Thrustmaster TH8RS Review

http://www.insidesimracing.tv presents an exclusive first look and review of the Thrustmaster TH8RS Shifter for the PC and the PS3. This stylish shifter is mostly made of metal and has gates that look like they are right out of a supercar. It is an 8 speed shifter that works as a stand alone device and even works with Gran Turismo 5 when used with a T500RS wheel.

GT5 2.01 Update Change Log

The latest version of Gran Turismo 5, version 2.01, has just been released. Weighing in at 112MB, it provides a number of bug fixes, patches, and tweaks. Here’s a complete change log:

[Major Changes and New Features]
- Compatibility of Kart Space I/II with cars other than racing Karts
It is now possible to race on Kart Space I/II of the DLC in cars other than racing Karts in online races and in the Free Run of Practice.
(In the one make races of the Arcade mode and Practice, the courses are still limited to racing Karts.)
- Expanded the car restrictions in the Online Lounge
It is now possible to simultaneously set [Car Restrictions], [Performance Points], [Power], and [Models] in regulation settings. ( [Vehicle Tuning] must be set to [Unrestricted] and [Car Restrictions] must be set to something other than [Select from Garage].)
[Other Improvements]
- In the Open Lobby, it is no longer possible to vote to kick out the person who created the room. (If the player leaves the room after creating it then comes back, they are then subject to the vote.)
- Adjusted the force of the steering wheel returning to center after a race when using the “Guillemot T500RS”.
- Improved the steering model when driving racing Karts with the DUALSHOCK®3 Wireless Controller, to prevent overly spinning out.
[Correction of Known Issues]
- Corrected an issue where the BGM would stop playing when returning from the Lounge to the Open Lobby.
- Corrected an issue where if further engine tuning was performed on a car that already had engine tuning, the engine tune field would become incorrect when changing setting sheets.
- Corrected a discrepancy in the numerical figures in the setting sheets.
- Corrected an issue where wheels and horns would become different in every setting sheet change.
- Corrected an issue where the removal of aerodynamic parts and wings would not be implemented when changing setting sheets.
- Corrected an issue where the TCS and ABS settings would change when changing setting sheets.
- Corrected an issue where if a certain operation was performed when using a steering wheel controller with an H pattern gear shifter, the shift lever position, gear position display and the car operation would become mismatched. (On the Logitec G25 Racing Wheel, Logitech G27 Racing Wheel, and Guillemot T500RS + TH8RS Shifter.)
- Corrected an issue with the key assignments on the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel.
- Corrected an issue where the driver hand motion did not match the steering wheel motion.
- Corrected an issue where autopilot would not be disengaged after returning to the course, when resuming an endurance race where the pit lane was entered at overspeed before saving.
- Corrected an issue where the Practice ranking board would reset if the weather change/time change setting was changed when editing an existing track in the Course Maker edit screen.
- Corrected an issue where no courses could be saved in the Course Maker if the update (2.00) was installed without going through earlier updates.
- Corrected an issue where an error would occur at game start if the update (2.00) was installed on a system that has a save data that has never been updated from the first version.
- Corrected an issue with the Hybrid System simulation on the Toyota Prius G Touring Selection ’03, Toyota Prius G ’09, Toyota Prius Touring Car.
- Corrected an issue on the Ferrari F10’10, where drivers were experiencing random vibration.
- Corrected an issue where the wheel color would not appear correctly in pit work, if the wheel had been repainted.
- Corrected an issue where the [Reset to Default] button was not functioning on cars that originally come with turbo kits, when other turbo kits were installed.
- Corrected various other issues regarding the update and the DLC.

From: http://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-5-2-01-released-new-b-spec-seasonal-event/

DLC cars to be purchaseable in game

"We’re planning an another update for GT5 in December. In that update users who purchased cars and tracks from the DLC already, can receive a free “family upgrade” in the PS Store, which will let all users in the same PS console use the DLC.
People who bought the DLC cars will have those cars added to the dealers in the December update.
After this December update you can purchase a second car and so on from the dealer."

"Next, don’t get your hopes up too high, but PDI is also readying a X-mas present for those who’ve already bought multiple DLCs."
Tweeted by Kazunori Yamauchi

GT5 Japanese Mercedes Driving Event Video

Video streaming by Ustream

GT5 Spec 2.0 + DLC 18th October

Gran Turismo 5‘s biggest update yet, Spec 2.0, is here! It weighs in at exactly 1192 MB, and is available now at no charge -- just load up your game and put your Internet connection to work.
Here’s a complete overview of everything that’s been changed, tweaked, added, and implemented.

