Some Gran Turismo 4 news....

[Down F0rce]

A new game mode had been announced...

More than a rather abstract equation, B-Spec = Director Mode is a completely new option that takes you out of the driver's seat and into the plush leather swivel chair of a race team manager. Revealingly described as a "Gran Turismo that players don't drive", B-Spec = Director Mode gives you the opportunity to command an AI-controlled driver instead of directly participating in a race.

Interestingly, the B-Spec option sits in tandem with the existing A-Spec (i.e. standard racing) in GT Mode, allowing you to decide when you want to drive and when you want to sit back and dish out instructions from the pits. If you wish, you can actually play through the entirety of GT Mode in a completely non-participatory fashion, which is great news for all of you auto-loving types who prefer to leave the driving to the (virtual) professionals.

Rather than seeing the action from the traditional GT racing perspective, directors will be able to choose from three view types: Broadcast View (replay-style camera angles), On-Board Camera (one for each car) and Race Monitor Screen. The latter provides vital information on every competing vehicle, including lap times, split times, the time difference compared to the other racers, and which laps were used for pit stops. All this data will help you get the measure of the competition and judge your driver's comparative performance.

Sounds pretty cool to me. Lots of other new stuff at the official site.


There is also a new video.