Showing posts with label Gran Turismo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gran Turismo. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Stars of Pleiades

John B. Marine | 10/04/2015 10:00:00 PM | | | Be the first to comment!
The Stars of Pleiades (also called the Seven Sisters) are seven bright stars. This star cluster is also called Messier 45 (or M45). You can find these stars in the Taurus constellation. They are 400 light years from Earth. Even though the Stars of Pleiades are known as the Seven Sisters, only six of the stars are visible to the human eye. I learned a lot in my research of this topic. The Pleiades are the seven daughters of Atlas in Greek Mythology who were turned into stars. The Stars of Pleiades consist of Atlas, Pleione, Alcyone/Halcyone, Merope, Maia, Electra/Eleckra, Celaena, Taygete/Taygeta, and Asterope/Sterope. Atlas and Pleione in Greek Mythology are not Pleiades.

Here is a picture I found online through a Google Images search to show you the Stars of Pleiades:

Stars of Pleiades
^ from: blog.al.com - The Stars of Pleiades.

And here is some video insight on the Stars of Pleiades:


^ "Seven Sisters or Pleiades (M45) - Deep Sky Videos"


Stars of Pleiades: Subaru.

If you are a fan of Subaru, you know their logo is based on these seven stars. Those seven stars of Subaru bear the Stars of Pleiades. If you know your Subaru cars, then you may know Subaru made one car called the Alcyone, which is also called the SVX. Here is a picture of that car bearing the same name as one of the Stars of Pleiades:

Subaru Alcyone SVX
^ from: www.tradebit.com - This is the Subaru Alcyone (also called the SVX). The Alcyone is named one of the Stars of Pleiades.

And here is some video insight on this car:


^ "MotorWeek | Retro Review: '91 Subaru SVX"

You probably have a hint about the Stars of Pleiades if you played Gran Turismo games and competed in the "Stars of Pleiades" events. If you like racing games (including the Gran Turismo series), I invite you to visit my racing/driving game blog called "John's Race Space."


So now you know about the Stars of Pleiades... and also gained some factoids about Subaru.





This blog post is over. I actually wanted to blog about the Stars of Pleiades for the longest. The post is now complete. Be sure to Subscribe and Follow my blog(s) to keep up with the latest posts. I appreciate you visiting my blog(s). Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Monday, February 10, 2014

Blacks in Motorsport

John B. Marine | 2/10/2014 01:55:00 AM | | | 1 Comment so far
Normally, I try to avoid posting anything related to ethnicity or nationality. Something, however, has told me to do otherwise. I want to focus on Blacks in motorsport. At least someone gave these racers a chance. At least the expensive and dangerous realm of motorsport was enjoyed by these men and women who broke several color barriers. If you are to learn anything from this blog post, one thing to know is that anyone can be a superstar (let alone in motorsport) regardless of ethnicity or nationality. Welcome to another blog post of mine!

A Special Hello...

If you are a Black person who is in any kind of motorsport- whether it's stock car racing, drag racing, sportscar racing, rally racing, motorcycle racing, kart racing, drifting, tractor pulling, or whatever... I'd like to send a special hello to you. Maybe my post will be to your liking.





--- Blacks in Motorsport ---

Let's meet some of the Black Americans who take part in racing or have been in racing before. Please note that this post concerns various forms of motorsport. These involve names past and present (and perhaps future) that have taken part in one or multiple disciplines of motorsport.

Considering a lot of the different levels of segregation and prejudice among Black Americans, a lot of past racers haven't really had many chances and opportunities to excel in motorsport. Most others just didn't really have a chance to either get into racing or succeed in racing. That's why it's important that I think we should honor Blacks whom have competed in motorsport. Motorsports are both expensive and dangerous, yet there were those who gave Blacks the time of day and the chance to shine. Some thrived. Some didn't. Some could have reached unfathomable levels of success but failed to really shine. Speaking as a Black person myself, I created this blog post to highlight on some of the many different Blacks in various disciplines of motorsport.


Inspiration for This Post.

A lot of people don't really know of some of the Black racers in motorsport. I, myself, am a Black person. However, I always think of myself more as a human being and an American before labeling myself a Black American (or African-American). We usually designate February as Black History Month here in the United States. We honor and celebrate Black personalities whom have contributed to American (and even world) history. Though February is Black History Month, I did not specifically want to post this just because it is Black History Month. I actually wanted to post about this topic for quite some time, but never released this post until now.

Previously, I covered females in motorsport, because I want to make light on some of the females who are involved in some capacity of motorsport. I want to do the same for Blacks in motorsport. This is a chance to recognize various Blacks in racing.


Could There Be More Blacks in Motorsport?

I entirely think there can be more Blacks to get into motorsport. I don't know... maybe not as many are into racing so much or can't access racing so easily. Racing isn't as easily accessible as gridiron football or basketball among my people. Despite these challenges, you have to credit the ones who were given the chance and did their best to succeed in motorsport. So lies the premise of this blog post- a look at various Blacks in motorsport. I hope you enjoy this post.



--- Blacks in Motorsport ---

This post doesn't include all Black racers, but it does feature as many different Black racers from various disciplines of motorsport. Any personality with a hyperlinked heading has a website you can visit. They may be either official sites or some other kind of material. Be sure to visit them to get social with their work. Visit their sites to learn more about them. If there are some I haven't done enough to properly feature, you are free to use your favorite search engine and learn more about them yourself. Still, I will do as much as I can to at least introduce you to each of the various personalities.

Most of the facts and figures I've pulled up come from various YouTube videos, Wikipedia, and various other websites. I may add more names in future edits.


Willy T. Ribbs.

Willy T. Ribbs is one of the most influential figures in American racing. He was one of the first Blacks to drive a Formula 1 race car. His portfolio of racing goes through the likes of NASCAR, Indy cars, Trans-Am, and even sportscar racing. Willy has even taken on the challenge of the Indy 500. His first attempt at being the first African-American racer to successfully qualify in the Indy 500 was in 1985. He pulled out of the Indy 500 qualifying because he didn't feel right. Even though he pulled out, no Black racer has ever toured Indy before Willy T. Ribbs took his circuits around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Though he didn't feel right in 1985, he returned to Indy in 1991 and successfully qualified for the 1991 Indy 500. Unfortunately, his Buick engine gave out five laps in the 1991 Indy 500. To paraphrase LeBron James, Willy T. Ribbs took his talents to Europe to compete in the Dunlop Stars of Tomorrow, where Willy raced in England against the likes of future F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell. He won his first race in the Dunlop Stars of Tomorrow in only his second series race. He then went on to win 6 of 12 events that season. I would argue that he is perhaps among one of the top figures among Black racers about as much as Carroll Shelby has been one of the top figures in racing and automobiles. Any Blacks who want to be the next best racing superstar need only look at Willy T. Ribbs as primary inspiration. Speaking of inspiration, here is an interview of Willy T. Ribbs:


^ "An Interview with Willy T Ribbs"


Bill Lester.

Bill Lester has spent many a year touring different disciplines of motorsport. He is best known for his career in NASCAR. Bill Lester's racing career has even taken him through the ranks of sportscar racing. He even took part in the Rolex Sportscar Series (now merged into the United SportsCar Racing Series) racing a Daytona Prototype. The native of Washington, D.C. earned my full respect for being so talented as a racing driver. Bill Lester's non-racing credentials include being an engineer and a former executive for Hewlett-Packard (or HP).


Chase Austin.

Chase Austin was born in Eudora, Kansas. The (born: October 3, 1989)-year old has been racing in NASCAR in both the Truck Series and the Nationwide Series. He doesn't yet have a start in Cup (or as I'm aware). Chase Austin even has taken part in open-wheel racing by racing in Indy Lights.


Darrell Wallace Jr.

In 2013 at Martinsville Speedway, (born: October 8, 1993) Darrell Wallace Jr. became the first Black racer to win in any of NASCAR's top series since the late Wendell Scott in 1963. The Alabama-born "Bubba" Wallace is a young up-and-coming racer. He's had a number of victories prior to his breakaway win in NASCAR Trucks, as he's won several times in NASCAR's K&N Pro West Series as well as in karting. Watch Darrell Wallace Jr. take his historic victory at Martinsville with this video:


^ "Darrell Wallace Jr. Wins Martinsville - NASCAR Camping World Trucks 2013"


Bobby Norfleet.

The well-traveled Bobby Norfleet has been racing everything from stock cars to drag cars and even motorcycles. The native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ran only one race in NASCAR's top series when he ran in 2000 in NASCAR Trucks. Sponsorship and some poor luck has made Bobby Norfleet not become as active in the NASCAR ranks. He even was a team owner in 2005. Lots of controversy surrounds Bobby Norfleet.


Tia Norfleet.

It is somewhat rare to have Black racers. Even more so to have a Black female racer. Tia Norfleet is the daughter of Bobby Norfleet. She is a black stock car racer. Even she knows what keeps racers afloat in today's landscape of racing- money and sponsors. The ultimate dream for Tia Norfleet would be to compete and start in NASCAR's top three series. With this level of determination, only time will tell whether or not Tia Norfleet will be a powerful enough figure to reach the pinnacle of NASCAR. There is controversy about Tia Norfleet, in that some say her racing credentials are overblown- stats and figures about her that are more than what she has actually accomplished. She is from Norfolk, Virginia, USA.


Nicole Lyons.

Meet Nicole Lyons- a Black drag racer. She became the first Black driver to compete in the NHRA's Pro Stock class. Besides drag racing, she even became the first Black woman to compete in and finish a NASCAR Modified Series race. Nicole Lyons Racing is capable of almost anything.


