Topics

1

General Discussion / Almost Perfect Final Fantasy V

« on: 2010-04-07 05:37:53 »

Holy crap did you guys know about this?

http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/563/

Make sure you get the European version of the game and use LunarIPS or something to install it.

This really is close to perfect.  Although the static noise from the GBA is still there it has the SNES music and all the enhancements of the GBA version.

If this is old news tell me what else is out there that I don't know about?

I'd still rather play it on the Super Nintendo but I hear the advance translation is superior to every other.
Or am I wrong?  This would be a good place to ask I think, is the fan translation any good?

2

Gameplay / Final Fantasy VI - Definitive

« on: 2008-02-01 06:41:39 »

I'm replacing the original Super Nintendo translation with the Gameboy Advance version, and bits and pieces of SkyRender's.  For those of you who don't know, the SNES translation was awful.  The GBA translation is like the director's cut.  SkyRender's is a fan-made translation that was very, very literal.  I'm taking some sentences from his that I feel have more impact.  You may be thinking to yourself "Why don't I just play the GBA version?".  Well, the music sounds terrible, and the game is even more censored and kiddy than the SNES version.

The game will be more adult...tastefully.

*Hard-type patch - Because the game was extremely easy.  It won't be unbelievably hard...Basically if there were options for difficulty since the original was very easy, it would be on normal.  I guess it would be considered hard for newcomers but I've always liked my games to be hard, but not impossible.

*Uncensored sprites for enemies/espers - The American version censored the female enemies and espers that showed a little nudity. 

*No lame synonyms of curse words. - For example: Kefka: Son of a submariner!
Becomes - Kefka: Son of a b*tch! (Without the star...of course, this board censors those words.)

*Sprint hack - I've always liked holding down a button to run. 

*Bug Fixes - Vanish/Doom, Sketch, Evade, Psycho Cyan.

If anyone is interested let me know, you can test it out and look for any bugs or grammar problems for me.  I'm almost done...like 75%.

BETA ONE (February 17th, 2008) - http://download.yousendit.com/4752797720A2BB81

3

Archive / Is the NPC Project Scrapped?

« on: 2008-02-01 02:19:40 »

I check this site every once in a while and there are a lot of posts but no new releases.
It's been over a year now since anything has been released.
As I said before, the models you started with will make FF7 the way it was meant to be.
While I think Stormmedia is a good artist, you should finish what you started instead of scrapping all of that work.
Maybe he can create his own patch when this one's finished.

People please don't flame me for asking this.

4

Archive / Original Cloud Battle Model as a Field Model

« on: 2007-09-24 23:41:06 »

Does anyone have the original Cloud from battle as a model for the field?  I prefer this model, and definitely without him carrying around that big sword on his back, because it looks awkward in some scenes.  Especially when he's laying down.

Thank you very much

5

Archive / Problems Installing NPC Reconstruction Patch

« on: 2006-06-19 09:36:06 »

Hello everyone.

I'm having trouble installing the NPC patch. 

This is the error I receive.

'This program cannot update the installed version of My Product because of the following reason:  The Destination directory doesn't have any files to update.'

As you can see here, http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v699/silhouette05/?action=view&current=untitled12.jpg, I've extracted all of the files of the char file with lgp tools in my data/field/char folder.  The directory I've selected is correct in the install program, so I'm confused as to why it doesn't recognize the files I've extracted.

Thank you all for your help!

6

Archive / Replacing Textures in Emulation

« on: 2006-06-14 05:42:32 »

I've found that certain Nintendo 64 emulators are able to replace in-game textures with high resolution ones.  You can read about it here.  http://www.emutalk.net/showthread.php?t=26229

My question is, why has no one done this for PSX emulators? And if possible, maybe we could begin working on it?

7

FAQs and Tutorials / FF8 Enhancing

« on: 2006-06-13 09:59:17 »

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=12254

2.  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=5
Use 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 Configurator

Mod Edit (SB): Change thread title.

8

Archive / PC or PSX for Final Fantasy VIII?

« on: 2006-06-12 10:00:37 »

Hello everyone.  I'm debating on if I should play FF8 on the PC or an emulator like ePSXe.  Yes, I do have both copies of the game, I did not download the illegally.

Let me start off by saying I have a huge widescreen monitor, the resolution goes up to 1900x1200.  That creates a problem because of the 2D backgrounds stretching. 

Correct me if I'm wrong but, here are the pros and cons of the PC version

PC Pros:

The Character Model's animations aren't so...jumpy, if you get what I mean.
Was able to enable Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic filtering
Changed the music to Samuel's soundfont...so the music's fine in my opinion


PC Cons:

2D Backgrounds looks stretched
The World map looks terrible compard to the PSX version.

I'm not sure if I could describe the cons of the PSX version.  I haven't been able to find the right settings in ePSXe for my computer specs.  But so far I guess I could say

PSX Pros:
The Resolution can be turned up higher than 640x480
Better World Map
Filtering can be applied

PSX Cons:
Models are Jumpy
ePSXe is complicated

Well anyway, I apologize if this post is sloppy, I'm extremely tired.  My question for you all is, do you have any experience with ePSXe?  If so, could you provide good settings for an ATI x800xl and a big widescreen monitor?  Also, in your opinion, which would be the better experience?

Thank you very much

9

Archive / ATI Cards - No More Grid Lines in FF8!

« on: 2006-06-11 09:37:18 »

For those who want Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic filtering all the way up to 6x and 16x, follow these instructions.

Open Catalyst Control Center, and make sure that you turned switched it from basic to advanced.  Also, make sure you have Anti-Aliasing and Anisotropic filtering turned all the way up.

Click the Maximize button for 3D, then look for a tab called 'API Specific'.
Check 'Alternate Pixel Center'. 

No more ugly grid lines. 

10

Archive / This topic is to Aaron

« on: 2006-06-08 08:31:19 »

Hello Aaron.  Sorry to bother you but I searched through topics tonight and I found that you were able to use Anti-Aliasing on Final Fantasy 8? 

Aaron: "If you mess with FF7 and FSAA, you'll likely get some messed up grid on the background.  However, I think I've managed to pull it off with FF8."

Do you happen to have an ATI card?  I have an ATI x800 xl...and I get that awful grid.  But it looks so nice with anti-aliasing.  It's really a shame.  I wish I had a Nvidia card. 

Could anyone help me?  Not just Aaron.