More Gran Turismo Trivia

Trivia about the Gran Turismo 4, actually.

Polyphony Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment released the Gran Turismo 4 (GT4) in 2004, the 4th installment of this very popular video game racing series. Although there are other versions that followed GT4, the game still remained as popular to worldwide gamers. The game featured numerous enhancements including new cars like the latest Mitsubishi Eclipse with customizable Eclipse body kit, and real word race tracks from different sides of the world.

Check out some trivia about this popular Gran Turismo sequel according to Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com):

• Jeremy Clarkson, host of the Top Gear television program performed a head-to-head test of real life versus GT4 on an episode of the program

• GT4 won the E3 Game Critics Awards for Best Racing Game in 2003 and included in Game Informer's "Top 50 Games of 2005".

• Both the first release of the Japanese and Chinese version of the game was sold with a 212-page reference guide, with a message from famous car reviewer Reychiro Fukuno, an introduction to the physics of racing, lessons on using the GT Force Pro steering wheel, a machine tuning guide and parts catalogue, a tutorial for the photo mode from photographer Chikara Kitabatake, a race course index, a partial cars index and also a complete music index. The game and the guide were cased together in a special box of the same size as a DVD case. A similar guide was included with the first release of the Japanese Gran Turismo 3: A-spec.

• Due to the tight schedule for releasing the Chinese version, obvious textual errors can be found in the game, like the names for the two '90s used cars section being swapped, and the descriptions for the damper bounce and rebound also being switched. Other minor, but curious grammatical errors can be found.

• The Chinese version of GT4 failed to fix a bug that resulted in the game being left at 99.8% after all races have been cleared, because the Formula GT race was corrupted; thus, players were unable to unlock the final car at 100% completion. There is also a similar glitch in the North American version of the game. If the first driving mission is not completed first, before the other missions are attempted, the game will not record the mission as complete. Therefore the highest completion percent will be 99.8%.

• Advertising for GT4 was a task for the two teams to complete on the reality show The Apprentice.* Comedian Jay Leno, an avid car collector, is listed in the game as a manufacturer; one of his custom cars, the Blastolene Special or "Tank Car", is included in the game.[9]* A special version of GT4 featuring three tracks and four vehicles (the 118d, 120d, 118i and 120i) was given by BMW to their customers who purchased their 1 Series automobile before it was released.

• The 2022 Nike One has Morse code on the right hand side of the car. When reversed, this reads www.phil-frank.com, the artist commissioned to design this car for GT4. There is also some Morse code visible on the inside of all four tires.

Mazda Models in Gran Turismo

As I've said in my previous post, there about 720 different car models from US and international automaker that are featured in Gran Turismo (GT) video game racing series. One of my fave makers in the game is the Japanese automaker Mazda. Mazda models offers powerful performance and effective handling, specifically the Mazda RX-8 LM Edition. With almost 600 horses pumping out from its engine along with smooth handling, this model can outrun any other GT players aboard other models. The real Mazda RX-7model comes with quality auto parts like Mazda Expansion Tank.

Anyway, this is only my own opinion. If you think you can play GT better with your fave race car model, then beat it. Maybe I'll see you in a GT race battle soon.

Meanwhile, check out the Mazda models featured in Gran Turismo.

Special Model
Mazda RX-8 LM Edition

New Models
Mazda Eunos Cosmo 13B Type S CCs
Mazda Eunos Cosmo 20B Type E CCs
Mazda Lantis 2000 Type R
Mazda Eunos Roadster
Mazda Eunos Roadster V Special
Mazda Eunos Roadster S Special
Mazda FD Efini RX-7 Type RZ
Mazda FD Efini RX-7 Type RB
Mazda FD Efini RX-7 TouringX
Mazda FD Efini RX-7 A spec
Mazda RX-7 FC GT-X
Mazda RX-7 FC lll
Mazda Demio GL-X
Mazda Demio GL
Mazda Demio LX G Package

Used Cars
Mazda Eunos Roadster '89
Mazda Eunos Roadster '90 V Special
Mazda Eunos Roadster '92 S Special
Mazda RX-7 FD '91 Type R

The Gran Turismo Video Game Racing Series

From cars featured in Need for Speed: Carbon (NFS), let us now move to the best-selling PlayStation game ever! It is none other than the Gran Turismo (GT) racing game series developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA). Like the NFS, Gran Turismo also features a bunch of high performance vehicles from different American and international automakers. The Gran Turismo 4 features about 720 cars like Mazda models equipped with Mazda fenders and more than 50 race tracks for the players to choose from.

