Alex Garland’s The Beach is a stunning novel, one that deals with human self destruction just as much as it does with backpacking and adventure; but there’s a side to the story that has always piqued my interest – that of parallel universes. Although the setup (with Richard and Françoise opening discussing the notion under the stars) is played upon in dialog and far less subtle than it is in something like Donnie Darko, the concept that from that point on the travellers are experiencing an ‘alternate’ reality intrigues me considerably, even though I’m probably in the minority that have ever thought this way. In my mind at least, the movie adaptation pushes this idea further, with the story’s descent into darkness encapsulated by a slightly different version of the group photograph than was taken at the very end of the film.
What does this have to do with Gran Turismo 5? Well, in a parallel universe, the game is already out. Last week, Gran Turismo 5 was released to a baying crowd, eager for the game that many people actually bought a PlayStation 3 for. The Trophy lists were leaked a week prior when reviewers got their hands on early code, and the full list of tracks, cars and sponsors was dumped, unceremoniously, here at TheSixthAxis. The whole ride was a PR wet dream, there were no delays, no hiccups at the factory and no hackers to spoil the party. Some people have already unlocked the X1.
Of course, this didn’t happen. Not only is the game not out but we’re still without a revised release date, even though some people claim to have the game, legally or otherwise. You’d think all this, from the slipping of the schedules to the mentioning of GT6, would be a disaster for Sony – it’s not, in my opinion, and I’ll tell you why. Since the 13th of October, when it was first circulating that the game would be delayed, we’ve written (including this blog) twenty stories about the game. Twenty, in less than a month. Sure, not all of them have been entirely positive, but we’ve given the game more press and hype than probably anything else in such a short period. Why? Because the game is hot news, it’s at the forefront of people’s minds, and you can’t go anywhere without hearing about it.
And, you guys want to talk about it, too: we’ve had over a thousand comments on the game since it was delayed (1085 at the time of writing this, to be exact) – for a multiformat site that isn’t focused on Gran Turismo I reckon that’s a substantial amount of discussion. And, naturally, it’s not just us. Every site, forum and blog with half a nod towards the PlayStation brand (or motor racing in general) is covering everything that Polyphony Digital say and do, and we’re all desperate for Sony to give us a release date so we can all rejoice in the knowledge that we’re getting the game before Christmas. Think about that for a second, the game’s already delayed but as soon as Sony say “it’s out on…” we’ll be deliriously happy and thankful. Days will be booked off, holidays cancelled and the supply of pizzas into the country will triple.
Any other game and we’d probably be sick of it by now, but this is Gran Turismo 5’s greatest trick – by the game being delayed, we’ve really not thought about anything else, and it’s probably safe to say that any cash reserved for Sony’s big hope for 2010 is still very much reserved. Of course, I’m not suggesting that the delay was intentional (it clearly wasn’t) but if Sony can pull off a release date announcement this week it’s going to put a spanner in the works for Microsoft’s European launch for Kinect, for example – once again taking the gaming press’ eyes off the rest of the industry and pointing them right back towards GT5. Will we get a new date this week? I’d hope so, and part of me desperately wants it to be very soon indeed.
Which parallel universe would Sony prefer – the one with the game already out and on the shelves or the one that means you can’t load up a gaming website without some mention of Gran Turismo 5 on it? And rest assured the game will sell regardless of this delay – Gran Turismo 5 Prologue shifted at least four million copies. We’d all like the game in our hands, but perhaps the waiting just makes the whole thing just that little bit more exciting…
This blog is the personal opinion of the author as does not represent the opinions of TheSixthAxis or Sony.
Fresh191
It’s the drip feeding thats killing me. Every week new videos and screenshots that might as well be real photos and videos.
I dont mind the waiting but it’s the teasing that makes it tough, giving us false hope that the game will arrive and then it disappears in a cloud of sweet smelling tire smoke…
No matter when it arrives it will be frackin awesome and I think we all know that.
Redh3lix
Precisely the way I feel about the game. Everytime I see new screenshots/videos or other media regarding the game I instantly get very angry and shout “release the f***ing game or STFU!!”.
JoshHood
The hype since the delay is incredible; I don’t like GT and serious racing games at all, but even I’m interested now!
tobo_56
Same here, all this hype has made me look at some of the other GT games and I’m looking forward to GT5 now :)
DrNate86
I’m the same, I probably wouldn’t have bought it if it was on time, but all the waiting, speculation and group excitement is wearing off and I quite want it now! I’m surprised they haven’t done something to scupper Kinect by announcing a release date.
minerwilly
Good Article Nofi , i have been patiently waiting . When it happens it happens . In some ways my wallet kind of sighs with relief anyway !
cam the man
Very good article, never thought of looking at it like that.
Anyway I’m not bothered about the delay, it has given me more time to better my lap-time for the ‘Speed of Senna’ TT and practise for the TSA F1 2010 Championship.
Yahavage
A spanner in Kinects launch eh? Ok so the initial problem which caused the delay might have been genuine, but does anyone think this current delay might just be intentional? I dunno what I’m more interested in now, getting the game, or just seeing how this drama plays out!
JoshHood
I’d love to see an announcement on Kinect’s launch this week, with it coming out next. Here’s hoping.
Yahavage
I think I’ll be more surprised if we don’t see an announcement then, to be honest ;)
MrIrving
That’s all well and good, but people are not going to rush out and buy a PS3 on a rumour of when a game is to be issued.
Once it’s on the shelves and the press and public are giving it rave reviews then that will entice a lot of people to buy the machine to play it on which must be Sony’s goal. Especially so in the run up to Christmas which if this gets delayed any further they will miss.
I can see what you are saying and yes this is a lot of free publicity for GT5, but seriously how much publicity does this release need? There has to be a point when it turns negative and I think we are not far from that point now. If this gets delayed again until next year then people will give up. Afterall you can only get smacked in the face so many times before you realise it’s not such a nice experience.
nofi
I don’t think people will give up at all. I mean, we’ve been waiting years now.
bunimomike
Aye, but because it’s a game it doesn’t really offend or hurt us. We just feel a bit put out then realise the real world is full of genuinely nasty things and people who wanted GT5 all along will still get it. Equally, people who are slightly ambivalent to the title will pick it up when it releases as they weren’t uber-keen to get it on day one anyway.
G_The_Enemy14
I must be the only person not bothered by this game. All this build up has had the opposite effect on me, I now am uninterested.
minerwilly
I know how you feel , I am exactly the same regards Black Ops except I suppose I never was interested .
freezebug2
The waiting and delays really frustrated me for a good while but I now find it par for the course and just accept it as the norm for probably the biggest release since UC2 on PS3. I enjoy reading all of the hype for the game nowadays and even though with all of the articles and threads written about it, we will still have tonnes to discover when we do get our grubby mitts on the game.
On the subject of pizzas I have pre-ordered my 12″ pepperonies and expect them to arrive before the game. :O << Full up face FTW lol.
solidsteven
The pizzas have been delayed due to the pizza being to wide.:P
freezebug2
Oh noes starving and gameless, where’s that phone…Indian it is then.
dee
Apparently half a million copies have been shipped to france already.check it out on gtplanet.
Mr-Flame-Head
the gt series is the only racing game series i actually really enjoyed, pretty much dont care for racing games normally except gt, the fact it was delayed made me give a sigh of relief as im now in a position where i may only be able to buy one more brand new title this year and it shall be gt5 so the longer it takes to come out the better for me financially
FireasBall
Played GT5 yesterday and it was just ossum!
this post is to make you other guys feel jealous :D
ElGuason
oh really? so what planet was that on?