[FF8] Hacktuar - Script Fixes/Improvements

[Shard]

So, I've been editing many of FF8's scripts for the voiceover project, and I've taken the liberty of making a bunch of non-voiceover-related changes as well. Currently, no major mods exist for FF8 that change any of its scripts, so I figured I might as well go ahead and do them myself. Since this will likely be the first project to heavily modify the game's events, I figured I'd propose that other modders use it as a base for their mods.

Most of the script modifications I've been making are either bug fixes for cutscenes (like characters facing the wrong way or animating improperly) or are gameplay improvements (like giving the player the option at the start of the game to skip all tutorials). The only caveat of this is that some of the dialogue boxes have been combined or split for the VO mod, so players and modders will need to also use the text lists I've been using so that the correct dialogue boxes pop up in the right places.

I don't have a release right now because I'm still working on it. I wanted to open this up for suggestions of features/improvements that can be made to the game via scripting. A "skip all tutorials" option is just an example of something I can do. Cutscene bugs and continuity errors are also things I'd like to fix, if you know of any.

[Shard]

Bug Fixes

• When going to Dollet, characters in the BG main hall will now walk to the car garage instead of the front gate.
• Rinoa's clap at the dance party now has a sound effect.
• Most of the long pauses in "The Secret Area" have been shortened.
  
• Rinoa now looks at Zell and Selphie instead of the camera while talking to them during the train mission
• Selphie and Zell now look at the giant TV in Timber when it starts working.
• Selphie no longer turns to face the wall while drama is happening at the Timber TV station.
• Approximately half of the dialogue from the very first Prison scene has been cut from the game because every single line of dialogue in it is repeated with different words, and players are smart enough to pick up on it the first time.
• Zell's animations in one of the prison scenes have been improved, but they still kinda suck (it's the one where the guard picks him up off the floor).
• Quistis and Selphie now appear from the floor below instead of the floor above when they go upstairs to rescue Zell in the prison.
• The dialogue immediately after the White SeeD ship appears has been altered for continuity because Squall is actually the only character that has seen Ellone in the Winhill flashback.

New Features

• Players get the option at the start of the game to skip all tutorials.
• Players get the option at the start of the game to skip naming Squall and Rinoa (primarily for the VO project).
• Some characters have added dialogue in various areas to make the game feel more alive.
• Garden hired a web developer to make Selphie's diary easier to navigate.
  
• If you choose "I can't stand that song" as Laguna in Winhill, "Eyes on Me" will NOT play during the Ragnarok scene. "Love Grows" will play instead.
• There's a new minigame in the prison where you get to control how many times the guards kick Zell in the stomach.
• This happens when you die in the MD level.
• Every party member now appears and speaks during the second confrontation with Seifer at the end of disc 2.

[Maki]

New Features

• Players get the option at the start of the game to skip all tutorials.

Oh yes!

Keep on working! I'd love to see before & after video or screenshots.

BTW> VIII is like on fire this time! So much attention. <3

[LeonhartGR]

That is a great addition Shard!

New Features

• If you choose "I can't stand that song" as Laguna in Winhill, "Eyes on Me" will NOT play during the Ragnarok scene.

I believe the song should play no matter what you choose since it was supposed to force Laguna recall those memories when played...

[Shard]

Laguna isn't on the Ragnarok. That's the scene when Squall and Rinoa are alone. Lots of people (including myself) hate that song, especially the English version. If people want it to play, they can choose the other dialogue option.

[nfitc1]

Laguna isn't on the Ragnarok. That's the scene when Squall and Rinoa are alone. Lots of people (including myself) hate that song, especially the English version. If people want it to play, they can choose the other dialogue option.

That English version does suck, but that whole scene is awkward if music-less. Something needs to fill the gap one way or the other.

[Mcindus]

That English version does suck, but that whole scene is awkward if music-less. Something needs to fill the gap one way or the other.

Even "My Heart Will Go On" would be better than the English version.

Is there an instrumental version of that song?  That would be sweet.

This is beautiful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzkGkEEaq0M

[Shard]

That English version does suck, but that whole scene is awkward if music-less. Something needs to fill the gap one way or the other.

It actually plays "Love Grows" instead, which has the same melody.

[DLPB_]

The song's good, it's just that it's performed by someone who sounds like a teenie bopper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=634lpxv_A64&t=01m30s

[Maki]

Don't say that. I really like "easy on me". Even know the full lyrics. :<

[LeonhartGR]

I thought Laguna was listening from the Headquarters, my bad. Since communications had been interrupted in that scene noone else would be able to listen except for us. But I like that song whatsoever I would love to chose the option with Laguna admitting he doesn't like the song though.

[nfitc1]

It actually plays "Love Grows" instead, which has the same melody.

That's good, I guess. However, with the exclusion of this song you lose a part of the Laguna x Julia story.