James "Bubba" Stewart.

James "Bubba" Stewart (also nicknamed JS7) is a supercross racer that races only one way- hard. He is one of the most successful motocross or supercross racers today, having won a couple of championships in AMA Supercross. I like James Stewart. This guy just brings it every race and is quite fearless. Even in defeat, he just seems impervious to fear. I would also say he's the most successful active Black racer in the world in any discipline of motorsport today. He was born in Bartow, Florida, USA. Just like myself, he is a Capricorn (born December 21, 1985). This video showcases some of his talent:


^ "James Bubba Stewart fights from last place to first"


Malcolm Stewart.

Could Malcolm Stewart be a champ like his older brother James? He very well could. Malcolm Stewart currently is an AMA Supercross racer in the 250cc class.


Rickey Gadson.

In the drag racing ranks, Rickey Gadsen is one of the fastest drag racers on two wheels. He has competed in the NHRA Pro Stock Bike class. Gadson is a ten-time drag racing champion and one of the winningest racers in NHRA history. He's been all over the world both racing and performing. In fact, I'd say that for as much as Willy T. Ribbs has been an influential figure in motorsport, Rickey Gadson is one of the most influential in drag racing.


Antron Brown.

Another Black drag racer is Antron Brown. Unlike Rickey Gadson, Antron Brown did his damage on four wheels rather than two. He was the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel champion. He raced motorcycles prior to joining the top fuel drag racing ranks. In his career, Antron Brown suffered a brutal crash in 2013 at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, CA. Even still, Antron Brown is the first Black American to win a championship in the NHRA.


Reggie Showers.

Reggie Showers is a drag racer who is also a double amputee. The native of Philadelphia, PA, USA suffered his injury after an electrical accident he suffered in his mid-teens. That didn't stop him from becoming a two-time World Champion in the IDBA (International Drag Bike Association). Reggie retired from drag racing to become a motivational speaker. If you have time on your hands, here is a video about Reggie Showers. You may want to turn the volume up a bit:


^ "The Powerful Story of Reggie Showers NHRA Pro Stock Bike Racer"


Malcolm Durham.

Malcolm Durham went where very few have ever gone- over 200 mph, that is. This NHRA Drag Racer was one of the first true Black superstars in the NHRA. He raced a handful of series ranging from Super Stock to funny cars to Pro Stock. Malcolm Durham left racing so he could get his sons into college. He would return in 1985 to do some more racing. Sadly, Malcolm Durham would pass away in 2006 due to a long-standing illness.


David Sims Jr.

Star of the future? That's what you want to believe with Californian kart racer David Sims Jr. He took his first victory in September 2006 racing in the Kid Kart class of the RAS sanction. David Sims Jr. captured his first karting championship in 2008 in the RAS California State Asphalt Oval championship. He would win a few more championships along the way in karting. Star of the future? Very much so, if you ask me.


Joie Ray.

(Born: September 29, 1923)-year old Joie Ray has raced in NASCAR and various forms of sprint car racing. He had raced between 1947-1963. The native of Louisville, Kentucky has been racing in NASCAR as well as in USAC. Joie was the first Black American to be licensed by the American Automobile Association (now AAA). To be honest, I think it's great he was fortunate enough to race in his era considering there was still a great deal of segregation and prejudice among us Black Americans. You have to give him some credit on this front. He is no doubt a true legend and a true inspiration. You even have to credit the team owners and such who actually gave him a chance to shine. Joie Ray died in 2007 at the age of 83 from pneumonia.


Jason Britton.

Jason Britton is one of the most grizzled veterans of stunt riding. The Speed Channel show "Super Bikes!" was where I first got to be introduced to No Limit Motorsports' Jason Britton. Prepare to be blown away by this dude with this video (SPOILER ALERT: the final part of the video is ruined):


^ "Jason Britton at 2012 Stuntwars Round 1"

Wow! That's all I can say! Needless to say- don't attempt any of those stunts!



Wendell Scott.

Danville, Virginia was where one Wendell Oliver Scott was born on August 29, 1921. He was the first African-American driver to win a race in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. His lone victory came in 1964 at the Jacksonville 200. He died in 1990 from spinal cancer at the age of 69. He was nominated into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2012. The movie "Greased Lightning" was loosely based on the career of Wendell Scott, with Richard Pryor playing as Wendell Scott.


Cheryl Glass.

Cheryl Glass was a midget racer. She was born on December 24, 1961 (yay! Another Capricorn!) and is from Seattle, Washington, USA. Cheryl died on July 15, 1997. She has been the only real Black racer to compete in USAC as well as the first to win an A-Main in the series. There was potential for this Cheryl to race in the Indy 500 and perhaps even test the waters of Formula 1. Neither happened. Her winning of national championships in the midget sprint ranks speaks to the level of success she enjoyed.


Now for some Black racers NOT from the United States...

Lewis Hamilton.

Former Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton became the first Black racer to win the F1 World Championship when he triumphed in 2008. I personally remember this race and how crazy it was. Felipe Maasa won the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. Amid the exhalation of Maasa winning, Lewis Hamilton needed only finish 3rd or better to win the F1 World Championship. Despite the pouring rain, Hamilton finished high enough to win the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship. It was a crazy race. And to this day, I still think Lewis Hamilton is one of the brightest and most talented race car drivers today.


Axcil Jefferies.

Zimbabwean race car driver Axcil Jefferies won a great deal of races and championships. He's won in his native Zimbabwe as well as become the first person of color to win racing championships in South African. He made his American racing debut in Indy Lights in 2013 for Bryan Herta Autosports. He got a Top 5 in that race. I'd say he's Star of the Future material.


Tschops Sipuka.

Starting racing in 1998, Tschops Sipuka (Tschops pronounced like "Chops") has been around the world and competed in a number of different championships and races. Along the way, he has won many championships in his native South Africa and abroad. Tschops has been the first person of color to win a number of championships and certain races. To learn more about Tschops Sipuka and his racing career, visit his website that I've posted with this section.


I may add more personalities if I learn more about them. If you want to contribute, you may contact me online and let me in on some more personalities you think I should feature in this blog post.



--- Blacks in Motorsport: Honorable Mentions ---

A few others I want to make mention in regards to Blacks in motorsport in any sort of capacity...

• Michael Jordan - owner of Michael Jordan Motorsports, a motorcycle team that used to race in AMA Road Racing. Word has it that MJM is looking to compete in World Superbike or even MotoGP.

• Brad Daugherty - ESPN NASCAR analyst, NASCAR team owner, and former basketball star.

• Dhani Jones - former gridiron football player who was a host of Season 3 of GT Academy USA.


Special Consideration.

Just when I thought I was done completing this blog post originally, I realize one specific YouTube channel offered me more inspiration to post about and learn about more racers to fill this blog post. And so, I want to thank Starting Grid Inc. for introducing me to more personalities so I could fill up this blog post. SGI is an organization designed to bring more minorities into the realm of motorsports. It was founded in 1994 by Chris Miles. Here is a video profile of Starting Grid Inc.:


^ "FOX Sports profiles Starting Grid, Inc. and the Gary Community School Corporation"

For more information on Starting Grid Inc., please visit their official website at: www.startinggrid.com.


I may add more drivers and personalities to this list in future edits. If there are any other Blacks in motorsport that you think I should feature, please contact me online and tell me about certain personalities that I should feature in my post. Thank you!





I hope you enjoyed this blog post. Make sure you're Subscribed and/or Followed to keep up with all of my latest posts. Thank you very much for reading! I hope you come back to my blog(s) for more content from me.

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Sunday, June 9, 2013

American Beauties: Pacific

John B. Marine | 6/09/2013 11:48:00 PM | | | | | | | | | | | | | Be the first to comment!
(UPDATED: November 21, 2019)

The finale of my American Beauties series features beauties from the Pacific states. The featured personalities are from California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. Even though I mention Hawaii, more of them can be seen in my "South Pacific Beauties" post. This Beauties series concludes with West Coast beauties. It is the final featured region of my American Beauties posts.

NOTE: This post may contain a lot of YouTube videos that may slow down your performance. Click on the links below any embedded videos to view them on YouTube. Thanks to all YouTube channels whom allowed their videos to be embedded.

More personalities may be added in future edits. So this initial list of beauties aren't the ONLY ones to be featured in this post!


LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

NOV 21 2019 - made several edits, added personalities

NOTE: Having to load more embedded videos means lower browser performance, so fewer videos will be shown. Click on the links to view videos away from this blog if you want to view certain videos away from John's Blog Space. I am doing this as a performance measure for my blog in addition to using Jump Breaks.






American Beauties Series


Beautiful American ladies. I love doing these "Beauties" posts regarding some of the world's loveliest ladies, but I have decided to go close to home for this series. What you will see here is my list of various beauties representing the United States. You may not know who I may feature. What you probably will be aware of is certain personalities I've showcased based on certain interests of mine. As you may be aware in my blog posts, while I do mention those in Beauties posts as women, some of my Beauties posts may NOT be exclusively feminine. So you'll see a little of everything.

Here is a preview of what all this series will entail. There is no really serious designation in picking out a set region for which to feature each location. I will break up my American Beauties focus into five individual regions:


American Beauties Series: Rundown.

Here is a look at how I'll be doing this:

American Beauties - South and Southeast
(REGION: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, and Washington, District of Columbia)

American Beauties - Northeast
(REGION: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine)

American Beauties - Midwest and Central
(REGION: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan)

American Beauties - Mountain
(REGION: Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Montana)

• American Beauties: Pacific (YOU ARE HERE)
(REGION: California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii)


American Beauties: This Region.

