Gran Turismo is a sports racing franchise and video game. The simulator was developed by the Japanese studio Polyphony Digital for PlayStation consoles. Its basis is a one hundred percent imitation of many famous cars’ appearance and technical characteristics, which are licensed repetitions of real sports cars. The debut of the racing series took place in December 1997. Since then, the world has sold over 80 million races of Gran Turismo, making it the most sought-after gaming franchise.
Meaning and History
What is Gran Turismo?
Gran Turismo is PlayStation’s top-selling media franchise. This is a series of video games in racing simulators in which you need to consider the real aspects of driving a car. They simulate everything from suspension tuning to tire wear.
The car racing simulator includes eight basic editions, including two versions for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, 3, 4, and PlayStation 5. The set also includes many other variants – short-cut releases focused on consoles PlayStation 2 and 3. Their developer – Kazunori Yamauchi.
Key actions for the implementation of the video game started in 1992. Then the main inspirer of the idea gathered a team of seven specialists and, in five years, created a completely original franchise. The attractiveness of the simulator is explained by detailed graphics, which are thought out to the smallest detail, the exact technical properties of copies of cars, and a large fleet of licensed vehicles.
This also includes the ability to customize and simulate driving based on personal experiences. Moreover, the choice of options is based on physical principles and the recording of the real roar of engines. Even though there were several issues, they are united by a common logo. There are three of them.
1997 – 2009
The debut emblem consists of the stylized GT symbols, the abbreviation for the video game’s full name, Gran Turismo. The letters are composed of scattered strokes of various configurations – from wide straight lines to curved narrowed ones. On the left, the designers placed an impromptu “G” in blue, on the right – a “T” in a bright scarlet hue.
Below them, the authors placed the full name of the franchise, painting it black. Even below, they put the inscription “the real driving simulator” in grotesque small print. The logo also has an abbreviated version that lacks graphic symbols. Two miniature rectangles replace them.
2009 – 2013
Since 2009, the emblem has received a glossy and three-dimensional appearance. It was first used for the Gran Turismo PSP. The 3D effect is created due to the original design and the correct combination of bright highlights and dark shadows. Moreover, the saturation of the palette has also changed: red and blue have become deeper, more juicy, concentrated. The rest of the elements did not undergo adjustments: sans serif letters, uppercase, slightly tilted to the right.
2013 – today
The developers returned the logo to a flat look and repainted it black. This version was first seen in Gran Turismo 6.
If you need to trace the movement of the identity style from complex forms to simple, this can be seen in the GT racing simulator. Starting as a multi-structured composition with colorful graphics and stripped-down additions, it has evolved into a flat monochrome version that emphasizes the seriousness of everything that happens in a video game. In addition, the black and white logo does not distract attention from the process and sets up fierce competition.
Font and Colors of the Emblem
The typeface makes the text part of the emblem Helvetica Neue 97 Black Condensed – chopped, smooth, and capital letters. The phrase “Gran Turismo” is in italics; the rest is in direct print.
The videogame brand logo originally consisted of three colors: red, blue, and white. In the modern interpretation, only black and white are present.