Sony Computer Entertainment announced earlier this week that a new collaboration project with Polyphony Digital is underway, titled Gran Turismo: The Real Learning Simulator. In an attempt to ease players into the driving seat, Sony have stated that it is their intention to not only let people race in the best-selling series but to drive responsibly too.

More on this exclusive news after the bip-bump-jump.

The announcement of the new edition of the game comes after players were complaining of dirty tactics being employed online. Because the penalties system of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (the latest addition to the franchise) was so poorly developed players are able to use walls and other vehicles as bumpers to guide themselves around the corner at phenomenally unfair speeds, often resulting in the other player receiving an inexplicable time penalty. As a result, Polyphony have taken it upon themselves to educate online drivers in racing etiquette to prevent such incidents from happening again.

“Look, we know, we screwed up when it came to Prologue,” said Motosada Goto, the executive producer of The Real Learning Simulator. “We figured, instead of trying to fix this with some simple playtesting and a game update to change penalty scenarios, which would take a month or so at most, why not take a year and a half to develop a whole new game based around learning to drive? I mean, GT is boring enough as it is – and let’s face it, nobody actually does the endurance races – so why not just make the situation worse?”

Gran Turismo: The Real Learning Simulator will take racers back to square one, placing them in one of five international locations (London, Berlin, Tokyo, New York and a village carved entirely from frozen children’s tears in the Arctic) with a driving instructor in the passenger seat. Starting off slow, players will read pages and pages of tedious information about how the clutch pedal works and why you must only engage the handbrake when the vehicle is at a complete stop, to ensure that they are completely in the know when it comes to driving a car. PLAYSTATION Eye compatibility will allow the game to monitor the eyes of players to ensure they are actually reading the information (preventing them from progressing if they are not) and a theory test is provided at the end.

Following the theory test, players will be slowly educated in moderating speed, changing gears and the various manoeuvres such as three-point-turns, reversing around corners and parallel parking. Traffic and hazard assessment will also be tested as the player gently tootles around in their choice of basic-level hatchback, from the Suzuki Swift to the Mini Cooper. Finally, after 40+ hours of gameplay, the driving test will be performed and the player is given their official GT driver’s license. (Polyphony was quick to point out that this is not a genuine driver’s license and is in fact entirely useless.)

“It’s a genius idea, I know,” commented Goto, after demonstrating ‘Lesson 10: Main Roads and Traffic Lights’. “Not only is it a great way of encouraging people to drive properly, but you need to obtain this license before you can start any of the license tests in Gran Turismo 5. That way, everyone will be a responsible driver whether they like it or not!”

Gran Turismo: The Real Learning Simulator is scheduled for a 2009 release, and will be sold in a non-optional double pack with Gran Turismo 5.

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