But if you're still on the fence over whether it's worth shelling out 60% of the full game's asking price for what's probably less than 10% of its content, read on, dear readers, read on.

Loved

• Graphics - Still a little sterile as far as the tracks are concerned (London excepted), but gorgeous nonetheless. Between the cars, in-car view and HDR lighting tricks this is the game you'll want to use if you're the type who has friends over just to show off how important your PS3 is to you and your home entertainment setup.
• Difficulty Curve - GT5P's got a new, improved assist mode for beginners, and it's the best I've seen in a racing game. Not only do you get an indicator for where the racing line is and when you need to brake, it actually tells you how fast you need to be going when you hit the braking-point. Very handy.
• Car Handling - No surprises here, it's the series' strength. Cars feel reasonably real, there's a marked difference between cars, blah blah blah. It's GT, you know the score, and even feels a little more forgiving than GT4, especially in some of the shittier cars. Oh, unless you turn off the assists. Then it's brutal as hell.

Hated

• Collision Modelling - The prettier and more realistic this game gets, the more its poor collision modelling stands out. I don't need to see scratches and broken glass on my car. What I do need - and what I expect of a series that's striving so hard for realism - is that when I hit a wall or another car, I feel like I've hit a wall or car. Not a stack of fluffy pillows stuffed with marshmallows.
• Six Tracks? - There's only six tracks, and even then, you spend most of the singleplayer events on only three of them (you race on the beautiful London track once). Those are slim pickings.
• The GRIND - The game's short on singleplayer content (I finished every event in just over a day), so it resorts to grinding to pad things out. Example: many races force you to buy a specific vehicle. So you have to repeatedly complete earlier races to get the cash for it, then usually only use the thing once. Next time you run into a car-specific race, you'll need to grind out the cash all over again. In a full GT game, this is fine, as there's a wealth of races to enter to spread things out and give you a little variety. With only a handful of tracks here, though, the grind is noticeable, and it's boring as hell.
• Online Play - I entered 30 online races, and not a single one was without serious issues. Cars blinked in and out of existence, and poor net code resulted in opponents that zoomed off into the distance at lightspeed, only to then reappear right in front of you. Makes racing, especially on packed circuits, really, really hard.

Look, as a demo, it's a good one. What's already on offer looks great, and feels great, so GT fans should have little doubt that when the full game's released - with hundreds of cars and dozens of tracks - Gran Turismo 5 will be everything they want it to be. But now, as a retail product? With a limited singleplayer experience and unstable online play, I just don't think it's worth $40. Not until they add more content or fix the online multiplayer, anyways.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue was developed by Polyphony Digital, published by Sony Computer Entertainment and is due to be released on April 17. Retails for $39.99. Available on PlayStation 3. Played singleplayer events to completion, completed 30 online races.

Compatible with Xbox LIVE and PSN, players can register starting April 15th to track all sorts of neat stuff they do in GTA IV when it's released April 29th. In addition to ranking players by time to single player completion, tracking the first to complete 100% of the game and singling out the best in a Hall of Fame, something called the LCPD Police Blotter will be a virtual map listing every single-player crime committed in Liberty City, ever. Oh, and additional lists will be aggregated of various "physical milestones" like miles walked and bullets fired.

For the full details, hit the jump for the press release.

On April 29th Rockstar Games will release the most anticipated game of 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV. In addition to the game, the company is launching the Rockstar Social Club, a new website that will extend your experience of Grand Theft Auto IV and all future Rockstar Games titles.

The Rockstar Social Club is more than just a standard gaming site. It features all of the statistical leaderboards that gamers have come to expect, and combines them with performance-based competitions and awards.

Registration for the Rockstar Social Club begins on April 15th and anyone can sign up with their Xbox Gamertag and/or a PlayStation Network ID.

GTA IV, the first game featured on the Rockstar Social Club, has exciting features beyond multiplayer leaderboards, including:

* LCPD Police Blotter — A virtual map and tracker of single-player criminal activity logged in Liberty City from the aggregated data of millions of connected players - showing the most dangerous areas of town, most commonly used weapons and more.

