Tourist Trophy (video game)
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| Tourist Trophy | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Polyphony Digital |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Designer(s) | Takamasa Shichisawa |
| Engine | Gran Turismo 4 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 or 4:3 |
| Native resolution | 1080i (HDTV) 480p (EDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release date | JP February 2, 2006 NA April 4, 2006 EU May 29, 2006 AUS June 1, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone |
| Media | 1 DVD-ROM (single-layer) |
| Input methods | DualShock 2 |
Tourist Trophy (marketed as "The Real Riding Simulator") is a motorcycle racing game for the PlayStation 2. This game has been designed by the team who made the popular Gran Turismo series, Polyphony Digital. It was first released in China on January 26, 2006. Then in Japan on February 2, and rated 32/40 (Silver rank) Weekly Famitsu, a Japanese video game magazine. The North American edition was officially released on April 4, 2006 with seven extra motorcycles, new riding gear, seven bonus background music (BGM) tracks, enhanced visual effects, an exclusive "Semi-Pro Mode" and bike profiles. The PAL edition was launched on May 29 in Europe and June 1 in Oceania. The PAL version offers a further two extra motorcycles and five new background music tracks performed by European artists (Infadels, Vitalic and Hystereo).
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[edit] "Powered by Gran Turismo"
Developer Polyphony Digital reused the physics engine, graphical user interface and all but one of the circuits found in Gran Turismo 4. However, the number of AI racers (computer controlled opponents) has been reduced from five in the Gran Turismo series to only three. Tourist Trophy also uses the famous "License School" feature which was popularized by the Gran Turismo series as well as the "Photo Mode" introduced in Gran Turismo 4.
The motorcycle selection covers a broad range of modern motorcycles, including scooters, Enduro, Motard, Sport bikes, Naked bikes as well as version modified for racing ("race modified"). The developers have recreated 135 motorcycles from 124 cc up to 1670 cc, including both road & race versions from the 80's up to 2005. The racers are divided into categories, the semi-licensed race tuned versions (named "Race Modified") and the official fully licensed 2005 Suzuka 8 Hours endurance race bikes. Motorcycles from all major manufacturers are included as well as two specialized Japanese tuners (Moriwaki and Yoshimura), that appear in the list of manufacturers once "unlocked".
While wet, dirt and reverse classic GT4 racing conditions have been removed, a unique course was specially created for Tourist Trophy. The Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo is an official track appearing in the Superbike World Championship and MotoGP. It is also used extensively as a test circuit during the off-season.
A new concept appearing in Tourist Trophy is the "Riding Gear" (named "Closet" in the Asian editions). The player can earn ("unlock") and collect 186 different riding accessories for his character including different helmets, gloves, boots (or shoes), pants, one piece racing suits and jacket as available commercially from more than a dozen manufacturers including (Simpson, Vanson Leathers, Alpinestars, Arai, Shoei, Kushitani, RS Taichi, Dainese, AGV, Lewis Leathers. Up to four different combinations can be saved including two racing leather suits and two casual outfits).
[edit] Riding Form
The "Riding Form" option is available in both Arcade Mode & TT Mode.
- ARCADE MODE: before the race, the user can choose between four Riding Form presets selectable as "Lean Body", "Neutral", "Lean Bike" & "Motard" (aka "Dirt"). "Neutral Form" focus on handling, "Lean Body" focus on quick cornering, at last, the "Lean Bike" is about slow cornering. The particular "Motard Form" with the leg off, is the "Dirt" position specially dedicated to Enduro and Naked bikes riding. The user is free to use it on all bikes though.
- TT MODE: the user can enter the Garage "Riding Form" settings with up to four fully parametrable forms to record. They are saved as "Form A", "Form B", "Form C" & "Motard" ("Dirt"). Each one has eleven unique parameters and four presets, "Neutral", "Lean Body", "Lean Bike" & "Motard/Dirt" to choose from. Fully adjustable parameters are Head Roll Angle, Head Pitch Angle, Torso Roll Angle, Torso Yaw Angle, Body Lean (Full Bank), Arm Angle, Seat Position (Forward/Back), Lateral Slide, Vertical Slide, Leg Angle and Body Lean (Upright).
