Gran Turismo 2000

Gran Turismo 2000 is the original title of the project that became Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, with the name being used for several demonstration builds and one demo disc. It was based on Gran Turismo 2, where the physics and graphics were updated to showcase what Polyphony Digital could do with the new hardware in the PlayStation 2.
==History==
Gran Turismo 2000 was first shown at the Tokyo Game Show in Japan on September 20, 1999, as part of the unveiling of the PlayStation 2 console. The original tech demo shown there featured Mazda RX-7 Type RS (FD) '98, Honda NSX Type S Zero '97, and Nissan SKYLINE GT-R V • spec (R34) '99 at Special Stage Route 5, with graphics comparable to CGI portions of intro movies of PlayStation-era Gran Turismo games.
At the PlayStation Festival 2000 event in Japan on February 18-20, 2000, an improved demo was shown. Playable demo discs of Gran Turismo 2000 were also handed out to the public for the first and only time. Gran Turismo 2000 was also demonstrated at the E3 show in the USA on May 11-13, 2000, and the European Computer Trade Show in the UK on September 3-5, 2000. These builds feature opaque car windows, similar to those of PlayStation-era games.
The title of the game was updated to Gran Turismo 2000: A-Spec when demonstrated again at the Tokyo Game Show, this time on September 22-24, 2000. The build shown at the show are similar to various GT3 demo builds. After missing its potential release date of December 2000, the game was re-titled Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec. This decision likely (internally) took place that month, as the Autobacs Replay Theater demo build, the earliest known demo build with Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec branding was compiled on September 25, 2000, the day after Tokyo Game Show.
==PlayStation Festival 2000 demo==
The PlayStation Festival 2000 demo is limited to only one combination of car and track: the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V GSR '98 on the Seattle Circuit. The race time is limited to 120 seconds or two minutes, reflecting an effort to minimize the amount of time spent queuing to play the game whilst still allowing players to take in the improvements that have been made.
These cars, while also included in the demo, only appear as opponents, and cannot be selected to race:
*Honda NSX '90 
*Mazda RX-7 Type RS (FD) '98
*Nissan SKYLINE GT-R V • spec (R34) '99
*Subaru LEGACY B4 RSK '98
*Toyota ALTEZZA RS200 '98
==Other content==
The E3 2000/ECTS 2000 build of the game, while appearing similar to the PlayStation Festival 2000 demo, also feature the following cars, along with Laguna Seca Raceway:
*Alfa Romeo 156 2.5 V6 24V '98
*Chevrolet Corvette GRAND SPORT (C4) '96
*Dodge Viper GTS '99
*Honda S2000 '99
*Lancia STRATOS '73
*Lotus Elise Sport 190 '98
*Subaru IMPREZA Sedan WRX STi Version VI '99
*Toyota CELICA SS-II (ZZT231) '99
*TVR Griffith 500 '94
*Volkswagen New Beetle GLS 2.0
==Trivia==
*The PlayStation Festival demo disc contains leftover files from Special Stage Route 5, in an "OLDCOURSE" directory. This track was shown in the 1999 Tokyo Game Show tech/announcement demo, and in the introduction movie of the demo disc. However, several files are missing so the track cannot be loaded.
*Near the end of the demo disc's opening sequence, a mixture of high-res scenes that were extracted from the Gran Turismo 2 opening can be seen. These scenes display some vehicles and tracks that wouldn't be returning in future installments of the series.
*The turn signboards on the demo disc's Seattle circuit are based on those appearing in the GT2 demos, rather than based on final GT2 versions.
*By driving in the wrong direction at the start and heading for the left-most tire barrier, it is possible to break out of the Seattle course.
*As the Gran Turismo 2000 demo disc was only handed out at a single event, a limited number of copies were available. This rarity, along with the lack of any other Gran Turismo 2000 releases, makes the game one of the most sought-after in the series for many Gran Turismo fans.
*The yellow Lancer Evolution V from the PlayStation Festival demo, alongside with "Mirage" song that plays during races, became a popular internet meme around 2018.
==Pictures==
File:250px-GranTurismo2000screenshot.png|Screenshot during a race, showing the early HUD design
File:250px-GranTurismo2000lancer.png|Screenshot 1 of a replay, showing the early graphic design
File:250px-GranTurismo2000cars.png|Screenshot 2 of a replay, showing the early graphic design
File:Gran-turismo-2-20040717084840012_640w.jpg|The screenshot displaying Special Stage Route 5
File:39494351152_aa92664652_c.jpg|The game discs, cases, and manuals on display
File:27748343009_086a117fc1_c.jpg|Front view of the CD jacket
File:24656589427_89ce8901f5_c.jpg|Rear view of the CD jacket
Category:Games
Category:PlayStation 2 games
Category:2000s games
Category:Demos