GT4 Hits Shops in Record Numbers

If you want one, you're going to be able to find it.

The game may just have gone on sale, but retailers across Europe obviously feel confident that Gran Turismo 4 is going to be a success. Based on strong support for the title, Sony has shipped more than 3.1 million copies of the game to stores across the region, ensuring that everyone who wants a copy will get one.

This record-setting initial shipment is no doubt thanks to Gran Turismo 4 providing what is probably the most expansive driving game experience to date (see our full review here). If the more than 50 tracks don't impress you, then perhaps the 700+ accurately recreated cars included in the game will do the trick.

This massive garage also includes 10 completely new cars not included in either the Japanese or North American releases, as a 'thank you' to patient series fans in Europe who have watched the game be delayed several times over the past year or so.

The developers at Polyphony Digital have crafted a rounded experience to entice not only driving game aficionados but car fans too.

"My dream was to create more than a sequel - to redefine what a video game could be," said Kazunori Yamauchi, producer of the game at Polyphony Digital. "I hope that when players experience the realism, variety and sheer depth of Gran Turismo 4, they will agree that this vision has been realised."

Gran Turismo 4 includes several modes that extend it beyond its genre, including a photo mode that allows you to take pictures of your cars in various real-world locales and a race director mode where you direct and film races run by computer-controlled cars.

Not all of fans' desires have been included though. With Gran Turismo 4 the series continues to deny damage to the in-game car models. Perhaps more significant, though, is the axing of online play from the game.

Despite online modes being in place and functional in earlier test versions of the game, Polyphony Digital chose to drop the feature due to network infrastructure concerns. Yamauchi has admitted that an online-enabled version is in the works, but it's unknown when this will see release.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games