The region I will feature in this post is of Pacific beauties. I feel like I would do this region a disservice if I don't feature a number of Californian beauties because that state comprises the majority of beauties I've selected to feature and honor. This blog post consists of beauties from each of the following states:

• California
• Oregon
• Washington
• Alaska
• Hawaii

I can tell you right now that there will be a LOT of Californians I will feature in this post. I will still make an effort to find as many non-Californian beauties in this post to maintain solidarity.

NOTE: For more Hawaiian beauties, read my "South Pacific Beauties" blog post. I will still mention Hawaiian beauties here, but not as detailed in this post.






American Beauties: Pacific


I'll let you in on something- most of this blog post pertains to California. I do get the feeling that California has LOTS of people, so I fear I'll do this section a disservice if I don't feature as many Californians as possible. This is not to show any prejudice of anything. I'll try to feature lots of them early on.

So here are of many of California's beauties. As with any of the featured personalities, click on any hyperlinked headers to visit their official websites or fan pages.


Arika Sato.

The MTV reality TV competition "Paris Hilton's My New BFF" is where most people may have first heard of Arika Sato. This Japanese-American beauty is a (born: May 26, 1986)-year old southern California (SoCal) girl through and through. Arika Sato has done everything from modeling to being a star of her own YouTube channel. She is nowadays making material on YouTube called "What Every Guy Should Know," a series of videos showcasing what men should know about doing certain things. Arika hasn't forgotten about her ladies, as she offers fashion and beauty advice in some of those videos. I have respected Arika for the longest and still do to this day. Don't know Arika Sato? Get to know her with this video showcasing the Japanese-American beauty:


^ "How to Wash a Car"

The link I've provided takes you to her official site. Here was a post about her I did a long time ago: "Arika Sato" (John's Blog Space).


Keira Kang.

Keira Kang is a beautiful Korean-American singer. For as beautiful as this Los Angeles native is, however, this beautiful lady has had an ugly past. She has experienced everything from unemployment to the divorce of her parents. Her ultimate dream is to be a Grammy-award winning recording artist. I am hopeful she realizes her dream. As I've said about her before, she's been through Hell; all I want for her is Heaven. This video is a singing sample of Keira Kang:


^ "Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (Cover by KEIRA KANG)"

I provided this blog post long ago: "Keira Kang" (John's Blog Space).


Katy Perry.

Katy Perry kissed a girl and liked doing so. You change your mind like a girl changes clothes. She's a firework who will let you know that California girls (like herself) are undeniable. This lovely (Born: October 25, 1984)-year old lady from Santa Barbara, California made her mark in music with this bold song. Katy Perry is of both American and Portuguese descent. She later came along with many more hit songs. What I like about Katy Perry from a style standpoint is her vintage pin-up girl image. Besides pin-up chic, Katy Perry is also known for wearing very whimsical outfits to her shows. Those whom play The Sims may be familiar with the candy-themed material from Katy Perry that you can buy in that The Sims add-on. My representing of Katy Perry in this blog post will be done with this music video. Enjoy this high-energy song:


^ "Katy Perry - Firework"


Rebecca Black.

From a world-class recording artist... to Rebecca Black. Many associate the (born: June 21, 1997)-year old as being an absolutely horrible singer (especially her "Friday" song), but this California girl from Irvine deserves at least some credit. Someone actually discovered her and given her a chance. The negativity that is spread across the Internet had people say all sorts of hurtful and damaging things to and about Rebecca Black. The one thing I can't stand about all of this is just why her. I think Rebecca Black- say what you want about her singing- is a beautiful lady. If she wasn't beautiful to me, she wouldn't be in a "Beauties" post now, would she? So I'm paying respect to this lady here.

• "Rebecca Black Interview-Katy Perry "Part of Me" Premiere"

By the way... there was a collaboration between Rebecca Black and Katy Perry long ago. Californians helping Californians. Pretty cool if you're from the Golden State.

Here is an old post I did about Rebecca Black: "Rebecca Black" (John's Blog Space).


Zooey Deschanel.

Zooey Claire Deschanel was someone I did not know of previously until seeing an Apple iPhone commercial of her. I think the (born: January 17, 1980)-year old is very cute and also entertaining. She is very well known for the hit "New Girl" comedy on FOX. Zooey is from Los Angeles, California. This is a video interview of the beautiful Zooey Deschanel:

• "Zooey Deschanel Talks "New Girl" and Taylor Swift"


Miranda Cosgrove.

Whereas Disney had the likes of Selena Gomez as a sweet-as-sugar personality, Nickelodeon's answer to Selena Gomez (if you will) is Miranda Cosgrove. Miranda Cosgrove is best known for starring in the hit show "iCarly" on Nickelodeon. The (born: May 14, 1993)-year old from Los Angeles, Calfornia is really one of the sweetest-faced personalities in American media besides Selena Gomez.


Megan Mullally.

One of the loveliest ladies to me is actress and singer Megan Mullally. This Los Angeles lady has been both a witty actress as well as a singer with an absolutely beautiful voice. On YouTube, the (born: November 12, 1958)-year old is famous for doing a music video for I Cannot Believe It's Not Butter called "Turn the Tub Around." I wanted to find that music video and post it here. However, I found a performance of hers that I literally cried to. You may need some tissues if you cry happy tears hearing this performance:


^ "Megan Mullally - Singing Christmas Party - Part 1"

Megan Mullally is a fantastic singer apart from being a very funny actress. I so respect her. Here is an old post I did about Megan Mullally: "Megan Mullally" (John's Blog Space)


Annabelle, of "VIVALUXURY."

(ADDED: April 8, 2014)
Annabelle Fleur is a stylish lady who runs the blog VIVALUXURY. I came across her by visiting her LOOKBOOK outfits. She is one of the loveliest ladies online. While I do think Annabelle is a beautiful name, her style is equally lovely. So check out her blog to gauge her style.


Rachel Pally.

Rachel Pally is a high-end fashion designer mostly noted for her stylish and comfortable fashions. The graduate of the University of California-Berkley (Golden Bears' country) has designed some sweet fashions for those who can afford her fashion pieces. Most of her fashions mostly are of comfortable jersey material. These items include pants, skirts, and dresses among many of her stylish clothes.

You can shop for Rachel Pally's fashions online at www.rachelpally.com, and even at retailers like Shopbop ( www.shopbop.com ).


Kassandra Brooks (Facebook fan page).

Kassandra Brooks
^ from: twitter.com (links to profile) - Kassandra Brooks- one hot and fashion-savvy Californian.

If you're familiar with AMIClubwear, the name Kassandra Brooks should be familiar to you- especially if you've followed AMIClubwear's YouTube channel. Kassandra Marie Brooks moved on from AMIClubwear to focus on her own fashion line called "I'm Haute." It is safe to say the Californian loves and is very much fixated on fashion. In addition to being someone fixated on fashion, Kassandra is also a scorching hot model. Kassandra Brooks is a beautiful lady, but one of her biggest challenges is in dealing with acne problems. She remains a beautiful blonde while also battling these acne problems. Kassandra M. Brooks remains a charming SoCal beauty- both inside and out.

Kassandra Brooks is also a blogger. However, her material isn't regularly updated. You are free to have a look at her blog about her outfits if interested: The Haute Blonde. You can see her fashions from her store at www.imhaute.com (I'm Haute).





For performance reasons, I am including this Jump Break. So many YouTube videos means so much to upload. So I am providing this Jump Break to improve the performance of this page if you are not reading the full post.

I'm not done yet! There are MANY more personalities from the Pacific that I want to make mention to. And trust me- I will mention at least one beauty from the remaining four states I have yet to mention. If you are not reading the full post, then you will miss out on me mentioning a few more Californians before eventually discussing beauties I'll mention from Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. So click "Read More" if you are not reading the full post.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

My Personal Favorite Christmas Songs

John B. Marine | 12/19/2012 06:11:00 PM | | | | | | 1 Comment so far
The Holiday Season has featured loads of Christmas songs created and played. I'm here to share with you some of my personal favorite Christmas songs- both traditional and non-traditional. Consider this blog post as my Christmas contribution for all of you. Get ready to check out a number of Christmas songs sure to get you in the holiday spirit (as if you aren't already). They are all among some of my personal favorite Christmas songs. Not to mention as many as I can remember. So let's do this one time!

Happy Holidays to all of my friends/family/fans worldwide!





--- My Personal Favorite Christmas Songs ---

Here are a few quick facts about me regarding Christmas songs before I begin:

My Most Favorite Traditional Christmas Song: either "Let it Snow" or "Silent Night"
My Least Favorite Traditional Christmas Song: "Little Drummer Boy"


This blog post consists of many YouTube videos. I would like to thank all YouTube channels that allowed their videos to be embedded. I have included a Jump Break later in this blog post to improve the performance of this blog as you're viewing it. If you can't view Flash media, I have included links to each of the featured YouTube videos so you can view them privately and add comments to them on YouTube. Each one was the best version of each song I could find and/or use.

Having said all of this, let's begin!


My Personal Favorite Christmas Songs.

Now on to some music! Please note that this is about my own personal picks for great Christmas songs. I am not just picking these just to get traffic to this blog post. The songs are not sorted or listed in any particular order.


