Author Topic: Cosmos intro FMV with beta text  (Read 1357 times)

AstroTibs

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Cosmos intro FMV with beta text
« on: 2025-10-23 02:24:49 »
Here is a link to the video on my YouTube channel.

Link to IRO

The Cosmos upscaled FMVs with replacement character models are nothing short of spectacular. No idea how that was done.

However, I also discovered through Shinra Archaeology Cut the existence of the beta intro sequence, which overlays expository text. This was really incredible, and offers new context to that confusing, prolonged winding starscape at the beginning of the game.

I went ahead and combined these two things (while also modifying* the intro text).



* Modifications from the original beta presentation:
  • The line about the Avalanche leader being assassinated was dropped, since it isn't mentioned within and has no bearing on the game.
  • The final line, presumably the current date, was removed, because it is vague and awkward. Instead, the "knife-edge" line is the last one, centered on screen.
  • Timings of the text blocks are lengthened overall to fill these gaps.
  • Less time is spent between the end of the text and the cut to Aerith's face.
  • Scrolling text speed was better standardized.

Now, as a major disclaimer: while I'm aware that codecs have an impact on file size and sometimes playability, that's really all I know. I tried using ffmpeg to keep the bitrates faithful and keep the sizes down, but the final filesize is bigger than the source video (~70 vs ~50). However, it works in-game.

I've also never made a mod before, so this is bare-bones at the moment. No detecting or switching other mod options; no idea how to change default mod loader position when sorted.

At this time, I've only done this for Ninostyle 30 FPS, because those are my preferred settings.

So this post is really kind of an announcement that I did this, so that it can be made available to others; and to gauge interest, in case you'd like more options.
« Last Edit: 2025-11-14 03:44:48 by AstroTibs »

AstroTibs

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Re: Cosmos intro FMV with beta text
« Reply #1 on: 2025-11-14 03:49:28 »
Update to this

My attempts to add this to the 7H catalog have motivated Cosmos et al. were motivated to make their own official versions.

If any of you prefer my version with the edited beta text presentation (as seen in the youtube video), I've made the IRO available to download, at the top of this thread.
 

Chthon

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Re: Cosmos intro FMV with beta text
« Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 06:33:05 »
This might be helpful to you (or Cosmos): I made a vapoursynth script and .ass subtitle file to recreate the SAC translation of the beta text crawl over the top of the latest upscaled video from SYW Unlimited. It matches the original SAC video to within a few pixels, at least when using my version of vapoursynth-subtext. You could simply change the input video to use Cosmos' video instead of SYW's. This would give you the same text over a better upscale of the star field. (Or, if you want to edit the text, you can just edit the .ass file and the parts of the script that fade-in the corresponding lines.) Link.