As one of the most popular genres of video games, there are dozens upon dozens of racing games. From family friendly games likeMario Kartto the street racing-inspiredNeed for Speedfranchise, there is something for just about everyone. However, for truly hardcore motorsport enthusiasts theGran Turismoseries stands apart as the most realistic and detailed driving simulator in the industry. Since its release in 1997, the series has enjoyed a dedicated player base due to its meticulous attention to detail, massive respect for both the automotive and motor sport industries, and technological advances. Now,Gran Turismohas made the leap to the big screen with a film about one of the game’s players who became a professional driver through the game itself.
Gran Turismois more than just a video game, though. Beyond the cars and racetracks lies a rich history that is closely linked to more than just the gaming community. Before witnessing the incredible story of how this supposedly simple video game made one fan’s lifelong dream into a reality, take a drive along the road that brought The Real Driving Simulator to where it is today with 10 facts to know before seeing the movie.
10Gran Turismo Is the Playstation’s Heaviest Hitter
When most people think of video games, several titles come to mind, especially on the Playstation console, but you might be surprised to know that when it comes to first-party titles, it isn’tGod of WarorUnchartedthat moves the most copies on Sony’s gaming giant — it’s The Real Driving Simulator itself:Gran Turismo.
Forbesreports that this hyper-realistic racing franchise has surpassed 80 million sales as of 2018. This is an astounding number of copies of any franchise — especially considering that Sony’s second best-selling franchise, the incredibly popularFinal Fantasyseries, trails by nearly 30 million copies sold on the Playstation. Considering the enormous success of the franchise, it only makes sense that Sony would eventually bring their heaviest hitter to the big screen.
Related:Is Gran Turismo Really Based on a True Story?
9Polyphony Digital’s Design Team Did Some Work in an Unexpected Place
Fans of theGran Turismoseries, andcars in general, will be very familiar with Nissan’s flagship supercar: the GT-R. Released in 2009, this All-Wheel-Drive, twin-turbo monstrosity also features an incredibly advanced multifunction display which might strike a familiar chord withGran Turismoplayers. This is because it was designed in cooperation with Polyphony Digital, the company behind the popular racing series.
This display, meant to help track all of the metrics of Nissan’s mighty king of the racetrack, will display information like coolant temperature, steering angle, and even lateral G-Force, all of which are excellent things to know when going for the quickest lap time possible. While this collaboration certainly produced a neat bit of technology, it was not the last time that Nissan andGran Turismowould team up, but more on that later.
8There Is a Gran Turismo Cafe
How many video game franchises can boast that they have their very own restaurant? In 2009, at the Twin Ring Motegi Circuit in Japan,Gran Turismojoined this extremely exclusive club. Featuring a full menu, as well as screens and consoles where customers can actually playGran Turismo, this neat, if niche, destination at the center of one of the most famous racing tracks in the world is a curiosity that any fan would be glad to visit.
Gran-Turismo.com highlighted when this one of a kind cafe opened, cluing in die-hard fans of the game to a real world attraction that might catch more than a few people by surprise. Once known as Paddock Cafe Jay, the Gran Turismo Cafe may be one of the least expected projects that the brand has been involved with, but is sure to be a real treat for any traveling fan forGran Turismo, Motorsport, and why not coffee too?
7Gran Turismo Sponsors Some of the World’s Greatest Racing Events
For the uninitiated, it is understandable to assume thatGran Turismo, as a video game, is confined to the digital world. However, that would be a very incorrect assumption to make! For many years,Gran Turismohas been deeply involved in motorsport events, including the legendaryPikes Peak International Hill Climb, in order to help preserve the continuation and legacy of alldivisions of racing.
While the frequent partnerships with events, tracks, and racing teams may seem unusual for a video game,Gran Turismohas always been much more than that, and these partnerships reflect the genuine love that the creators have for actual, real world racing. In a world where racing games cater to the popular,Fast and Furious-inspired fantasies,Gran Turismois and always has been all about motorsports.
