Earlier this week the GT5 overlord, Kazunori Yamauchi, announced that the damage in GT5 was a sliding scale that would unlock and be more effective as you progressed through the levels.
The world jumped on this as proof that some global sites like IGN and local sites like GameState were wrong about the damage limitations in their reviews and much hatred and vitriol ensued.
However Sony has now come out to clarify the comments and the clarification appears to a complete denial.
According to Sony
“Damage occurs to cars right from the beginning, it is not unlocked.â€
Apparently the confusion surrounds the different damage models depending on which car you have. The standard cars have virtually no damage modelling while the premium cars have greater visible damage.
Then the premium racing cars have visible and physical damage modelling.
So who’s being entirely honest here? The lead developer who wrote the game and setup the modelling or the company that distributes it?
Does it matter?
Source: IGN
Last Updated: December 1, 2010
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
December 1, 2010 at 11:18
It sounds like some shocking damage control by IGNorant. Poor bastards got thoroughly exposed on their GT5 review (and they’re clearly trying to mitigate the fall out by passing the blame).
Anyway, it’s a good life’s lesson though, make sure you play the game before you write a review.
Fox1
December 1, 2010 at 11:28
Gosh! What language does Sony and PD communicate in? :blink:
Eet
December 1, 2010 at 11:35
I noticed that The cars with better damage you acquire sort of later-ish on. When you get to do the more difficult stuff with the cars that requires more skill. (Exp. points)
Syth
December 1, 2010 at 11:41
Indeed. Damage does happen from the start. The severity and effects increases at later levels. So yes, IGN definitely trying to do some damage control.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
December 1, 2010 at 11:51
More like what is IGN up to…? It’s interesting that they don’t mention who they spoke to at Sony. Who is this nameless faceless being who debunks Kaz?
Mitas
December 1, 2010 at 12:24
ha ha , ign must feel like shit rushing a review of a game that took 6 years , and only spend a mera few hours to review ! i mean honestly , 1 should consider writing the review for any game once u passed the 75% – 100% progression mark … my 2 cents
Nick de Bruyne
December 1, 2010 at 12:31
I think they are right, this is something thats been bothering me all week, even if you look at my photo galleries I posted. I realised that the only cars I have seen with doors, bonnets and boots opening and so on were those rally racing car things and nothing else so far.
I realised that its different because in multiplayer some cars would dent a little or bend here and there, however when I did that Nurburgring race ( the night to day one you see in the photo mode gallery), all of the cars were getting properly messed up.
I reckon its completely true and pretty much until someone posts up images of a Ferrari or a BMW M3 or something with open doors or loose pieces, there is no proof of it being otherwise and I dont think there will be to be honest.
IGN on the other hand, are still just doing all of this to try and cover their own asses for their review and even if this is true, it doesn’t change that they were caught out not reviewing a game properly.
ReAVeR
December 1, 2010 at 12:58
Maybe I’m confused here, so explain this to me in baby terms. IGN (and other gaming sites) say that damage is limited. Kaz responds by saying that damage is not limited, just merely unlockable.
Sony then comes out and denies anything that Kaz is saying, which would imply that the reviewers were right. So why the IGN hate?
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
December 1, 2010 at 13:04
Unless all of this appears on Sony’s blog with a thorough explanation as to why they’re debunking Kaz (which would make no sense), we can safely assume IGN is just trying to cover their own asses.
Aussious
December 1, 2010 at 13:09
We shouldn’t even be having this conveasation but thank to poor and incosistant game design we are, as for IGN their reviews are generally unrelaible.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
December 1, 2010 at 13:13
Of course, IGN is merely digging themselves a hole, because invariably Sony will have to respond or Kaz will respond to IGNorant. Instead of merely putting up a notice, saying that they’re re-evaluating their review, because it’s clear that their reviewer cut some corners, while trying to get the first global GT5 review out.
Dev
December 1, 2010 at 13:35
Just wondering, if you point out that they were pushing to be the first company to get the review out that they were most probably on a tight deadline hence the short amount of time that they put into the game itself. Doesn’t make it right but perhaps then we can’t hate on them to much as they were just trying to meet the demand of GT5?
