starting in the Akasaka District of Tokyo starting on Aoyama-Dori street. It can be thought of as a signature race track of Gran Turismo because you can see the Sony Computer Entertainment building going down the front straight. This blog post is a look at Tokyo R246.



--- Tokyo R246 ---
Tokyo R246
(original picture credit: IGN)
Whoever would have thought that a bus route would make a great race track?

The streets of Tokyo give you some of the toughest bits early, then gets a little faster. The most important aspects to remember in tuning is that there are a lot of high-speed sections along with some slow and off-balance corners. So a little of everything has to go into planning an attack on this course.

The very first corner is the corner that will unnerve you the most. It's best to pay attention to the signs hanging on the left side to get you to find out where you need to brake to get the best possible exit out of Turn 1. You head down a tree-lined street with the National Diet Building in the distance. The next corner is a very abrupt two-turn complex that consists of a sharp left followed by a sweeping right. When you clear this chicane, you find yourself on a high-speed section that seems more like a short oval. In fact, I sometimes imagine if this oval part of Tokyo R246 could be its own track. A very long right follows once you get past the baseball stadium to your left. After the long right, you need to get ready to take on a technical double-apex left-hand corner. Get up to speed quickly as you blast down the tree-lined street. Depending on how fast you're going, you may be daring enough to take the chicane at full speed or just letting off the throttle. The next corner is a sharp right-hander that's VERY easy to screw up if you completely miss your braking point. The road ahead snakes around as you prepare to eventually go underneath a highway. The only thing separating you from the Start/Finish line is a super-slow right-hand hairpin. No excuses after this hairpin- FULL speed down Aoyama-Dori. Don't let the little high-speed chicane force you to slow down. Just go full speed all the way to the Start/Finish line!

Lap times usually last between 1:35 to 1:55. Much faster cars can do this course south of 1:30, and especially in really fast cars or Formula 1 cars, times well south of 1:30 (try 1:18 for instance!) is possible. Here is a VERY old video showing you what Tokyo R246 is like WITHOUT the guardrails:




--- Tokyo R246 in Videos ---
Let's take a video look at Tokyo R246.

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

In Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec, this course could be raced on a mostly sunny day (Normal) or on a mostly cloudy day (Reverse). This one is the normal layout:


Gran Turismo 4.

The only difference between GT4's version of this track and GT3's version is how much less saturated the colors are for this track. The same strategies still apply for tackling this course. You can even race this track in Tourist Trophy against three other riders.



Gran Turismo 5.

Glorious sunshine and sunny skies make up GT5's version of Tokyo R246. The challenge still remains as intense as ever.



It is a great race track and an invaluable asset to Gran Turismo. Maybe it isn't the street version of Grand Valley in terms of complexity and challenge and appeal, but it is a great track for racing.





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Tuesday, 15 December 2015

How Far We've Come to GT5

The journey to Gran Turismo 5 has been a long and arduous one, but we made it. From the promise of Gran Turismo 4 to a few different titles from Polyphony Digital, from PlayStation 2 to PlayStation 3, this is somewhat a text and video journey involving GT4 on the road to GT5. This is my own look at how far we have come based on what I tend to recall about the journey from GT4 to GT5.





--- Gran Turismo 4 ---
Since Gran Turismo 3, we've waited some three to five years for Gran Turismo 4. Lots of promise was abound for Gran Turismo in being the ultimate Gran Turismo title. Most of that promise was shattered with word that online play was scrapped for GT4 despite being long-promised. Also, many were disappointed at the lack of evolution in AI and not enough interesting cars (as in Ferrari or Lamborghini interesting). Gran Turismo fans still enjoyed GT4 for what it was. There were even plans to come along with a mobile version of GT4 for the PSP. It was something to look forward to, if it ever did materialize.



Now, let's look at what has happened since.



--- Gran Turismo 4: Online Edition ---
A lack of online play was a deal-breaker for most GT fans who reluctantly wanted to do online racing. This didn't bother me, because I'm not an online gamer to begin with. So a prototype was set up to try a few different features. This was referred to as "GT4: Online Edition." In addition to an online suite, there were certain features like changing driving numbers along with the possibility of more convertible top cars with the tops down for racing.


--- Tourist Trophy ---

^ (WARNING: may be a bit loud)

Tourist Trophy should have been looked at as a gaze into the future for Gran Turismo 5. Granted Tourist Trophy was a solid title, not as many people saw this game as anything special. Some just saw Tourist Trophy more like a Gran Turismo 4 (if I may use this term) total conversion to feature motorcycles. If we learned ANYTHING from Tourist Trophy (or should learn anything), let's look at some of the key features...

* visible racers
With motorcycle racing, the driver's body and helmet and such are visible all the time. This was an element that would tie into Gran Turismo 5.

* interior views
The view as you ride is very detailed even for PS2 standards. You note the tachometer and such acting realistically.

* damage
Okay, TT didn't have any real damage model, but you know you could wreck your bike by not taking control of your two-wheeled rocketship.