* The Story Gang — This special single-player leaderboard recognizes players who complete Niko Bellic's main story arc of Grand Theft Auto IV - The leaderboard ranks players according to the total amount of playing time it's taken to complete the story, as well as a historical rank by who has completed it first. Members of this club will receive special online widgets and merit badges marking all of their in-game accomplishments.

* The 100% Club — Watch to see who will be the first to complete 100% of the game. The first ten people to be identified on the Social Club as reaching 100% will be sent an ultra-rare commemorative 'key to the city' to mark their accomplishment. In the future, the 100% Club will then carry a historical leaderboard showing rankings of who has completed 100% of a game in the shortest span of playing hours.

* The Hall of Fame — This area will dynamically recognize those singularly elite players who have reached the top of the hill on various statistical leaderboards, and will also contain a personal awards display of special in-game landmarks and successes in Social Club competitions.

* The Liberty City Marathon — A ranking of special physical milestones achieved in the game - from the amount of miles walked, driven, or swam - to the number of bullets fired and stunt-jumps jumped. There will be additional special marathon-based competitions in the future from this area as well.

The Rockstar Social Club doesn't stop there. With special competitions, leaderboards and challenges rolling out regularly in the weeks and months following the game's release, this is just the beginning of an on-going Liberty City experience and is a small taste of what's to come from Rockstar Games for GTAIV and beyond...

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue hits stores in North America on April 17 for $40, it will also be sold as a digital download for the same price on the Playstation Store. If you buy the disc version it comes packed with an extra behind-the-scenes high-def video called "Beyond the Apex".

The precursor to GTA5 will include 60 vehicles, 16 car online races at 60 frames per second and 1080p HD support. The game also supports online racing events, an in-cockpit view with real-time gauges and human animation and support of the vibration Dualshock controller.

"Ten years following the introduction of Gran Turismo(TM) on PS one(R), Gran Turismo 5 Prologue delivers the most realistic and technologically advanced racing experience on any platform," said Jeff Reese, director, software marketing, SCEA. "With 1080p graphics, revolutionary online features like Gran Turismo(TM) TV and the new in-cockpit racing view, the world'sbest-selling racing franchise will once again set the standard for racing games."

The game will launch with Gran Turismo TV, a dedicated online channel on the Playstation Network that will include worldwide motorsport programming.

Is it just me or is everyone else getting confused with all of these demos and prologues? I'm not sure if this is the best way to roll out a triple-A title. Hit the jump for the official fact sheet and a batch of new screens.

Gran Turismo™5 Prologue
FACT SHEET

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA)
Developer: Polyphony Digital, Inc.
Platform: PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™)
Genre: Racing
Release: Spring 2008
Rating: "RP" for Rating Pending

OVERVIEW
With more than 47 million units shipped worldwide, the award-winning Gran Turismo™ franchise has raced far beyond a driving simulator experience; it is a global lifestyle. Setting the bar to unprecedented heights of realism, quality of design and physics technology with every product release, famed developer Polyphony Digital, Inc. continues to obscure the line between simulation and reality with the newest iteration of its blockbuster franchise, Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, exclusively for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™).

Available on Blu-ray Disc and as a download via PLAYSTATION®Network, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue showcases the automotive experience that is imminent with Gran Turismo 5. Featuring over 60 meticulously detailed cars — including vehicles by Ferrari, Audi and Nissan — for users to race on five beautifully rendered reversible tracks from around the globe, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue runs in stunning1080p High Definition. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will also introduce to the franchise an in-cockpit view, providing a unique perspective for racers and featuring real-time gauges and human animations that accurately represent the true performance and handling of each vehicle. Additionally, in conjunction with a robust offline experience, for the first time in the history of the franchise Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will support up to 16 players racing head-to-head online, complete with community events and leaderboards, to quell any question of who is the best driver in the "World of GT."

Dedicated to expanding the user's immersion in automotive culture, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will feature access to Gran Turismo™ TV, a dedicated online channel available exclusively from PLAYSTATION Network that delivers some of the greatest motorsport and manufacturer content that television has to offer.

