GT4 Possibly Online, Damage for GT5
Could be online overseas, sequel news.
At a press conference during the Tokyo Game Show in September (see our report here), Kazunori Yamauchi of Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital stated that all online components would be removed from Gran Turismo 4, despite the network modes being fully implemented. At the time the reason given was the lack of infrastructure.
During a recent presentation in Japan, reported on by IGN, Yamauchi alluded to the possibility that the game would in fact be released with an intact online component in some regions, but stopped short of confirming it outright.
Yamauchi did confirm, however, that an online-enabled form would see release in the near future.
Also coming from the conference was the news that Polyphony is already considering possibilities for the inevitable Gran Turismo 5.
Foremost among the team's hopes is to include realistic vehicle damage, a feature long sought in the series.
According to Yamauchi, damage has failed to make an appearance before now because of the extra modelling of the cars that would be required, and not the conventional belief that car manufacturers did not want to see their products mutilated.
Gran Turismo 4 is slated for release in Japan and North America before the end of the year, with a European release to follow in early 2005.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
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