• Wham! - "Last Christmas"
There's actually no shame in liking this song. I am so sick of '80s fandom, but I think this 1984 classic is one of my personal favorite songs. Taylor Swift made her own version of this song a few years ago. As much as I love Taylor Swift and her music, I'm sorry, Taylor... Wham! did this one MUCH better than you:


^ "Wham! - Last Christmas"


• Trans-Siberian Orchestra - "Carol of the Bells"
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is ready to rock with this classic.
I can't remember how long ago it was, but this song still resonates with me as one of the best songs I've ever heard for a Christmas song. Love you some guitars? Turn up the volume and rock out to this one! Here you go:


^ "Carol of the Bells - Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Higher Quality"


• Gayla Peevey - "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas"
Kids want all kinds of things for Christmas, so why would Gayla Peevey want a hippopotamus? This may be one of the funniest and most creative Christmas songs ever made. It was originally done by John Rox. How can you not love this? Have a listen:


^ "I want a Hippopotamus For Christmas"


• Donny Hathaway - "This Christmas"
My mother's favorite Christmas song also happens to be one I like. That ESPECIALLY is when this fellow sings it. Time I take you back to 1970:


^ "Donny Hathaway - This Christmas"





For performance reasons, I will break off this post with a Jump Break. Too many embedded YouTube videos could slow down your viewing performance. So you may continue on by clicking "Read More" if you are not reading the full post. Or of course, disregard this paragraph if you are reading the full post.
read more...

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Gran Turismo 5 - First Impressions

John B. Marine | 6/16/2011 05:46:00 PM | | Be the first to comment!
I had spent a good amount of time playing Gran Turismo 5 now. I feel I have enough experience to chat about this game professionally to all of you. I'm personally sorry it has taken this long for me to evaluate Gran Turismo 5 after having played it recently. This blog post concerns my first impressions of Gran Turismo 5 after having played the FULL version for a few days. Please note this is not about the kiosk demo. This blog post is my own evaluation of Gran Turismo 5 after playing the full game. Having said this, you deserve to read my first impressions.

NOTE: As of this blog post, I have not yet prepared my review of Gran Turismo 5. I am actually torn between posting the review on "John's Blog Space" and/or "John's Gran Turismo Space." I prefer posting the review on John's Gran Turismo Space, but I haven't yet decided from this initial blog post.

My review of "Gran Turismo 5" can be read here: GT5 Review on "John's Gran Turismo Space"!






--- Gran Turismo 5: Setting up the Story ---
While it took me some time to get my PlayStation 3 and Gran Turismo 5, I eventually got both this past Saturday. Most of what I've experienced with GT5 was in YouTube videos and other online material. I must say I have been fairly pleased seeing content posted online. I've even made a habit of looking at YouTube videos featuring songs from GT5.

With a game that's been released since November 2010, it's taken me nearly seven months to finally join the PS3 brigade. I felt that this long wait has hampered my ability in making YouTube videos, blog posts, and more. Any and all comments I may make regarding Gran Turismo 5 were reserved until I had actually played the game. Now, playing this game since Saturday, I feel I have played just enough to professionally discuss this game.

Believe it or not... I actually had doubts with Gran Turismo 5 based on how the general public reacted to it. Most of what I heard/read was more along the lines of "good, but not great." Many others were disappointed with it. Some others even fancy the Forza Motorsport series and leave behind Gran Turismo 5. I still remain a GT fan no matter what Forza (which I vastly respect) throws out. I still needed to play the game myself before thinking ANYTHING of GT5.

So let me share my first impressions at long last.



--- Gran Turismo 5: First Impressions ---
Gran Turismo 5
^
My first Race Modified car- a 2002 Nissan Silvia Spec R Aero painted in Eternal Blue Pearl (the car) and Gran Turismo Yellow (the wheels).
Gran Turismo 5 comes across as a title which provides a new experience for most GT fans. Online play, which was to be promised in GT4 before eventually being scrapped, was a real talking point for GT5. It has played a real role in enhancing GT5 for what it is. The fact the PS3 is basically both a console and a computer means that GT5 can be upgraded and enhanced.

Even before I downloaded the Version 1.10 update, most of what I have played was very good. The experience only got better after downloading the Version 1.10 update. It was worth the three hours for all six parts of the download to be complete.


Playing the Game.

Most of my time was spent in GT Mode. I could only choose one entire outfit prior to the 1.10 update. This meant I had to pick something I'd have to be with and live with through my career in Gran Turismo 5. After the 1.10 Update, however, you could choose between a vast array of suits and helmets. to compliment you and your drivers.


Driving and Racing.

GT4's driving model never allowed you to really get aggressive. GT5's model is much different and much better. In fact, I would say that this is the best driving model in any Gran Turismo game. There is actually greater challenge in racing cars than in any GT game. Cars just felt too heavy in GT4. Not so much in GT5. It used to be that there was an Standard Model and a Professional model in handling a car. That's gone. All cars are on the Professional level. Front-wheel drive cars handle much better than they did in other GTs. Rear-wheel drive cars can be better pushed to the limit than in any other GT. Four-wheel drive cars do a fairly great job of handling whether on-road or off-road. In addition, it is much tougher trying to keep high-powered cars on the road. Even an elementary school kid could race a Jaguar XJ220 to the limit in GT4. However, try wrestling a Pagani Zonda R or a very fast Ferrari in GT5. It is NOT easy!

Another element of the driving model are the new damage and collision models.. When you crash, impacts can range from simple whacks to vicious 360° crashes as well as rolling your car over. Only Premium cars can suffer extensive damage.

New to GT are time cycles and weather. You begin to notice the sun go down on select tracks as day gives way to night. You actually notice falling rain and snow at times in certain locations. It is the first time where falling precipitation has been featured in any Gran Turismo game. Let this be said- night racing is HARD in Gran Turismo 5! You'll know how hard it is when you can barely see the road ahead of you in the dark. Having said this, it's the best night racing ever in a Gran Turismo game. It's real night racing compared to the somewhat dark racing you're used to in past GT titles.


The Cars.

A big part of any Gran Turismo game is cars, and GT5 has plenty. There are about 200 Premium cars and some 700+ Standard cars. What you are looking at for GT5 is mostly Premium cars that you can go get right away. Among Standard cars, however, you basically have to be lucky to find one you really like. So it's almost like you HAVE to buy Premium.

The Premium cars feature interior views and are modeled much better than the mostly carryover cars from GT4 (Standard models). The Standard cars, however, have all been re-touched for GT5. Many people are going to complain that more Premiums can be made. Considering each car took about six months to create and with 200 or so of them, it's understandable why so many Standard cars were carried over. Just because they are Standard, though, doesn't mean they can't be fun to race. Some of them you can even race in GT5 when you couldn't race them against others in GT4. For example, I did a practice One-Make Race in GT5 with the Caterham Fireblade. The Caterham was a "Special Model" in GT4, so you couldn't race it against five other cars in GT4. You can race these in GT5 against many others. In addition, you can race them with fully animated visible drivers!


The Tracks.

When preparing this blog post, I absolutely FORGOT to mention the tracks. There are tracks both new and old in GT5. Cape Ring is one of the newest courses along with more variations of Eiger Nordwand (apart from Gran Turismo HD). There is a new Special Stage Route 7 which will make you fans of illegal street racing in Tokyo happy. Some tracks, like Rome and Chamonix return... but with configurations different from their classic tracks. The Rome track is now a punishing street course with more elevation changes than the classic Rome Circuit. Chamonix is wider, but is a completely different deal from GT4's version of the narrow nightmare known as Chamonix. Each track is done very nicely and features some great scenery.


Tuning and Maintenance.

More than ever, there are more ways to make a car much better than stock. A few new options are now available apart from past GT titles. New items such as Exhaust Manifolds, piece-by-piece weight reduction, and more can be equipped to cars. There are also new options in tuning your cars. One of the biggest ones is the Engine Limiter. This can be helpful in tuning down powerful cars to meet performance limits for races. Races can be restricted by horsepower or Performance Points (PP). Make sure you meet these restrictions to be eligible to compete in certain races and championships.

GT Auto returns for its third-ever installment. The funny thing about GT Auto is how lighthearted it is. You will hear "The Entertainer" from Scott Joplin as the GT Auto song. It is not the kind of music you'd expect to hear for something like an auto goods store, but it is a nice song to fit the mood of the lighthearted appeal of GT Auto. Racing Modifications return for Gran Turismo 5 after being M.I.A. in GT3 and GT4. Sadly, only 17 or 19 cars (all Premium) can take advantage of this. Many cars can still take advantage of aero parts (especially Premium). You can now paint over cars with Paint Items you find based on cars you acquire. You can use these color items to re-color cars. If you have a Premium car, you can even change wheels and be able to re-paint them too using Paint Items.


Sounds and Music.

Sound quality is vastly improved. There are more throaty growls even though some cars could have had better sounds. The weak link in sounds are in collisions with other cars. Human voices are also added to a few applications. When you win a license or get some insight from real racers (Jeff Gordon and Sebastien Loeb are featured), you'll hear human voices. It's the first GT to feature actual human voices since Jay Leno's voice was heard in Gran Turismo PSP.

Let me just say this about the music... it's great! Most of your time spent in this game will be listening to the 189 different songs included. If you don't care for the music included with GT5, you can always go with music stored on your PS3's hard drive. This is music you can listen to in races as well as Menu Music. Gran Turismo 5 boasts the classiest music of all. Listen to songs like "Passion" from Yuki Oike, "Like a Bird" from KEMMEI, and songs like that. There are seven genres of music in GT5: Alternative, Bossanova, Classical, Dance/Electronic, Jazz, Lounge, and Rock. Songs selected can be played in races, in the menus, and/or in slideshows.