[Sega Chief]

There's a new minigame in the prison where you get to control how many times the guards kick Zell in the stomach.

It's the little things.

[Shard]

Feedback wanted: What does everyone think of the scene in Timber where the G-soldiers are talking on the bridge? (it plays right after the Deling interrogation). I've asked people I know who've played it and they all say it's a pointless and unfunny scene. I currently have it removed from my game but was wondering if there's a reason to keep it in. I'm not a fan of removing content, but I really don't see a reason to keep it there.

[Kaldarasha]

Make it optional. FF8 hasn't the best story at all and there are a lot of those pointless side scenes. If you start to correct things because of the liking others you will end up with a too modified game.

[Maki]

Feedback wanted: What does everyone think of the scene in Timber where the G-soldiers are talking on the bridge? (it plays right after the Deling interrogation). I've asked people I know who've played it and they all say it's a pointless and unfunny scene. I currently have it removed from my game but was wondering if there's a reason to keep it in. I'm not a fan of removing content, but I really don't see a reason to keep it there.

Sir. Don't judge on what's funny, what's not. Just keep it how it is, and try to not delete vanilla content, please.

[Mcindus]

Sir. Don't judge on what's funny, what's not. Just keep it how it is, and try to not delete vanilla content, please.

I second this idea.  Even if you find it un-funny, it was part of the original, and it would be a shame to leave anything out.

[Shard]

Thanks. I'll put it back in.

[kaspar01]

Sir. Don't judge on what's funny, what's not. Just keep it how it is, and try to not delete vanilla content, please.

I second this idea.  Even if you find it un-funny, it was part of the original, and it would be a shame to leave anything out.

Totally agreed.

Actually it would be interesting add the originally removed stuff (instead of remove things).

For example there should be an extra dialogue removed in non-japanese releases when you finish the Fire Cavern test (the 2 garden's faculty guys were supposed to say something at the end of the test).

I'm pretty sure those dialogue are still present in the game files and it would be interesting have an "extended version" of the game whith all this stuff included.

Another example of not included things in the "playable game" are hidden views (for example Squall's room exit) and it would be cool to include them too somehow

P.S.

I like "eyes on me" and I don't really understand why you hate it so much.. maybe it's because english is not my native language :p

[Maki]

Another example of not included things in the "playable game" are hidden views (for example Squall's room exit) and it would be cool to include them too somehow

Oh yea!  That sounds extremely awesome. These areas do have walkmesh in it, so it just need some scripts.

[kaspar01]

Oh yea!  That sounds extremely awesome. These areas do have walkmesh in it, so it just need some scripts.

Yep!

I should have  a list somewhere..

Moreover ther should be some "hidden background events" in some backgrounds (door openings and similar stuffs) that could maybe be enabled somehow..

[Shard]

Actually it would be interesting add the originally removed stuff (instead of remove things).

I've done this with a lot of the game's dialogue. There are some wonderful lines of text in the game that were cut for some reason, like Ward and Kiros teasing Laguna about the "Piano Lady" before they visit the club. Square also cut what's probably Squall's best line in the entire game (it's at the end of the trailer I'm working on for the VO project).

I noticed the unused dorm rooms. The problem with these is they don't support all the costumes, so I'd have to script all the areas that would jump you there if I wanted to use them at all. They would be cool to use, but it's way too much work for a little polish. If anything, I'll only slip them into a single scene.

Also, I plan to use the "Balamb Garden gets hit by missiles" FMV that's on disc 2. Maybe it will play if the party dies in the MD levels.

[kaspar01]

I've done this with a lot of the game's dialogue. There are some wonderful lines of text in the game that were cut for some reason, like Ward and Kiros teasing Laguna about the "Piano Lady" before they visit the club. Square also cut what's probably Squall's best line in the entire game (it's at the end of the trailer I'm working on for the VO project).

I noticed the unused dorm rooms. The problem with these is they don't support all the costumes, so I'd have to script all the areas that would jump you there if I wanted to use them at all. They would be cool to use, but it's way too much work for a little polish. If anything, I'll only slip them into a single scene.

Also, I plan to use the "Balamb Garden gets hit by missiles" FMV that's on disc 2. Maybe it will play if the party dies in the MD levels.

Not sure it can be done but.. it's possible to take the chara file (which contains all needed costumes) from another stage  and replace it in the "hidden dormitory view" files?

I'd really like to read all these dialogue lines anyway

[meesbaker]

Sounds very good to me. Nice project!
Just a small question since you wrote that this was the first mod that alters the scripts. What about deling? Couldnt you get all of this by just using it?

[Shard]

Just a small question since you wrote that this was the first mod that alters the scripts. What about deling? Couldnt you get all of this by just using it?

I am using Deling, but these features aren't in the game. I'm writing them all by hand.