At the time, Yamauchi called it "the GT version of iTunes," letting players buy the barebones Gran Turismo HD Classic, the download more than 5,000 pieces of content to expand upon the game. That idea was scrapped in favor of a freely downloadable Gran Turismo HD and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.

With gamers warming up to the option of downloadable content over the course of the current console generation, we'd think the market might be ready for that kind of model for a Gran Turismo game. But Polyphony Digital went back to the formula of previous entries for its newest, Gran Turismo for the PSP. It packs in 800 cars and over 30 tracks.

I asked Kazunori Yamauchi at E3 what brought about that change in philosophy.

"It's not so major as to call it a philosophy," Yamauchi said. He indicated it's just simply a change in plans. He said it's not Polyphony Digital's job to dictate business decisions, saying "It's our job to develop great games."

Whether it was cool reception to Gran Turismo becoming some sort of pay to play status symbol or just a preference to stick to the old model of huge fleets of cars and tracks, we don't really know. But it looks like all that obsessive modeling time by rank and file Polyphony gearheads will translate into a Gran Turismo 5 stuffed with cars.

How have your tastes changed? Would you be more willing to download by the car today than three or four years ago? I know I am, probably thanks to Rock Band.

The Nissan Xanavi Nismo Z was playable in a special edition of Gran Turismo HD shown at the Nissan Motor Sports Exhibition 2007 in Yokohama last month. Coincidence? Doubtful.

Does this mean we're going to see new cars available on a per car basis, presented with GTHD 1.3, or is this just speculation? We'll see, but I'm betting that new downloadable content is coming sooner rather than later for the driving sim. Michael McWhertor

GRAN TURISMO - NEW VIDEO ON PSN [ThreeSpeech]

The following Friday (March 30) will see Super Rub-A-Dub hit for an unspecified price with flOw hitting one week later (April 6). No price has been set for flOw either. Go! Sudoku (April 13) and Go! Puzzle (April 20) hit the following two Fridays.

See, that wasn't so tough! Grab a lollipop on the way out. Michael McWhertor

Apparently, someone over at the Sony Connect Web site, which features "downloads powered by Sony", doesn't know what the company's flagship driving game looks like. They mistakenly used a screengrab from their competitor Microsoft's Project Gotham Racing 3 to promote Gran Turismo HD Concept. Whoops.

Fortunately, someone got access to the PlayStation press site and updated the image before anyone noticed. I mean...

Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Michael McWhertor

What exactly makes these built for gaming? I'll leave this one up to the Sharp marketing department, whose carefully worded slides are available after the jump.

The televisions come in 32" (the LC-32GP1U) and 37" (the LC-37GP1U) sizes and have an MSRP of $1700 and $2000 respectively. Cheap! Okay, not really that cheap and this whole "optimized for gaming thing" sounds suspect, but will you believe "pretty"? Michael McWhertor

Japan gets the freely downloadable Gran Turismo HD concept demo on Christmas Eve and here's what they'll be getting: one course, in the form of Eiger Nordwand, and ten cars. Here's the roster:

• Suzuki Cappuccino '95
• Mazda Eunos Roadster '89
• Honda Integra Type R '04
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR '96
• Infinity G35 Coupe
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR '05
• Lotus Elise 111R '04
• Nissan Sky Liner GT-R V Spec II '94
• Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car '95
• Ferrari 599 '06

At free, there really isn't room to complain, especially when the team will now be focusing on a proper Gran Turismo PlayStation 3 sequel.

Also, according to IGN, we can expect an announcement on Gran Turismo 5 before the end of October 2007. Polyphony Digital must get some perverse thrill from making us wait and wait and wait...Michael McWhertor

Gran Turismo Demo Details [IGN]

Today, Sony Japan stated that Gran Turismo HD wouldn't exist as a stand-alone game, but rather, as a free download. The game, now called Gran Turismo HD Concept will hit the PlayStation Store December 24th. The reason being? Many elements of it are already incorporated into Gran Turismo 5. When we visited Polyphonic Digital during TGS, series creator Kazunori Yamauchi said that GT HD connected GT4 and GTA5. His exact quote:

Gran Turismo HD is the bridge to GT5, there would be no GT5 without this game.

In an online statement, Yamauchi says that he and his team have decided to concentrate on Gran Turismo 5 instead and adds that there will be more concept versions hitting the PlayStation Store before GT 5 is released. The release date for that game hasn't yet been announced. Brian Ashcraft

GT HD Now Free Download [Sony, Thanks San Tokie!]