Other Elements.

I like the new kind of character GT5 has. The usage of cut scenes in some of the Special Events give the game a different kind of character than past GT titles have exhibited. Actual material like this has helped to make Gran Turismo 5 a bit more indulgent than any other GT. • Racing Modifications, while few cars can take advantage of them, are great to see when complete. Even more so considering you can color up cars so that you don't have to have the plain white colors. Cars that may not take advantage of Racing Modifications may still have certain aero kits to help dress cars up. Always interesting to see what parts are available and how they look when added. This is more beneficial to Premium cars. And of course, ONLY Premium cars can have Racing Modifications. The most you may get with a Standard is just a simple rear wing. This system in GT5 is more advanced than simply adding a rear wing in Gran Turismo 4.


Online (based on the V 1.10 Update).

You can share your material with friends in GT5. You can even send/receive items to/from friends to help enhance your GT experience. Online lobbies allow you to compete in special competitions specifically set up by others. Seasonal Events are an extension of the in-game championships and races. This way, you never feel like you've raced everything. There is even an Online Dealership where you can get some of the more unique and rare cars. You never run out of things to do and see online through GT5.



--- Gran Turismo 5: Final Thoughts ---
There may have been two or three Forza Motorsport games between GT4 and GT5. There may have been people who were pleased with GT5 for the most part, and then those disappointed for the most part. In no way do I have high expectations or believe in high expectations. I don't believe in expectations. Not once did I think that five years to enhance a game means it better be unworldly awesome. My only expectations- to have a PS3, to have GT5, to be able to know how to operate both... and then let the game tell me what it's about rather than read/hear from other people.

My first impressions of Gran Turismo 5 are excellent, especially after downloading the Version 1.10 update. Everything about GT5 is just wonderful in my estimation. I do sort of wish the whole Standard and Premium issue was better sorted. I truly understand the whole deal regarding Premium cars. So therefore, I am not going to protest that all cars be made Premium. I do find myself racing more Premium cars because (I admit) I'm drawn to Premium more than Standard cars. The biggest disappointment for me with this game... My Chemical Romance and the intro. Let me just say this- "Moon Over the Castle" is the intro and SHOULD be the intro to Gran Turismo. Don't stick in My Chemical Romance just to please certain "fanboys." I'd rather hear "Moon Over the Castle" than whatever song My Chemical Romance came up with to be the opening song.

Other than that, only minor complaints for a game I've wanted to play for seven months. I hope this game gets better with more content and various updates. Oh... there is maybe one more disappointment with the game- some of the short championships make it seem like everything is over too quickly. Maybe that's one thing I'm real disappointed about in the structuring of GT5 races. Otherwise, I am vastly impressed with GT5 after having to wait so long to finally play and enjoy this game.





My review of Gran Turismo 5 will be posted on "John's Gran Turismo Space." My own thoughts and commentary on GT5 will be posted on JGTS. It will be a proper review of various elements of GT5. Once it is complete, a link will be provided below this paragraph.

Read my review of "Gran Turismo 5" on John's Gran Turismo Space (JGTS)

For now, thank you for reading! :)

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Saturday, June 4, 2011

Four Favorites of Gran Turismo

John B. Marine | 6/04/2011 11:39:00 PM | | Be the first to comment!
Of all Gran Turismo tracks, only four have appeared in all major Gran Turismo titles including Tourist Trophy: Grand Valley Speedway, Trial Mountain, Deep Forest, and Special Stage Route 5. Each have been favorites among Gran Turismo fans. This blog post is a salute to each of these courses and what I think makes them the finest courses to be featured in every major Gran Turismo. These are not necessarily my personal favorites, but favorites in the respect that no major GT has failed to feature these courses. That even includes all four of these courses being in Tourist Trophy as well as Gran Turismo PSP.

This post may seem like it is better suited to "John's Gran Turismo Space" than "John's Blog Space," but I am offering this post for JBS. Keep reading also for an update for me regarding my status of getting a PlayStation 3 and Gran Turismo 5 as of the date of this blog post. You may already know what the announcement is if you read a recent post of mine here on JBS.





--- Gran Turismo's Four Favorites ---
Time to take a look at the four courses that have shown up in every major Gran Turismo. There are four of them because rallying wouldn't debut until Gran Turismo 2. To say that there are only four courses that have been in every major GT speaks to how much they have become favorites among GT fans. Some courses have shown up in other Gran Turismo games, and some others were excluded in other titles. Through it all, though, four have shown up in every major Gran Turismo as well as Tourist Trophy (which runs on GT4's engine). So let's take a look at the four tracks that I will call... the Four Favorites (or the Favorite Four):

Favorite Four of Gran Turismo
^ (ORIGINAL PICTURE CREDIT: Gran Turismo 2) All four of these tracks have appeared in every major Gran Turismo game, even including Tourist Trophy and Gran Turismo PSP. From left to right, top to bottom: Grand Valley Speedway, Trial Mountain, Deep Forest Raceway, and Special Stage Route 5.

All pictures from Gran Turismo 2's Arcade Mode disc.



As a sort of blogging cross-promotion, click on the headings to each post to visit my blog post on "John's Gran Turismo Space" to see my JGTS posts on these tracks. They are my own blog posts taking a deeper look at each course.


Grand Valley Speedway.

Grand Valley Speedway
^ (taken by me; also found on "John's Gran Turismo Space")

Grand Valley Speedway is the signature race track of Gran Turismo. It is a Grand Prix-type course unique to, and expressive of what Gran Turismo is all about. The many scenic views and challenging corners will push the limits of any racer who dares race it. Since its inception, Grand Valley has always been a formidable challenge for the Grand Prix racer. The Grand Valley 300km race is the signature endurance race of Gran Turismo. This 60-lap race around this course challenges the best of Gran Turismo racers. Of all races in Gran Turismo history, the Grand Valley 300km has been in all major Gran Turismo titles.

Grand Valley East has been featured in GT games, but hasn't been in every GT. That's why it hasn't been included in this blog post.

• WHY IS IT A FAVORITE (to me)? It is a favorite to me because it's Grand Valley. The character, flow, and appeal of Grand Valley make it absolutely classic. It is just too good of a challenge to pass up or disregard. Would you remove your signature race and track if it is so revered among fans? Well, why would PD remove Grand Valley Speedway?


Trial Mountain.

Trial Mountain
^ (taken by me; also found on "John's Gran Turismo Space")

"A road runs over this mountain," and this road will confound you and give you fits if you don't race it right. Trial Mountain has been a natural nightmare for many Gran Turismo racers. Its undulating roads, rock-faced mountain walls, and incredible high-speed sections make this course a total dream to race. Its natural beauty makes it a wonderful track that has made it formidable to race in every Gran Turismo title. It boasts qualities of both a temporary course and a rally course. The many sudden corners and undulations make Trial Mountain feel like a rally course. It feels more like a temporary course with all the blind corners and the somewhat limited runoff areas.

Trial Mountain has been raced on in the daytime in all of its appearances. There has never been a wet or an evening/night version of this course offered. I'd hate to imagine an evening or night version of a course this intense.

• WHY IS IT A FAVORITE (to me)? Trial Mountain presents a natural terrain challenge that is both unique and difficult. It unbalances your car and your nerves as you race it. The natural beauty of this course is incredible. As I mentioned before, it is also unique in that this course is like a rally course. The track is just truly unique.


Deep Forest Raceway.

Deep Forest Raceway
^ (taken by me; also found on "John's Gran Turismo Space")

Gran Turismo 1 mentioned this track as "experiencing racing through a forest." The roar of street cars and race cars around Deep Forest makes for intense racing around what seems to be the fastest forest you'll ever race through. The course began life as a track raced on under sunset conditions. Gran Turismo 3 was the last time this track was raced in sunset conditions, especially when raced in Reverse. The track remains tricky despite the many evolutions of the course. Sadly around Gran Turismo 4, Deep Forest had much fewer trees at certain parts of the track. There seemed to be even fewer trees with Gran Turismo 5's layout. Regardless, this track withstood the test of time even if many of the trees didn't. Deep Forest Raceway will perhaps fewer trees and even less forest in the next GT.

Surprisingly, Deep Forest is the only one of these four courses that has NEVER had any kind of endurance race in any of the major Gran Turismo titles. Maybe there were some environmental concerns or fears of wild animals getting on the road during an endurance. Hey... never know. I still want to imagine what night racing here would be like. You'd have to install flood lights to accurately show the way around Deep Forest.

• WHY IS IT A FAVORITE (to me)? When taking laps around Deep Forest Raceway, the appeal of high-speed racing through a forest is surely appealing. While it may not be a completely realistic forest, it still remains a lovely natural track with some challenging corners. I do wish the track had more trees as future versions of Deep Forest make it seem like its natural character is slowly being whittled away.


Special Stage Route 5.

Special Stage Route 5
^ (taken by me; also found on "John's Gran Turismo Space")

The only temporary course that has been in every GT is Special Stage Route 5. It is also the only night course featured. SSR5 has a distinction none of the other three aforementioned tracks can lay claim to- it is the only one to offer a wet race. Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec was the only time Special Stage Route 5 was offered as a wet course. You could race against four other cars in Arcade Mode and do a one-on-one race in Simulation Mode.

