All US gamers were probably jealous of Japanese gamers as they got Gran Turismo HD as a free download. They were planned to receive this download on the 24th of December via the PS3's PlayStation Network.

It gives me great joy to inform you that the Japanese are not the only ones who will benefit from this download. According to Gamasutra, the Gran Turismo HD download, now called Gran Turismo HD Concept, is also available on the US PlayStation network as of December 24, and it costs nothing!

This title was originally planned as a full network release and planned to be released without any cars or tracks. You were supposed to buy cars, tracks and all the other in-game items, later on via microtransactions.

Kazunori Yamauchi, the game's designer, sent out an online message in which he reveals that Gran Turismo HD is available for download but for a limited time, Apparently, the demo/game will include ten cars and one track. This will be the first Gran Turismo game to feature a Ferrari, but all the other car manufacturers like Nissan and Mitsubishi, which have appeared in Gran Turismo on a regular basis, have not been left out.

The game is described by its designer as follows: "With the power of the PS3 technology, the world of Gran Turismo is refined by its full HD visual presentation and unique interactive experience, resulting in an even more realistic and true driving simulator."

Too bad I don't have a PS3 yet, but one of these days...