[edit] Professional, Semi-Pro & Normal Riding
Tourist Trophy's default setting is "Normal”, Using the "Normal" setting, the player can perform maneuvers such as the wheelie and the stoppie on powerful bikes. These possibilities are disabled with the "Professional" setting. Enabling the "Professional" feature will enhance the Simulation aspect as well as the difficulty level, over the Arcade oriented "Normal". Professional riding is supposed to allow a more realistic experience with autonomous upper body control (as the "Tuck" manual function is enabled) and a separated front/rear brake control is added over the rear+front brake default system. The Semi-Pro Mode is an American edition exclusive feature. Other options enhancing difficulty are the "Strict Judgment"; 10 seconds slow down penalty as seen on Gran Turismo 4, and the famous "Best Line" optional display.
[edit] USB Device
Tourist Trophy is compatible with the "UTT128" retractable USB 2.0 Flashdrive 128MB released by I-O Data in a special campaign pack in Japan in addition to standard third-party USB storage devices.
The TT USB Flashdrive's have multiple purposes.
- REPLAY / GHOST
The USB Flashdrive can host Tourist Trophy Replay/Ghost files downloaded either from the official TT website or either from a TT fan site. It can also be used to exchange files with a friend's own USB device. Once the TT files are in the Flashdrive, the user can upload them from within the game in order to compete with a Ghost ("Time Attack") or just to watch a Replay (Theater). Each file can be used as Replay or as Ghost. The first Replay/Ghost files released on the Japanese site were featuring a famous Weekly Famitsu journalist, Japanese pro rider & TT test rider Satoshi Tsujimoto and the Tourist Trophy producer, Kazunori Yamauchi, himself. A Time Attack Tournament has been organized in Japan, on February 2006 with a "UTT128" device as winning prize. Formatting the USB device from Theater mode will create the "PDI" folder allowing Tourist Trophy to store, upload and download files generated under the form "replay.dat". Standard third-party USB devices are also compatible with "REPLAY.DAT" files.
- PHOTO MODE / BEST SHOT PHOTO
Unedited screenshots can be taken from a race replay and saved in a Memory Card or connected USB Flashdrives. This function is known in TT as "Best Shot". Using various replay angles as a digital camera, TT is able to produce a selection of screenshots with variable compression rate (Normal/Fine/SuperFine) and size (up to 1280x960 72dpi) from within the user can choose to save or print with an Epson compatible USB printer, or even to display on TV using the Musical Diaporama feature. Saved TT screenshots can be exchanged with friends or made public on the Internet. Unlike "Best Shot", the "Photo Mode"'s parameters are fully adjustable and as such it gives the user the opportunity to entirely set photographs. The user can tune various parameters such as camera angle or course section. Formatting the USB device in Photo Mode/Best Shot will create the "DCIM/100PDITT" folder/subfolder allowing Tourist Trophy to store, upload and download game picture files generated under the form "IMG_00X.JPG". Standard USB 2.0 flashdrives (including MP3 players and pendrives) can be used to manage TT "JPG" files instead of the official I-O Data model.
[edit] Game Modes Overview
Unlike Gran Turismo games, Tourist Trophy doesn't contain any money system. The player has to obtain licenses ("License School") in order to complete various missions ("Challenge Mode") and obtain bikes that will be used and tuned to compete in the Championships series ("Race Event").
Tourist Trophy's "Race Event" (TTM) core mode requires a license gained after completing riding lessons on an 250cc Yamaha TW225 off-road bike. Being successful on "License School" will unlock upper class "License Cards" (TTM), new bikes (AM/TTM), extra "Riding Gear" items (TTM), new tracks (AM), extra makers (AM/TTM). Winning "Challenge Mode" will make new bikes available in the "Garage" (TTM). Beating "Race Events" will unlock a bonus 23rd Race Event, extra bikes (AM/TTM), new tracks (AM/TTM) and even a classic bike (TTM).
