First, I'd like to thank everyone for their enduring support and patience. In particular, I'd like to thank those who have helped me over the years, fiscally and otherwise. You know who you are.

When is GTVault going to be updated for GT4? Well, guys, that is a good question. I've been working on it for a very long time, but have been held up due to time constraints and the fact that PD was not forthcoming with any technical data. Notice that sites like gttimes, which use data in a similar fashion, are not geared up for GT4 yet either. If anyone recalls, I did not release GTVault for GT3 until almost 5 months after the game was released. I doubt the wait will be that long this time around, but on the other hand don't expect anything tomorrow. What you can expect is a much improved navigation system, a new look, and tons of new features too numerous to list here.

Frankly, the hardest part is playing the game solely for research purposes. I've tried to divide my time as best as I can, but sometimes I just have to race! I hope everyone understands. Don't worry though, the upgrades for GT4 will be released. I'd give you a release date, but I don't want to be like PD and have to push it back!

Kerr

Hey Kerr... take all the time you need... enjoy the game. We really apreciate your "researching" the game, and I cannot imagine the time that must go into that.

As for upgrades to the site... I know you pointed out the problems with forums for you, but if possible (i can wait), I do think that a forum of some sort would be very nice...
Many of the sites that I look at for GT forums are just a big hodge-podge of unrelated topics, and it would be nice to see a forum neatly divided into useful sections (tuning questions, fast money techniques, praises for the game, complaints about the game, etc., etc.), and I know it may be a bandwidth/storage space issue, but it would be really cool to have a gallery where people can post some of their photos taken from within GT4. You don't have to argue with me about these, I will totally understand if they won't work for you, and you probably already have it all planned out and don't need any more input. But just wanted to make the suggestions. Regardless, I can't wait to see what you do with the place... I'm sure it will be quality.

The PAL version gamers don't have the game yet anyway... I wouldn't worry about it just take ya time and enjoy the game as well but most inportantly don't forget to live a life ;-) It'll be good to see the new GT Vault either way.

Thanks guys - you know I find it interesting that people are still posting setups for GT3. I guess it goes to show you the longevity of each game in the series.

Spraytech,

There are lots of older guys who play this game. There are a couple regular contributing members on the playstation gran turismo message board who are older than you.

SprayTech - I know for a fact that there are a number of members here at GTVault who are older than you. The GT series attracts people of all ages, so we enjoy a great mix of people here.

Nachtjager - Thanks, especially about the community comments. I have been under varying amounts of pressure over the years to put a forum in place, but always stuck to my guns in the end. I'm glad I did, because the idiot quotient here would be much higher otherwise. On that note, I can't believe the comments and general 'know it all' attitude I see from some of the members at gtplanet.

Kerr

Kerr, Bro, Race On and enjoy. If anyone here is like me, we're consumate note takers and record our personal settings most of time if not always. We all enjoy the trill of discovery and what works for each driver out there. Do your thing, take you time, we'll alll get together and mash minds after we've enjoyed some racing. The end result will be awesome, not forced or rushed. Until then, I'll jot some ideas of what I'ld like to see as far as features as will the rest. Until then, Brian

Guys - thanks for all the comments, it is much appreciated. I am in full swing with the upgrade now and it's starting to take some shape.

jjhog - Thanks for the offer. I am not at a point yet where I can utilize the efforts of others, but when the time comes I will keep you in mind. Because PD blows when it comes to their attention to details, the job of compiling information for GT4 will be *much* more time consuming and tedious than anticipated. You are very correct on the work it took to get all the prize car / event cross reference info complete. You are the first person who's mentioned using it to their advantage. AFAIK, there is no other database anywhere which lists that information in it's proper relation as GTVault does. Sure, there may be FAQ's, but you have to page through a 400k document to get the info you want most times. And right you are about the *very* incomplete list of cars available for restricted racing series. I cannot put into words how pissed off I am at PD for screwing the pooch on that one. It appears one would have to attempt entry with every potential car you *might* think would be able to qualify for a given event. That's insane.

Kerr

That's exactly how I set up the GT3 database. I compile every, and I mean *every* detail about cars. It is necessary to determine what settings are valid for what car. For instance, what stage Turbo (if any at all), is downforce available, etc. So regardless of the restricted car racing issue, every car will have to be purchased and put through the 'tuning ringer' so to speak.

Kerr: As I'm sure youv'e seen from the other thread, today's my bitchy day. I need to vent. Now that you've gotten into GT4 a little deeper, what do you think was the rationale of the Sony PD guys when they came up with the format for GT4. No question the graphics are great, the new tracks are great, but do you get excited about entering the races for the potential prize or just entering the race so that you can move on in the game?

jjhog & Nachtjager - I wholeheartedly agree with both of you. Don't worry about taking up space, I encourage feedback of all sorts. What I don't like to see is people practically castrated if they have an opinion to express that is anything shy of, "I f#@king love this game!". I definitely don't feel that sense of excitement when I go to play the game, and in fact have picked up Fable from time to time even after I got my copy of GT4. This is the first game in the series where I can say that I have not dedicated all of my gaming time to the current release of GT so soon after release.

I feel it is due to a lack of creativity on PD's part. What we have with GT4 is more of the same game format we've seen three times already. A whole crapload more. A lot of oft requested features (a full fledged vs. mode, online play, the reinstatement of racing modifications) were left out while precious resources were devoted to others that don't add to the heart of the game (Photo Mode, vehicles which can't be used nor sold, B-Spec). Call me crazy, but the GT series at it's heart is about racing and tuning cars, not taking pictures and acquiring them for the sole purpose of adding to your collection. Every car I held onto in the other games has been raced extensively. I already have a number of cars in GT4 that are worthless to me, and apparently the game feels the same way since I cannot get any money out of them. Maybe the *real* improvement in AI is that the game is telling us, "No, I don't want to give you any credits for this POS! What the hell am I going to do with it?"

Another reason is the continual delays we had to wait through. If your core base is being made to wait over a year longer than projected, you better damn well hit a home run to keep them satisfied. Otherwise people will begin to turn elsewhere.

Vent all you want guys. As I play the game more, the pitfalls and disappointments continue to overshadow the improvements. I was hoping this would not be the case, but that's just how I feel. I remember when GT1 hit the shelves... I was blown away. I'd seen nothing like it before, and I'd been a die hard gamer since 1980. Now 10 years later, we have what are at their core four recyclings of the same game.

Kerr