We were personally actually quite surprised by the raitings it got, we expected lower! We know the game doesn't show all the dev time we've put in to it, but we're working on that.
We did have a near finished product when we released prolouge, we were looking at a period of about 8 months before release.
Then Sony demanded the entire game be 1080p, 60FPS.
We had it coded at 720p, 30FPS.
Sadly no more space for the systems we developed, so they're on the sideline.
They'll be released as DLC eventually, but Sony pushed for a release now
(PS3 sales need a boost for xmas).
We ARE working on feedback though, and things like this keep coming up
(along with DRM on saves, crappy menu design etc) and they will be improved through DLC if everything goes according to plan.
As for Premium/Standard, Kaz wanted over 1000 fully modeled car, but as I said before Sony rushed the release so we had to import the low poly GT4 models and upscale them a bit.
It was ambitious, but it would've worked.
We had just enough power to work with to get everything in
(including 3D crowds/trees and all cars as premiums).
The Yaris will appear in the used car dealership.
The Vitz is a new car and a premium model, it's a Yaris by another name.
Yes, there are more model specific races this time round.
New events will be added via DLC, the first ones will be races with bhp limits
(250, 350, 500).
-Standards upgraded to premiums
(higher poly models, dash view, changeable rims etc).
-Brake tuning will be added
-New tracks are being worked on
-New races/championships will be released that are BHP limited, not manufacturer limited.
-There will be an as yet unnanounced update to online play
(I can't say more than this).
-B Spec and replays will get fast forward buttons.
-Some more stuff I can't say yet
It's a common complaint, and it's being worked on.
Priority for audio just now is to give the user their own BGM on menus as well as in race, to equalize the volume of in-race user BGM and to give a more seemless transition of audio when you change screens.
Some new engine sounds are being worked on too.
Sorry nothing I can do there.
We are in the process of setting up dedicated race series though
(this is the next stage in online development) to allow users to run their own series, just like those in A-Spec.
Some of these will have rewards for the best racers.
There will be some old favourites brought back from earlier in the series, but I can't say which yet
- it's a surprise!
We didn't want to just offer upscaled tracks so we're redesigning them from scratch.
They look fantastic so far!
Exiting the menus is awkward right now, I agree.
It's planned to make the
"O" button take you right out of a menu and not have to press
"X" to confirm every time, but it's not a high priority at the moment.
There's always the
"My home" button for when you're in A-Spec/B-Spec.
-Load times can't be fixed, it's due to the amount of data that has to be loaded from the disk, and we can't speed that up.
If it's REALLY slow, disconnect from PSN.
Equally if you have a slow internet connection menus will lag, since we've programmed online integration in both since and multiplayer.
-There's plans to release several new
"Home Screens" and allow the user to choose the layout that suits them best.
Not a priority though, we want to sort out the gameplay first.
-Jazz music, might not be everyones tastes but it was chosen at team meetings.
As I said earlier, soon you'll be able to replace the background BGM with user BGM so it won't be an issue.
-Delievered cars are being worked on as a priority.
Chances are the fuction will stay but the cutscene will be skippable.
-As for loving your own music, it'll be equalized in volume across all tracks soon, and you'll be able to change tracks in game, so it should get even better!
The conformation pop-ups are there because of Sony.
Apparently people get all pi$$y if we don't warn them they're about to do something, so we don't really have a choice on all of them, but some will go.
We did try though.
Everything will be released sequentially, bit by bit in different patches for those on slower internet connections
(each patch will be no bigger than 150Mb).
As I said above, we had to import the AI system from GT4 with a few tweaks.
We have a whole new system almost ready to go but Sony's requirements for 1080p/60FPS means we couldn't get it done on time.
It'll be available in patch in due course.
DLC won't be announced until it's up and online.
This way if it's delayed a bit we don't get people moaning again.
We want it perfect, especially after the criticism the game has got.
Wait and see.
New cars will be available via DLC
*eventually*.
Most likely these will cost.
We were pressured in to a release by Sony who really need to boost PS3 sales this xmas.
This title is a console seller, hence the rush.
All standard car sounds were imported from GT4
(with a bit of tweaking on some).
When they become premium cars the engine sounds will be updated too.
As for the engine sounds on premium cars, they were recorded specifically for GT5.
If they don't sound good, get a new setup because in the test labs here they sound fantastic
NASCAR sounds were taken from the cars themselves.
If they sound bad get a better speaker setup.
As far as we're aware there's no EQ issues with engine noises but we're looking out for them in case they do crop up.
Can't change the rims on standards because they're completely different models to the premiums.
High poly wheels on a low poly car would look crap.
When they're upgraded to premium you'll be able to change wheels.
Phototravel isn't available for standard cars because the low poly count means they look bad if I'm honest.
Jagged door frames, poor shadows, low quality textures.
.
.
.
we don't really want people taking pictures of those and spreading them round the net when we're working on making all cars premium, would give a false impression.
Photo travel will be available to all cars when upgraded to premium.
3D was a Sony requirement, to show off their new Bravia TVs
(there will be bundle deals with TV/PS3/GT5 soon).
Because of that we had to up it to 60FPS and Sony want the 1080p, again to show off the new Bravia TVs.
Go Karts were planned from the start for a bit of fun, I quite like them personally.
They may have more use later on, just wait.
8 months after prolouge we would have had a finished game
(at a much higher quality than the current release) but Sony gave their demands so we had to agree, hence almost 3 years of working our asses of to try and get what they wanted.
If it doesn't it'll be EQ or compression issues, and we'll certainly want to know about it.
We check all the community boards daily so if it's posted on there we'll see it.
Like I said they're all genuine recordings and no major issues reported so far.
GT3 was the last one really designed for users without a wheel in the high spec races.
Wheels have become much more commonplace now, so it made sense to start catering development towards them.
GT5 is so much better with a wheel but only once we get the update out.
Like I said, wait and see what tracks are coming Who knows, there might be quite a nice collection of classics.
It'll be easier when everything is premium and you have the option of buying each car used or new
(Lupo will be listed under the VW dealer).
The used car dealership will be getting a makeover with new
"Sort By" options
(Manufacturer/Price/Age/BHP etc).
It'll still update just as often though, so it'll be no easier to get a second hand Lupo, but you'll be able to buy a new one
(at a premium of course).
-Kaz likes the Skyline.
He's not going to budge on that.
Ever.
His choice.
We can't say because they'll get flooded with comments of people wanting to contact us.
Lets just say if it's well known, we check it.
I can say we check the GT5 forum on the PS3 boards, but not and 3rd party ones
(if it's a big community, we watch it).
t was debated, but Kaz sees GT5 as his own baby, he wants to nurture it for a long time, so waiting out until GT6 would mean several years of waiting.
Sony wanted 1080p NOW for the new Bravia series, so we had to give in.
GT6 isn't even being worked on just now, we're probably looking at future gen consoles for it.
next time change the setting to high on impact of the speed when going cross country! 
](./images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
