I've managed to make FF8 look and run better than ever before! Here's how.
1. Adaptive Anti-Aliasing. [With this new Anti-Aliasing method, FF8 will look as smooth as possible in the low resolution Square provied us with.]
2. Regular Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic filtering.
3. Samuel's Soundfont. [Removes the terrible midi's included with the game and replaces ones that sound almost identical to the PSX version.]
4. Creating images of all the discs. [Makes the game's loading times next from scene changes to FMV's next to nothing]
First off, you'll want to download the 1.2 patch and the FF8 Configurator.
1.2 Patch - http://aaronserv.dyndns.org/hosting/ffsf/patch.html (Keep in mind, there are different patches for GeForce users and Non GeForce users.)
FF8 Configurator - http://aaronserv.dyndns.org/hosting/ffsf/downloads/ff8conf22.zip
FF8 Configurator [Mirror] - http://members.westnet.com.au/bcrouch/ff8conf22.zip
1. ATI has released the Catalyst 5.9 drivers, which includes 'Adaptive Anti-Aliasing'.
Download them here https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=27
You can read more about it here
http://www.elitebastards.com/page.php?pageid=122542. In order to use AA and AF in FF8 with ATI cards without visual artifacts (besides a little in the menus) open Catalyst Control Center, and make sure that you switched it from basic to advanced. Turn AA/AF all the way up, click the Maximize button for 3D, then look for a tab called 'API Specific'. Check 'Alternate Pixel Center'.
3. Samuel's Soundfont It includes instructions in the .zip file. http://aaronserv.dyndns.org/hosting/ffsf/downloads/ff8dls_v139.zip
4. In order to create and run images of your FF8 discs you'll need to download ISOBuster and Daemon Tools.
ISO Buster -
http://www.isobuster.com/dl.php?v=1&l=0 Once you've installed the program, put Disc 1 into your drive. Right click CD, and choose 'Extract CD <image>, then select RAW. The program will extract the image of your disc onto your hard-drive.
Daemon Tools -
http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/download.php?mode=ViewCategory&catid=5Use this program to run the image you've created.
Also, in order for the game itself to recognize your new virtual drive, you'll have to go into the registry and change your default drive letter to the one you've created. Click start - run, then type regedit. HKEY LOCAL MACHINE - SOFTWARE - Square Soft, Inc - FINAL FANTASY VIII - 1.00. Now double-click 'Data Drive' and enter whichever letter you've chosen to be your virtual drive. For example, h:
I recommend making this thread a sticky for newcomers. I was a little lost when I first came here, but with help and a little experimenting I got FF8 to look the way I wanted it to. If anyone knows of anything that I left out, please let me know.
I'm going to continue experimenting with emulators though. If I come up with results better than these, I'll let everyone know.
- Edit by Alhexx -
Added Mirror-Link for FF8 ConfiguratorMod Edit (SB): Change thread title.