FF8 Enhancing

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Changeling

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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.
 
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If you use the Adaptive AA does it corrupt the text or anything. One thing i noticed turning the AA settings up higher was that some things would look garbled up.
 
I support the idea of stickying, except that I would rather see this without the fourth part.

I believe that you mean well - and it is good advice, but we have enough of a problem with people whinyb*tching about how it's ok to pirate these games since you can't find them in the store closest to you, without holding their hand and telling them how to make images.

Well, that and you could already reserve a space for instructions for nVidia users, should someone know some tricks.

Other than that, I think that stickying would be a good idea. :)
 
this stuff is AWESOME!!! i was using it in the past and it really made the game look far better than it was originally (i also used to have the broken graphics problem with my nvidia vga on winxp but those tools helped me really out). Definately a MUST!
 
wish i had adaptive AA option (only running GF3 ti200 in my media box to TVout for FF)
I'd like to see some of your best screenshots to compare to what i've got happening (of the world map, battle and a field location (preferably from the start of the game at balamb garden)

when emulating the psx version the world map and battle backgrounds are much nicer because of filtering.
Obviously the pc version is much smoother and glitch free though.
 
The link for FF8 Configurator does not seem to work for me... :cry:

Does anybody else have this problem?
 
For some reason, all my attempts to get my hands on this file have been in vain...

Clicking the above link, Googling it... all avenues seem to lead to the above site I can't seem to get access to... perhaps because I live in Japan?

Which is why, as a last resort, I'd like to ask: can somebody do me a *huge* favor, and email, or PM me the ff8conf22.zip file? My contact information should be in my profile.
 
Works like a charm, thanks a million Wuz.  :-D

(Edit)

Maybe its a good idea for somebody to put your link at the top of the page, in case anybody else has the same problem I did.
 
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Great post man! Can anyone put here some screenshots of ff8 with Anti-Aliasing enebled?
 
Hey Sephiroth - read this!

You know, this is basically like all of the improvements Qhimm has been making on FFVII, except for FF8...but having never played FF8, I wouldn't know how much more it has improved after all this...
 
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i'd post some screenshots but i messed around with some codec packs and now FFVIII won't run anymore (hard lock up at first video)
the system its on is due for a format so i might have some screenies later  :-P
 
I got FF8 working again - problem was the nvidia 91.31 (i think) drivers and using rivatuner with the anti-aliasing fix applied to the old drivers.
CORRECTION: TVout was stuffed

how can i play ff8 on my geforce with antialiasing!
Click to expand...
bit of a late reply but try the FF8 Configurator 2.2 and the anti-aliasing fix from the FF7 stickied thread.

is possible to set in this game a resoluzion > 640x480?
Click to expand...
not to my knowledge
 
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ok its going with riva tuner AA 4x4 very good but my bigger problem is the black boxes on the screen




gives any good nvidia driver for geforce 7600 go ? or any riva tuner patch?

Canim
 
do you have 8-bit palleted textures disabled for FF7?
on the world map i got a black box for squalls shadow when i had 8-bit palleted textures disabled in riva tuner...
 
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