Gran Turismo Academy is an international virtual-to-reality competition by Nissan, PlayStation, and Polyphony Digital that started in 2008. It offers the best Gran Turismo players in the world the opportunity to compete against each other for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a real-life professional racecar driver. In this article, we will explore the history of the Gran Turismo Academy and what marketers can learn from it.
The Story of Gran Turismo Academy
The Gran Turismo Academy began as a collaboration between Nissan and PlayStation to find the best virtual drivers in the world and turn them into real-life racers. The competition was open to anyone who owned a copy of Gran Turismo 5 and had a PlayStation 3. The first stage of the competition was a time trial, where players had to set the fastest lap time on a specific track. The fastest players from each country then moved on to the national finals, where they competed against each other in a series of races. The winners of the national finals then went on to the international finals, where they competed for a chance to become a professional racecar driver.The Gran Turismo Academy has been a huge success, with many of its winners going on to have successful careers in motorsports. For example, Jann Mardenborough, the winner of the 2011 competition, went on to race in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
What Can Marketers Learn from Gran Turismo Academy?
The success of the Gran Turismo Academy can be attributed to several factors that marketers can learn from:
- Tell a compelling story: The Gran Turismo Academy tells a compelling story of virtual drivers becoming real-life racers. This story has captured the imagination of millions of people around the world.
- Fully embrace the power of video: The Gran Turismo Academy has used video to great effect, with many of its races and events being broadcast on television and online.
- Don't be afraid to take risks: The Gran Turismo Academy was a risky venture, but it paid off in a big way. By taking a chance on virtual drivers, Nissan and PlayStation were able to create a unique and exciting competition that has captured the attention of the world.
Conclusion
The Gran Turismo Academy is a testament to the power of video games and the potential of virtual reality. It has shown that virtual drivers can become real-life racers and that video games can be a powerful tool for marketing and advertising. Marketers can learn a lot from the success of the Gran Turismo Academy, including the importance of telling a compelling story, fully embracing the power of video, and not being afraid to take risks.
Visit the official website for more detailed information:
https://www.gran-turismo.com/br/academy/See More:
GTA 5 celebrates its 10th anniversary and consolidates itself as one of the best-selling games in history