The highlight of the game is that you should first get license before entering a prestigious racing event. How to get a license? Well, just like in the real world, there are also driving tests and challenges for you to get a license. But I'm telling you these test drives are very difficult and grueling that even a professional driver couldn’t complete all of them in a single round.

Now for the cars, they are grouped into three main categories in the game: New Cars, Used Cars, and Special Models. All cars in each category have a corresponding price. You should earn money to get your favorite high performance car. Check out the cars featured in Gran Turismo racing game series in the official website at www.us.playstation.com/PSone/Games/Gran_Turismo/OGS. It would be a very long list if I post all of those cars in this blog entry.

Anyway, check out these trivia about the game:

* The band The Cardigans said in interviews that the name of their album Gran Turismo is because they played the first game a lot during the tours and recording sessions. The song My Favourite Game is a reference of dedication of the band to the game. Polyphony Digital and SCEA later returned the favour; a remix of "My Favourite Game" replaces the main theme of

* For all installments of the series, Japanese watch maker Seiko has been credited as the official time keeper of the games' races. However, in the credits section of the game manuals for GT2, GT3 and GT4, it is stated that "The timing data used in the game is generated by Sony Computer Entertainment using its own method and not by Seiko Corporation"

* Gran Turismo was referenced in the The Streets song "The Irony Of It All" from the album Original Pirate Material

* Gran Turismo was also referenced in the Eiffel 65 song "My Console" from the album Europop, though the song mentions many early Playstation titles.

* Gran Turismo was also referenced in The King Of Queens, where in a certain episode, you could clearly see Doug racing on Tahiti Road

* The younger clone version of Lieutenant Colonel Jack O'Neill can be seen playing Gran Turismo 3 in the Fragile Balance episode of Stargate SG-1

* In the movie The Fast and the Furious, one of the characters can be briefly seen playing Gran Turismo on a PlayStation mounted inside his car.

* In The Movie Wild Hogs, Doug Madsen's son is seen playing Gran Turismo 4 on the Autumn Ring track.

About DotA Allstars

Yeah yeah.. I know it is kinda late posting blog about DotA Allstars. But you know what? Many gamers around there still don’t know about this game so I decided to create this entry. So stop murmuring there you DotA freaks coz this entry is not for all of you. This is for the nooby community.

DotA Allstars is one variant of the user-defined map called Defense of the Ancients (hence the name DotA) that is played through Warcraft III: Frozen Throne game expansion. So if you only have the original series Warcraft IIIL Reign of Chaos, you cant play DotA Allstars with that version.

The game basically focused on team strategy in destroying the opposing team's base structures and units. But unlike any other strategy games, in DotA Allstars, you control one unit called a hero. I know heroes are already familiar with you Warcraft fans so I guess it is unnecessary if I explain it more further. Just think of this way: heroes are your main character in the game just like in other role playing games (RPG) like the online version World of Warcraft (WoW). Players can select two teams, the Sentinel and the Scourge. You control your hero along with your AI-controlled allies called "creeps". There are also mechanical allies for each team to destroy the enemy's units and buildings. These mechanical units are one of my fave features in DotA Allstars.

The development of Dota Allstars in continuous, and the current version is 6.43b. But there is a Filipino guy who created his own version, 6.50. Surprisingly, his version made it into the Official Maps at DotA Portal (www.dotaportal.com). Well, for the mechanical units in the game, I think it would be great if the developers could update them into powerful cars with Mercedes grille firing missiles to its enemies! Lol!

