The official EU PlayStation Blog has finally unveiled the Gran Turismo 5 Special Edition packages, which will be exclusive to Europe. The first, with its “artfully sculpted exterior” and glossy finish, is the one to get. If you’ve got the cash, that is, because it’s going to cost you €179.99.
Still, this “Signature Edition” is packed with goodies, including the aforementioned metal box, a 1:43 SLS AMG model car, a GT leather wallet (with competition entry card), a branded USB key, a GT branded key fob, a coffee table book and a 200 page Apex drivers magazine. Oh, and the game.
The Signature Edition also comes with five “ChromeLine” Collector’s Edition cars plus six “Stealth” vehicles in the game, both featuring “enhanced performance and liveries” and an exclusive dynamic PS3 theme.
Good, eh? It gets better – that competition card? It gives you entry to a special exclusive competition which will combine both in-game and real world challenges, and the ultimate prize: a real Mercedes SLS AMG. Really.
If you don’t have the cash for the Signature Edition, then there’s always the “Gran Turismo 5 Collector’s Edition” which will cost you ‘just’ €79.99. The Collector’s Edition includes the special in-game cars and the Apex drivers magazine, but just in a slip-case rather than the metal job.
All good.
DJ-Katy
Money permitting I will get this. I never buy special editions of Blurays or PS3 games unless the price is the same or I get it for free, usually a waste of money. GT though is like one of those defining games of my University years. When PS1 was out Sony had a show in either Birmingham or London that I went to, and everyone got a free promo copy of GT2, that was excellent.
For those who have less money than sense however, if you are considering a purchase of the Signature Edition, I would STRONGLY urge you to buy a wheel and pedals. GT without a wheel is crap, I repeat, CRAP. That is no overstatement as anyone who has played it with a wheel will attest to.
I have a Logitech Driving Force GT Pro which was released to coincide with GT4 on PS2, it isn’t wireless, it’s USB, but it works fine on the majority of PS3 games I have (Blur, Fuel and Split/Second being notable exceptions, everything else works great). You can turn the wheel through 900 degrees, it has pedals and a sequential shifter. A 900 degree wheel and gearbox is absolutely essential to getting the most out of this game, especially as anyone with enough money to buy a wheel is likely want to going to drive in manual, which is more rewarding.
There is now a replacement wheel for the GT Pro out which has a 5 or 6-speed shifter, leather wheel rather than rubber, and a clutch. If you can afford it, buy that, otherwise the one I mentioned is an excellent choice that will be quite cheap now (I paid £150 for mine and £250 for the seat back in 2004).
Be warned though: your times with a wheel will never be as good as with a controller. It is an altogether more challenging experience with a steep learning curve. For your first few hours, you will hate the wheel with a passion and consign it as a waste of money too hard to control. Persevere, it is an extremely satisfying way to play. Practice on NFS Shift and DIRT 2, two games that respond particularly well to playing with a wheel.
Gaztee
Looks like the ‘cheap ass version’ is a game exclusive then!!