Major Changes and New Features
- Standard Cars now given simplified cockpit views
The over 800 standard cars included in the game are now given simplified cockpit views. You can change your view using the SELECT button when racing, to change your display to the exciting cockpit view.
*Unlike the cockpit view of premium cars, the simplified cockpit is shown in a dark silhouette, and the gauges used for the car will be standard in-game instruments.
- New Opening Movie
A new opening movie is now available from “Gran Turismo TV”. When you download this movie, it will replace the current opening movie. The previous version will be viewable within Gran Turismo TV.
- Addition of the weather change menu
On some tracks with weather changes, it is now possible for the user to set time and weather changes from the Quick Menu in both the Arcade Mode, and “Practice” of the GT Mode. Also, you can make more detailed time and weather changes while editing in the course maker and in the online lounge.
- Multiple car settings/save feature
We’ve added a setting sheet feature that allows you to save multiple car settings.
From the [Setting Sheet] on the lower right of the screen, you can check the current settings. You can switch between 3 settings A, B, and C, allowing you to change between your personal settings easily according to the type of race and your objectives.
- Added 11 NASCAR cars
The newest NASCAR 2011 models have been added to the car dealerships. The added cars are the following:

• Toyota 2011 Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx TOYOTA CAMRY ’11
• Chevrolet 2011 Tony Stewart #14 Office Depot CHEVROLET IMPALA ’11
• Toyota 2011 Kyle Busch #18 M&M’SR TOYOTA CAMRY ’11
• Toyota 2011 Joey Logano #20 The Home Depot TOYOTA CAMRY ’11
• Chevrolet 2011 Jeff Gordon #24 Drive to End Hunger CHEVROLET IMPALA ’11
• Chevrolet 2011 Juan Montoya #42 Target CHEVROLET IMPALA ’11
• Ford 2011 AJ Allmendinger #43 Best Buy FORD FUSION ’11
• Chevrolet 2011 Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s CHEVROLET IMPALA ’11
• Toyota 2011 Brian Vickers #83 Red Bull TOYOTA CAMRY ’11
• Chevrolet 2011 Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 AMP Energy/National Guard CHEVROLET IMPALA ’11
• Ford 2011 Carl Edwards #99 Aflac FORD FUSION ’11

