Now Gran Turismo HD is free?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Not sure what happened with all the stories about massive amounts of microtransactions, but now it's free.

Gran Turismo HD on the PlayStation 3 is no more. The game, which was due for release in Japan this month, has officially been cancelled, leaving developer Polyphony Digital to focus its energy on the completion of Gran Turismo 5. All is not lost, however, as what was Gran Turismo HD will now be offered through the PlayStation Store as Gran Turismo HD Concept -- essentially a playable preview of Gran Turismo 5.

GTHD Concept will be free to download and becomes available in Japan on December 24. There is currently no confirmation of a worldwide release date (what a nice holiday treat though!). This free business has us wondering what happened to that dubious rumor (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/20/dubious-rumor-gran-turismo-hd-to-ship-without-cars-or-tracks/) about Gran Turismo's excessive microtransactioning?

It appears that there will be no online elements in GTHD Concept (apart from the very act of downloading it), with SCEI's new Mr. Big (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/30/sony-shuffles-top-ps-management/), Kaz Hirai, explaining in an open letter (http://www.gran-turismo.com/jp/sp/d375.html) released this morning: "For the genuine implementation of 'Online Car Life Simulation', please wait for Gran Turismo 5."

That we will do.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/12/01/gran-turismo-hd-goes-free-as-focus-shifts-to-gt5/

[Kane Knight]

Flip Flop.

[Bad Company]

wait, so gthd wasn't gt5? Confusing fuckers.

[Kane Knight]

It was never intended to be.

[Bad Company]

I heard there was going to be another prologue, but Didn't know it was GTHD as such.

[Vietnamese Crippler]

I'm guessing they figured the microtransaction crap wouldn't go over well, so they made it the next Prologue instead :o

[Kane Knight]

It was already the prologue, if that's what you're getting at.

[Kris P Lettus]

I heard there was going to be another prologue, but Didn't know it was GTHD as such.

I heard it was just a new pimper version of GT4 with next gen graphics and whatnot for the PS3..

[Arashi Kage]

With GTHD scrapped, and the long wait we have until GT5, I am really gonna be tempted to pick up a 360 when Forza 2 is released (assuming it's as good as it looks & sounds).

I never, ever, thought that I'd consider getting an Xbox, but Forza 2 seems to have everything that GT lacks.

Hard to support the PS3 when there are no games worth getting until next year.

http://forzamotorsport.net/media/

All the better though, that they divert all resources into getting GT5 complete, even though a hold over in GTHD would have been nice, even with the crappy microtransactions (I only want 1 car to drive anyway).