Completing the game will unlock the "Ending Movie" and add the "Clover Crown" ending theme in the "Music Theater" (AM/TTM).
[edit] Special Features
- USB 2.0 Flashdrive compatible (photo mode & theater mode)
- Epson Stylus Photo RX650/350/250 & PictureMate100 printers compatible (photo mode)
- Widescreen/Letterbox TV mode selection
- Progressive Scan 480p compatible
- Hi-Vision 1080i compatible
- Dolby Digital 5.1ch compatible (opening sequence only)
- Dolby Pro Logic II compatible (SFX & BGM)
[edit] Reception & Awards
[edit] Awards
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Kunimitsu Takahashi's Honda RC162 is a special bike only playable in the "TT Mode"'s "Practice". This model is not available in Arcade Mode, 2-Player Mode nor as a CPU rival in the "Practice" mode.
- 124, out of 125, bikes are selectable in the "Arcade Mode" in the Asian and Japanese versions since the Honda RC162 is a special bike.
- 130, out of 132, bikes are selectable in the "Arcade Mode" in the North American version since the Honda RC162 is a special bike and that, for some reason, the Suzuki SkyWave 250 Type S was removed. This 250cc scooter was the license school's default bike in the Asian and Japanese versions, but it was replaced by the Yamaha TW225E 225cc naked bike in the North American and European versions. The Suzuki SkyWave 250 SS similar grade is still available in the Arcade Mode though.
- Since color variations are counted as an individual "bike" in the "Tourist Trophy Mode", a superior number, compared to the actual grade number (125/132/135), can be displayed in the "Game Status" feature.
- The SevenStars mentions and logo were blurred or removed on both the Suzuka 8 Hours Honda CBR1000RRW and the team's logo due to legal issue. Tobacco and alcohol brands cannot advertise nor be exposed on TV because of a specific anti tobacco law adopted by some countries around the world including Japan. In France this law is known as Loi Evin (Evin's Law), in the name of the deputy who submitted it to vote. In 2003 the whole European Union has voted and adopted this anti tobacco restrictive law. Since SevenStars is a Japanese tobacco brand and video games are displayed on TV screens, the anti tobacco law is applicable in this entertainment product as well. A such censorship is also effective on all Polyphony Digital games e.g. all "Martini Racing" (becoming "Lancia Racing") and "Marlboro Racing" team logos were exchanged, blurred or removed in the Gran Turismo series.
- Tourist Trophy's Asia editions were developed in such a rush that Polyphony Digital didn't have enough time to integrate all wanted elements. This game is the quickest development ever made by the Gran Turismo series creator as only ten months were used to produce Tourist Trophy hence the unique new circuit, dirt track absence, the Honda RC162's limited availability and the credited makers and models not appearing in the final product e.g. Cagiva (MV Agusta affiliate), Aprilia Atlantic and Aprilia RS125. The American edition has kept these mentions without offering the missing models though.
- Chinese, Japanese and American editions replay files are not compatible.
- Various lexical changes were done after the Asian releases. "Racing Modify", "Closet" and "Free Run" are replaced by "Racing Modified", "Riding Gear" and "Practice" since the North American edition.
- The "Motorland" (Driving Park) circuit is internally named "Kashiwa" among Polyphony Digital developers. Kashiwa is PD director Kazunori Yamauchi's hometown.
- The "Beginner Course" (Driving Park) is internally named "20r60r" among Polyphony Digital developers.
- A subtle change was specially introduced in the North American version, since the course selection was sorted with the American circuits (Infineon, Laguna Seca, New York and El Capitan) on top of each category. In all versions, including the European one -which is an update of the American one- the Japanese circuits are the first selectable. The two different hierarchies are Asian/American/European in all editions but the North American, which is sorted American/Asian/European.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Tourist Trophy official website, Global
- Tourist Trophy official website, USA
- Tourist Trophy official website, Europe & Oceania
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