Over time, SSR5 would evolve continually. Gran Turismo 1 and Gran Turismo 2 are the same in appearance. The big difference was when SSR5 had PS2 power starting in Gran Turismo 3. Buildings were taller, and the city was lovelier. The track became challenging when you soak the track in rain water. There was no falling rain, but you do get to race on highways and streets after rain has passed in GT3. Gran Turismo 4's version took on more of an industrial tone with some buildings under construction along with a late evening setting. By far, Gran Turismo 5's version is the most beautiful. It is also the most believable representation of Special Stage Route 5. The nicest touch was the backstretch that included a little underpass along with trees decorated with lights once you come from out of the underpass.

Special Stage Route 11 was a come-and-go track that has shown up in GT1 and GT3. The debuting Special Stage Route 7 in GT5 is a much different experience that would be crazy to envision being part of any past GT. Clubman Stage Route 5 has been in every Gran Turismo except GT3, so that's why it wasn't included in this post.

• WHY IS IT A FAVORITE (to me)? A race on city streets or on highways at night has long been a staple of a good number of racing games. It's no different in Gran Turismo than it is in most other racing games. Why Special Stage Route 5 has been featured more than Special Stage Route 11 is beyond me. I've always considered SSR11 a more formidable challenge. SSR5, however, is not boring. It just seems like Special Stage Route 5 has been featured more and has endured longer than Special Stage Route 11 or the GT5 newbie Special Stage Route 7. GT5's version is the most beautiful version of SSR5 after seeing lots of videos online on it.


They are the four courses that have been in all major GT games including Tourist Trophy and even Gran Turismo PSP. Will they return for Gran Turismo 6 (or whatever the next GT will be called)? More than likely.

These four tracks showcase what is unique about creating original race tracks. There are people who feel that there should be much fewer original/fantasy courses and more real courses. Taking a chance with fictional courses only means you make courses and experiences unique to your game. Great ones, such as Grand Valley Speedway, end up becoming so liked that some people even make versions for PC games. It means that you've created a course so well-liked that people try to bring a track's experience into another racing game. It only adds to the track's appeal from the original game. Having said this, the Gran Turismo series has four grizzly veterans where many racers have logged miles/kilometers and miles/kilometers around each one.





--- My PlayStation 3 and Gran Turismo 5 Update ---
My Facebook friends and YouTube friends ask if I have my PlayStation 3 and/or GT5 yet. Well, if you're reading this blog post, here is my answer...

I don't have a PS3 and don't have GT5 as of the time of this post. However, I am moving very close towards finally getting both the system and the game. Please note that if I do post anything regarding GT5 (including videos), it's going to take some time. I want to be able to professionally gauge the scope of this game and make professional comments regarding Gran Turismo 5.

The reason why I've reserved any commentary on Gran Turismo 5 is because I do not want to make any comments on a game I haven't played. With the comments I make, I don't want to sell any of my readers short. Professionalism is the strongest suit of my blog and its post. I do not want to jeopardize the integrity of myself or my blog by providing material less than acceptable.

Just know that I am working towards finally getting and playing a PS3 and this game. Once I have everything and once I can make material to publish online, I will expand my content further than ever. You will see content posted here on John's Blog Space and especially on John's Gran Turismo Space.

So there you have it. My update.





Thank you for reading!

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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Forza Motorsport - Better Racing Model than Gran Turismo?

John B. Marine | 1/06/2011 11:46:00 PM | | | | Be the first to comment!
While I do not have an XBOX or an XBOX 360, I have spent some time with Forza Motorsport games. This is purely an impression-based blog post regarding the Forza Motorsport series and how races are set up. As a Gran Turismo fan, I do think the variety of races and kinds of races are good for the GT series, but somehow fall flat in feeling more like racing series. Does it seem like Forza has better overall depth of racing, or am I a bit hard on how Gran Turismo games have races set up?

I'll try to explain myself in this blog post. And remember- my Forza thoughts are impressions-only, meaning I am only basing my context based on things I've read online and how I've perceived them. These impressions are also based on what Gran Turismo 5 provides. I do not have a PS3 for this post.





--- GT vs. Forza: Gran Turismo Race Model ---
The Gran Turismo series has never really taken itself seriously in racing. It doesn't really feel like much is in the way of making believable and exciting racing series. Let's take some retrospective for a moment.

Gran Turismo 1.

Every race, except the Spot Races and the Endurance events, are all championships. There are both the official GT League events and the Special Events. I would say the international rivalries in GT1 (US vs. Japan, Japan vs. UK, and US vs. UK) are perhaps the races that most feel like real racing. Even with the Gran Turismo World Cup, it doesn't really feel like a serious kind of devotion to real racing. The Special Events mostly are challenges with certain drivetrains and types of cars. Challenges, but not much like real racing.

Gran Turismo 2.

The sort of ladder system in Gran Turismo 2's GT League events is perhaps the best usage of official events in any GT. Six nationals and the Euro-Pacific events must be cleared to reach the Gran Turismo World League. The Special Events for GT2 are have only a few regulations and don't even feel like really sanctioned races except for the drivetrain and aspiration races. Here is a bad example- you may have races devoted to a certain kind of vehicle, but you could race a Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 in the International-C class race of the Historic Car Cup. The only truly regulated races (other than for horsepower) are the One-Make Races. Also, the event models for GT2 is extremely convoluted. You have a certain championship with races divided only by certain horsepower levels. You can do a low-level version of the Mid-Engine Challenge for two laps, then bring a more powerful car to the toughest Mid-Engine Challenge for just two laps. I would at least want to envision doing longer or tougher races at higher levels. Tougher races are noted more towards horsepower restrictions rather than tougher cars or races. The depth is absolutely off. Too much so to where actual progression just seems completely off. It's all convoluted and incoherent.

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec.

Gran Turismo 3 did away with the official race and Special Events in favor of difficulty-based leagues. This allowed you to race freely in better-regulated races. Each series has its own regulations for entry including specific cars that can be used for each race. Still, not many of the races feel like any serious kind of real racing character. It feels more like races divided up among car type with not much feeling like true racing series. On another end, the One-Make Races are now within the Go Race menu and feature both Single Races and Championships. The most unique challenges are the Polyphony Digital Cup and Formula GT.

Gran Turismo 4.

A new approach was extended and even included nationality-based racing series. There are now just Beginner and Professional halls, but there is a new Extreme Hall devoted to the most intense racing events. The different nationality halls include American, European, and Japanese events. Many of these events in these halls are devoted to cars of certain nationalities. The only exception is the European Hall's "1000 Miles!" championship where any production car up to 1970 can race (including non-European cars). There's still not as much depth and character in most of the races and championships. However, there are unique events like the Tuner Grand Prix and especially the Sport Truck Race. Even "1000 Miles!" is unique in that it's an endurance racing championship restricted to production cars 1970 and older. The Driving Missions are a great touch to supplement you with cars as all you have to do is clear the task asked of you.

Gran Turismo 5 (Impression-Based).

I don't have a PlayStation 3, so I will be basing my material here on impressions from other people and sources.

It seems like a lot of the classic races in past GTs show up again for GT5. Of course for GT5, you can race A-Spec and B-Spec races separately. The nationality Halls from GT4 are no more. Most of those races are now under the individual series of events.

The biggest bonus done here is with the Special Events. The Special Events here are much different from the Special Events in GT1 and GT2. These are seven different kinds of racing series that allow you to take up unique challenges. Three of them have set cars for you to race, so you don't have to worry about purchasing any of them beforehand. Those three include the Top Gear Test Track events, the AMG Driving Academy, and the Grand Tour. These events are all very unique and really add some flavor to the racing variety which was otherwise missing in past GT titles.

Having 12 cars to a track makes things a touch more interesting. I'll need to play GT5 proper to see what all has changed between GT4 and GT5.


You know one thing I've noticed about Gran Turismo races, as far as types of races are concerned? I don't think there has EVER been a series of races based on engine displacement. Think of if there were races for cars with more than 3000cc displacement, for example. Just thought about that in preparing this blog post.

So as much as the Gran Turismo series, the real racing aspect (or at least something near that). The meat of this post regards Forza's depth in race variety and classification. So let's talk about what Forza brings in this department.



--- GT vs. Forza: Forza Motorsport Race Model ---
Forza Motorsport has a different philosophy in the racing department from Gran Turismo. For starters, the Forza Motorsport series offers both closed circuit and open circuit races. The kind of racing events are broken up by certain classes. Tougher races require higher levels. By just look, feel, and execution; the Forza Motorsport series seems to provide a more realistic RACING experience than the Gran Turismo. Also add to the fact that you can compete in a fully-online career for Forza. So you don't have to battle against AI racers all the time. There are even classes and factors that help divide up cars into specific categories.


Forza Motorsport.

There are five types of races- point-to-point, amateur, professional, championship series, and endurances. Each features a series of events and races. The Point-to-Point races highlight your ability to race on open circuits. All of the other series are for closed circuits. The Amateur and Professional races both feature a variety of races with their own restrictions. Most races are limited by horsepower and certain nationalities of car. In addition, there may be other restrictions as far as weight, year of cars, types of cars, and things like that are concerned. The Championship events feature races based on class of cars. Other restrictions may also apply. Finally, the Endurance events mostly are based on class and a few other restrictions.

The division of races and depth of races are done very well. An interesting aspect is that certain tuning aspects, such as tinting your windows, may actually disqualify you for entering certain races. So your tuning has to be done carefully both in performance and in aesthetics. A lot of the races in Forza 1 are restricted to certain cars, offering a distinct touch. For example, the Rallisport Face Off in the Point-to-Point events and in the Amateur Events only allow Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Lancers. The One-Make Races (if you will) have more interesting names than what most One-Make races in Gran Turismo games have. One example is "Club Corvette Event," which sounds much more interesting than "Corvette Meeting" in GT2 or the interestingly named "Vette! Vette! Vette!" in GT4. There are also Open events limited to cars of certain nationalities/regions and horsepower levels.

