Gran Turismo 5 Updated with Selectable Mechanical Damage Options for Online Racing

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Gran Turismo 5 has been updated to version 1.03, most noticeably adding mechanical damage options to the anticipated racer.

The 149MB update gives players the option to select two levels of damage: light, allowing mechanical parts to be damaged but regenerate strength over a short period of time; and heavy, allowing for more severe damage that can only be repaired by making pit stops. The option can also be disabled all together. Complete notes on the update have not been released.

Damage and wear during races can adversely affect the handling and performance of your favorite virtual whip. When mechanical damage is enabled, the in-game HUD will note where your car is being beat-up the most; however, it does not list the severity of your abuse.

Players looking to add a new layer of realism to their career mode or wanting an extra thrill during arcade races will be disappointed, as the mechanical damage options added in the update are only available for online races.

According to tests conducted by Now Gamer, it appears that the addition lacks much finesse, giving players the option between one extreme or another. Hopefully these settings get deeper in future updates and extend to the rest of the game's modes.

For now, using your friend's sweet ride as a high-speed turning assist is no longer an option. Save those tactics for the, now somehow less realistic, career mode.

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    December 7, 2010 1:35 PM

    Wait, still no mechanical damage in the GT / career mode? Is that even going to happen or is this it?

    • reply
      December 7, 2010 1:45 PM

      japanese

    • reply
      December 7, 2010 1:47 PM

      I think mechanical damage is in Career mode, but isn't unlocked until your like level 40....ie: beat the game.

      From what I hear you unlock different levels of damage modeling and AI as you level up.

      Kinda lame though. I don't want to have to practically beat the game in order to enjoy all the features. Damage should just be an option in settings. Want to be a wuss, turn it off and bump people, but don't make me use lame-o physics until I've practically completed the game.

      • reply
        December 7, 2010 2:46 PM

        eheh corner bouncing at full speed was always a bit lame in a racer i thought. which game was it when someone realized you could take a pikes peak car with 1000bhp and bluetack the accelerator down on a ring endurance race and come back three hours later with a gold medal and free money? was that GT or forza? made me lol when i saw it anyway.

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