6There Is a Documentary About the Creator
Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of theGran Turismoseries, is one of the most fascinating figures in all of video games. His never-ending drive to perfect the series has been a major part of its long-standing success, and few video game producers can claim to have dedicated themselves so completely to their craft. Beyond his work onGran Turismo, Yamauchi has also participated in some of the most demanding races in the world, including the brutal 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
The story of this exceptional creator is so fascinating, in fact, that in 2014 Hulu released a documentary following him. EntitledKAZ: Pushing the Virtual Divide, detailing the passion and drive that has made Gran Turismo into the global phenomenon that fans know and love. The documentary also features an appearance by Jann Mardenborough, the racing driver that inspired the new film.
5Gran Turismo Is Involved With AI Development
Artificial Intelligence in racing simulators has a less than favorable reputation. After all, there are many, many factors to consider on a racetrack, and often the difference between victory and defeat can come down to a single, split-second decision that only a human mind, disciplined and experienced, could hope to achieve. Video game AI is a limited thing that might manage some impressive things, but it could never manage to truly operate on par with a human being . . . could it?
EnterGT Sophy, a sophisticated AI developed by Polyphony Digital and Sony AI that was pitted against some of the topGran Turismodrivers in the world and competed evenly. This breakthrough is a huge deal when it comes to AI development, and not just for video games. This level of mastery, capable of challenging the creative approach and outstanding reflexes of such skilled players, is something that was previously impossible to comprehend, but which may one day be the future forGran Turismo.
Related:Exclusive: David Harbour Revs Up Gran Turismo
4The Gran Turismo World Series Was Hosted by the FIA
Fans of racing will be familiar with the FIA, the governing body that overseessuch events as Formula One, the World Endurance Championship, Formula E, World Rally Championship, and many other international racing leagues. As the sanctioning body for so many highly respected motorsports events, it may seem unusual for the FIA to partner with a video game.
The partnership betweenGran Turismoand the FIA is a major indicator of just how seriously the world of motorsport takes this so-called video game. Even with the partnership on hiatus, the message is still clear thatGran Turismo, despite existing in a digital space, is deeply and inextricably connected to the world of motorsport.
3Streets Have Been Named After Gran Turismo
You know that a game is a major cultural influence when its influence makes its way as far as city planning! Bathurst, Australia, home of the Mount Panorama Circuit, one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world, named a new street Gran Turismo Drive in honor of their circuit’s inclusion in the game, improving the visibility of the track, and extending the experience to millions of fans.
The city of Ronda in Spain also named one of their streets after the creator of the series as well. Paseo de Kazunori Yamauchi was named in honor of Kaz’s many contributions to racing, culture, art, and technology. This honor is something that most would never associate with a video game creator, however, Kazunori Yamauchi is certainly not your average video game creator!
2Several Car Companies Have Released Concepts Through Gran Turismo
Concept cars are typically created to showcase a brand’s new designs or technologies, and are often a good indication of the trajectory that the company will take with upcoming models. Usually, though, these concept cars are seen exclusive at the world’s premiere auto shows, such as the Geneva Auto Convention. The Vision Gran Turismo Project, though, changes the game by partnering with some of the world’s top manufacturers to showcase new and intriguing concepts on a digital stage.
Featuring entries from such notable brands as BMW, Mazda, Toyota, McLaren, and many, many more, the Vision Gran Turismo project poses the challenge for manufacturers to create an ultimate embodiment of their brand. In some cases, these are realistic, plausible models using modern day technologies, while a select few, such as the entries from Chapparal and SRT, treat the project as a “What If?” Beyond the game though, at least one Vision GT entrant has escaped to completely unrelated media, with the Mercedes AMG Vision GT last seen inJustice League, driven by none otherthan Bruce Wayne.
1Gran Turismo Players Have Become Professional Racing Drivers
TheGran Turismofilm tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a winner of one of the most ambitious projects in motorsport: GT Academy. This competition was a collaboration betweenGran Turismoand Nissan to help a select few truly dedicatedGran Turismoplayers around the globe make the leap from the game and onto real world racetracks such as the Nurburgring, and even the Legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans as professional racing drivers.
Mardenborough, the focus of the film, is just one of twenty-three winners of this project which ran from 2008 to 2016. Alongside fellow GT Academy alum Lucas Ordonez, Mardenborough managed an incredible third place finish in the LMP2 class at Le Mans, an incredible achievement for any racing driver, and a long way from racing in a video game — all made possible byGran Turismo.