KEY FEATURES
• A first for the franchise, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue supports online racing with up to 16 drivers racing simultaneously on a beautifully rendered race track.
• Race more than 60 high-performance and exhaustively detailed cars, including vehicles from Ferrari, Audi, Nissan and Mitsubishi.
• Race on five stunningly realistic tracks, including the Eiger Nordwand, the London City Track and Suzuka.
• A new physics engine delivers next-generation vehicle handling. True to the heritage of the Gran Turismo franshise, this new physics engine provides unprecedented realism and authentic handling specific to each car.
• A new in-cockpit view provides a unique perspective for racers and features a customized dashboard for each of the cars in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Real-time gauges and human animations accurately represent the true performance and handling of each vehicle.
• All-new and improved opponent AI for a nail-biting and more strategic race racing experience.
• Access to Gran Turismo TV: a clearinghouse of great motoring TV (video) programming (both HD and SD - all broadcast quality) online through PLAYSTATION Network.
• To extend the realistic driving experience, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue is also compatible with the new DUALSHOCK®3 controller, which has vibration functionality.
• Quick Tune facility allows you to adjust power, tires, suspension and more.
• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue runs in stunning High Definition at 1080p (race: 1080p-60fps, replay: 1080p-30fps)

"We are so excited to be releasing Grand Theft Auto IV," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "We've pushed ourselves very hard to make something incredible and hope the game sets a new benchmark for interactive entertainment."

Rockstar Games Announces Release Date for Grand Theft Auto IV

Next-generation Console Debut of the Grand Theft Auto Franchise Set for April 29, 2008

New York, NY - January 24, 2008 - Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), is proud to announce the release date for Grand Theft Auto IV, the new title in the genre-defining Grand Theft Auto franchise. Developed by Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV will be simultaneously available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and will be in stores worldwide on April 29, 2008.

"We are so excited to be releasing Grand Theft Auto IV," said Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. "We've pushed ourselves very hard to make something incredible and hope the game sets a new benchmark for interactive entertainment."

For more information, log onto http://www.rockstargames.com/IV

"Best European Import" - Marcel Horn; 2007 Audi TT
"Best Domestic Automobile" - Gary Cheney; 2007 Factory Five GTM
"Best Hot Rod" - Jim and Mike Ring; 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback
"Best Japanese Import" - Michael Chung; 2007 Nissan 350Z
"Best Truck / SUV" - Mike DeFord; 2007 Dodge Ram

Russ Swift, UK's top stunt driver, was hired by Microsoft to burn a good luck message with skid marks onto the parking lot of Battersea Power Station for Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton.

Swift created the Project Gotham Racing 4 stunt with a sports car, a motorcycle and three sets of tires. The end result: a 50-foot Go Lewis, meant to cheer Hamilton on for this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

Hit the jump for the full press release and unfortunate Freudian Slip.

LONDON WISHES 'GOOD LUCK' TO LEWIS HAMILTON WITH GIANT MESSAGE MADE OF CAR SKID MARKS

October 18th 2007: Battersea Power Station was engulfed with engine noise and screeching tyre smoke this morning, as a special message of good luck was embezzled onto the ground for Lewis Hamilton ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix, which could see him walk away as Formula One World Champion.

As these pictures show, the message was created entirely by the skid marks of a sports car and a motorbike, using blistering wheelspins and breakneck handbrake turns to lay rubber onto the tarmac to produce the words 'Go Lewis!' in giant 50-foot lettering.

And while bemused onlookers assumed the stunt was related to the filming of the new Batman movie, currently taking place at the iconic Battersea landmark, it was in fact nothing to do with the the caped hero of Gotham City - but a very different type of Gotham. The message was created for the launch of the biggest racing game yet on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, 'Project Gotham Racing 4™' (Bizarre Creations/Microsoft Games Studio), a high-adrenalin arcade racing title which rewards players with death-defying slides and sideways driving. The concept of 'Skid Art' is also the theme of the Project Gotham Racing 4 TV advertisement currently being aired.

Driving the Caterham sports car in the pictures was the UK's top stunt driver, Russ Swift, who got through three sets of tyres to create the image.

Xbox wishes Lewis Hamilton the very best of luck in Brazil this weekend!

