Custom graphics driver for FF7/FF8 [v.1-.7.6]

[blargiefarg]

sorry for not posting my problems, but the app log file shows no abnormalities, and i don't know if there is a separate app log file for the drivers, (i don't think there is.) so unless any one knows of a way to list my errors, all i can say is that ff7 runs fine, but the driver didn't do anything. i'm running vista sp1

Do you have an APP.LOG, and if so, is there a mention of OpenGL in the first 10 lines? If so, the driver loaded successfully and you can change settings in ff7_opengl.cfg. Otherwise, here's the giant instruction list of doom:

Make sure your graphics drivers are updated to the latest version.
Make sure you have the 1.02 patch from Eidos (other mods/patches will probably be okay, but if the driver doesn't work, try replacing ff7.exe with the original 1.02 version)
Open FF7Config.exe and make sure MIDI is all good.
Install the graphics driver by unzipping the latest release to the folder that contains FF7.exe.
Run the correct reg file to put the driver into the registry. (under Vista, type regedit into the search box in the start menu, run it as administrator, and import the correct reg file from the "file" menu)
Edit ff7_opengl.cfg and set fullscreen to false and resolution to 800x600.
Run the game and report back whether it works or not

If your game launches in a window, you're all set. You can change settings in ff7_opengl.cfg to whatever you want; just use a text editor like notepad and read the comments so you know what the options do.
Once the driver is installed, don't open FF7Config.exe again unless you reimport the correct reg file afterward.

does it have to run in a window? also, do things screw up if i set it to a high resolution, such as 1168x1024?

[arew264]

No, you can set the resolution to whatever you want as long as your video card and monitor can handle it, and you can run fullscreen if you want as well.

I have you set fullscreen to false in the guide so it's very obvious if the driver doesn't load. Once you've got it loading, feel free to change whatever you like.

[ff7rules]

I have recently got a new laptop and hadn't really been into the PC version before. Anyway i decided to get this and well it just doesn't work for me all i get is a black screen then it goes back to windows. My APP file is empty so i have no idea what the problem is, however my specs are in this link http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/447/myspecs.jpg

Is this a known problem or a new one? the game works great without the custom driver

[Harruzame]

I suggest you go to the game tweaking thread.... 

[pyrozen]

I have recently got a new laptop and hadn't really been into the PC version before. Anyway i decided to get this and well it just doesn't work for me all i get is a black screen then it goes back to windows. My APP file is empty so i have no idea what the problem is, however my specs are in this link http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/447/myspecs.jpg

Is this a known problem or a new one? the game works great without the custom driver

open the open_gl.cfg and keep disabling things until it works.  Set your resolution at 800x600(for test purposes) and turn fullscreen off.  Try that and if it still doesn't work, try disabling shaders and see where that gets you.

lee

[ff7rules]

I have fixed the problem i needed to run it as an admin on vista thanks to all those who tried to help!

[drfeelgud88]

I have fixed the problem i needed to run it as an admin on vista thanks to all those who tried to help!

Remember: Vista = Run as Admin on EVERYTHING. Lol it's that annoying. 

[pyrozen]

Remember: Vista = Run as Admin on EVERYTHING. Lol it's that annoying. 

I prefer
Vista = Reinstall XP and wait for Win7

[drfeelgud88]

Remember: Vista = Run as Admin on EVERYTHING. Lol it's that annoying. 

I prefer
Vista = Reinstall XP and wait for Win7

I do too but meh, don't want to spend cash on it. 

[Tekkie.X]

For me it's stick with XP but maybe dual boot with Win7 once it's been out for a while.

[titeguy3]

Vista isn't *so* bad so long as you stick with 32-bit and turn off UAC first thing.

I'd say my Vista runs better with UAC off then XP did.

[Hellbringer616]

why 32bit? granted it's Windows 7 i'm using, But i'm using 64 bit and it works flawlessly.

On topic: Aali, what are you plans for the graphics driver's future? are you planing on adding new features? Or just fixing bugs that might pop up?

[billy66bare]

What's up everybody

My bad, all is good!!  Thanks Magixts!!!  Thank you Aalis, though your drivers didn't work for me, they seemed to have helped many and kept this game alive!!

I recently decided to reup FF VIII.  I had it on PS many years ago (.  Had 2 cards each with 100 hours of play, but never beat the final battle.  I thought that going over 100 hours was bad?

Anyways.  I have tried the patch alone, the patch with the drivers.  The drivers with the loader, and the loader with the patch.  I have tried changing the .cfg file settings.  I have also tried lower resolutions, all the way down to the original for the game.

