While a feature as oft-requested as this one is certain to define the franchise moving forward, one such feature that has already defined the franchise, and the genre as a whole to a reasonable extent – Photo Mode – has received a major overhaul that will no doubt put a smile on the faces of enthusiasts.

Photo Mode has evolved into what Kazunori refers to as “Scapes,” a powerful and game-changing next generation version of the tool themed around travel. The feature allows players to take their favourite cars to any one of the over 1,000 Photo Spot stages and insert them into a photo. These photos contain detailed lighting and spatial information, allowing for an unprecedented level of photo customization.

As should be expected, you’ll be able to freely move and position the car around the selected space. Even better, this time around there are no limitations on the number of cars that can be grouped into a single photo, provided the space allows it. An interesting new feature has also been added allowing you to add light sources into the photograph. This directly combats a problem many a GTPhotographer has experienced, which ultimately leads to post-processing efforts. Polyphony: 1; Photoshop; 0.

Scapes is shaping up to be yet another genre-defining chapter in video game photography, and will certainly endear itself to those looking to pick up a virtual camera. All photos can be output up to 4K resolution like Gran Turismo 5 and 6 before it, which is sure to spice things up even further. Stay tuned to GTPlanet for even more GTS news as the big London event continues!

GT Sport Audio Will Be Composed With ‘All New System’

June 2nd, 2016 by Brendan Rorrison

A key area of much discussion in the Gran Turismo series is the quality of audio. Compared to other games in the genre this is an area that GT hasn’t quite met the benchmark for in the past. However, Kazunori Yamauchi has confirmed to GTPlanet that there will be an entirely new system of reworked audio in place for the launch of GT Sport.

Audio is important to a racing simulator for many reasons, with the most obvious reason being immersion. When a car feels like the real thing, looks like the real thing, but doesn’t sound like the real thing it can be pretty jarring. The old system in GT was often coined as being ‘vacuum’-like in that it prioritized wind noise and captured the whirring of an engine over the actual ‘grunt’ many of the world’s supercars are known for. Audio also contributes heavily to the feedback sim racers get back from the car, hearing the intricacies of the engine allows drivers to make important gear changes and understand when the car may be struggling in certain ways. The static engine sounds in previous GT titles didn’t really give any proper feedback and players’ could struggle to read their car as a result.

Look out for footage of the Evora, which will show the new sound engine’s potential.

The prospect of having a new system would allow GT to start again, looking to improve on these sounds and what they bring to the overall experience. With Kazunori himself being a racing driver, he of all people should be able to understand why the fanbase are generally concerned about the current condition of the sound design in the series. Work has already begun to bring the overall sound quality of Gran Turismo Sport to a level alongside competition in the genre. Speaking of the build shown off to fans in the Copper Box Arena Kazunori stated:

“So the system is completely new. But the sound material is not completely changed to the new material. So I think when you listen to some of the cars now, there are some cars that sound really good, and some cars that don’t.”

GTPlanet’s own Jordan Greer felt that the Ferrari 458 Italia in particular sounded very nice with Yamauchi agreeing. He also pointed out that the Lotus Evora was another example of a car which sounded better under the new sound system being implemented on the road to release.

As footage for the newest GT continues to pop up around the web, it would be wise to keep in mind Kazunori’s comments about the new system not being fully completed yet and reserving judgement as such. Through the interview with Polyphony’s president we can see that at least 2 of the cars are currently being put through the new system and we can tell that the team are not sugar-coating how they feel about the current system making note that cars simply don’t sound good. This level of honesty gives hope that moving forward the new system can have the potential to fix an area which has been requiring more attention in recent versions of the series.

As should be expected, you’ll be able to freely move and position the car around the selected space. Even better, this time around there are no limitations on the number of cars that can be grouped into a single photo, provided the space allows it. An interesting new feature has also been added allowing you to add light sources into the photograph. This directly combats a problem many a GTPhotographer has experienced, which ultimately leads to post-processing efforts.

More Details on GT Sport’s Livery Editor, Photo Scapes, & Customization Options

June 3rd, 2016 by Kyle Patrick

Easily one of the most surprising features unveiled for GT Sport last month, a livery editor has finally arrived in the franchise. As a highly-requested feature, players were eager to dive into the editor at the Copper Box, but found everything bar the basic top menu locked out for public use. While we got a quick peak at the feature in action in the latest trailer, it raised as many questions as it answered. When asked about the level of control players will have in the livery editor, Kazunori Yamauchi had this to say:
“There will be two steps in that, where the first step is really a system by which you can take stickers from a sticker library, and project them onto the cars, and then the next step beyond that is being able to design those stickers yourself. So it’ll consist of those two separate tools.”
Depending on what tools are available for players to create these custom stickers, the livery editor could prove to be a huge boon to designers, as well as those that run dedicated racing leagues. The trailer showcased the recreation of an Audi R8 already present in the game, with elements of its design able to be selected individually and modified. This suggests that players can tailor an existing car to their own preferences – different number plate, different drivers listed – while still keeping an established overall design.
The livery editor certainly looks like it will cover almost all aspects of the car too – not just the bodywork, but wheels and windshield banners – if this menu screen is any indication:

Our man Jordan noticed that helmets and race suits featured prominently in menus of GT Sport, both of which saw growth during the PS3 era. When asked, Yamauchi confirmed that those too will be customizable, though didn’t expand on how deep that aspect of personalization will go.
Livery designing can become a game within itself. Titles like Need For Speed and Forza have fostered communities around the creative talents, in some cases tying designs to the in-game economy, providing players with an additional credit stream. We’re anxious to find out how Polyphony have tied this feature to the more social aspects of the game.
Who knows, we might be able to recreate some of these old Gran Turismo designs…

Finally, Kazunori also had some information on the Photomode aspect of GT Sport. The good news is that the traditional on-track Photomode (Race Photo Mode) will return, as expected. The bad news relates to the new Scapes feature. With over 1000 locations apparently set for inclusion, there were bound to be limitations, and our active Photomode community voiced concerns over limited camera movement. “The camera itself, you can pan or tilt,” Kazunori said, “but you can’t really move the camera.” Unfortunate, but expected given the massive number of locations on offer.
That concludes all of the coverage relating to our London Q&A session with Kazunori. If you missed anything, here’s the full run-down:

• Thrustmaster’s New GT Sport Wheel to Include Direct-Drive Motor
• GT Sport Public Beta Cancelled To Maintain 2016 Release Window
• Pikes Peak Could Still Come to Gran Turismo, But When?
• Vision Gran Turismo Project ‘Not Even Halfway Done’
• GT Sport Will Not Feature Dynamic Time or Weather
• No Limit to Spectator Count in GT Sport ‘GT Live’ Mode; Promises ‘Dynamic Broadcasting‘
• GT Sport Audio Will Be Composed With ‘All New System’

We’ll be keeping an eye out for any new information that comes out of Japan this weekend at the dedicated GT Sport event in Tokyo.