With short shorts and body paint in full force, cars may look like they're underrepresented at the Leipzig Messe. Wrong! They're everywhere. And there are a lot of Volkswagens.

Lexus brings Virtual Open to Rockefeller Center New Yorkers can participate in ultimate tennis experience for chance to win a one-year lease on a new Lexus IS F NEW YORK —As the world's professional tennis players vie for greatness at the US Open, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to share the experience at the Lexus Virtual Open at Rockefeller Center during the second week of the tournament. Participants can compete on a scaled down version of a tennis court for the chance to win a one-year lease on a new Lexus IS F and tickets to the US Open finals.

Tennis and gaming enthusiasts will take to the virtual courts at Rockefeller Center, in the heart of New York City, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sept. 4-6. Professional tennis player and ESPN on-court analyst Luke Jensen will instruct participants and provide commentary as they compete on Nintendo's Wii console. For each serve hit during the virtual tournament, Lexus will donate $1 to the Andy Roddick Foundation (up to $30,000).

"As a sponsor of the US Open we created this event to bring the excitement of Flushing Meadows to Manhattan," said Steve Jett, Lexus national marketing communications manager. "There's nothing like the thrill of competing in the US Open, and while tennis enthusiasts may never experience the roar of the crowd and feel the courts beneath their feet, the Lexus Virtual Open at Rockefeller Center gives them the opportunity to get a taste of it—and win a one-year lease on a new IS F performance sedan, the same vehicle Lexus is awarding to the Men's Singles Champion."

The top two scorers will compete on Sept. 6 for the chance to win the grand prize, a one- year lease on a Lexus IS F and two tickets to watch the US Open finals in the Lexus Luxury Suite on Sunday, Sept. 9. The runner up will receive two tickets to watch the US Open semi-finals on Sept. 8 in the Lexus Luxury Suite.
The event is open to the public. For more information about the Lexus Virtual Open at Rockefeller Center, participants can log on to myownpursuit.com.

Yes, the opening cinematic for Transformers: The Game looks like liquid sex, but that's not surprising. Afterall, it was created by Academy Award nominated effects house Blur and it seems to show exactly no gameplay. Now, on the other hand, if the actually play looked even a little bit like this I'll definitely be sold. Brian Crecente

Pretty sweet job, SnprSlick! Now go my loyal Kotakuites and show your pride on the racetrack with one of these fine automobiles. You'll be the coolest kid on the block, I swear! Make the jump to see a clip of the car in action. Flynn De Marco

Following in the footsteps of Project Gotham Racing 3, Atari is releasing a free car pack through Xbox Live for Test Drive Unlimited.

The Lexus Car Pack includes the Lexus GS 450h hybrid-powered luxury sport sedan and Lexus LS 460 premium luxury sedan and should be available now. As part of this new deal with Lexus, Atari will also be releasing additional Lexus vehicles including the SC 430 hard-top convertible and the 2008 LS 600h L, which will be the world's first full hybrid V8 luxury sedan. Brian Crecente

Atari and Lexus Test Drive New Cars

New-to-Market Lexus Cars Now Available for Test Drive Unlimited for Free on Xbox Live(R) Marketplace

NEW YORK, April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), one of the world's most recognized brands and a third-party video game publisher, today announced that a new "Lexus Car Pack" is available now for free download on Xbox Live(R) Marketplace for Test Drive Unlimited, the ultimate automotive and lifestyle gaming experience for Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

As part of the Company's new relationship with Lexus, Atari has released the Lexus GS 450h hybrid-powered luxury sport sedan and Lexus LS 460 premium luxury sedan on Xbox Live Marketplace for free download. Additional Lexus vehicles coming soon to Test Drive Unlimited include the SC 430 hard-top convertible and the all-new 2008 LS 600h L, which will be the world's first full hybrid V8 luxury sedan. The LS 600h L will reach Lexus dealer showrooms later this Spring.

"Lexus automobiles are among the finest vehicles on the market today and a perfect fit for Test Drive Unlimited, one of the hottest racing games in recent times," said Nique Fajors, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Atari, Inc. "Atari is committed to providing consumers with a top-notch automotive experience and this free, downloadable Lexus Car Pack for Test Drive Unlimited is another example of that commitment."

