It’s always cool to receive an invitation from Playstation. It’s even cooler when they invite you to Italy for the global launch of your favorite video game, upgraded. Being a racer and a gamer, GT Sport was like hitting the jackpot. The 7th installment on the famous Gran Turismo, which sold over 67 million copies in the past 20 years, was back with first time options offering a realistic starting point into the vicious world of racing.
Around 50 people were invited from around the world, 5 from the Middle East and myself from Lebanon. Our destination was Modena, the birth place of Italian motorsport legend Enzo Ferrari, and one of the finest locations for good food.
On the first night, we met up with Kazunori Yamauchi, the director of Polyphony digital and the brilliant mind behind Grand Turismo, where he presented the game, the cars and its newest and most important feature.
It has become the gateway to starting a professional racing career. The Dinner was at the Enzo Ferrari Museum, the perfect touch was placing the tables in between the displayed cars. Imagine having dinner with the famous F40 on one side and the La Ferrari on the other.
On the second day, Playstation invited us to Autodromo di Modena, where we had the chance to let loose on the track driving the new BMW M2, the Porsche Carrera GTS and experience the HOT Lap seat in the Walkenhorst M6 GTR also featured in GT sport.
In the afternoon, we headed to Piazza Roma, where were got acquainted with the game and competed for the fastest lap. At night, the fastest 6 got to compete head to head in what will be the implemented worldwide.
The game was put together using the input of world class drivers to make it as authentic as possible. The dynamics of the game are incredibly realistic, braking, cornering and grip are out of the gaming world.
GT Sport is not your normal video game, it has become a benchmark for racing simulators around the world with the FIA’s seal of approval. It is the step forward to taking each driver to professionalism while bearing in mind the hefty cost of motorsports startup.
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For the first time in franchise history, players can develop their virtual careers on the track with advanced online competition, and the chance to become legends in the world’s first online championship certified by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Players can get behind the wheel of over 177 of the most highly coveted real-life and prototype cars in the world, including Vision Gran Turismo concept vehicles. All models have been designed and created from the ground up for the PS4™ system with revamped engine sounds unique to each car. And for the first time ever, Porsche is on board.
A partnership with FIA (the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) was announced that it will have significant implications for racing game fans and competitors.
FIA and Polyphony will create the FIA Online Championship series, with two leagues for players to advance through. The first league will have players representing car manufacturers and the second will have players representing their country of origin.
“The winner of the championship will be awarded in the same manner as real life motorsports champions, at the FIA prize giving ceremony,”
The World Motorsport Council has even approved an FIA Gran Turismo digital license, which may be converted to a real-life race license at the discretion of a particular player’s national motorsports authority.
