The Man behind the Magic of GT4: Kazunori Yamauchi
To say that we've come a long way since the days of Pong in electronic gaming is like saying we've really managed some progress since discovering that whole "fire" thing. The programming that goes into a modern electronic game like Gran Turismo 4 is well beyond what the first generation of gaming programmers could have imagined.
Yet these advances in technology are but a single element in the world of modern gaming, and the driving force behind them is almost as old as man's mastery of the open flame. With the release of Gran Turismo 4, the Gran Turismo franchise has sold over 40 million games worldwide. And at an average price of $25 a game…well, you don't have to be Alan Greenspan to appreciate that many zeros.
Other major U.S. industries, including the music, entertainment and automotive sector, have been compelled to embrace what was once seen as the domain of the pocket protector set. In fact, Ford's Brand Media Integration Manager Killol Bhuta may have said it best, "What rock 'n roll was to the youth of the '60s, gaming is to the youth of today." Does that make Gran Turismo's creator, Kazunori Yamauchi, the new Bob Dylan? And if it's true that today's youth spend more time gaming than they do watching TV, does it not also make sense that Ford would want its newest supercar, the Ford GT, to have a starring role in the world's most popular driving simulator?
We were given the unique experience of driving a real Ford GT around the real Laguna Seca racetrack immediately after driving the same car on the same track in Gran Turismo 4. But in between laps we managed to get some quality face time with Kazunori "Kaz" Yamauchi, the man behind the Gran Turismo franchise.
Inside Line: What inspired you to create a driving simulator experience?
Kaz: I'm very passionate about cars, and I'm very interested in the science and physics of what happens to a car in certain situations. Also, after finishing school I went to work for a game company.
What goes into recreating the real-life dynamics of these cars in the game? Do you have to drive each car, or can you do it through mathematics and programming?
It's the latter. We can actually simulate the activities of the car without driving them in person. And when we do take the real vehicle for a test-drive, we always make sure the simulation matches with the vehicle.
How difficult is it to differentiate the various drivetrain layouts? For instance, you have a front-engine, front-drive car like the Neon SRT-4 and then you have the midengine, rear-wheel-drive Ford GT. How do you make them feel/drive differently in the game?
It's not difficult to recreate the different drivetrains in the different cars, as long as the simulation model is up to the level of our expectations. The input figures should naturally give us the dynamics of each drivetrain layout and vehicle specifications.
What's your preferred drivetrain configuration?
I like rear-wheel-drive cars.
How many of the vehicles in Gran Turismo 4 have you driven personally?
Maybe half — but remember there are more than 700 vehicles in the game. And again, it's not necessary for me to drive each car personally to get the dynamics correct — though I do enjoy having the opportunity to drive as many of them as possible.
What percentage of the tracks have you driven personally?
I've driven all of them.
How do you recreate the tracks in the game? How do you get all the elevation changes and other nuances right?
Lots and lots of laps. We drive them and study them as much as possible to make them as accurate as possible.
How has Gran Turismo improved over the years? Obviously the graphics are stronger, but what else do you feel has really improved with each version of the game?
We've really split the games into two generations. The first three games were from the first generation, but with Gran Turismo 4, and going forward, we're into the second generation. So, if you do something like drive the cars in real life after driving them in the game, only in Gran Turismo 4 will the accuracy truly feel like real life.
What is your favorite car to drive from Gran Turismo 4?
The Ford GT. But I also like the Skyline GT-R.
What was it like driving the Ford GT in real life compared to driving it in the game?
Well, you have the combination of a very technical and very tricky track and a very powerful car, so obviously I can't drive it in real life like I would in the game.
And which experience do you enjoy more?
The real one.
One last question: What is your favorite car chase movie?
The movie with Robert De Niro. Ronin.
Ford GT vs. GT4 Introduction
Ford GT vs. GT4 — Part One
To say that we've come a long way since the days of Pong in electronic gaming is like saying we've really managed some progress since discovering that whole "fire" thing. The programming that goes into a modern electronic game like Gran Turismo 4 is well beyond what the first generation of gaming programmers could have imagined.
Yet these advances in technology are but a single element in the world of modern gaming, and the driving force behind them is almost as old as man's mastery of the open flame. With the release of Gran Turismo 4, the Gran Turismo franchise has sold over 40 million games worldwide. And at an average price of $25 a game…well, you don't have to be Alan Greenspan to appreciate that many zeros.
Other major U.S. industries, including the music, entertainment and automotive sector, have been compelled to embrace what was once seen as the domain of the pocket protector set. In fact, Ford's Brand Media Integration Manager Killol Bhuta may have said it best, "What rock 'n roll was to the youth of the '60s, gaming is to the youth of today." Does that make Gran Turismo's creator, Kazunori Yamauchi, the new Bob Dylan? And if it's true that today's youth spend more time gaming than they do watching TV, does it not also make sense that Ford would want its newest supercar, the Ford GT, to have a starring role in the world's most popular driving simulator?
We were given the unique experience of driving a real Ford GT around the real Laguna Seca racetrack immediately after driving the same car on the same track in Gran Turismo 4. But in between laps we managed to get some quality face time with Kazunori "Kaz" Yamauchi, the man behind the Gran Turismo franchise.
Inside Line: What inspired you to create a driving simulator experience?
Kaz: I'm very passionate about cars, and I'm very interested in the science and physics of what happens to a car in certain situations. Also, after finishing school I went to work for a game company.
What goes into recreating the real-life dynamics of these cars in the game? Do you have to drive each car, or can you do it through mathematics and programming?
It's the latter. We can actually simulate the activities of the car without driving them in person. And when we do take the real vehicle for a test-drive, we always make sure the simulation matches with the vehicle.
How difficult is it to differentiate the various drivetrain layouts? For instance, you have a front-engine, front-drive car like the Neon SRT-4 and then you have the midengine, rear-wheel-drive Ford GT. How do you make them feel/drive differently in the game?
It's not difficult to recreate the different drivetrains in the different cars, as long as the simulation model is up to the level of our expectations. The input figures should naturally give us the dynamics of each drivetrain layout and vehicle specifications.
What's your preferred drivetrain configuration?
I like rear-wheel-drive cars.
How many of the vehicles in Gran Turismo 4 have you driven personally?
Maybe half — but remember there are more than 700 vehicles in the game. And again, it's not necessary for me to drive each car personally to get the dynamics correct — though I do enjoy having the opportunity to drive as many of them as possible.
What percentage of the tracks have you driven personally?
I've driven all of them.
How do you recreate the tracks in the game? How do you get all the elevation changes and other nuances right?
Lots and lots of laps. We drive them and study them as much as possible to make them as accurate as possible.
How has Gran Turismo improved over the years? Obviously the graphics are stronger, but what else do you feel has really improved with each version of the game?
We've really split the games into two generations. The first three games were from the first generation, but with Gran Turismo 4, and going forward, we're into the second generation. So, if you do something like drive the cars in real life after driving them in the game, only in Gran Turismo 4 will the accuracy truly feel like real life.
What is your favorite car to drive from Gran Turismo 4?
The Ford GT. But I also like the Skyline GT-R.
What was it like driving the Ford GT in real life compared to driving it in the game?
Well, you have the combination of a very technical and very tricky track and a very powerful car, so obviously I can't drive it in real life like I would in the game.
And which experience do you enjoy more?
The real one.
One last question: What is your favorite car chase movie?
The movie with Robert De Niro. Ronin.
Ford GT vs. GT4 Introduction
Ford GT vs. GT4 — Part One
Add A Comment »