Packed with 90 vehicles, one thousand plus miles of open roads and a host of online options, Test Drive Unlimited is M.O.O.R. (TM): Massively Open Online Racing. Both online and offline gamers will experience many of the world's most exotic and fastest vehicles on Test Drive Unlimited's diverse Hawaiian roads. Gamers win races, challenges, missions and tournaments to earn credits and purchase new cars, bikes, apparel, homes and garages. Boasting huge online content, racers around the world can challenge others to join them in the virtual paradise of the game's persistent online racing world. Players will engage in online challenges, and build communities by creating or joining exclusive members clubs to talk, trade cars, and race with other like-minded and similarly-skilled drivers in Test Drive Unlimited, one of the most comprehensive online racing experiences to date. Test Drive Unlimited is currently available in North America for a suggested retail price of $39.99 and rated E10+.

For more information visit http://www.testdriveunlimited.com .

The only difference between this version and the one that is currently downloadable on the PS3 is the addition of the Xanavi Nismo Z. Nissan also teamed up with Sony to host a series of tournaments at the show that pitted attendees against professional racers in the game.

No word yet on whether Sony will be adding the Z to the downloadable version anytime soon. Brian Crecente

Sony Demos Special Gran Turismo Demo [IGN]

This is an exception. We usually don't like to post eBay stuff, because someone makes money, and it's not us. A customized Wii 2006 Toyota Scion XB is up on the auction block. Originally, this one-of-kind was created by Comedy Central and Nintendo as a grand prize for last year's "Thanksgiving Wiikend" contest.

The car was purchased by Comedy Central for over US $19,000 and then tricked out professionally with a 6.5 Gryphon monitor mounted in the dash which controls the CD/XM ready radio, two 5.8 inch LCD monitors installed in the headrests, a flip-down 10.2 inch LCD monitor with built-in DVD player, two wireless stereo headphones and another 12 inch flip-down LCD. The winner stored the car in a Pennsylvania garage. It only has 337 miles on it! Brian Ashcraft

Wii-mobile For Sale [eBay]

The Peugeot Design Contest recently wrapped up and the judges selected that beauty above for inclusion in Project Gotham Racing 4.

Here's a word from the designer of the Flux:

The name Flux was inspired by the continuous change and flow of our daily lives during work and play. The shape also represents this flow with transitions through hard and smooth lines, between straight and curved all of which are characteristics of Peugeot. A relatively small car (3500cm long by 1650cm wide), it runs on a slim hydrogen power plant hidden in the back along with the tank mounted under the front bonnet. The hood and side body panels are made from plastic, polyurethane for the seats and aluminium for the mechanical parts. The main components such as the chassis and head protection are metal.

Made up of simple body work (basic intersected volumes) the car is easily produced and accessible to everyone but most of all, it's fun to drive.

Digital Displacement points out that it probably didn't hurt that the concept car comes with an Xbox 360 built into the dash. Brian Crecente

Winner of the Pug in PGR4 Contest [Digital Displacement]

Project Gotham Racing Mobile went live over the weekend.

"Project Gotham Racing is the number one action-oriented racing franchise, and PGR Mobile captures the high-quality gameplay with the style and speed true to the original franchise," said Jill Braff, general manager of the Americas, Glu Mobile. "We're excited to bring the first mobile adaptation of this award-winning franchise to mobile phones around the world."

"The Project Gotham Racing franchise is loved by millions worldwide," said Edward Ventura, Director of Franchise Development at Microsoft. "Glu has the demonstrated ability to capture the excitement of the Project Gotham Racing franchise and deliver a truly innovative and dynamic mobile game."

The game lets players choose between eight cars and drive in five cities. Each vehicle is said to have unique physics and engine specs. The cars included are the Honda NSX, Aston Martin Vanquish, Cadillac 16, Ford GT, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes AMG-C-DTM, Toyota GT-ONE and Corvette C6. The cities included are San Francisco, Paris, London, Cairo and Shanghai. Brian Crecente

Project Gotham Racing Mobile [Glu]

The Forza Motorsport 2 team say that they are still gunning for a May release of their Xbox 360 racer. They won't say the specific date, but say that their schedule has them hitting Xbox certification around the middle of April and "going gold soon afterwards."

