Don't bother. There's a new book out by the widely unknown Canadian author
Huw Evans called "The Cars of Gran Turismo," a 96-page paperback available
from the publisher, Motorbooks International for $14.95 (or from Amazon for
a couple of bucks less) that purports to be about the cars featured in
Sony's hugely popular PlayStation game. (Over 15 million copies sold...up
to the by-now-2-year-old "GT3: A-Spec," that is, not about the upcoming
"GT4," which will reportedly include 500 licensed cars!) In it, the good
Huw thanks everybody from his mother to his dry cleaner's tax attorney...but
not Kaz Yamauchi, the genius behind the half-arcade/half-sim series (and a
god in Japan, where his company now sells RW add-ons like hood scoops and
fancy rims for the "Drift" crowd).
Indeed, there is nothing about the game in the book. Not one screen shot,
not one car, not one track. Only the RW cars that "inspired" the cars in
Gran Turismo (like the ever-popular Yaris T-Sport, the Mazda Eunos, and the
Spoon 2000...named after the curve at Suzuka, perhaps?). There are some
specs and driving impressions, but nothing that might link the RW cars to
the game. We are left to wonder what might have been....
Nice price; shame about the content.
You just said the book " purports to be about the cars featured in
Sony's hugely popular PlayStation game.", but your complaining that the book
only has information about cars and not the game itself? Maybe I read your
message wrong... But, the book being about cars and not a video game is
exactly what I'd expect.
I'm just guessin' on this too, but the "Spoon 2000" might be named after the
company, Spoon (which I think builds aftermarket engines) instead of a
corner at Suzuka.
Were you expecting the book to describe how the cars in the game handle?
Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com
"Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:EvfQb.36679$[email hidden]...
> Don't bother. There's a new book out by the widely unknown Canadianauthor
> Huw Evans called "The Cars of Gran Turismo," a 96-page paperback available
> from the publisher, Motorbooks International for $14.95 (or from Amazonfor
> a couple of bucks less) that purports to be about the cars featured in
> Sony's hugely popular PlayStation game. (Over 15 million copies sold...up
> to the by-now-2-year-old "GT3: A-Spec," that is, not about the upcoming
> "GT4," which will reportedly include 500 licensed cars!) In it, the good
> Huw thanks everybody from his mother to his dry cleaner's taxattorney...but
the
Quoted text (7 lines)
> not Kaz Yamauchi, the genius behind the half-arcade/half-sim series (and a > god in Japan, where his company now sells RW add-ons like hood scoops and > fancy rims for the "Drift" crowd). > > Indeed, there is nothing about the game in the book. Not one screen shot, > not one car, not one track. Only the RW cars that "inspired" the cars in > Gran Turismo (like the ever-popular Yaris T-Sport, the Mazda Eunos, andQuoted text (7 lines)
> Spoon 2000...named after the curve at Suzuka, perhaps?). There are some > specs and driving impressions, but nothing that might link the RW cars to > the game. We are left to wonder what might have been.... > > Nice price; shame about the content. > >No, I was expecting a connecting thread, just as when I wrote the strategy
guide for GPL, I didn't just describe what was inside the game, I tried to
bridge the gap between the RW and the sim world. That, immodestly, is why I
think "Four-Wheel Drift" worked...and why Huw's book doesn't.
Otherwise, it's just a badly thought-out book about a random collection of
cars, most of which aren't available in this side of the Rim and thus are of
little interest to American readers. Anybody that would would call the
butt-ugly Mazda Cosmo "beautiful" isn't playing with a full aesthetic deck.
It's gushing "fan lit," nothing more.
What makes you think Spoon (a Mazda tuner) *isn't* named after the corner at
Suzuka?
"Mike Beauchamp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> You just said the book " purports to be about the cars featured in
> Sony's hugely popular PlayStation game.", but your complaining that thebook
> only has information about cars and not the game itself? Maybe I readyour
> message wrong... But, the book being about cars and not a video game is
> exactly what I'd expect.
