Gran Turismo 5 Message Board older than one year ago

I hope you all had a great holiday weekend and managed to squeeze in some quality time with your family and of course, your PS3!

Many of you took advantage of our great Black Friday promotions at retailers around the country last week, but if getting in line at 6:00am to begin your shopping wasn’t your idea of fun, you’ll be happy to know there are still amazing deals to be found. It’s not too late to get a great deal on a PlayStation 3 bundle while upgrading your home’s HD entertainment system, so you can enjoy the latest in HD gaming, movies and television in the comfort of your own home.

You may remember that last year we joined forces with Sony Electronics and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to introduce you to BestBuy employee Nick DeVita and a deal so irresistible, many found it hard to pass up. The response to the exclusive BestBuy entertainment bundle confirmed what we’ve known all along; today’s consumers have a voracious appetite for the best in home entertainment. That’s why we’ve partnered again with BestBuy, Sony Electronics and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to bring you another incredible HD entertainment bundle. In keeping with tradition, we decided to let Kevin and Nick create a team so unstoppable no challenge can stand in their way. Here’s the first look at the uncut full-length version featuring our own “Boombassador of Deals” Kevin Butler and BestBuy’s Nick DeVita.

This exclusive bundle packs a PlayStation 3, a copy of the just released GranTurismo 5, Grown Ups on Blu-ray disc and a select Bravia HDTV–for a total savings of over $1,300. This deal is available now through December 11th across BestBuy stores nationwide and online at BestBuy.com. Be sure to go to BestBuy.com/SonyPS3Bundle for additional details and happy shopping!

• Destructoid (100/100): "Even beyond the 1,000 cars, dozens of track variations, countless modes, gorgeous visuals and mountains of options, Gran Turismo 5 has something more that speaks to the world's car lovers and racing fans. The level of care taken by the people at Polyphony Digital shines in every aspect of this title, and this makes for a racing game that truly has no parallel."
• Eurogamer (90/100): "You see, the heart of the game has moved. It's no longer in the GT Mode, despite its improved pace, nor the tuning screen or parts shop. It's certainly not in the vestigial licence tests which are still there but no longer serve much purpose, Polyphony finally having given in and implemented a simple, sensible levelling system to unlock cars and events instead. The game's heart is in those Special Events."
• IGN (85/100): "Gran Turismo 5 is a 10/10 simulator wrapped up in a 5/10 game - driving is as exhilarating as anything that's gone before, and slavish obsession with the minutiae of many of its cars ensure it's an encyclopaedia of automotive delights. Its brilliance on the track, however is matched by its sloppiness off of it, and there's a lack of polish that would at one time have seemed sacrilegious to the series."
• Videogamer (80/100): "The actual driving in Gran Turismo 5 is brilliant. If driving cars is all you care about, Sony and Polyphony Digital have you covered. These days, I want more. I want a streamlined career mode, an exhaustive set of online features, cutting-edge visuals, and above all else, a spark - the something that turns a game from good to really special."
• Guardian (no score): "At times it feels less like playing a game and more like indulging in a hobby. Clearly it's no longer the sole pretender to the title of Best Racing Game; competitors snap at its heels in terms of graphical pyrotechnics, driving feel and immersion, and there are certainly better multiplayer experiences out there. But there's nothing with this much charm. If you want simply to bask in a deep love for cars, then there is still no better franchise."

Christmas has arrived a little early for all you GT fans across the world with today’s release of Gran Turismo 5. That’s right, it’s been five years in the making and it’s finally here — the most realistic and comprehensive driving experiences in one of the most highly-anticipated games ever released. And what better way to spend the 4-day weekend than diving into the world of Gran Turismo 5 head first?

To celebrate today’s release, check out our new GT video with never-before-seen footage of the game.

Not only will you be able to play with over 1,000 licensed cars from the world’s top manufacturers, race on more than 20 tracks with over 70 variations of famous world circuits, city courses, snow and dirt, and original environments popular to fans, but experience new features BRAND NEW to the franchise. These include real-time car damage, dynamic weather effects, kart racing, access to select NASCAR cars, a Course Maker and of course, robust online community features. And did we mention that all of this is also compatible with awe-inspiring stereoscopic 3D right out of the box? The official Gran Turismo website features an incredibly in-depth look at all of the features the game has to offer, and see the more pictures like the stunning ones below taken with nothing more than the in-game Photo Mode feature.

And… don’t forget about GT Academy coming here to the US! For more details on Gran Turismo 5 and GT Academy, click here.

#gt5 Here are some shots of the Lexus LF-A concept car. Your task: sort out which ones are photographs, and which ones are screenshots from Gran Turismo 5. More »

It may not come with “rack-and-peanut steering” like the Homer car, but Gran Turismo 5’s Collector’s Edition is still an object of admiration for any car lover. Jeff and I got our grubby paws on the first in-house box and have defiled its pristine packaging for your viewing pleasure in the video above. Love that new-car smell!

What does your $99.99 get you? Read on for the full contents. Not enough detail for you? Head over to GranTurismo.com for even more specifics and images.

• Gran Turismo 5 on Blu-ray: 1000+ cars, a wealth of tracks, new Course Maker, stereoscopic 3D, kart racing, and more features than we could possibly list here. Seriously — this game huge.

• Collectible Diecast Car: Exclusive limited edition 1:43 scale diecast 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V with custom Gran Turismo livery designed by Polyphony Digital, produced by well-known collectible car maker Kyosho.

• Exclusive “Apex” Car Guide: 300 pages of advanced GT5 driving techniques, a crash course in modern automotive history, track reference material and much more straight from experts at Polyphony Digital.

• Five exclusive DLC cars: Special “Chrome Line” editions of the Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro, BMW M3 Coupe, Lamborghini Murciélago LP 640, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe, and Shelby Cobra 427. You may commence drooling.

• Custom-etched Gran Turismo key chain: A man can’t live on his PS3 alone, so your friends at Polyphony Digital have arranged for a little keepsake memento of your GT5 conquests.

• Numbered certificate of authenticity: Hang it on your bedroom wall and impress your friends, or stash it under your bed amongst the cobwebs — the choice is yours!

Phew! That covers the GT5 Collector’s Edition, launching Wednesday, November 24th for $99.99. Only one question remains — what version are you going to get? Are you going deluxe or sticking to the standard edition? Let us know in the comments!