To be honest, I'm not the best person to ask about Gran Turismo. Even though I've been to Polyphony Digital, played Gran Turismo HD for hours, and like shiny, pretty things... this game just isn't for me. It's like work. And I already have a job. This latest batch of screens... I don't know. What do you guys think? Some of those cars look fugly. Some look great. I'm so conflicted! Michael McWhertor

Gran Turismo HD Screen Update

At this week's SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) show, nestled within the Sony "Xplod" booth, lives this heavily customize 2004 Scion xA. Custom painted in PlayStation 3 red and black, the car also contains a real, working, all-hooked-up PS3.

Hooked up to what? Tons of monitors! A roof embedded 46" widescreen TV, another 26" TV in the rear hatch, and thirteen additional monitors installed throughout the interior means your passengers can watch you play Gran Turismo HD from any angle.

Plus, they removed the steering wheel, which, if I'm reading the narrator right, means the car is now controlled with a PlayStation 3 SIXAXIS. If so, cool, but I somehow doubt it.

Check out the video at CarTV to see it in action. Michael McWhertor

SEMA: Sony PS3 Scion xA

Sexy, huh? Here's the PLAYSTATION TV. That's upper case for a PS3 demo kiosk, which will begin flooding Japan. Unlike the previous monolith, which only showed clips, this new version has demos, game videos, a photo slideshow and music. Players can select what they desire by toggling through the PS3's Cross Media Bar. Trial games include Devil May Cry 4, Power Smash 3, Gran Turismo HD and Ridge Racer 7. Sony plans to put 1,000 of these kiosks around Japan by the year's end—if anything, just to taught those unable to buy one. Brian Ashcraft

You Can Play This, But Can't Buy It [Famitsu]

After Sony's dizzying E3 presser, we were given a chance to play Gran Turismo HD for the PS3. I quite enjoyed Gran Turismo 3 and was looking forward to some one-on-one with the game. I pushed my way through the crowd and tried out a GT motorcycle for the first time. I started the bike up, turned a corner and was dumped off. Another corner and was dumped off the bike. Wash, rinse, repeat.

After a minute of this, I actually gave the controller the person waiting behind me. I couldn't take it. That was my first hands on with a PS3 game.

On Saturday, when Mike, Scott, Jean and I hit Polyphony Digital, I got another crack at the game. There were PS3's laying around the office with controllers for us to pick up and play the GT HD demo. So, after stuffing my face with three hamburgers, I did just that: Stuffed my face with another hamburger and played GT HD.

The track was narrow. The controls felt way too sensitive. I thought I was cruising along, slowly, but would plow into a way. I felt like an idiot, and I couldn't get into it.

Pulling aside Kotaku's freeloading photographer Scott (the dude in the Poll clip), I picked his brain about why the game was so off-putting. Note: Scott not only owns all GT games and insisted on sitting next to Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi at the press event, but he actually clapped every time Kaz changed the slides at the presentation.

Scott said, "I know what they're trying to do. The details on the car are incredible. The physics are perfect. It's just, the game isn't fun." He told me at the Sony party, a French TV crew were trying to get game footage, but could not control the vehicle. Scott offered his services, only to make an ass of himself, repeatedly hitting the wall.

Amazing detail and incredible physics may not mean fun. But then again, fun doesn't seem to be the point here. Yamauchi has set out to make the most realistic driving simulator and has. When he showed Ferrari the models of the car, Ferrari said that it was the most realistic representation of the car a third party had every made. Talk about true praise.

Worth picking up? If you like Gran Turismo, no doubt. But, play with a wheel, tweak the settings and work at it. This is more than a driving game, it's a driving simulator. Brian Ashcraft

Wow, this Gran Turismo gameplay video looks pretty hot, though I see they still haven't figured out how to get people to move. Well, at least they are no longer flat people, and their flags move. There's that. Brian Crecente

Available this winter, exclusively on PLAYSTATION 3, Gran Turismo HD serves as a glimpse into the evolution of the franchise and provides gamers with two types of game modes that offer an unparalleled racing experience suited for the next-generation of gaming. In Gran Turismo HD, gamers will have access to GT HD Premium and GT HD Classic. GT HD Premium features cars and tracks like never before in full high definition quality. GT HD Classic features unique online gameplay that not only provides head-to-head racing, but allows for the long awaited feature of additional cars (ranging up to 770 car models) and tracks (up to 51) available through ongoing downloads. During gameplay in Gran Turismo HD, players have the ability to manage race regulations, online competition and communities, as well as organize race events.

With unlimited network gameplay and dowloadable content, Gran Turismo HD opens doors for further opportunities of online entertainment on PLAYSTATION 3. With the availability and range of cars and tracks featured in Gran Turismo HD, this "Pure Driving Simulator" encourages and enables players to create their own "World of GT."

What they don't really explain is if you get any cars for online play or if you have to buy them all. Also, is this saying that the high-def stuff will only be offline? Brian Crecente

For us, the PLAYSTATION 3 is a weapon for revolution.

And a heavy, blunt instrument for bludgeoning at that! Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Eurogamer]