--- Vision Gran Turismo ---


The premise of Vision Gran Turismo 5 was presented in a new light with Vision Gran Turismo. It was at E3 2006 when VGT appeared on screen. The biggest highlight was how the GT4 engine was used to show more than six cars on a track. In fact, there were about 16 or so cars on the track at once. Even one scene featured several pit stops at Twin Ring Motegi Superspeedway as the respective crews went over the wall to service the cars.

In its most basic sense, Vision Gran Turismo was simply a tech demo to help set the tone for Gran Turismo 5.



--- Gran Turismo HD ---


A look into what the PS3 has to offer for Gran Turismo was demonstrated in Gran Turismo HD. In it, ten cars were featured along with ten tuned versions of those cars. A new track was unveiled called Eiger Nordwand. This was a track used for a two-lap race or a two-lap drift trial. The biggest news about this was the long-awaited arrival of one car company getting some face time- Ferrari. The Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano was the first Ferrari featured in any Gran Turismo game. It gave several fans something to be happy about, especially those who felt like Polyphony Digital either couldn't acquire a big-name company like Ferrari, or that Gran Turismo was somehow too good to feature a marque like Ferrari.



--- Gran Turismo 5: Prologue ---


Going solo at Eiger Nordwand was fun for only so long. Many people just want to go race. That wish was granted as Gran Turismo 5: Prologue was unveiled. In addition to the anticipation for Gran Turismo 5, fans here in the United States and abroad wanted their own Prologue. The arrival of GT5 Prologue in the United States marked the first-ever time a Prologue of a Gran Turismo title was available on U.S. shores. I, personally, never played a second of GT5 Prologue. A good 100+ cars were offered including more Ferraris. The track list mostly consisted of old favorites faithfully brought back, but also provided some new venues like Daytona (superspeedway and road course) and London among other courses. Even the first-ever real F1 car was featured. The Ferrari F2007 car was featured in GT5 Prologue.

In addition to all of these cars and tracks, some insight was brought into featuring amazing interiors of cars. These Premium elements would help set the tone for what many would hope become a stout car list for Gran Turismo 5.



--- Gran Turismo PSP ---


With a little cut into GT5's development, Gran Turismo PSP was seen as that title that probably wasn't going to arrive or happen. It wasn't until GT5 shown up at the 2008 E3 show. Word was that over 850 cars would be included in the game. Gran Turismo PSP was to be a front for which Gran Turismo 5 car sharing would happen. Ad hoc multiplayer was also included so that four PSPs can do battle at one time at any such track. Gran Turismo PSP was never truly seen as a traditional Gran Turismo title because it was basically help you to trade and buy cars.





Now... we've reached GT5. It was a long journey, but GT5 is here waiting for all GT fans to adjust to GT5 after having been playing GT4 and GT5 Prologue. It's taken multiple different games and videos to eventually get to this point. So enjoy GT5, players! :) Just know that while it's taken so long, it's all been worth it for the most part.

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Kart Space

Kart Space is one of the newest tracks for Gran Turismo 5. It is a neon-lit racing facility meant for kart racing. This would a dream kart track for a family fun center with its appeal and charm. However, it is also a menacing Gran Turismo challenge. It is one of the first tracks offered as downloadable content for Gran Turismo 5 gamers along with Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. This is a small track that can still be driven quite hard.

This blog post is a look at Kart Space for Gran Turismo 5. And by the way, I'm pretty sure "Kart Space" was NOT named in honor of or inspired by "John's Gran Turismo Space!" :) ...but it would be pretty cool if it was, though. ^_^





--- Kart Space ---

Normally, I'd have a track layout to show you to start. However (and since I don't have any downloadable content (DLC)), these are just pictures of what Kart Space is like:

GT5 Kart Space
^ Don't let the simplicity of Kart Space knock you out of orbit.

GT5 Kart Space lights
^ Lights, colors, and speed- Kart Space is a neon-lit paradise providing an experience unlike any past Gran Turismo course has ever provided.

Kart Space has two layouts. It comes across as the kind of track you'd expect to see in some arcade racing title or in some children's racing game. It has a beautiful showcase of lights and colors to make it incredibly attractive. As a racing track, this is a course that is very much made for karting. However, it can also be driven hard enough for the most aggressive of GT racers in almost any machine. This course is only very difficult if you're trying to race this track aggressively without committing an error that gets your time disallowed.


Kart Space I.

Kart Space 1 is a 0.48-mile thrill ride for karts. The first two corners are both sharp. Turn 1 comes up as a sharp right. You go over a checker-painted crest into an equally sharp Turn 2. But this time, it's a sharp left. The track goes downhill a bit to set you up for the smooth right at Turn 3. As you exit, a sharp right-hander approaches. A good attack will give you great speed heading into the banked carousel. You won't need to do any braking going through the carousel. After clearing the carousel, all you need is good throttle usage to power your way to the finish line with the final three corners. All of them are fairly smooth and are right-handed corners.


