lol @ anyone who paid 40 bucks for a demo

Yeah...I'd much rather pay $60 for Army of Two ...

Oh...wait a minute.

(BTW I paid $29)

@sudz: lol @ flamebait.

GT5 Prologue is for the fans and only the fans. If you're not a fan, pipe down.

@sudz: I don't see why people calling it a demo. It's sort of like that lame time period where they kept saying the PS3 had no games. I still occasionally see that argument. Prologue means that is a game coming out before the real release. If I remember correctly they did the same thing with GT4.

wait..... this is basicly GT5...lite? for $40?

umm.. ick?

Fastest selling PS3 game to date.

People love their GT.

Even though i would never buy it, if the people getting it get a lot of in game hours and enjoy it, then i don't see the problem with spending $40 on "a demo"

@sudz: remember Zone of the Enders?

what i hope is that somehow they find a way to inject some fun into the series. gran turismo has always been little more than unrealized potential for me. i won't know until they get the final release out the door because there's no way i am willing to shelling out for this here beta.

I don't know who the first 2 reviewers are (dark zero and jolt)

I love GT for it's harsh and uncompromising simulation of wheeled sports, to the point where the standard controller becomes a hindrance.

So while I'm a GT fan, I also like other racing games, and think it's a pity that the AI hasn't been tweaked, however the full GT5 experience is yet to come.

How's the sound? Forza 2 had great sound, simulating engine noise pretty well. GT has traditionally been weak in that regard.

@sudz: "Flamebait" and I'll pay $40 for GT5P anytime. (I'm a big GT fan)

i will say it is a very pretty demo, still not gonna buy it though.

i just played online for like 2 hr its full off people just ramming all over the track

@sudz:
lol @ at obvious fanoyistic jealousy.

I'm gonna try and share some knowledge, may end up with an army against me, but meh, I feel venturous.

Say you were allowed a demo of a 12 part game series that was heralded as the greatest game of all time in one or more categories. In fact, you were given just about 1/5th of that game, but it already rivaled full release titles in the same genre in terms of gameplay, graphics and what have you. Even though the game offered more than others in its field, it was labeled as a demo and was charged 40 bucks. For all intensive purposes lets call it an rpg that should be in its entirety over 300 hours long.. the demo is only 40. Would you be so pissed to pay 40 bucks for that same 40 hour game even though it was more than what others offered for 60 bucks? No? Then hush.

Knowledge hopefully acquired.

@teh_joe: lol, I did that. and it was worth it. ZOE was like a swift kick in the ass. it was awesome. and so was ZOE2.

As a racing sim fan I'm a bit disappointed. The AI can be downright stupid. Pull my car to a crawl and sideways on a track..the entire pack will slow to a crawl and wait for me. They constantly side swipe you while your cleanly passing too. It's like they don't even know you're there half the time. bleh

I feel this was dumb but smart of Sony/PD at the same time. It was kinda dumb because it's taking time away from the development of the actual game. There is also no real way that anyone could see this as anything other than a demo, because in reality that's what it is. Granted it's probably the biggest demo I've ever seen, but it's still a demo. Also it's way too expensive. This should have been like a $20 game at most.

However, it's not all bad. It does give Sony/PD a chance to see what people think of the project so far, and gives greater potential for the final game. There's also the fact that there are plenty of hardcore fans out there who will pick this up and so there's always the money aspect.

I do believe they would have been better off putting it at a lower price point however because it may have enticed people who have heard about the series but never played it a chance to check it out (whereas they may not be willing to check it out for a $40 price tag).

Personally I'm not in any hurry and I'll just wait for the eventual release of the full game.

@sudz: 40 bucks for a demo that has nearly as many tracks as forza 2.

i payied 40 for it. love me some Grand Turismo

Humm...

Who are Dark Zero, Jolt, and Videogamer? O.o

@FightingChance: I beg to differ. GT is king in the sound department.

@3xch4ng3:
It's an early version of GT5, with only 5 tracks but like 70 cars. For those who want to start playing the game now rather than in a year or two, it's a good way to go. For those patient people like me, who'd rather have tons of tracks from the start, I'm willing to wait and only pay $60 once.

@sudz:

lol @ dumbass calling it a demo!

Downloading it tonight.

All I have to say.

I honestly would have declared the PS3 the winner this generation back when this Prologue was rumoured to be free. Now? Flame bait or not, I gotta agree with sudz.

GT5 is gonna be awesome.

I gotta be honest and agree that this game is never-ever worth $40 unless you're a die hard and I mean die hard GT fan.