This is different from even GT2, where it seems all convoluted and incoherent. There actually seems better flow and unique character to races. Even with Forza Motorsport 1 having about three times less cars than Gran Turismo 4, there is better originality and flow in properly dividing up cars. You really sense how races can allow for one or multiple cars in general.


Forza Motorsport 2 (Impression-Based).

I'm going on impressions because I have NEVER played Forza Motorsport 2 (except for the kiosk demo of FM2). I am going on what I've read from GameFAQs and seeing a few YouTube videos.

The racing action is divided up even more in Forza Motorsport 2. However, the Point-to-Point events are gone. In its place (I guess you'd say) are the Proving Grounds races. New to Forza Motorsport 2's race fixtures are Manufacturer Club Races, Rivalry Face-Offs, Regional Championships, and Factory-Spec Races. The Semi-Pro ranks join up with the Amateur and Professional events. Most of these were their own events within the Amateur and Professional ranks in Forza Motorsport 1. Now, they are their own championships and events.

* The Proving Grounds consist of a variety of fictitious race tracks limited to various classes of competition. The Proving Grounds races range from the Open events featuring certain nationalities of car all the way up to the Heavyweight Open. If you think about it, these races are almost like a grassroots motorsports environment to help you prepare for a long racing career in Forza.

* The Amateur events feature a great variety of races by engine type, nationality, year of cars, types of car, and more.

* Try the Manufacturer Club Races to challenge your racing abilities using a certain manufacturer or of a certain base car. The depth is greater as a whole, and you're not just restricted to one specific car like in Gran Turismo's One-Make Races.

* The Semi-Pro events feels much more like a real racing deal than anything of Gran Turismo's. All of the events have actual sponsors and are limited to a set maximum amount of horsepower. You go from the Goodyear 150 horsepower invitational all the way up to the K and N Filters 700HP Invitational.

* If you really want something that separates Forza from Gran Turismo in the race variety department, the Rivalry Face-Offs is just that difference-maker. These races only allow certain cars. The racing action has that sort of character that makes it unique in all aspects of the series. For example, the "Great American Face-Off" is limited only to Chevrolet Camaros and Ford Mustangs. The "Pride of Italy" events are limited to Ferraris and Lamborghinis with V12 engines.

* Regional Championships feature championship races divided up by car class and by nationality.

* If you want a real driver's championship, the Factory-Spec Races are for you. Here, NO performance modifications are allowed, and you can only race certain cars. This can be either exciting or boring depending on how you look at it.

* The Professional Series features tournament-style racing with events sorted by car class. There are no restrictions on car type of power except for that each car has to be in a certain class to compete. You'll have to go through each race in order, as opposed to picking out a certain race. This makes for a championship season-style deal that is immensely interesting and satisfying.


The fact that Forza 2 features various racing events with greater depth and variety make them more interesting than most Gran Turismo championships and series. It isn't just One-Make Races or races on certain drivetrains- it is a combination of things and a real sort of cohesion that makes everything interesting on the racing front. Combine that with interesting usage of the car class feature, and you have a very worthy model of races and great depth among these races.


Forza Motorsport 3 (Impression-Based).

Unlike FM2, I haven't played ANYTHING of Forza Motorsport 3. So I will once again go on impressions.

The most intriguing aspect of Forza Motorsport 3 is that of Season Play. Season Play allows you to set up a calendar of when you want to race for a season. What happens is that you have a year of races but only register for a certain series. Events can be skipped on the calendar. Everything comes in dynamic fashion. As an alternative, you can do the Event List featuring all the individual events in FM3. There are ten classes of competition in Forza 3 (source: OXCGN’s Massive Forza 3 Career Help Guide):

  1. Testing - an introduction to Forza 3.
  2. Amateur - basic set of races with three levels.
  3. Manufacturer - manufacturer-based races and model family races. Five levels of racing.
  4. Semi-Professional - four levels of races limited by horsepower, car nationality, and year.
  5. Professional - multitude of high-level races and series.
  6. Speedway - high-speed races on ovals.
  7. Drag Racing Heats - heat-based drag racing across various horsepower and drivetrain limits.
  8. Closed Circuit Laps and Races - races done on point-to-point tracks and very long road courses.
  9. Full-On Endurance Races - endurance races on various tracks limited to classes.
  10. Top of the Ladder Championships - championship races restricted by classes.

The game is deeper both with races and in events. There are even race types for the Australian V8 Supercars in FM3 (Gran Turismo still has only that 2000 Ford Falcon XR8 Supercar since GT3). There just seems to be a better overall connection between the cars raced and the events for each that Gran Turismo kind of lacks.



--- A Model of Racing for Future Gran Turismo Titles ---
This section features a prototype for how I think races should be acted out to make the racing more interesting based on what you've read so far. Each talking point will be met with headings. This is to help provide something that I think will make future Gran Turismo titles more interesting and engaging.


Region-Based Gameplay.

There is nothing wrong with having the whole world at your fingers in a racing game. However, having region-based play personalizes everything and makes individual regions more unique. Gran Turismo 4 had the right idea by allowing you to race in events unique to certain regions. This allowed for more personalized racing action.


More Races Based on Engine Type (and Displacement?).

While there have been races based on aspiration and for boxer/horizontally-opposed engines, Forza Motorsport opened their proverbial playbook with an entire assortment of races sorted by engine type. These were races for engine types ranging from Inline-4 (also called "four-bangers") all the way up to V12 engines.

I mentioned earlier that there has never been racing series limited to displacement. Displacement-type races can be real gray areas. Sega GT was a game that really divided cars on displacement. When you base cars on displacement, you can create some misconceptions and mismatches. For example, a 5th Generation Honda Prelude has over 2000cc displacement. When matched up with other cars with 2000cc or more displacement, you are assuming that this car can compete against cars like Ferraris, muscle cars, true sports cars, and things like that. I remember in Enthusia that there were some generated races that allowed for cars that had over 5000cc displacement (like the Mercedes SLR). So you'd have to be careful picking out certain races based on displacement alone. The toughest one to gauge in displacement would be rotary cars. Cars like the Mazda RX-7 (FD3S model) have 654 x 3 cc displacement. Do you invite it to race against other cars with similar displacement, or create a class of drivetrain races specifically for rotary-powered cars? Or for further comparison, the Mazda 787B has 654 x 4 displacement. Just something to think about.


More Open Races and Semi-Pro Style Races.

The Semi-Pro races are all limited to certain levels of horsepower. Therefore, you can bring ANY car to any race as long as it is within a certain horsepower level. Let's pretend there is an open race restricted to 400hp. This means that I could bring any car as long as it does not have more than 400 horsepower. So I could bring a Honda/Acura NSX tuned to 375 horsepower or any other car south of 400hp. No restrictions on nationality, car type (unless restricted to production cars), engine type, aspiration, or anything like that. Gran Turismo 2 had a lot of horsepower-restricted races while GT4 had the Supercar Festival, where cars had to have 493 or more horsepower.


More Manufacturer-Limited Races, Not Just One-Make Races.

I actually like the idea of racing restricted to certain manufacturers. It makes for racing action that is both realistic and shows unity with the represented manufacturers. Considering the strength of Nissan in the Gran Turismo series, you can imagine a (hypothetical name) Nissan Owners' Club with races restricted to Nissans. You can probably take it a step further by allowing for races restricted to two classes- Normal and Tuner cars, and Concept and Racing cars.


Try Some Rivalries and Matchups!

There is no better way to show an actual connection with cars and manufacturers than to have certain rivalry series. As a college sports fan, I know that nothing excites quite like a rivalry. The rivalries have to be realistic, though. Don't make things like compact cars vs. supercars. Take note of the rivalries featured in Forza Motorsport 2 for inspiration:

(Forza Motorsport 2 Rivalry Face-Offs - for reference)
* Young Guns Showdown: Honda Civics vs. Volkswagens (likely the Golf)
* Sport Compact Shootout: Toyota Celicas vs. Mitsubishi Eclipses
* Tuner Face-Off: Nissan Silvias vs. Toyota Altezzas/Lexus IS's
* Great American Face-Off: Ford Mustangs vs. Chevrolet Camaros
* Rallicross Face-Off: Subaru Imprezas vs. Mitsubishi Lancers
* Super Tuner Challenge: Nissan Fairlady models vs. Mazda RX-7's vs. Mazda RX-8's
* Battle for Europe: 6-cylinder Porsches vs. V8 Ferraris
* Ultimate Tuner Challenge: Nissan Skylines/GT-R's vs. Toyota Supras
* American Sports Car Showdown: Dodge Vipers vs. Chevrolet Corvettes
* Pride of Italy: V12 Ferraris vs. V12 Lamborghinis

If PD were smart, they'd try to come up with some interesting and intriguing matchups. Gran Turismo 1 did have a unique rivalry series with the three nationality races (US vs. Japan, Japan vs. UK, and US vs. UK). Having more of these kinds of races would show both unity among the represented makes as well as introduce exciting rivalries to help make racing much more fun in Gran Turismo. Gran Turismo games feature some Kei cars. Maybe some Kei rivalries would add a little spice to the variety of races featured here. Maybe nobody would care to see or race Kei car rivalries and series, but they are as much of intriguing to enhancing rivalries as any series involving much larger and much more powerful cars. The 3 Lap Battles and One-Lap Magic Driving Missions in GT4 are examples of races restricted to a certain manufacturer.


