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General Discussion / Re: The Promise of PC

« on: 2011-08-27 21:44:59 »

I would say that my present state of mind favours completion of this present playthrough as is with ePSXe, but if and when I choose to replay it or commence with FF VIII I may reevaluate. The more I've thought about it the more I refuse to purchase a used copy of FF VII or VIII for the PC. I'm either stuck waiting for SquareEnix to find another official release outlet, through which I'll happily pay the $10 or whatnot, if it's the same price as their PS Network version, or I'll end up downloading it somewhere. I've observed this forum has a rather stubborn mentality which suggests that not using the original discs is piracy, but as I noted earlier Square is absolutely no happier if you buy them secondhand. There's also the consolation that I have paid them full price for the PSX versions of their games, when they were released all those years ago.... Anyhow, I'm hardly eager to have to deal with any of that, maybe I'll let Steam decide it for me, or see if I don't notice some of the more intriguing mods mature to a point that I must experience them. I appreciate the helpful comments.

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General Discussion / Re: The Promise of PC

« on: 2011-08-27 08:37:25 »

Kuugen, you're not coming across as remotely objective.

Nostalgia can make one like dated graphics, this doesn't necessarily apply to everyone, but it is the case for many people even if that doesn't include yourself. It's important for everyone to realise we'll have our own opinions, but if anyone is going to start arguments that their opinion is right and the opinions of others are wrong, especially for a topic that has entirely to do with aesthetic preferences, they're only demonstrating their own small-mindedness. That won't get us anywhere.

The game was designed as a whole and everything was implemented in a fashion intended to complement everything else. Obviously Square possessed the capacity to utilise battle models outside of battles (much like they did subsequently in FF VIII) but it was earlier in development determined that they would use the simpler models. I suspect this had to do with having more characters (NPCs) on the screen at the same time and keeping the moving polygon count lower, but it's going to look rather bad, I opine, if you're using a complex battle model and surrounded by NPCs using the simpler variants. Perhaps if and when a modding project achieves complete and uniform replacement of all character models then it will see more acceptable, but at the same time in an environment wherein one has become attached to and formed fond memories of the simpler models, it might seem jarring or wrong.

Think of taking classic and highly regarded films such as the original Star Wars trilogy, and say someone decided that since they now have better special effects technology they could go in and just start replacing the original actors, props, backgrounds, with new enhanced versions. I'm sure no-one could possibly hate that, right? People won't miss the costumes  and characters that we grew up watching with such fondness, we'll immediately move to embrace these new variants despite the fact they clash so obviously with everything else in the film!

I'm not trying to shift our topic, only demonstrate using an removed example.

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General Discussion / Re: The Promise of PC

« on: 2011-08-27 01:40:00 »

I actually have several copies of the original PSX discs, the set I original purchased, a set I had borrowed from a friend prior to that, and the third set I somehow inherited from someone else. This is somewhat necessary as there are a few casualties. I actually ripped them to my SSD already in what are perhaps vain hopes that everything can load more quickly.

What I most appreciate about ePSXe with Pete's OpenGL2 plug-in is that it handles scaling to my 24" monitor (at 1920x1200) surprisingly well. There are artifacts and there's an obvious amount of smudging but none of the feeling is lost from the game and it remains better than it looked on televisions running from the console. A friend of mine (former owner of one of my sets of discs) actually purchased the imported, orchestrated, OST at some ludicrous price back when it was released, but I can't fault him as it sounds amazing. I would not be averse to somehow replacing the synthesized midi tunes with the orchestrated versions.

It's not my intention to change the game, just as many of those involved with originally creating FFVII have suggested, they're reluctant to attempt to remake the game on the basis of how dangerous changes can be. Perhaps a direct 1:1 port to an improved game engine with superior graphics and sound would be too little? Perhaps adapting graphics on that scale from pre-rendered, static, backgrounds to fully rendered would be too labor intensive? Perhaps the artistic touches and feel are complicated to adapt? What if they lose the feel of it? Then perhaps they consider a re-imagining is in order, with the same essential story but a changed telling to better suit modern technology and sensibilities? All of these ideas are complex, bothersome, and potentially hazardous. I would love to a new adaptation but I concede it will require more wisdom and foresight than I possess to make that work.