Every time I load, even with all my NVCP settings on very high (they don't seem to matter) it's very pixi-lated.  There are no smooth lines.  It looked better just plain straight off the disc, but I had the black box issue.  

Is it just the game is sooooo old that there is no way to improve it further?

monitor res: 1680x1050
GPU 8500 GT SLI
Vista x64  (cause I know better!   )
Thanks in advance!

[Hellbringer616]

run FF7 as admin and it should work, I assume you ran the vista64 reg file as well.

Now, it won't make the game look any more or less pixalated, it will however let you run at high resolutions, and use the settings in the nvidia control panel, and many many many more improvements (new world map textures when released and Team Avalanche 2d overhaul)

[pyrozen]

well, the normal 2D backgrounds will look the sam no matter what you do(until someone re-does them/if ever).  The driver really shines in battles and on the world map. try cranking up the res and turning all your GFX settings to max and tell me you dont see a difference in battles from the stock settings.

Also, after you install the custom GFX driver, you cannot use the FF7 control panel anymore, otherwise it basically disables the custom graphics driver.  If you have run the FF7 control panel, you must execute the .REG file that came with the custom graphics driver again to restore it to working order. 

It looks great on my rig, and it's not even 1/10th of what your working with!

lee

[billy66bare]

well, the normal 2D backgrounds will look the sam no matter what you do(until someone re-does them/if ever).  The driver really shines in battles and on the world map. try cranking up the res and turning all your GFX settings to max and tell me you dont see a difference in battles from the stock settings.
lee

Yes, I didn't think of that.  Brian Fart.  Thanks! and yes, the 3d battle looks waaay better than it did on PS!

[Qudeid]

About Vista... I never had much problems with Vista (even 64 bit). Only problem was in the beginning where there were only few 4 bit drivers out there.
And I don't really see the problem many have with UAC turned on. Sure it is sometimes annoying, but well, it works totally fine for me (Given, I am running Windows 7)

Anyway, those Custom Driver really rock. I'm really loving them!

[FireBreath]

These drivers are awesome! (Thanks Aali)  Finally I can play in a Window and get some FF7 time in at work

My only issue, is that I see some intense flickering whenever there's 2D overlay graphics/transparencies.

For example, in Corel Prison town, there's a few scenes with sunlight rays that are laid across the scene.  These sunlight rays flicker violently in intensity from barely there to almost-opaque very quickly (I like to call it "seizure mode").   In battle, on the world map, etc, everything is perfect and I don't see any glitches.   But these overlays of sun rays or light effects seem to happen pretty often, and can be quite hard on the eyes and really takes away from the ambience of the game.

Has anybody seen these issues?  

(I'm running on a Dell Latitude D620 with Intel 945GM, on Windows XP SP3.  For the sake of trying to fix these issues I've turned shaders on and off in the config file, as well as attempting to disable post processing.   Also this issue seems to happen in all resolutions, and happens in fullscreen as well as windowed).  The Dell Drivers for the 945GM don't have a 3D options panel unfortunately, so I can't modify anything on that side.

[Aali]

It does sound like an issue with your graphics card/drivers, specifically Intel has serious issues with some setups. Disabling shaders usually works through, but I see you've already tried that. Update your drivers, tinker with different settings, see if you get lucky.

[FireBreath]

Tried some newer drivers from Intel.. had to force the install over the Dell modified drivers.. and still, flickers like mad.

I've tried the extra 3d settings (now that I have a 3d settings panel) described by Mindrip here: http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=8306.msg113404#msg113404

And still.. flickers

I'm hoping I can get a response by Mindrip, maybe his ff7 cfg file will fix this for me.

[LeeHiOoO]

Aali, it's been a while I've been asking this.... and yet got no answers from you.
What are the chances for you to implement the 'direct mode' thing (bypass .lgp) for the ff8 files (.fs .fi .fl)?
I'm really willing to use this feature as I'm messing with ff8 files, it would really speed up my tests.

[Aali]

Outlook not so good.

FF8 does not have the same structured file API and it doesn't really treat the archives as a regular file tree like FF7 does.
Besides, there are way more important things to do with FF8.

[LeeHiOoO]

Ohh bad news. 
I guess I'm stuck with unpacking/packing files.
Thanks anyway.

[megaknight]

when i run this at 1440x900 resolution, i get lines on backgrounds! is there a way to fix this?

[titeguy3]

try turning on the "prevent rounding errors" option.