News "Gran Turismo 7" has been made so that you won't get tired of playing it for years-Kazunori Yamauchi P talks about "the best masterpiece"

(Photo: Inside)

The numbering title is "Gran Turismo 7 (hereinafter" GT7 ")", which is the first time in about 9 years since the previous Gran Turismo 6. With the release on March 4, 2022, we asked Kazunori Yamauchi, the series producer, about the appeal of GT7. [Image] More important is to "talk" with people about the car-I want to convey the appeal of the new "Gran Turismo Cafe" car to many people-First of all, Mr. Yamauchi's thoughts on "GT7" Please tell us. Yamauchi: Thanks to you, Gran Turismo is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. However, in the last 25 years, the society and environment surrounding cars have changed significantly. In recent years, it has become difficult to experience the rich automobile culture that was used when the original Gran Turismo was produced. In response, I strongly felt that it is necessary to convey to a new generation the culture of this car, which is the most beautiful and attractive of all industrial products. This GT7 was created with such a sense of responsibility. ――I've come to hear the phrase "younger generation away from cars". Do you mean that you made a work that would make such people interested in the world of cars? Yamauchi: Well, I've been making Gran Turismo for many years, and I've met a lot of people involved in the automobile industry. I wanted to convey their thoughts through the game, and I hope that many people will be interested in the history and culture of automobiles. Especially this time, I think that "Gran Turismo Cafe" is playing that role. ――What kind of position is "Gran Turismo Cafe" in the game? Yamauchi: The world of GT7 is vast. It is designed so that you will not notice new play even after a year, and you will not get tired of playing for many years. However, the world is so huge and complicated that "Cafe" has been made to serve as a guide to understanding the system of the GT7 world. By completing the menu book (quest) given at the "Cafe", the next goal will be shown, and eventually you will be able to naturally understand what you can do in the GT7 world. Yamauchi: Another important function of "Cafe" is. For example, you can hear a commentary from the cafe master about the car that the player has collected, and even the designer or engineer who designed the car will appear in the "cafe" and talk about the memories of the car. .. I was able to "read" the explanation of the car in the previous Gran Turismo, but I think it is more important to "talk" with people about the car. Automobiles and human society are always closely related, and in GT7, the element of "people" is very important. Bringing the GT7 to a more realistic world-I think one of the factors that makes Gran Turismo so immersive is the immersive feeling of the real Gran Turismo world. The reality is higher than it was in GT7. Yamauchi: Well, I think that the immersive feeling is how realistic the world can be. GT7 also uses 3D audio technology that utilizes the functions of PS5 to improve the quality of graphics by technologies such as ray tracing and realizes 3D sound. Furthermore, I think that the small stacking leads to a further immersive feeling, such as utilizing the precise vibration of the PS5 controller "Dual Sense". ――For some time, the engine sound and exhaust sound of the actual vehicle have been recorded directly, haven't you? It was said that more than 400 models were prepared this time, but did you record all the sounds ...? Yamauchi: Yes, that's right. There are sound recording studios in North America, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and I've been recording there since the days of GT Sports. In the anechoic chamber, there is a chassis dynamometer that is directly connected to the hub (axle), and recording is done while the car is running there. Considering bringing in a car, it's a lot of work. ――Because it takes so much effort, reality also increases. In addition, I heard that GT7 is performing detailed simulations of weather changes. Yamauchi: The weather inside GT7 is reproduced by simulating the actual weather changes themselves, where seawater and surface water are warmed up and evaporated, and then cooled by the air above to form clouds. However, all courses vary from sunny to cloudy, but the rainy courses are limited. Similarly, the time can change from morning to night on any course, but the change from night to morning is limited to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Nürburgring. Yamauchi: The big challenge for this change in the weather is not just the change in appearance, but also the impact on the environment during the race. As the temperature and road surface temperature change and the course gets wet with rain, the grip feeling of the tires changes, and it also affects the engine power and slipstream. Yamauchi: Actually, I am particular about the starry sky, so I would like you to take a look there as well. The data of the night sky basically uses the data released by NASA, and simulates the positions of the sun, planets, and the moon. At night races, you may only see bright stars such as 1st magnitude stars, but if you slow down the shutter speed in photo mode, you can also see the Milky Way. Enjoy the world of GT7 with music-Are there any other new highlights added to GT7? Yamauchi: At Gran Turismo, we have always valued the elements of music. At GT7, I was wondering if I could integrate music into the game in a different way than before. We gathered with the staff every day in the company's sound room and exchanged a lot of opinions while playing the piano and musical instruments. The ideas that came out in that were the new elements "Music Replay" and "Music Rally". It took about five years for these to be born. ――You said that "Music Rally" is not about running fast, but what kind of game is it? Yamauchi: The purpose of the "Music Rally" is to let people enjoy the music itself while driving. And I wanted to make something that even people and children who have never played racing games can enjoy. Yamauchi: In "Music Rally", you start with a "beat" first, and when you pass through the extend gate in the middle, the "beat" is added, and if you can listen to the song to the end, it will be clear. The point is that "beats" are added instead of the number of seconds. A song with a fast bpm (tempo) consumes "beat" faster, and a song with a slow bpm consumes slower. If you're a good person, you may have some "beats" left over, so it might be interesting to try drifting or deciding on a donut turn, for example. After clearing, it will be played in "Music Replay", so I think you can enjoy it like that. GT7 is the pinnacle of the series-finally, what are your thoughts on Gran Turismo, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary? Yamauchi: The first Gran Turismo was extremely experimental. So I never thought it would be such a popular title. The number of Gran Turismo staff was initially 15 but now it is close to 300. Even if the number of people increases, I feel that we continue to make it with a family with the same feelings. Thanks to the support of our fans and everyone involved in Gran Turismo, we are truly grateful that we have been able to continue making in such an environment for 25 years. Yamauchi: GT7 is suitable for the 25th anniversary and has become the pinnacle of Gran Turismo in the past. I think it's a work that people who have never been interested in automobiles, and of course, core fans, can truly enjoy it. Please experience the realistic car life of GT7.

Inside Azusa Ito