Driving Games

Coming soon to a PS3 near you!

It’s been a big news day today for all Gran Turismo fans. Not only has Sony confirmed the long-awaited, oft-delayed PS3 racer will finally see release on the 24th of November, but they’ve also seen fit to release the full 1,031 list of cars that have made it into the game.

And, while that list features far too many similar Nissans and Mitsubishis for my liking, there’s a thin smattering of British tin, such as the ’97 MGF, a 2003 MGTF, a ’74 Triumph Spitfire, and most excitingly, car number 554: Mini Cooper 1.3i ’98.

Top stuff.

Too much to hope for a mkI Morris Cooper ‘S’ in a DLC car pack?

Having previously posted the latest trailer for Gran Turismo 5, I thought I’d add my ‘wish-list’ of things I’d like to see in the upcoming game.

1. Classic Minis

GT2 Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper and it’s mkI Morris Cooper S ancestor made it’s debut on the PSOne, in the second game of the series, Gran Turismo 2. Since then, the Mini has featured in each addition of the game, a testament to the cars popularity in Japan.

Cruelly, the original Mini was removed from the European version of the game, rumours suggested that BMW requested it, leaving us EU PS2 gamers with just the MINI and the kit-car based Mini Marcos.

Given the games 1000 cars it’s reasonable to hope the Mini will make it and that BMW won’t have any qualms about it being included in the European version. That said, if it’s not, I’ll buy a different version!

2. Proper pit-stops

Today’s racers can replicate almost every aspect of motor-racing, real-world tracks, pixel-perfect panels, inch-acurate interiors, even realistic damage that deforms the cars, effects handling, and more. But pull into the pits and illusion is shattered. The car comes to a halt, a few stereotypical sound effects and your off, car fixed, racing back under way. Come one, lets see people swapping wheels (if that’s why you’ve come in) or at least see the pit mechanics lift the bonnet, or maybe stick some fuel in. It’d be really simple to do, but it’d look great.

3. Gimme a garage and let me walk around it

Two games that really stick in my mind are Sega GT 2002 and Project Gotham Racing Three. I loved the way that PGR 3 let you chose a range of garages to put your motors in and then let you wander around them, and in Sega GT 2002, photos of your racers were hung with pride in your garage, for all to see. I also liked the Sega game’s interface, garage door open, car parked, and, if you wanted to sell a car, it was parked on the grass outside with a ‘FOR SALE’ sign propped up on the windscreen, whichever way you cut it, that’s just a very cool way to do it. Compare this with the sterile car selection system used in Forza 3 and it’s obvious which method appeals more to us petrolheads!

4. More British tracks

As a Brit I want to see more tracks from the UK. Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donnington. Come on, they’re superb tracks and a great blast to drive on. Yes it’s going to be ace to be able to blast around the famous GT tracks, but a few more tracks from dear ‘ol Blighty wouldn’t go a miss.

5. Customisation

Forza 3 pretty much got custom paint jobs spot on, so lets see GT take a spin at it, with so many more cars there’s so many more options for different designs, liveries and paint jobs.

6. More licensed race series

We know that the new Gran Turismo has got the license for both World Rally Championship cars (which means, erm, three cars, I think) and NASCAR. Yeah, NASCAR. Surely there must be better championships to add to the mix. Touring Cars would be much better if you ask me. As the Top Gear lot once scrawled on the side of a car, ‘NASCAR SUCKS’

I’m sure more details will emerge about GT5 as we move near the November release, hopefully some of those details will knock some of the wishes off my list!