>
> I'm just guessin' on this too, but the "Spoon 2000" might be named afterthe
available
> > from the publisher, Motorbooks International for $14.95 (or from Amazon
> for
> > a couple of bucks less) that purports to be about the cars featured in
> > Sony's hugely popular PlayStation game. (Over 15 million copiessold...up
> > to the by-now-2-year-old "GT3: A-Spec," that is, not about the upcoming
> > "GT4," which will reportedly include 500 licensed cars!) In it, thegood
> > Huw thanks everybody from his mother to his dry cleaner's tax
> attorney...but
> > not Kaz Yamauchi, the genius behind the half-arcade/half-sim series (anda
> > god in Japan, where his company now sells RW add-ons like hood scoopsand
> > fancy rims for the "Drift" crowd).
> >
> > Indeed, there is nothing about the game in the book. Not one screenshot,
> > not one car, not one track. Only the RW cars that "inspired" the carsin
> > Gran Turismo (like the ever-popular Yaris T-Sport, the Mazda Eunos, and
> the
> > Spoon 2000...named after the curve at Suzuka, perhaps?). There are some
> > specs and driving impressions, but nothing that might link the RW carsto
Quoted text (13 lines)
> company, Spoon (which I think builds aftermarket engines) instead of a > corner at Suzuka. > > Were you expecting the book to describe how the cars in the game handle? > > Mike > http://mikebeauchamp.com > > "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:EvfQb.36679$[email hidden]... > > Don't bother. There's a new book out by the widely unknown Canadian > author > > Huw Evans called "The Cars of Gran Turismo," a 96-page paperbackQuoted text (7 lines)
> > the game. We are left to wonder what might have been.... > > > > Nice price; shame about the content. > > > > > >Steve Smith wrote:
> Otherwise, it's just a badly thought-out book about a random collection of
> cars, most of which aren't available in this side of the Rim and thus are of
> little interest to American readers.
I think this is exactly why this book is of interest to American
readers. Rice boys drool over the cars of Japan which has contributed
to the success of the GT series. Reading about cars I can't own is the
reason I buy the UK mag CAR.
> What makes you think Spoon (a Mazda tuner) *isn't* named after the corner at
> Suzuka?
Isn't Spoon a Honda tuner? Thus the Spoon S2000.
Perhaps he didn't have any legal right, or license agreement to include
information about the game, and thus apparently omitted all references
except the book title of course?
Just a guess...But if Sony or Kaz Yamauchi wanted a big fee for those
things, perhaps this guy weaseled out and thus only showed pictures and
descriptions of real-world cars?
"Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:HNuQb.42164$[email hidden]...
> No, I was expecting a connecting thread, just as when I wrote the strategy
> guide for GPL, I didn't just describe what was inside the game, I tried to
> bridge the gap between the RW and the sim world. That, immodestly, is whyI
> think "Four-Wheel Drift" worked...and why Huw's book doesn't.
>
> Otherwise, it's just a badly thought-out book about a random collection of
> cars, most of which aren't available in this side of the Rim and thus areof
> little interest to American readers. Anybody that would would call the
> butt-ugly Mazda Cosmo "beautiful" isn't playing with a full aestheticdeck.
> It's gushing "fan lit," nothing more.
