The world's most popular car racing game is finally here - and partners of loungeroom racers will curse the day it launched. Based on this household, Gran Turismo 5 will cause serious family friction, be it battling for the controller or just fighting for control of the TV.
The game is so extensive that it could easily take gamers a year to complete every challenge - though smart fans are advised not to tell their spouses or children that fact.
There are 1031 cars to try out on 71 tracks and a level of realism that demands replaying the same race until you get the lines and overtaking manoeuvres just right.
All of the above make it great value for money with prices for the PlayStation 3 game starting at $130. That's about the norm for a console game in Australia, but the difference is most games can be completed within a week. Most partners will resign themselves to It's also one of the reasons the title is expected to sell 10 million copies.
THE CREATOR
Kazunori Yamauchi is renowned as a perfectionist - he took five years to create this version of the Gran Turismo franchise - and that exacting approach means he could walk away from his Polyphony Digital gaming design studio and have a career as a race driver.
The Stig, now known to be British touring car driver Ben Collins, was hugely impressed with Yamauchi's car control while mapping the Top Gear track for inclusion in the game.
The Japanese genius has taken part in several professional races and finished fourth in his class driving a Lexus IS-F with Australia's Peter Lyon in this year's 24 Hours of Nurburgring despite starting from 174th place after problems in qualifying.
Yamauchi doesn't distinguish between driving in game and in the real world, which goes a long way to explaining why GT5 is so realistic. It also explains his passion for the GT Academy challenge, an online contest to find the best virtual racer, who then goes on to undertake real racecar training. The first two Academy graduates are both still racing, which Yamauchi says vindicates his approach to the game.
"I like the fact that people are using Gran Turismo to learn how to drive," he says while piloting a BMW M3 around the streets of Madrid for the game's global launch. "It builds on a young man's life and seeing that is really enjoyable - they live their dreams in the game and if they're good enough, they can live it in the real world."
THE GAME
Gamers and reviewers have been waiting five years to get to grips with GT5 and that level of expectation led to fears that the developers couldn't possibly match it. They have, but it's not for everyone. The physics are first rate, but the graphics vary depending on the chosen car and track.
It's the same with the computer's artificial intelligence. At first play it seems too artificial, which is one of the few concessions Yamauchi has made. The AI keeps pace with a driver's in-game development, so by the time you've reached the more advanced levels they're fiendishly hard to overtake. I've already been censured for swearing at the TV, but being block-passed by a computer doesn't seem right.
The same approach is taken to the car damage. The physics don't deform the vehicle exterior as much as expected, but crashes will wreck the mechanicals, affecting everything from steering and braking to engine output. Again, it's calibrated to match your level of experience. It's a smart game strategy that lets casual players get away with repeated hits but penalises serious players trying to complete the upper levels
THE CAR COMPANIES
The queue of carmakers wanting to take part in the game indicates its success at a technical and commercial level. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is the "face" of GT5, having earned the coveted cover shot as a result of the company's development with Polyphony Digital. The upside for Mercedes was dealerships were given a one-track demo of the game starring the $500,000 supercar.
"We've worked very closely with PlayStation and Polyphony Digital to recreate the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in Gran Turismo 5 - and we're thrilled by the result," Mercedes communications head Anders Sundt Jensen says.
Toyota/Lexus made a similar commitment with the FT-86 and IS-F respectively, while Red Bull F1 designer Adrian Newey built a one-off prototype - the X1 - showing what a grand prix car would look like without rules to limit its aerodynamic shape.
Ferrari, which famously guards its intellectual property, also relented and allowed its vehicles to be virtually reproduced for the game. Ford products make an appearance but, sadly, there's no local product and Holden fans have to do with the VZ Monaro and Commodore SS ported across from the GT4 game.
GRAN TURISMO 5
Console: PlayStation 3
Game modes: GT mode is the main event with players unlocking progressively better cars and harder opponents as they advance. Special Events offers karting, Nascar and rally racing. Licences is basically an in-game tutoring package that teaches drivers the braking, handling and racecraft skills they need to be quick. Arcade is a less demanding version of the game, but it's one that "real" GT enthusiasts aren't likely to spend much time on, unless they're racing against young children.
Vehicles: 1031, though only 200 are the "premium" models with ultra-realistic rendering
Display: The game is presented in 1080p and is 3D compatible
Price: from $130
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