Interview with Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi

[The Nightmonkey]

“Gran Turismo is a driving simulator, so playing it will actually make you better at driving real cars,” said Mr. Yamauchi. “We’ve actually had Gran Turismo players become real racecar drivers.”

Source
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/gt6-how-video-games-can-influence-sports-car-design/?_r=0

It's interesting he mentions this as he's correct. I've been playing Gran Turismo since the first one on the PS1. I've learned a lot about the differences in handling from one car to another. GT taught me why a front wheel drive car understeers and a rear wheel drive one oversteers. It's also made me a more alert driver as well as I feel I can sense when a car is about to lose grip and what steering inputs are required to prevent a slide.

What are your thoughts? Has Gran Turismo, or racing games in general made you a better driver in real life?

 

[amazingone]

I always make this point when arguing with people about which sex is the best at driving. I point out that all the time that boys spend in arcades (back in the day) or on their video games in these racing simulators makes them superior drivers. Most girls do not play racing games to the extent that boys do. I know that the arcade racing games that I played as a youngster helped me become a very skilled driver.

 

[wowtgp]

Great nterview indeed. It clarifies what his vision is about this brand and where he wants to take it.

 

[The Nightmonkey]

I always make this point when arguing with people about which sex is the best at driving. I point out that all the time that boys spend in arcades (back in the day) or on their video games in these racing simulators makes them superior drivers. Most girls do not play racing games to the extent that boys do. I know that the arcade racing games that I played as a youngster helped me become a very skilled driver.

Great point. You reminded me about a friend I had back in college. She spent a lot of time playing the Initial D arcade game back in the day.
One winter season, a truck cut her off on the highway. She had to swerve to avoid hitting the truck and remembered how to counter steer effectively to prevent the car from spinning out and hitting a guardrail.

 

[BlackSolaris]

Great point. You reminded me about a friend I had back in college. She spent a lot of time playing the Initial D arcade game back in the day.
One winter season, a truck cut her off on the highway. She had to swerve to avoid hitting the truck and remembered how to counter steer effectively to prevent the car from spinning out and hitting a guardrail.

For some reason i was really expecting for that story to just end with her doing a MULTI LANE DRIFTING to escape from danger!

 

[amazingone]

Great point. You reminded me about a friend I had back in college. She spent a lot of time playing the Initial D arcade game back in the day.
One winter season, a truck cut her off on the highway. She had to swerve to avoid hitting the truck and remembered how to counter steer effectively to prevent the car from spinning out and hitting a guardrail.

Yep. Video games are helpful in real life! I actually first learned the stick shift on an arcade driving game. I can't remember the name of it though. I had a blast using those driving simulators in arcade games. Whenever I bring up this argument with girls they go mute. It's as if they know that they lost the argument so they just give up. Ha-ha.

 

[JoeDirt]

I don't have a driving licence yet, but I'm kind of a good driver thanks to racing games starting from the arcade with the machines looking like the inside of a car all the way to Need For Speed, Midnight Club and Gran Turismo. This doesn't happen just in racing games, video games teach us a lot of things.

 

[amazingone]

I don't have a driving licence yet, but I'm kind of a good driver thanks to racing games starting from the arcade with the machines looking like the inside of a car all the way to Need For Speed, Midnight Club and Gran Turismo. This doesn't happen just in racing games, video games teach us a lot of things.

This is precisely the point that I have been making for years in arguments with people. I totally agree that video games enhance one's hand eye coordination, problems solving skills, finger dexterity and ability to handle pressure packed situations. I especially feel strongly about the arcade racing games being excellent driving simulators.

 

[The Nightmonkey]

I don't have a driving licence yet, but I'm kind of a good driver thanks to racing games starting from the arcade with the machines looking like the inside of a car all the way to Need For Speed, Midnight Club and Gran Turismo. This doesn't happen just in racing games, video games teach us a lot of things.

You'll definitely be more aware of your surroundings when you start driving. And learn how to drive manual if you want more control and have more fun too.

 

[The Nightmonkey]

Yep. Video games are helpful in real life! I actually first learned the stick shift on an arcade driving game. I can't remember the name of it though. I had a blast using those driving simulators in arcade games.

I didn't learn to drive stick just until a couple years ago and all the years of playing racing games like GT, Forza and PGR made it easier to learn. Do you drive stick?

 

[amazingone]

I didn't learn to drive stick just until a couple years ago and all the years of playing racing games like GT, Forza and PGR made it easier to learn. Do you drive stick?

Yes, I do. I was terrible at first but got the hang of it eventually. Just about nobody under thirty drives a stick. I'm going to have problems selling this car when I decide to buy another. I'll always drive a stick, though. I really feel like my arcade experiences with driving games helped me learn not only how to drive but how to be comfortable using the manual transmission.

 

[corporatenoun]

I'm okay at driving games. It seems the more they refuse to conform to reality, the better I perform. Mario Kart and Burnout are excellent examples of games I am decent at. Needless to say, I don't drive in real life.