TGS '07: GT5 Prologue mounting two-pronged attack Dec. 13 in Japan

TOKYO--At Polyphony Digital's press conference at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, president Kazunori Yamauchi announced that Gran Turismo 5 Prologue will be released in Japan through two methods of distribution on the same day.

On December 13, the game will be hitting Japanese retailers, and will also be offered for purchase via online download. Like the PS3 exclusive Warhawk, which was also distributed via downloads and boxed game discs, GT5 Prologue will have a two-tiered price point: 4,500 yen ($39) for the downloadable edition and 4,980 yen ($43) for the retail version. More details can be found on the game's official Web site.

GT5 Prologue's ship date comes after the announcement that a free downloadable demo for the game--which is itself a preview of 2008's Gran Turismo 5--will arrive on October 20 via the PlayStation Store. The demo will be part of a tie-in campaign with the Tokyo Motor Show, which takes place four days later. One of the drivable cars in the game will be revealed via a grand unveiling on the show floor of the automotive event.