- Added the Nissan GT-R N24 Schulze Motor Sports
The Nisssan GT-R N24 Schulze Motor Sports has been added to the car dealer. This is the car entered in the 2011 Nurburgring 24 hour race by Schulze Motorsports of Germany, and is the very car in which Kazunori Yamauchi drove and achieved a class victory.
- Avatar now usable in Photo Travel
An Avatar ON/OFF feature has been added to Photo Travel. Now you can photograph your avatar together with your car.
You can turn the driver avatar ON/OFF by pressing the △ button while positioning the car.
- Replay Fast Forward/Rewind
All replay videos recorded after the 2.0 update will have [Forward] [Rewind] buttons.
You can now easily search for the scene you are looking for and play back a certain section whenever you want to, adding even more fun to the photo mode.
-Improved Online Lounge
[Car Restrictions] has been added in the regulations. You can now limit participants to specific categories such as “NASCAR” and “Super GT”. Also, there are now more cars that can be used in shuffle races, and a new “Shuffle Base” setting allows you to set the performance level of cars allocated to each player.
For details, please see Top screen -- [Manual] -- [Online Race] -- [Event Settings] and the “Regulation Settings”.
- Additional features to Remote Racing
A “Graph Display” has been added to the remote race screen in GT My Home of granturismo.com, where you can enjoy B-Spec racing. This allows you to visually see the changes in positions in each lap. A time difference display for each car in the race has also been added.
- New Photo Stage Added
The “Indy: NASCAR Pit Stop” stage has been added to photo travel. We invite you to come see and capture the energy of NASCAR’s famous pit stops.
- Addition of the Consecutive Login Bonus
When a user logs in consecutively, a bonus will now be applied to experience and race rewards.
It will increase to 110% in the 1st day, 130% in the 2nd day, 150% in the 3rd day, 170% in the 4th, to a maximum of 200% in the 5th day. This will apply to all events both online and offline, so logging in every day will make the game progress faster.
- DLC (Downloadable Content) Compatibility
A [Downloadable Content] button has been added to the lower right of the top screen. Here you can install content purchased from the PlayStation®Store, which will be made available on October 18th.
- Official Support for the G25/G27 Racing Wheels
The Logitech G25 Racing Wheel and G27 Racing Wheel are now officially supported. You can now change button assignments for various racing controls on these wheels.
Other Improvements
- User interface improvement
- Quick Menu can now be accessed while the race is loading.
- It is now possible to save and resume endurance races.
- Two NASCAR cars selectable in Arcade Mode have been changed from the 2010 models to 2011 models.
- In the Arcade Settings of [Options], AI Car Characteristics settings has been added. You can now change the aggressiveness of the AI against you in Arcade races.
- Some effects of Traction Control have been adjusted. When the TCS level is set to 1, it will not come into effect as much especially in tight corners on dirt tracks.
- Surface Water and Tire Load Indicator displays have been added to the race screen. The Tire Load Indicator can be set from the Quick Options menu that is displayed during the race (when the game is paused using the START button), or the standard Options menu.
- The option to Create Thumbnails for All Cars has been added to the context menu of the Garage. This will update the thumbnails of all cars in the garage.
- Experience gained in online races have been increased by 60%, and rewards have been increased by 66%.
- You can now change the Slipstream Strength settings in the lounge.
- In the Lounge and in [Option] -- [General] -- [Arcade], it is now possible to turn Visible Damage ON or OFF.
- Drivetrain settings has been added to the regulation settings in the Lounge.
- A setting to prohibit “Tuning” of cars has been added to the regulations settings in the Lounge.
- Adjusted the driving speed of formula cars in banks, and auto-drive when coming onto straights.
- Added a button to [Reset Playlist to Original Settings] under the settings menus of [Menu BGM], [Race BGM] and [Slideshow BGM].
- Personal BGM can now also be set in [Slideshow BGM]
- A new brand “AMG” has been added to the MUSEUM.
Correction of Known Issues
- Corrected an issue where the “Torque Sensing Center Differential” installed on a Lancer Evolution X was not functioning.
- Fixed an issue where you could participate in the Intermediate/Tarmac Rally of the Gran Turismo Rally in a Ferrari F1 by using the power limiter.
- Fixed an issue where the Controller Steering Sensitivity was not applied correctly.
- Fixed an issue where there was a server connection problem in certain network environments.
- Fixed an issue where auto-drive would make braking mistakes.
- Fixed an issue where the system would misjudge whether deceleration happens in time when making pit stops in the rain

From:  http://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-5-spec-2-0-now-available/

DLC Coming October 18th

Course Pack ($4.99)

• Spa Francorchamps (with weather effects)
• Kart Space I/II (at night)

Racing Car Pack ($7.99)

• Red Bull X2011 Protytpe ’11
• Dodge Challenger SRT8 Touring Car
• Honda CR-Z Touring Car
• Mazda Roadster Touring Car
• Mazda RX-7 Touring Car
• Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X Touring Car
• Nissan GT-R R35 Touring Car
• Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 Touring Car
• Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 Touring Car
• Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 Touring Car
• Subaru Impreza Touring Car
• Toyota Prius Touring Car
• Gran Turismo Racing Kart Jr.
• Gran Turismo Racing Kart 100
• Gran Turismo Racing Kart 125

Racing Gear Pack ($2.99)

• Includes suits and helmets of 8 famous WRC and NASCAR drivers and 12 new helmets.

Paint Pack ($1.99)

• Includes 100 new paint colors.

Complete Pack ($11.99)

• Includes all the packs in one convenient bundle.

 From: http://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-5-dlc-coming-october-18th-includes-spa-francorchamps/

GT5 Spec 2.0 Pictures

GT5 Spec2.0 First Infos

1. Simplified interior view added to all standard cars.
2. User control of the weather change feature.
3. Added a setting sheet feature allowing you to save multiple car settings...
4. Spec 2.0 Opening movie
5. Improved UI (user interface) response and usability
6. Replay front forward/rewind
7. Mid-race save feature for endurance races.
8. Expanded online lounge features (Narrowing down car types, shuffle races)...
9. Expansion of the B-Spec remote race you can play from GT.com (a graph display now shows changes in race rankings.)
10. Expanded Photo travel features / You can now take photo’s of cars together with your avatar..
11. Added a “NASCAR Pit Scene” stage to Photo Travel
12. Added eleven 2011 model NASCAR cars...
13. Added the Nissan GT-R N24 Shulze Motor Sport 
14. Improved physics and AI...
15. Support for the Logitec G25/G27 Steering wheel.

Tweteed By : Kazunori Yamauchi
More Infos coming soon...