Kart Space II.

Kart Space 2 does away with the first three corners of Kart Space 1. It is almost essentially like a mini Indianapolis Motor Speedway but with the Kart Space carousel. Take the first two corners almost like you would at Indy's superspeedway layout. The rest of the course should be taken like you would if you were racing Kart Space 1.


Here are a couple of videos showing the two layouts (thanks to the channels who allowed for embedding of their videos):

^ Kart Space I


^ Kart Space II


Cool track, huh?





It's been a while since I've done any Race Track posts. Most of my delay in making posts for JGTS lies in YouTube video projects I'm working on as well as more blog posts for this blog on various other subjects related to the Gran Turismo series. So don't ever think that my blog is dead.

Thank you for reading!

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Monday, 30 November 2015

GT Academy Thoughts

GT Academy is something I've only recently caught on with. I figured I'd share my thoughts on the GT Academy reality TV competition in general. I have only started to recently follow the GT Academy action on Spike TV. It is now a chance for me to gauge what this entire thing is about. I am offering my own thoughts based on the what I've seen on TV and read online.

NOTE: Most of what I will discuss basically refers to the American GT Academy competition.




--- GT Academy Explained ---

For those uninitiated to GT Academy, allow me to introduce you to this competition in my own way. To give you an idea of what GT Academy is all about, I have included the following video. Click on the link below this video if you want to comment on it or if you can't view Flash media on your device or browser:


^ "GT Academy USA | 2012 Trailer"

GT Academy is a competition where Gran Turismo gamers take their racing skills from virtual reality to... reality. Competition involves a series of driving challenges and physical fitness. It also includes various other skills needed to go from game driver to pro driver. Many Gran Turismo gamers are whittled down to a select few who will compete in a final set of challenges to determine who will race for Nissan. The first GT Academy champion was Lucas Ordoñez. He went on to compete (and do very well) racing for Nissan at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Lucas Ordoñez, then, serves as a trail blazer and model for what is possible in going from a racing gamer to a pro racer.

The current season of GT Academy USA is hosted by Dhani Jones. All of the GT Academy USA finalists are judged by three racing personalities- Boris Said, Danny Sullivan, and Maryeve Dufault.

How does one begin to be a contender for GT Academy? It begins by downloading GT Academy from the PlayStation Store. Gran Turismo 5 is not required to play GT Academy. GT Academy features a set of driving challenges for one to take on. If your performance in each challenge is among the top percentile of GT gamers, you will be invited to compete the finals of your region's GT Academy. The winning GT Academy upon final eliminations will get the ultimate dream- to race professionally. You get to race for Nissan.

So that is a basic explanation of GT Academy. How about the execution of everything? Read on!





--- Thoughts on GT Academy ---

You know a great thing about games? You don't have to worry about being physically fit or getting injured or killed doing things in games. Trying to translate virtual racing to reality is often a great challenge. So for those who are great enough to do virtual racing and fit enough to take on real-world challenges, GT Academy is a great convergence of virtual-meets-real. I have nothing but respect for those who are able to take on both the challenges of Gran Turismo and various real-world challenges.

As a simulation racer, Gran Turismo rewards those who know how to drive proficiently while also being able to properly keep a car between the lines and away from the barriers. The series has always been about realism in both driving and racing. Often times, I'll see people drive like idiots in videos and in online races. People are probably already aware that driving too aggressively or stupidly will NOT get you any recognition from professional racing teams or professional race car drivers. This, if anything, is a reality check for some people who think racing is about wrecking cars.

Anyone should quiet down if they think that racing for Nissan is nothing worth competing for. I know there are a lot of people who are tired of Nissan in Gran Turismo- especially those who complain of too many Skylines/GT-Rs and not much of anything else. Look at the main prize here: you get to race professionally. Who wouldn't want that opportunity? I am not really into Nissan myself, but the opportunity to become a professional race car driver and race professionally is a goal almost ANY car lover and/or racing fan can aspire to. However far you can go as a pro racing driver is up to you and your abilities. Maybe you can start out racing professionally for Nissan and then step up to maybe race for a juggernaut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans or even win the Formula 1 World Championship. But for the most part, GT Academy is a tremendous challenge as well as a potential stepping stone towards racing greatness. If anything, you have to love being able to race a powerful sports car- the Nissan GT-R- in anger in real life. That alone has to be incentive to even want to compete in this competition.

I probably would compete in GT Academy if I were a better GT racer and if I was much more physically fit. For now... I'll stick to blogging and playing Gran Turismo extensively.





For more information about Nissan GT Academy, visit GT Academy Show from Nissan USA. You can also visit Nissan GT Academy on spiketv.com.

Those are my thoughts on GT Academy. How do YOU feel about GT Academy? Remember that you can express your thoughts in any of my blog posts. I welcome comments, but not spam or personal attacks. So speak up! Thank you for reading!

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