Anyway, check out these trivia about DotA Allstars:

• Blizzard (the publisher of Warcraft game series) has officially recognized DotA Allstars as its first Spotlight Map entry in the Battle.net Hall of Fame. It was also an independent tournament item at the debut of Blizzard's BlizzCon convention in 2005.
• Dota Allstars was also featured in the Malaysia and Singapore World Cyber Games 2005, 2006, and the World Cyber Games Asian Championships 2006.[
• DotA is included in the game lineup for the internationally-recognized Cyberathlete Amateur League, and the CyberEvolution league.
• As its public profile has increased, so has DotA Allstars' popularity among players around the world, as observed on the Battle.net servers. In addition to competitive play in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, casual games are played in every Battle.net region.
• Though the map is developed in North America, players are increasingly joining clans and leagues in other areas, challenging more established North American clans.
• DotA has inspired significant fan art. One of the most famous DotA-inspired songs is "Vi sitter i Ventrilo och spelar DotA" by Swedish musician BassHunter. There are many other amateur songs, often in Hip-Hop genre, known and created by players such as "Devil's Urethra."
• Fans also created the artwork displayed while the map is loading.
• DotA has been regarded as one of the fastest growing e-sports.

Cars, Cars, and More Cars in Need For Speed: Carbon

If you already played the NFS: Carbon, the latest sequel in Electronic Art's (EA's) Need for Speed series and you enjoyed it, do know how many car models that are featured in the game? Well, for your info, there are actually 54 vehicles in Need for Speed: Carbon. But in the official website of the game, there are only 46, and 3 of them are police cars.

Here is the compete car lists featured in Need for Speed: Carbon. Some of these cars can be unlocked using the cheat codes I posted here last March. The cars are divided in three categories: tuner cars, muscle cars, and exotic cars. Unfortunately, you wont see any Acura models like Acura RSX with quality Acura RSX performance parts in NFS: Carbon. Maybe EA will include it in the next sequel, so watch out for it.

Tuner Cars:

* 2003 Infiniti G35 (accidentally locked that were meant to be available)
* 2001 Lexus IS300 (bonus car, only playable in Challenge Series)
* 2007 Mazda3 MPS
* 1999 Mazda RX-7
* 2003 Mazda RX-8 - Image
* 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX (bonus car)
* 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT - Image
* 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR Edition
* 1992 Nissan 240SX (exclusive to NFS: Carbon Collectors Edition)
* 2006 Nissan 350Z
* 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R
* 2005 Renault Clio V6
* 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
* 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S (bonus car)
* 1993 Toyota MR2 (bonus car, only playable in Challenge Series)
* 1998 Toyota Supra
* 2006 Volkswagen Golf R32

Muscle Cars:

* 2006 Chevrolet Camaro Concept (bonus car, exclusive to NFS: Carbon Collectors Edition)
* 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS - Image
* 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS (bonus car)
* 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
* 2006 Chrysler 300C SRT8
* 1971 Dodge Challenger R/T (exclusive to EA Downloader NFS: Carbon Collectors Edition)
* 2006 Dodge Challenger Concept
* 1969 Dodge Charger R/T
* 2006 Dodge Charger SRT-8
* 2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe
* 2006 Ford Mustang GT
* 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
* 1969 Plymouth Road Runner (bonus car)
* 2006 Pontiac GTO (bonus car), (police car)
* 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
* 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (bonus car)
* 2005 Vauxhall Monaro VXR

Exotic Cars

* 2006 Alfa Romeo Brera
* 2004 Aston Martin DB9
* 2003 Audi Le Mans Quattro (bonus car)
* 2003 BMW M3 GTR (bonus car)
* 2005 Ford GT
* 2007 Jaguar XK (exclusive to NFS: Carbon Collectors Edition)
* 2006 Koenigsegg CCX (bonus car, exclusive to NFS: Carbon Collectors Edition)
* 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo
* 2004 Lamborghini Murcielago
* 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 (bonus car)
* 2004 Lotus Elise
* 2006 Lotus Europa S (bonus car, only playable in Challenge Series)
* 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK500
* 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
* 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
* 2006 Pagani Zonda F (bonus car)
* 2004 Porsche Carrera GT
* 2006 Porsche Cayman S
* 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo (accidentally locked that were meant to be available)
* 2006 Porsche 911 GT3 RS (bonus car, only playable in Challenge Series)