Polyphony – Taking the absolute petrol out of everyone

At a press briefing held in Tokyo yesterday, Polyphony Digital chief Kazunori Yamauchi showed why there really is no point in anyone bothering to develop a realistic racer ever again, showing the line-up for Gran Turismo 4 taster, GT4: Prologue.

Indeed, the list of cars on offer in the cut-down demo easily puts the offerings of other complete games to shame.

The complete list reads:

Daihatsu Copen Automatic Top 2002
Daihatsu Mira TR-XX Avanzato R 1997
Dodge Viper GTS 1998
Ford GT Concept 2002
Ford Focus Rally Car 1998
Honda Beat 1991
Honda Fit W 2001
Honda Civic Type R (EK) 1998
Honda Integra Type R 98 Spec 1998
Honda NSX Type S-Zero 1997
Honda Takata Mugen NSX 2003
Lancia Delta HF Integrale Rally Car 1992
Lotus Elise Sport 190 2000
Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD) 2002
Mazda RX-8 Type S 2003
Mazda Demio Sport 2003
Mazda Roadster 1.6 (NA) 1989
McLaren McLaren F1 GTR FINA (Long Version 1997
Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG 2002
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR 1998
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR 2003
Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 Sport X Version 2002
Nismo Fairlady Z Z-tune (Z33) 2003
Nissan Silvia K's Aero (S14) 1996
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (R32) 1994
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II Nur (R34) 2002
Nissan Xanavi Nismo GT-R 2003
Nissan March 12c 5-door 2003
Spoon Sports Fit 2003
Spoon Sports Civic Type R (EK) 1999
Spoon Sports S2000 2000
Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STi Version VI (GC) 1999
Subaru Impreza Rally Car (GC) 1999
Subaru Impreza Sedan WRX STi (GD Type II) 2003
Subaru Impreza Rally Car (GD Type II) 2003
Subaru Legacy B4 2.0GT specB 2003
Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon 2.0GT specB 2003
Suzuki Cappucino 1992
Suzuki Alto Works Sport Limited 1997
Toyota bB Z 1.5 2WD X Version 2000
Toyota Celica GT-Four Rally Car (ST205) 1995
Toyota ist 1.5S (2WD) 2002
Toyota Vitz RS 1.5 2000
Toyota MR2 GT-S (SW20) 1998
Toyota Prius G Touring Selection 2003
Toyota WOODONE Tom's Supra 2003
Trial Celica SS-II Tuning Car (ZZT231) 2003
Volkswagen Lupo Cup Car 2003

Five courses are also available.

And that just about says it all.

Why bother buying another racing game other than Gran Turismo? Why bother developing one? We feel It important to hammer home the fact that this is just a taster of a game that will feature over 500 cars, in full, glorious online real-time racing action.

Absolutely amazing stuff.

Thank your pants for Polyphony and Sony, and their ability, craft and finance to release games on such a scale - it boggles the mind.

Everything Gran Turismo right here, as ever, as it breaks.