Here's the big "BUT" though. It costs £17.99 in the UK at a good retailer that doesn't screw you over. Comparing this to the usual price of a retail game, about £35, this game is a steal.

I even told some guys in Germany about the price of it in the UK and they actually imported it because of that - it was still cheaper than buying it for 40€. Yes, it cost(s) 40€ in Germany, as well.

My take on the price and what you get for it - it's worth every penny of the 18 bucks I spent on it.

I hope that selling pre-release version (demo) of a game isn't going to become a trend ! Even though I'd have plenty enough fun for the cash I paid. I wouldn't want to buy this stuff, it would be like walking right into the biggest mouse trap ever ! It's the most unsubtle way of making easy cash ever !

It's not a demo. No demo has offered so much options as this does. This "demo" has more features and content than alot of other racers to come out at full price in recent years (Sega Rally, Motorstorm).

Though it does lack in areas. Really prologue is really an expensive beta test the way they keep patching it and adding content to it.

I'm not a GT fan though, don't really care for the series, but calling it a demo is just trolling.

@sudz: Fantastic point...no really. You are wise.

@Jechticknight: I hear you, but I am a little disappointed with some of the lacking features. For example, it's not entirely 1/5th of the game. It's 1/5th minus many many features.

I cannot believe that I haven't heard any raving of the physics system. GT Concept was still on the GT4 physics engine, and Prolouge (the short 4 hours I've had with it) has been a swift kick in the nuts in that department. I'm floored at how much you can feel through the SIXAXIS (yet to try DS3). Really, this is a massive leap from the predecesor, unfortunately I don't think the majority of gamers (minus the dedicated few that actually pay for something like Prolouge) will notice.

I'm a car guy. This is my game.

@Shteve: They have been selling Prologue versions of Gran Turismo for years, this isn't some kind of new trend.

My personal opinion is it's not worth 2/3 of the price of the final game. If you don't mind spending $40 when there are far more developed, 'real' games out there, that's your business. $10 would be reasonable, but not this insane asking price.

My roommate (a 'casual' PS3 owner) saw this and exclaimed wow! GT5?! I explained to him what it was and how much it cost and his exact words were 'fuck that.' I don't think anyone but the hardcore or misinformed will be picking this up instead of waiting for the real Gran Turismo 5.

@sudz: 20 quid for a great game with unlimited replayability versus a 10hr mediocore slog for full price. guess you'd go for the full game every time cos you don't like to be ripped off right?

Personally, it annoys me a little that Polyphony releases these tidbits. I'd rather they just toil away and launch the full product, even if it means we wait for an extra year or two to feel that Gran Turismo magic.

However, that being said, there are hardcore fans of the series, and they'll happily buy the prologue.

Enjoy, mates! If history repeats itself, we've got a wait ahead of us before GT5 lands.

@Shteve: its been that way with GT for a long time, releasing prologues. if publishers were gonna catch on to the idea they'd have done it by now.

This isn't really a demo at the same time. Is it a demo of Gran Turismo 5? Yes. But the content it has in GT5P can be treated enough to be a full game as well. However, like many have mentioned, this title is definately for hardcore GT fans just like the other Prologue titles released in the series.

This game was never about AI and is more about the car driving experience, so...although they could work on the AI a bit more to make it challenging, like I said, that's not the main purpose of this series ever since part 1.

Online in this game is really stupid at the moment because it's just bumper car mania.

@BigPete7978: It's called a demo because the full game isn't coming out anytime soon and...

I point you to the meaning of introduction: [dictionary.reference.com]

Prologue is in fact an introduction which is generally what a demo is and what this game has been marketed as before they realized that people would pay serious money for it.

People calling it a demo doesn't mean that's what makes it a bad game (LOL... j/k... I'm sorry D: ). Polyphony probably needed some capital to offset the cost of development and to build mass awareness at the same time. If people are willing to pay for it, there's nothing wrong with that but it is classic double-dipping. I hope that the idea of paid demo's does not become a trend but if the success of GT5P is any bench mark of whats to come then it probably will; this is a far more sinister marketing monetization method then DLC and I hate the fact that Sony did it.

I'm not a big GT fan, and I shudder when I think of any future where gamers are paying for demos or incomplete games. I also shudder when I recall gamers paying to participate in a beta (Halo 3). We all need to wise up.

I stopped really enjoying the series as much as I should after GT3, I got more into the Burnout series and developed a serious love for that series then on, I just liked how it flowed better in my opinion and Gran Turismo just didn't strike me the same way anymore. As gorgeous as it looks though, I really had some expectation and after I tried the game itself, there were some shortfalls that I see reflected in the different reviews. I'm not saying that GT5 is a lie, I'm just saying phew, I'm glad I didn't pay for this because it seems a bit more on the empty side.

@Shteve: It didn't become a trend when GT did it during the PS2 era...why should this era be different?

All I can say is that when I sat down and played last night, FLipped off all the driving assists and set the physics to professional, GT5P reminded me why I hate FF cars.

but on a sad note, where is my Sprinter Trueno gt apex type version s.s. from GT3, you make me a sad panda!

Game looks gorgeous. Cars handle great, everything I would expect from GT. For some reason the AI driver of some crappy old VW is an ASSHOLE. Always trying to run me off the track and slam into me from behind to spin me out. Bastard and his maroon hatchback.

You would have to be REALLY into GT to drop $40 on this. I can't believe they priced it so high.

I say drop $10 on Pixeljunk Monsters, which is incredibly fun and save yourself $30.

I'm very let down by this game. I picked it up and played it for a while, but it's just not that good. After playing Forza 2, this game can't compare. I'd much rather play GT4 with the less than stellar graphics than this gorgeous but shallow racer.

@Culebra: These really are good though for the final product. These are just elaborate beta tests that people are buying. Poly gets to test all the features for final version before it ever comes out. They already stated they plan on adding more content to prologue over the year including an attempt at car damage.

I'm a die hard GT fan and was looking forward to some online play so i paid my 40. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.

The online race was less of a race and more like bumper cars with ten idiots who have absolutely no knowledge of how a race functions, what an apex is or how to properly pass and or be passed.

What I don't understand is why these people don't just play burnout or some other arcadey game where that kind of behavior is rewarded. Also I don't see how they can remedy it since there's no way the program will be able to distinguish a genuine racing incident from someone smashing into you from the side when you pass them in the middle of a straight.

I'm looking into PC race simulators as I have thrown my copy of GT across the room and don't feel like picking it up.

@Jechticknight: I for one would not pay $40 for 1/7th of a Final Fantasy game, as per your logic above. My main reasoning for this is that I would eventually be paying the full retail price for the entire game. That is $100 total that I would be putting toward that game. So what would my extra $40 purchase get me? A stay of my own anticipation? A $40 overlap once I buy the full game? That idea does not appeal to me personally in any way.

P.S. The expression is "intents and purposes" not "intensive purposes". Knowledge hopefully acquired.

@HaydenTenno: Uhhhh what?

so..the cars can crash in here too like they will in gt5, right? ahh what do i care. i probably wont buy it anyway. the wait for 5 continues.

Ever (space) !

Seriously, did people keep calling GT4 prologue a demo?

"Because despite the recent advancement of other racing franchises, Polyphony Digital's near religious devotion to automobiles has offered hardcore racing/racing game fans an unparalleled driving simulation for a decade."

Sounds like... um... fanaticism... I LOVED Gran Turismo... until the other sims passed it for pure sim-ness...
Damage and penalties for driving like an asshole are NECESSARY for a good driving sim. Accurate tire modeling is also more important than 80 different versions of the R32 Skyline.

Also, releasing a title within a year of the original release date is nice...

Sorry, not a fan anymore :( Maybe when GT6 comes out in 2015 (even though the release date is set for 2012...) and has damage and better tire physics modeling, I'll come around. But this $40 demo of a game that was SUPPOSED to be a PS3 launch title is nothing but a reskin. It's suffering from Madden-syndrome. Lots of flash, no new gameplay mechanics.

I can't STAND the way the cars drive in GT5:p. The tires still feel like tubes of PVC.

It's a great game. If you can't get past the 40 bones, then shut the F up, and move on. GT is a great series, and worth every penny. BTW, there are game updates available for download too that should fix some issues. I have yet to play online, but the single player is simply amazing!

@jsf49: The Halo 3 Beta was free of course, unless you're going to be that guy that says you had to buy a game to get it. In which case, nice trolling, troll.

Also, you didn't necessarily have to buy Crackdown. There were other ways in.

@Shandy706: Oh my god, how could I FORGET the absolutely RETARDED AI!?

Nothing like hitting your racing line at speed and being shunted because the AI has no care that you happen to be on the same line.

It sure looks pretty though.

Those screens look pretty. And while the game may be a "demo", there are plenty of people who want to buy it. I applaud Polyphony for releasing this delectable morsel of GT goodness to the community.

If you're not one of the people that will buy Prologue, that's fine, nobody said you had to. But why whine about it?

Personally, I'm not going to buy it. But I'm also not going to rip the game or the developer for releasing it, either. I've got much better things to do. To everyone who is complaining, STFU and go find something else to do. Leave the hardcore fans alone.