More Series Based on Circuit Types as Well as Open Circuits.

Gran Turismo has had only one open circuit in history- the [abbreviated] Pikes Peak Hill Climb course. Meanwhile, Forza has had quite a few open circuits with Fujimi Kaido thankfully returning in Forza 3. Forza 1 had even Pacific Shipyards. If you want to go with other games with open circuits, Enthusia had Dragon Range. Gran Turismo has two choices- (1) make a quality open circuit (doesn't have to be any real location), or (2) make quality and challenging generated open circuits. One other alternative would be to take a very long course (like the Nürburgring Nordschleife and Nürburgring 24-Hour courses) and segment them up. Forza 3 took things a bit further by also including the Speedway and Drag Racing Heats lineup of races. These included oval races and drag races spanning a number of categories. To make this happen, however, you need to have a diverse number of races for which to contest these events on.

Gran Turismo games need some drag racing in addition to the other kinds of racing to add greater variety and depth.


Try to Make Some Season-Based Gameplay.

Forza 3's draw was in the ability of making a Season for racing. While the season aspect can be fun (or disastrous if done wrong), the idea of setting aside a number of days before going racing again makes for a realistic approach to racing. Have a few days off to test out and tune your car before having to run another race. I say the cutoff point should be about three days or so. You can still purchase parts for your car and buy new cars. However, you are not allowed to sell your car or enter a car in one championship into a different championship. It is realistic that a driver and a certain car can run in various races with a few simple modifications. However, I wouldn't want this thing to be overly confusing, so you can't take one car already in one championship to run in a different championship or race.

Or maybe if you could set a calendar so that if your car is eligible to compete in certain races, you can compete in those in addition to a specific championship. But to still make things simple- you can't race in multiple different races or championships at a time with one specific car.



--- Building This Model for Gran Turismo ---
Let's look ahead to what a future Gran Turismo would look like in using cues from Forza Motorsport. Now, I'm not suggesting GT try to be more like Forza, but more along the lines of changing up the formula a bit. You will see a past practice followed by a new approach based on what you have read in this blog post. So here are a few changes in the practice of racing in GT with Forza inspiration:


Fixable Elements.

Instead of: Drivetrain circuit races
Try: Drivetrain races across various categories
Explanation: Opens and shootouts devoted to certain kinds of drivetrains make things unique and offer some more variety to races. The Forza series has drivetrain races for various forms of racing. Gran Turismo could include drivetrain events for circuit racing and rally racing. The only exception- rally racing disallowed for FWD cars because you can not drift in FWD cars (without trying extremely hard, though).

Instead of: Nationality Races
Try: Region-based racing. Region-based races mostly allow you to race at tracks in a certain region against a certain set number of regional cars and races. There can still be a little inter-regional racing (like when the IndyCar Series races at Motegi Superspeedway), but there is still that unity of racing in a certain region against a certain set of cars.
Explanation:There is a difference between nationality races and region-based racing. You can still race cars of a certain international region, but having specific regions makes the action more personal and unique.

Instead of: just One-Make Races
Try: manufacturer-specific races and rivalry-type manufacturer races
Explanation: Unity among manufacturers in the game adds some personality to racing certain cars. Forza seems better connected with cars, even to the point of discounts on certain cars and certain car parts. A boost in making races more interesting with one-manufacturer races and certain rivalry series will make things interesting. To make these races even more interesting, take some cues from Gran Turismo 2 and set up certain races at random venues. Even more interesting is if you want to set up certain championships for fun involving one specific manufacturer or a rivalry. Think of setting up a five-race championship with venues you select and have them only restricted to a manufacturer or two.

Instead of: just NA and Turbo races
Try: open/runoff/shootout races based on horsepower
Explanation: Rather than just races based engine aspiration, races based on horsepower would be great. Part of my problem with Gran Turismo games (especially when I've played GT4) is that I buy certain cars to tune them up. But when it comes to putting them in races, I feel I have to be restricted to the Family Cup because there are not as many races that I feel I can take my tuned creation out to go race. I would feel so restricted and not have certain races I can go take part in. It's like I have to find certain in-game championships to race in rather than have something I could freely enter to enjoy racing and put my tuned car to good use. In the sense of horsepower-restricted races, I could have a super-light car that is just below the maximum horsepower restriction, or I could have a heavy car that's barely below the horsepower minimum. The point is- do you have a car within this restriction? If PD were to enact this, I think horsepower restrictions would be in increments of 100, starting with a series restricted to 200hp. The maximum would be a race restricted to 700hp. If PD wanted to turn up the voltage, they could make an unlimited horsepower race for cars north of 700. This would bring flashbacks of the Megaspeed Cup and the Tuned Car Cup from GT1. One last recommendation- higher horsepower races would be smart to contest on very fast tracks or high-speed courses rather than twisty slow courses.


Uncertain Elements.

These are curious elements I wonder in enhancing the GT formula...

Instead of: Pre-determined races and championships
Try: Season Play and Custom Championships?
Explanation: The idea of a season stems from Forza Motorsport 3. Imagine being able to have a certain number of days aside to tune and maintain your car while in a championship. It is a realistic aspect of racing for championships to be determined with a legit schedule of races. I don't think it has to be realistic. For example, a long championship could be contested in a month or two months. I am not expecting things like realistic temperatures and weather conditions to determine making certain races factors. So if there was a GT World Championship race at Grand Valley in December, I'm not expecting there to be a snowstorm for a race there.


Instead of: leaving cars mostly unsorted
Try: dividing cars into classes and dividing cars into types?
Explanation:
Forza Motorsport had a smart approach. With the different race car classes, you mostly assume that because they are race cars, they should have no problem contesting among the faster prototypes. That's not true. You would be saying that a New Beetle Cup Car is as capable as the Audi R10 TDI. Race cars can especially be divided into performance categories.

What about the production cars? Enthusia has done a great job dividing up cars into a variety of categories. You know what I'm talking about if you have done Free Run or Time Attack in Enthusia and have to select cars by a variety of factors. These include things like- retractable headlight cars, cars with certain levels of displacement, cars of certain ages, etc. Gran Turismo can benefit from featuring a better arrangement of cars to race with. The only GT to really capitalize on showcasing cars of various kinds was Gran Turismo 2. You know there's great diversity when you can have Kei cars, station wagons, and even luxury sedans! Imagine a racing series devoted to cars heavier than 3500 lbs (or the kilogram equivalent of 3500 lbs.)! You could have races against cars like Aston Martins and other heavyweight cars.

Make some classes and restrictions, but don't make everything TOO restrictive to where you can't have any fun in racing certain machines.



(If I come up with any other ideas, I will add them in future edits.)



--- What to Take Away from This Blog Post ---
This was merely a commentary piece to discuss something I've been pondering about regarding Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Forza just feels more like actual attention to making the racing (as far as events are concerned) more interesting and more diverse than in the Gran Turismo series. Take the races restricted to certain manufacturers. The only thing remotely close in Gran Turismo to Forza's manufacturer-specific races (like the V-Dub Club in FM3) is the Type-R Meeting, since it only features Honda and only features the Type-R range.

What Could Gran Turismo Learn from Forza Motorsport With Races?

Simply make the racing types and events more interesting and diverse. Add some greater depth towards making more believable and interesting championships. Where Forza seems to excel is at more classes and races offering better varieties in races for various cars. I would be interested in, say, championships and race series specifically for certain manufacturers, not so much races limited only to one model family of cars. I'd be willing to race an all-Toyota Championship or Series Race where I could race a MKIV Toyota Supra RZ against Chasers and GT-Fours. In addition, the rivalry-type races in Forza just adds some unique character to cars being raced in the game. The Mustang vs. Camaro deal in Forza is easily an indication that there is a game that uniquely understands and tries to make dream matchups. Doing this, however, would make things more like ToCA Race Driver games, where you have one series devoted only to only one or two certain cars rather than allow for a host of cars to compete.

So what would I suggest? Let's say that GT6 allows for better classification of cars and has some broader guidelines for what cars can race in what championships. Can I compete in the World Classic Car Series with my 1969 Camaro SS? The World Classic Car Series is for cars 1970 or older, but what if this series disallowed muscle cars?

Moreover, Forza Motorsport seems to have a better grasp and execution of races and racing than the Gran Turismo series. A big factor in all of this is that I have never played Gran Turismo 5, Forza Motorsport 2, or Forza Motorsport 3. It is also worth noting that I haven't logged in loads of hours and time playing Forza Motorsport 1. My only Forza 1 experience is from an old demo and from spending some time with a retail version of FM1 at a kiosk. But on impressions alone, I think Forza Motorsport is better on the racing front and in building races and race events than in the Gran Turismo series. That even includes that Forza Motorsport can be played either offline or online while GT5 is the first online-enabled GT. If the next GT can better focus on the motorsports aspect and provide a more complete package, I think it will make GT better in the long run and make a better overall experience on the racing front. It would provide a connect that would keep Gran Turismo as the best racing game series of the modern era. The long-term future of Gran Turismo as a franchise lies in being able to further evolve and further develop the juggernaut racing game franchise far into the future as it is today. A better overall motorsports aspect (while not making it into a ToCA Race Driver-type game) will keep the racing fresh and engaging. We'll see with Gran Turismo 6 (or at least the first prototype or beta of GT6) if PD can further enhance their franchise with a better overall aspect on racing and racing events.





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