>
> What makes you think Spoon (a Mazda tuner) *isn't* named after the cornerat
Amazon
> > for
> > > a couple of bucks less) that purports to be about the cars featured in
> > > Sony's hugely popular PlayStation game. (Over 15 million copies
> sold...up
> > > to the by-now-2-year-old "GT3: A-Spec," that is, not about theupcoming
> > > "GT4," which will reportedly include 500 licensed cars!) In it, the
> good
> > > Huw thanks everybody from his mother to his dry cleaner's tax
> > attorney...but
> > > not Kaz Yamauchi, the genius behind the half-arcade/half-sim series(and
and
> > the
> > > Spoon 2000...named after the curve at Suzuka, perhaps?). There aresome
Quoted text (29 lines)
> Suzuka? > > "Mike Beauchamp" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > news:[email hidden]... > > You just said the book " purports to be about the cars featured in > > Sony's hugely popular PlayStation game.", but your complaining that the > book > > only has information about cars and not the game itself? Maybe I read > your > > message wrong... But, the book being about cars and not a video game is > > exactly what I'd expect. > > > > I'm just guessin' on this too, but the "Spoon 2000" might be named after > the > > company, Spoon (which I think builds aftermarket engines) instead of a > > corner at Suzuka. > > > > Were you expecting the book to describe how the cars in the game handle? > > > > Mike > > http://mikebeauchamp.com > > > > "Steve Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message > > news:EvfQb.36679$[email hidden]... > > > Don't bother. There's a new book out by the widely unknown Canadian > > author > > > Huw Evans called "The Cars of Gran Turismo," a 96-page paperback > available > > > from the publisher, Motorbooks International for $14.95 (or fromQuoted text (10 lines)
> a > > > god in Japan, where his company now sells RW add-ons like hood scoops > and > > > fancy rims for the "Drift" crowd). > > > > > > Indeed, there is nothing about the game in the book. Not one screen > shot, > > > not one car, not one track. Only the RW cars that "inspired" the cars > in > > > Gran Turismo (like the ever-popular Yaris T-Sport, the Mazda Eunos,Quoted text (11 lines)
> > > specs and driving impressions, but nothing that might link the RW cars > to > > > the game. We are left to wonder what might have been.... > > > > > > Nice price; shame about the content. > > > > > > > > > > > >Sorry, yer right. Honda tuner, indeed.
"Internet User" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Steve Smith wrote:
>
> > Otherwise, it's just a badly thought-out book about a random collectionof
> > cars, most of which aren't available in this side of the Rim and thusare of
corner at
> > Suzuka?
>
> Isn't Spoon a Honda tuner? Thus the Spoon S2000.
Quoted text (8 lines)
> > little interest to American readers. > > I think this is exactly why this book is of interest to American > readers. Rice boys drool over the cars of Japan which has contributed > to the success of the GT series. Reading about cars I can't own is the > reason I buy the UK mag CAR. > > > What makes you think Spoon (a Mazda tuner) *isn't* named after theYou can write a book about almost anything without paying any licensing fees
or obtaining permission (so long as you're not libelous). Likewise, you can
paint a picture (altho not neccessarily print a photograph) of objects
protected by intellectual property laws. It's only things like games and
model cars for which you need special dispensation.
Huw's stated purpose in the book is to "give both gamers and enthusiasts an
insight into this popular and colorful game." In this mission, he has
utterly failed, IMO.
"Jay J" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:NgvQb.113424$nt4.439134@attbi_s51...
strategy
> > guide for GPL, I didn't just describe what was inside the game, I triedto
> > bridge the gap between the RW and the sim world. That, immodestly, iswhy
> I
> > think "Four-Wheel Drift" worked...and why Huw's book doesn't.
> >
> > Otherwise, it's just a badly thought-out book about a random collectionof
> > cars, most of which aren't available in this side of the Rim and thusare
corner
the
> > book
> > > only has information about cars and not the game itself? Maybe I read
> > your
> > > message wrong... But, the book being about cars and not a video gameis
> > > exactly what I'd expect.
> > >
> > > I'm just guessin' on this too, but the "Spoon 2000" might be namedafter
> > the
> > > company, Spoon (which I think builds aftermarket engines) instead of a
> > > corner at Suzuka.
> > >
> > > Were you expecting the book to describe how the cars in the gamehandle?
in
scoops
> > and
> > > > fancy rims for the "Drift" crowd).
> > > >
> > > > Indeed, there is nothing about the game in the book. Not one screen
> > shot,
> > > > not one car, not one track. Only the RW cars that "inspired" thecars
cars
