Gran Turismo 4 Prologue

Gran Turismo 4 Prologue (グランツーリスモ4プロローグ, guran tsūrisumo 4 purorōgu) is racing video game of the Gran Turismo series for Sony Playstation 2 which is published by Polyphony Digital. It was released on December 4, 2003 in Japan and Southeast Asia, January 15, 2004 in Korea, and May 26, 2004 in Europe.[1] For undisclosed reasons, the game was not released in the North American market.

This short version title preceded the release of the full-length version Gran Turismo 4 in 2004 and was eventually followed by Gran Turismo 5 Prologue in 2007.

Overview
As Gran Turismo 4 was intended to be released in time for the worldwide 2003 Christmas release but was delayed, in consolation, Polyphony brought out Gran Turismo 4 Prologue as a sneak preview (including a documentary bonus disc in Europe) to the full experience of Gran Turismo 4.

Though it was necessary to limit the number of cars and courses included, this product still included some of the main features of the Gran Turismo franchise such as races, time attack and license tests. The sneak preview also expressed the latest technology Polyphony Digital had accumulated over the past two years. Featuring 50 of GT4's then-planned 500 cars as well as five courses, this expanded demo was designed as a stop-gap until the complete version was released.

The game includes a Driving School (License Tests), Free Run and Time Attack as well as early version of some circuits, like the New York track which was modified in the full version.

Special editions
In Japan a limited "Signature Edition" featuring the signature of the series producer Kazunori Yamauchi on the front cover package preceded the release of the regular edition. The regular edition was also bundled with a white ceramic PlayStation 2 console in a Christmas limited SKU called "PlayStation Racing Pack" released in Japan on December 4, 2003.

In Europe, the game was bundled with a promotional "Making Of" DVD-Video. While intended to be a limited content, the DVD-Video was also included in the Platinum re-release. The DVD was later included in the limited Gran Turismo 4 "Special DVD Set" released in Japan on December 28, 2004.

The regular edition was discontinued and the game was re-issued under Sony's 'Greatest Hits' line in Japan ("PlayStation 2 the Best") in August 5, 2004 and Europe ("Platinum").

Sales
As of April 30, 2008, Gran Turismo 4 Prologue has shipped 790,000 copies in Japan, 410,000 in Europe, and 160,000 in Asia (which includes 110,000 in Southeast Asia and 50,000 in Korea) for a total of 1.36 million copies.