Gavin
December 1, 2010 at 13:42
It’s a big leap to think that IGN are making this up, I mean Sony would smash them for something like that.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
December 1, 2010 at 14:03
Not if they state that it was their “unnamed source” at Sony, and they’d rather not reveal who they are… That’s been done before.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
December 1, 2010 at 14:05
That’s why it’s not always wise to be first out of the gate… 😛
gerald
December 1, 2010 at 14:24
i agree with u to some extend reaver, there does seem to be some irrational bias against IGN. it doesnt come out to me like IGN is being unreasonable, and i dont knw, i too feel the damage in gt5 could b a bit better, esp in so far as the standard cars r involved,
also, the quality of the stndard cars and tracks from the other iterations are quite deplorable, but that is just what i think…..cheers guys, enjoy de gaming
Nick de Bruyne
December 1, 2010 at 14:26
Still, I think it was a little ridiculous that most places only got a game of that scale two days before release, especially after all that hype. The temptation for sites to rush their reviews was massive.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
December 1, 2010 at 14:30
And it never occurred to them to do a running narrative as they’re playing (as Lazygamer and other sites have done)?
lans
December 1, 2010 at 14:41
:cheerful: lol this won’t end well, Next time sony should just put an embargo on reviewing game till they reach 50% of game completion at least, the ign reviewer apparently only played till level 5 on GTMode this is where the anger is coming from.
Eet
December 1, 2010 at 15:08
Where did you check the reviewer’s gameplay level?
lans
December 1, 2010 at 15:18
@Eet got the info from NeoGaf and Gtplanet forums as they managed to find out the reviewers psn ID, you could say it is a rumour as i am too tired to dig out that information again but the Neogaf guys are pretty intense and all information gets heavily scrutinized at breakneck pace, ill give you the reviewers PSN id if i find it later.
Eet
December 1, 2010 at 15:24
Thanks man, no need to dig up really, I’m was just shocked at the level5 – review thing. That’s disgusting
FreeStanler
December 1, 2010 at 15:54
I’m not a hugely informed game opinionater, but here goes…
The biggest and most ‘realistic’ car racing simulator ever doesn’t have proper damage modeling on its less than premium cars? And that considering the apparant level of detail they go into?
Yes, IGN should have played longer to properly note this difference, but its still a poorer reflection on the GT5 developer than IGN. You start the game off with less-than-premium cars, right? First impressions are lasting impressions, so why would Polyphony Digital do this? Much vitriol is targeted at IGN, diverting the attention from GT5?
Please tell me if I am completely missing the point here. :dizzy:
Eet
December 1, 2010 at 15:59
I see what you mean, but all car games start you off with the slower stuff and pick up later when you get to drive the really fast cars and take part in the way more competitive events on the game. Level five is really the beginning stages of the game, not near deep enough to review on. That’s like reviewing super mario brother before you get the fire flower
Syth
December 1, 2010 at 16:01
Not completely. PD has some work to do. But no, you can buy Premium models from the start. That also being said, the whole goal of GT5 in my view is precision driving, nailing each corner. The time trials are just as exciting as the races, so damage never played that big a role in the GT series.
Is that an excuse, no not really, but it may be considered as a mitigating factor :angel:
Eet
December 1, 2010 at 16:12
Yip, you can buy the premiums from the word go, but you need higher experience levels for the better cars, you can only 😆 get like a Yaris on premium in the beginning. Ferarri’s and stuff later on. Higher XP.
As for nailing the corners, 100% with you. The point is not to hit cars and walls anyway.
Dreder
December 2, 2010 at 07:37
Whilst I agree that the point is to nail the corners…. as a true driving simulator, it should also simulate the consequences of hitting the cars and walls instead.
Hitting a wall full on while driving at max speed shouldn’t just stop you in your tracks, or leave a dent in your bonnet.
Imagine if GT5 had full realistic damage on all cars… and you had to maintain said cars, pay for repairs etc. The problem being that, whilst a realistic option, it probably wouldn’t be too much fun.
I am speaking under correction here, since I still need to procure a copy of the game :cwy: