Author Topic: The Reunion [IN PROGRESS] (Read 131305 times)

DLPB · « **on:** 2011-04-06 23:18:11 »

THE REUNION is in progress

Update:

I am going to be cleaning this thread up tomorrow and finalising this installer. I *may* need to wait for Luksy to update ts before I can release it. The translation project is now 85% complete (1162 of 1363 KB), with 64 maps of 554 remaining. It is likely that the project will be done within 2 months, but that depends on Luksy's time table. In any case, we are now approaching the end of the translation project... FINALLY.

THE REUNION

The Reunion consists of 6 mods for Final Fantasy VII.
(To learn about a mod, please click on a link)

1. BEACAUSE
2. MENU OVERHAUL
3. WEAPON
4. ISCAR
5. MODEL OVERHAUL
6. MEMORY PATCHES

Download HERE

Donate HERE

FAQ

Q. It isn't even installing?
A. Make sure you have administrator privilleges (right click- "run as admin" in later versions of Windows) and also make sure that YOUR ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE IS TURNED OFF.

Q. Th changes seem to crash my game.
A. Make sure that this problem is exclusive to this mod. Then make sure you have the latest graphic drivers and Aalis latest driver. If the game still crashes, post app log here and explanation. If you get the same error when not using this mod do NOT post a bug report here as it clearly has NOTHING to do with this project!

Do Nots

1. Do not install the Remix! It has caused numerous problems and is grossly out of date. If you have, and uninstalling it does not work, use fresh files before proceeding with the Reunion.

DLPB · « **Reply #1 on:** 2011-04-07 01:38:20 »

Beacause
by DLPB and Luksy

DLPB · « **Reply #2 on:** 2011-04-07 02:28:16 »

Menu Overhaul
by DLPB and Kranmer

Key features

Completely redesigned battle interface in FF9 or FF10 style.
Thousands of menu alignment issues fixed
Team Avalanche/sl1982 updates
Less textures needed
Options for some graphics and fixes (like Felix's tweaks)
Option for break 9999 limit (From Dziugo)
New font from ground up, including foreign character support.
Time limit cap of 99 hr 59 min 59 sec is now set to 999 hr 59 min 59 sec
Animated barrier graphics
Mini-game and script fixes
More Items in menus
Our Hex documentation

History:

When I began the retranslation project I quickly realised that certain things needed to be altered on the menu to accommodate the new size of the items etc. The magic ran into the red arrows (indicating All is applied). I had no idea back then of hex editing or coding or assembly or anything. Kranmer did and showed me the ropes, editing the red arrows to a new area. Within only a few hours I understood enough to hex edit the game based on the values Kranmer documented. We decided that Kranmer would locate all the values and code a few that were missing, and I would design and hex edit. It quickly became a full project intended to correct the thousands of alignment issues that exist... I can't quite believe they got away with releasing this game as it was.

After a while it became necessary for me to learn a degree of assembly, so that I could correct a few of the problems. Aali also helped and even coded right alignment of character names in battle. We finished 004 of the menu reconstruction and turned full effort to the battle menu which Kranmer had already started on his own months beforehand. With new knowledge it was possible to redesign the battle interface.

Unfortunately, after finishing the normal menu, I became dissatisfied with the results due to the dorky old font and sought to create a new font. After this was done, it became apparent that multiple things would then need changing yet again. The normal menu has now been redesigned from scratch, and so has the battle interface.

All of this started because of the red arrows in the magic menu.

This is now the official thread for the new project, starting with release M001. It is the successor of the Menu Reconstruction project and merges with the Re-translation project.

FAQ:

---------------------------
Q. The graphics look really messed up, especially in battle
A. Make sure you are using latest Custom Driver by Aali. Make sure you installed this project last and did not install Team Avalanche Menu Overhaul. Make sure your modpath in ff7_opengl.cfg reads "modpath=DK". Make sure that you have cleared Cache folder in the modpath, and try "Compress Textures = no" in ff7_opengl.cfg.
---------------------------
Q. The graphics are not updating when I change things in DK
A. Make sure cache folder is cleared and that your modpath is set correctly.
---------------------------
Q. Do I need to install Team Avalanche Menu Overhaul?
A. No. The Reunion installer comes with much of their work and uses a different modpath.
---------------------------
Q. My other lovely updates like that World Map overhaul by FeliX are no longer working.
A. Move the DK files and folders into your OLD modpath and change ff7_opengl.cfg back to the correct older modpath.
---------------------------
Q. This mod seems to be incompatible with one of my mods.
A. Post detailed explanation on this thread.
---------------------------
Q. The touphScript log mentions incorrect number of entries?
A. You did not use a clean flevel originally. If this is your second install of Menu Overhaul, place a clean flevel in BACKUP-dlpb and run installer again.
---------------------------
Q. Graphics look rubbish... the font looks bad.
A. Set fancy_transparency = on, in ff7_opengl.cfg
---------------------------
Q. The game borders look broken... choppy!
A. You have set your config properly when using fullscreen.
You must set it to your screen resolution e.g.
window_size_x = 1024
window_size_y = 768
---------------------------
Q. What isn't compatible with this mod?
A. Team Avalanche Menu Overhaul (main TA package is cool to use), Remix patcher, non 1.02 exe, other break 9999HP patchers (including Aali's driver version). Everything else is.

Things NOT TO DO:

1. Do NOT install Team Avalanche menu overhaul or associated menu files. This mod will not support it. If you have done, please reinstall our Menu Overhaul Project again.

2. Do NOT install ANY mod which changes the layout of the menu.

3. Do NOT install any break 9999HP patchers. Do NOT use aali's driver option for 9999 patch either. Use the one that comes with this installer.

4. Do NOT install this mod on a non English version of FF7.exe.

DLPB · « **Reply #3 on:** 2011-04-07 08:10:25 »

Weapon
by DLPB

DLPB · « **Reply #4 on:** 2011-04-07 18:21:11 »

Iscar
by DLPB

Work on Iscar has not yet begun

DLPB · « **Reply #5 on:** 2011-04-07 18:26:07 »

Model Overhaul
by SquallFF8, Kaldarasha, Grimmy, Pitbrat,
Bloodshot, Dahfa, Strayoff, Anfiga, Costa07

DLPB · « **Reply #6 on:** 2011-04-07 20:04:59 »

Memory Patches
by DLPB, Dziugo and Kranmer

ABHA · « **Reply #7 on:** 2011-04-07 21:23:58 »

lets not forget that you can also move through the pages quickly with the "page up" and "page down" buttons so its not too horrible.
However I really wish you would at least do two rows for items (although, if it were up to me I'd do 3) since you have the ability to carry more items than pretty much anything else. Besides with your new improvements there is plenty of space for it.

Nightmarish · « **Reply #8 on:** 2011-04-07 21:30:28 »

Now that i think about it, 4 columns for magic would be somewhat nice, since many magic materias have 4 spells associated.
Like:

Fire > Fire2 > Fire3 > Flare

Anyway, the mod is yours, so it's up to you

DLPB · « **Reply #9 on:** 2011-04-07 21:42:32 »

It simply isnt possible to do 2 rows for items because we are talking huge strings The box would look crap. That is why they kept it to 1 originally. Trust me, this will work.

As for flare and fire, they are in order of type (flare is part of the forbidden magic). To change it would be a big hassle for little reward.

This is a tradeoff between size of box and ease of use

and without Aali I can't sort the columns anyway... I can sort the rows.

BloodShot · « **Reply #10 on:** 2011-04-08 00:41:05 »

On the topic of aesthetics, are you planning to ever make a version in the future with borders that are like the classic background/TA hires borders? It'd be kind of cool to have the new minimalist interface with the classic look of the game.

sl1982 · « **Reply #11 on:** 2011-04-08 00:48:38 »

BloodShot · « **Reply #12 on:** 2011-04-08 00:49:28 »

Don't be hatin, I ask to be allowed one stupid question per year

Timber · « **Reply #13 on:** 2011-04-08 00:53:27 »

Quote from: Kemlin on 2011-04-07 19:20:03

Final Fantasy IX, on the flip side of the coin, had far fewer skills and abilities per character. In Final Fantasy VII, there are 54 magic spells. There are 24 enemy skills.

This. Also the FF7 materia system will very often leave big gaps in the list (because of pre-set slots for magic, instead of just stacking the spells you have equipped) making having 1 column even worse.

Quote from: DLPB on 2011-04-07 20:04:59

Item, Summon are better than original, magic and e skill slightly worse, in terms of finding them.

I dunno man, why take steps backwards? A slightly smaller window?
I really don't think people will care how 'cute' it is if you make it more cumbersome.

DLPB · « **Reply #14 on:** 2011-04-08 01:02:01 »

I am afraid not. The whole idea of this project is to move away from the old graphics. The old menu project is for the old font and graphics.

My mind is made up on the menus, if it can be done it will be. I can see what is in front of me, and the difference is minimal. The windows do not need to be that wide. Do not imagine things being so much worse. This isn't a step backwards, it is a step forwards. It looks miles better for the sake of clicking page down 2 extra times.

I am looking at these menus as we speak and it is certainly better the new way. Wait until it is released, then pass judgment.

Kemlin · « **Reply #15 on:** 2011-04-08 02:23:08 »

Quote from: DLPB on 2011-04-07 20:04:59

Well I have decided on the following:

E.Skill 1 column
Summon 1 column
Item 1 column
Magic 2 or 3 columns

But the number of rows has been increased from 3 to 4, so:

Item, Summon are better than original, magic and e skill slightly worse, in terms of finding them.

Will it be possible for you to release a reference guide after you're finished so that I may change the menus back myself? It's a good compromise between accepting the design decision and not using your mod, I think.

DLPB · « **Reply #16 on:** 2011-04-08 02:38:31 »

That would be tons of work, because to change them back would require a lot of changes. The menu the boxes everything. It is how it is.... And so far I can't alter the menu anyway.

I do not have time to write guides to editing the game... I am up to my neck as it is....

Kemlin · « **Reply #17 on:** 2011-04-08 03:30:41 »

Quote from: DLPB on 2011-04-08 02:38:31

That would be tons of work, because to change them back would require a lot of changes. The menu the boxes everything. It is how it is.... And so far I can't alter the menu anyway.

I do not have time to write guides to editing the game... I am up to my neck as it is....

That's fine too. Just post the notes you're using to do the alterations after you're done, if you succeed in making the menu alterations. I'll be able to work off them.

By the way, just to be clear, I don't want my comments to come off as "Lol I hate ur work". On the contrary, I sincerely appreciate the 8 hours a day job you're doing to overhaul the menu system. VII's biggest shortcoming is the battle interface, and you've done a miracle in improving it. Just...some things I want to see unchanged, and I'm willing enough to change them back for my personal use. Thank you.

DLPB · « **Reply #18 on:** 2011-04-08 04:32:41 »

Ok well I said I wouldn't me another beta but here is the latest:

New:

Menu rows are 4 and not 3
Item icons are cleaned up
Colour of bars is ready for Felix graphics.

http://rocketronnie.net/106.rar

Timber · « **Reply #19 on:** 2011-04-08 05:04:14 »

Quote from: DLPB on 2011-04-08 01:02:01

Wait until it is released, then pass judgment.

Well was only trying to save you doing work on something that seems kinda pointless.

I mean, you have already said that some menus will be at least 2 columns, so I don't see how reducing some of them to 1 column could possibly make it look 'miles better', especially at a cost to convenience.

And you kept basing the interface on FFX, which has 2 columns!

Meh I have made my case, I know it's not the end of the world, I'll just wait and see now like you say haha.

DLPB · « **Reply #20 on:** 2011-04-08 05:05:17 »

FFX uses a smaller font and the boxes are small. The problem atm is even if you can ignore the better look, the e skill box is going into the character names and display (when I make it so the display doesnt go away)

I may have worked out a way around this though

But you lot need to stop whinging

, so far I can't change it anyway I don't think I will be able to regardless. I am stuck with it.

fladimir_hokage · « **Reply #21 on:** 2011-04-08 18:43:40 »

man and the spanish fonts is fixed?

DLPB · « **Reply #22 on:** 2011-04-09 09:03:07 »

Spanish is not supported. This mod is for English game only (there is a spanish mod elsewhere based on our earlier work). I may provide the font sheet I used so people can make their own from my work but it isn't very simple. You need to be able to align it properly and edit window.bin via a place in the exe for testing.
------------

Anyway here is the new version. I did quite a bit of coding, and transparency is now supported. I coded transparency and menu clean up (i.e. main commands disappear when limit break options are up).

http://rocketronnie.net/108.rar

Progress report updated.

fladimir_hokage · « **Reply #23 on:** 2011-04-09 09:26:06 »

ok thanks

BloodShot · « **Reply #24 on:** 2011-04-09 22:42:55 »

Just tried it, It's very nice, very 8-like (except cooler looking

)

Is the transparent attack window caused by having transparent dialogue boxes on, or is that something the mod does? If it does that, I think it would be cool to have in

the installer later, a choice between a transparent and opaque attack window because the transparent one makes it hard to see the color.

It is really cool though, can't wait to see when the full-screen flashes for attacks and stuff work.