If I have a point, it's perhaps that mods which modify the game too heavily MAY reinvigorate it, but could just as easily lead us too far astray from what was obviously a satisfying game by itself. I think I've noticed some mods by some lovely chaps that might replace the music and utilise painstakingly upscaled pre-rendered backgrounds, are these relatively easy to install and use? I'm unclear on what graphical improvement mechanics the custom driver from aali is capable of implementing, also. Does it compare favourably with Petes?

Finally, I'm more than a little wary of tracking down and purchasing a secondhand copy of the PC version. Not simply because I'd likely have to do it online and might receive a bum set, but because none of that money will in any way benefit SquareEnix. I would much rather support the developer than some secondhand reseller who is selling it at a high premium. If it was properly licensed and retailed that would be another story altogether, I'd buy three copies just to remind Square it is a fantastic product and one they should keep more in their thoughts.

Edit: Also, don't most EULA stipulate that the license from purchasing a PC game is non-transferable, suggesting that only the original purchase is recognised as legitimate in the eyes of the publisher? This makes sense, they're rather sell a new license to a new customer than have the original customer reselling their discs, thus making secondhand copies tantamount to piracy. They are not legally licensed to resell that game. I would think that, given the absence of a legitimate, licensed, reseller, it would be preferable to favor piracy which does not profit the pirate to that wherein the pirate is seeking a profit through their misdeeds? In any case, I noticed that someone suggested in another thread that the game is in the Steam registry, were they to see fit to release it that would be fantastic. Why can't more publishers continue to recognise that PC gamers exist and want to buy their products?

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General Discussion / The Promise of PC

« on: 2011-08-26 09:14:29 »

Salutations, Qhimmites/Qhimmians/Qhimmer/Qhimmies/Whatever Demonym you favour hereabouts.

After recently recovering my cache of Playstation games from the attic I've decided to see what the ten-odd years have wrought upon my perception of my favourite games for aforementioned system, Final Fantasy VII and VIII. My original Playstation having long since given up the ghost and my Playstation 2 having fallen long out of favour, I've decided to see what improvement Playstation emulators might offer. I've taken quite a bit of time and configured ePSXe just so well that I've not regretted this decision, the capacity via Pete's OpenGL2 plug-in to alter the shaders and make other video adjustments is a massive improvement over the original PSX, and with my Dualshock controller being run through a USB converter from Radioshack the controls are familiar. As I've already sunk some 48 hours into this new playthrough of VII I must confide that I've found myself at once delighted and appalled; the former as it stands up as a wonderful game beyond the nostalgia filter and the latter in the knowledge that Square has completely lost their way. I've long since digressed...

I somehow found myself in these forums a few days ago whilst trying to ascertain the hidden numbers involved in chocobo breeding, I'm keen to produce a thoroughbred, and became aware of the many still ongoing projects to improve upon these games. It seems as though most of the promising and functional modifications are particular to the PC edition, which I do not myself possess, though I have noticed the convenient FAQ to guide one in such an acquisition. Frankly, however, given that I have three sets of discs for the Playstation version I'm hardly keen to shell out for the novelty of a technically different but functionally indiscernible version unless these modifications are properly impressive.

What's truly on my mind to discover is whether or not anyone can provide my with their own, relatively objective (as I concede subjectivity is unavoidable), opinion regarding the improvement of the experience offered through these mod projects, both completed and ongoing, over the ePSXe-enhanced experience with the original discs. Thus the question is one of which is best after improvement, for if my memory serves me I was unimpressed with the original PC ports the few times I saw them. The question applies equally and independently to VII and VIII, for I intend to have another go at the latter if and when I properly wrap up the former. Mind, the projects I think most interesting include being able to use improved sound files, improved visuals via aali's custom driver, and replaced models/textures/backgrounds.

I apologise for being winded and hope I'm not too unclear, I hope for and appreciate any sincere and helpful responses.