Can you feel the buzz now? We're definitely gearing up for E3. To be honest, I don't think we've ever been this excited about the E3. It just feels so wonderful to get that zing on once more, especially after the really, really, really tough past year for the gaming community. Good thing the industry continues to trudge along, making sure that our entertainment is their number one priority. And as you are our priority here at QJ, here's another week of recapped goodies for you, via our 71st edition of QJ QuickPeek.

The government of UK has made it known that they're apparently not a fan of racing simulation games such Gran Turismo. According to a government-backed report, these games are responsible for creating "a cachet of excitement and glamour around speeding."

Word is that Sony has announced plans to sell automobile-related programs and shows via the net. This appears to tie in with a related news snippet indicating the company's plans to add shows such as BBC's Top Gear to the GT TV itinerary. More details on this matter are in the full article.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Polyphony Digital have teamed up with BBC Worldwide to bring 40 episodes of BBC's Top Gear to the PlayStation 3's Gran Turismo TV (GT TV). It was also announced that the Top Gear Test Track, where the Top Gear team tests new cars every week, will be one of the playable tracks in the upcoming Gran Turismo 5 video game for the PS3.

In case you aren't familiar with GT TV, it is a dedicated online channel on the PlayStation Network which is said to provide viewers up-to-date information about motoring. President of Polyphony Digital and creator of the Gran Turismo series Kazunori Yamauchi was very thrilled that episodes of Top Gear will be shown on the online channel. In a recent press release, he said:

We at Polyphony are great fans of the world’s best motoring programme, Top Gear, so we’re delighted to be collaborating with BBC Worldwide to deliver Top Gear content via Gran Turismo. We’re sure that players will be as thrilled as we are when they get the chance to put their own driving skills to the test on the Top Gear Test Track in GT5, as well as enjoying classic episodes of Top Gear via GT TV.

BBC Worldwide's Director for Digital Media Simon Danker shares the same enthusiasm as he stated:

BBC Top Gear is the world’s number one motoring media brand and we’re thrilled to make it accessible to Gran Turismo gamers. We continue to explore different avenues to share our content with an expanding audience, and are delighted to participate with Polyphony Digital in the launch of this exciting new opportunity.

With Polyphony Digital and BBC Worldwide partnering up, it appears the real winners here are the Gran Turismo 5 community who will be getting more content for GT TV. We can expect both this service and Gran Turismo 5 by next year, so racing fans might want to watch out for that.

More details are coming in regarding Sony and Polyphony's plans for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue's presence at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.

The first update is that Sony will be demonstrating GT 5 Prologue's GT TV - a built-in service that will enable to users view real-life motoring shows like BBC's Top Gear, and Japan's Car Graphic TV via episodic content. GT TV won't be available offline, though.

Moving on, it's also been reported that the GT5: Prologue demo that's scheduled to launch for Japan's PlayStation Network this October 20, 2007 is only going to be available until November 11. And lastly, the GT5 Prologue demo is reported to carry one track - the Suzuka Circuit - and will offer you the privilege of driving one of these seven cars:

• 2008 Lexus IS-F
• 2009 Nissan GT-R (that lovely set of wheels to your upper right)
  
• 2008 Mazda Atenza
• 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STi
• 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR
• 2008 Daihatsu OFC-1
• 2009 BMW 135i coupe
  

Up to 16 cars can be on the track at the same time, although the demo won't be online-capable.

The guys behind Xeno Top Gear has released another video, this time about the installation of their product. Let us warn you before hand about the dangers of DIY when you don't have an idea as to what you are doing.

With that out of the way, the two and a half minute video shows which cables to remove and which to connect where. Hopefully, those who ordered the Xeno Top Gear would be able to install theirs safely. The video looks relatively easy - as the makers also gave an assurance of this in addition to another about quality. Anyway, exercise caution.

The guys behind the Xeno Top Gear recently posted demonstration videos of their recently released product - one updating the firmware, the other showing the mod's hard drive data transfer feature. At the same time, they've given an assurance of the quality of their product, in response "to some of our competitor's claims," especially noting the original design of the Top Gear.

Oh well, that truly is the nature of economic competition: the different approaches to providing the same service. The drive to increase value and reduce cost. The snarky snide snipes from one competitor to another. Geez, you think the PS3-Xbox 360-Wii competition was the only scene full of vitriol?

The second video at the full article.

They sure can bend it like Beckham and strike it like Zidane, but just like their human counterparts, they too would head off to retirement. I'm talking about the Toyota Aygo "car football" team, who will make one final appearance at The 100 Years of Cars parade in London on July 16. It'll surely be the highlight of the parade wherein 250 cars of all shapes and sizes will participate.

If our English friends would recall, the football playing Aygo was featured in two episodes of the British motoring program called Top Gear. Millions of viewers witnessed the match between Toyota Aygos and Volkswagen Fox. Piloted by presenters James May and Richard Hammond, along with professional racing drivers, the cars attempt (and succeed!) to push a giant inflatable ball into the goal.

Though they were no match for the Volkswagen Fox, they do deserve lots of applause and cheers as they parade from Piccadilly Circus to Trafalgar Square. It's a parade fit for football heroes, human or mechanical kind.