Question about switching character images....

[Cactuar]

Hi everyone, I just discovered the wonderful world of FF7 PC mods and patches recently and was wondering if someone could help me with something...

The other day when I re-installed FF7 again on a new computer and decided to start up a new file, I was hit with the idea that it would be interesting to change the character "sprites" around. Now, it's nothing near as extravagant as what I've seen some of you guys create, since I'm not trying to modify an existing character. I simply want to replace one with the other. For example, exchange Tifa's image with Yuffie's and vice versa. And because the user is given an option to change the name of each party member, the characters names can easily be exchanged as well. Same thing with in-battle party, that shouldn't be a problem.

So any advice on how to go about switching character images around? Might just make the game a little more interesting if Cloud had a different childhood friend or a different character turned out to be the last Ancient or something. It doesn't SEEM that complicated since the image parts are all available. Obviously there would be a couple of issues like the FMVs would still contain the original characters. And also it might be a bit strange to say, exchange Aeris for Vincent or something like that since the other characters would still be referring to that character as a "she".

Anyways, sorry for the long post, any input from you guys would be greatly appreciated Thank you!

[squeeble]

Um.."sprites" Do you mean models, coz theres no sprites in FF7, if it's what I think you mean you want to do then yeah thats entirely possible.

[murak]

welcome to qhimm, Cactaur. I am pleased to see you enjoy our work here.
I myself will be ever so happy to help you out here, and I could change anyone with anyone, but to have their limits working will be more time consuming, but is possible. to change the characters models around, you need to use kimera. (made by borde and is found in programming feedback. or just go here: http://forums.qhimm.com/index.php?topic=4194.0) and to change the game text to make sense, use a programme like meteor or loveless. or you could just use a hex editor to change the on screen model and the battle model around. if you want me to help you out, just tell me or PM me and if I have the time available, I'll help you out since it doesn't take very long to simply change people around.

[Cactuar]

Squeeble - Yeah I meant models, I said "sprites" because at the time I couldn't think of the best possible wording for it, it was late and I was tired haha That, and I used to do some work with GBA hacking and editing and many components were generally referred to as sprites XD I have yet to try modifying in 3D   

murak - Thanks so much for your input, I've downloaded what appears to be the most recent version of Kimera and will look into the other 2 programs that you recommended. I'll play around with it for a bit and see what I can come up with myself and if, by a couple of days, I have still not successfully managed to switch characters around, I'll be sure to take you up on that offer for help Thanks again!

[murak]

don't use Kimera V0.82, use something like V0.7 or V0.81 because the newest one is buggy and has new problems.
in order for the models to work WELL, I recommend the "copy and paste" method over the body parts, that way the animations will work properly, and won't be messed up every 2 seconds of them being on the field.
(the "copy and paste" method woks like this; (this only work with field models) open up 2 kimera windows, in one, the person to be replaced, in the other is who will replace them. double click on a body part, make a note of the name, then in the other kimera open the same body part you're changing, go to 'load P file' and input the file name and make slight adjustments to make it fit properly and and when finished, go to 'change animation' and try out their other animation files to see if they're buggy.)
I forgot to mention you need Ficedula's LGP tools to extract the LGP file and put the content into a folder for editing, and then use it to create new LGP file to make the changes take effect. you also need to do the maximum install for the new models and stuff.

[squeeble]

That and you also need ficedula.dll to make his programs work, I believe it can be found on his site http://www.ficedula.co.uk/.As for doing the same with battles models how exactly do you want to swap them, as in tifa using yuffies animations?

[Cactuar]

Yeah I already have Ficedula's LGP tools, will get an older version of Kimera and try the method you recommended.

As for the battles, I assumed that I could just use the Jenova program to do that? In this case to actually switch the characters, not just their images... I havn't really spent much time with that program, just opened it up and glanced at the interface really, and put it aside for later exploration. Should this program do the job correctly?

[Hyunckel]

Yeah I already have Ficedula's LGP tools, will get an older version of Kimera and try the method you recommended.

As for the battles, I assumed that I could just use the Jenova program to do that? In this case to actually switch the characters, not just their images... I havn't really spent much time with that program, just opened it up and glanced at the interface really, and put it aside for later exploration. Should this program do the job correctly?

Jenova can only add characters to your savefile.... nothing exceptionnal, it's a save-editor.