More importantly the team released the official, though short, list of FM2 tracks.

* Mugello Autodromo Internazionale
* Suzuka Circuit
* Sebring International Raceway
* Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
* Tsukuba Circuit
* Road Atlanta
* Silverstone Circuit
* N rburgring Nordschleife
* Maple Valley Raceway
* Sunset Peninsula Infield
* New York Circuit
* Test Track

While the list is short, the developers are already saying they will be creating downloadable maps as well that may or may not be free.

Will it be free? We don't know and can't say for sure right now but whatever it ends up becoming, we at Turn 10 aim to do right by the community. Definitely no horse armor here, folks.

Hit the jump to read about three of the developers' favorites among the list and why. Brian Crecente

The Turn 10 Weekly Pitpass Report [Forza 2 Motorsport]

* Chris "Master of Cars" Vanover on Mugello: "After watching the wealth of F1 Mugello footage available and then finally getting some seat time in-game with our cars, I've found myself thinking about taking a trip to Italy for the real thing. Combined with an elevation that varies 135 feet from top to bottom, the track has a great flow to it, and with 15 corners, every completed lap dares you to find even one place to go just a little faster. Like anywhere else, however, consistency is key — miss a brake zone or start checking out the amazing vista from the top of the hill and you'll wind up far off track in one of the numerous, wide gravel traps. Mugello will definitely take time to master."

* Rhett "Career Overlord" Mathis on Suzuka: "Suzuka is my favorite new track. It has a lot of personality, plenty of variety, and is great for racing because it features numerous passing opportunities. I like the way it dares you to go deeply into turn 1 before getting on the brakes to control the car for turn 2. The entire east section is a blast in any car — the esses being fairly easy to drive, but tricky to really perfect. In some way, Suzuka feels to me like it has two personalities due to the high-speed nature of the west section. You can reach some crazy speeds on the back stretch, and there's a real test of the kinds of stones you have coming through the 130R before crushing the brakes to safely navigate the triangle."

* Dan "Forza Visionary" Greenawalt on Sebring: "I'm really excited about Sebring International Raceway. I've been following the world famous 12 Hours of Sebring event for years. Its one of the most physically punishing courses in the world — the attrition list at the end of the annual endurance race is pure madness. Sebring features several grades of sun baked asphalt as well as lots of ill-fitting concrete slabs loosely sealed together. It's built on an old airstrip and nothing really matches up, so cars are always skipping and jumping all over the place. All those different seams and surface types really let us show off our physics engine, which is something I'm really excited about. The final corner, a long sweeper over several concrete slabs, is pure evil. Though Sebring doesn't have a lot of elevation change, its one of the roughest, craziest, nastiest tracks out there. Its truly one of the premier sportscar race courses in the United States."

Sony today announced that Gran Turismo HD Concept is hitting the Playstation store for free on Christmas Eve in North America too. They had previously announced the deal for Japan.

The limited time free download supports 1080p and includes the Eiger Nordwand course. After unlocking ten cars in the time trial mode, players have access to ten more tuned cars as well as a Drift Trial mode.

While it sounds like the game doesn't support online play, it does allow you to upload your times and view the top 10 ranking for each car and mode. You can also play and save replays online.

Here's the list of the cars included in the freebie, in order of appearance:

— 1995 Suzuki Cappucino
— 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
— 2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
— 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
— 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
— 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
— 2005 Lotus Elise 111R
— 1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
— 1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
— 2006 Ferrari 599

Hit the jump for the full release. Brian Crecente

PLAYSTATION(R)Store Offers Gran Turismo(TM) HD Concept Free for
PLAYSTATION(R)3 Owners This Holiday Season

World's Most Popular Driving Videogame Franchise Available in Full HD*

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment
America (SCEA) announced today the December 24 North American release of Gran
Turismo(TM)HD Concept, available for free download, exclusively on the
PLAYSTATION(R)Store (PS Store) for the PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer
entertainment system. Developed by Polyphony Digital Inc., this driving game
features an all-new course for players to be the first to drive a Ferrari on a
PS3, as well as have the option to select a car from nine other worldwide
manufacturers that include Infiniti, Lotus, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Suzuki.
Available only for a limited time, Gran Turismo HD Concept takes full
advantage of the PS3 PLAYSTATION 3 hardware performance by providing full HD
1080p* resolution and next-generation car physics ushering in a new era of
racing for the gaming industry.
"Gran Turismo HD Concept provides PS3 and automotive fans a glimpse into
the future of Gran Turismo," states Kazunori Yamauchi, famed creator of the
Gran Turismo franchise. "With the power of the PS3 technology, the world of
Gran Turismo is refined by its full HD visual presentation and unique
interactive experience, resulting in an even more realistic and true driving
simulator."
Upon downloading Gran Turismo HD Concept, PS3 users have access to the
Eiger Nordwand course and can compete in Time Trial races to collect and
unlock new cars. Upon unlocking the initial 10 cars, the player has access to
10 more "Tuned Cars," as well as access to a new driving mode called "Drift
Trial."
In the "Drift Trial" mode, the player can master the art of drifting and
achieve ultimate control of their car. Furthermore, when connected to the
PLAYSTATION(R)Network (PS Network), the player can upload their times and view
the Top 10 rankings for each car and mode, as well as play and save replays
online.

Featured Automobiles in Gran Turismo HD Concept (Year, Manufacturer,
Model)
In order of appearance in game (available in stock and "tuned" versions):

— 1995 Suzuki Cappucino
— 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
— 2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
— 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
— 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
— 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
— 2005 Lotus Elise 111R
— 1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
— 1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
— 2006 Ferrari 599

Additional Information About The Game Modes in Gran Turismo HD Concept
In "Time Trial" mode, the player selects a car and must complete the Eiger
Nordwand course within the target time indicated at the top of the screen.
Each time the player beats the target time, a new car is unlocked and made
available for selection. As stated, upon unlocking all of the cars, the
player can access tuned cars, along with the option to race Eiger Nordwand in
the opposite direction.
In "Drift Trial" mode, the player's drifting technique is tested, rather
than their lap time. The player earns drift points based on their drift
angles, racing lines, and speeds within evaluation zones located at various
turns on the course. For each evaluation zone, the results are based on the
number of flags and a numerical figure. The point total from all zones
determines the player's drift points for the lap and is counted toward the
rankings.
The following settings are available during gameplay: 1)
Transmission — the player can select either Manual or Automatic. 2)
Stability Management (SM) — the player can turn this ON or OFF during
gameplay. ASM is designed to prevent vehicle skidding by controlling each of
the four wheel brakes independently. 3) Traction Control (TC) Level — the
player can set the TCS level, which senses drive-wheel slip and prevents wheel
spin. 4) Tires — the player can select front and rear tires from nine types
of brands.

About Gran Turismo
With more than 45 million units sold worldwide, the award-winning Gran
Turismo franchise for the PlayStation(R) platforms serves as the racing game
of choice amongst the automotive and gaming audience due to its true-to-life
graphics, physics and real-life cars and tracks. Since the inception of the
Gran Turismo franchise, famed creator - Kazunori Yamauchi and Polyphony
Digital Inc. in Japan have revolutionized the racing category as we know it
today. His offerings provide the gamer with the most true-to-life driving
simulation within the industry and a unique medium for automobile
manufacturers to showcase their products. In Motor Trend Magazine's February
2005 and 2006 issue, Yamauchi was selected as #17/50 most powerful people in
the automotive industry. For more information, please visit
http://www.gran-turismo.com .
The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated
all Gran Turismo properties "E" for Everyone. For more information about the
ESRB, please visit www.esrb.org.

Confession: I want a Mini Cooper. Passé, I know. Even this horribly gaudy/tacky Xbox 360-mobile that popped up in Singapore contest looks pretty neat. The car was driven around the country and parked in secret locations. Folks who spotted it got a chance to compete for Project Gotham Racing 3 goodies, but not the Cooper. No Mini? Come on. Brian Ashcraft

The Controller On the Hood Is Odd [Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Live Coverage of the North American International Auto Show [Jalopnik]