4-bit vs 8-bit, Final Fantasy retouched.

[1000101]

I was uploading it when I posted that message, it's there now.

[adosorken]

Virtually every game used different storage/retrieval methods, there is no singular way to do it for all ROM images. For Final Fantasy, I have a specialized tool designed to do this kind of stuff. In the emulation scene, there are people who dedicate their entire "scene life" to reverse engineering old games and creating utilities to manipulate and modify them. You can try searching google for hacking specific games, or try an emulation central such as zophar.

[1000101]

Oh granted, granted. But, I was hoping for generalized information on how information is typically stored in the ROMs. I've done quite a bit of data/gfx/sound extraction over the years on the PC platform, but then, I'm familiar with PC architecture.

[adosorken]

For older consoles such as the NES, since memory was so limited, data was often compressed using simple methods. FF from what I understand uses some form of RLE to store its maps. I understand a lot of old NES games use RLE to store certain types of data. Graphics are always a planar mess though.

[adosorken]

Sorry for the double post, but...! I FOUND IT! The original project files! Only had to go through about 80 discs... It was on an active project CD... I forgot it was still an active project when I made the backup. D'oh!

The good news: All the soundtracks I couldn't find in my hard drive's module collection were on the disc, including the elusive marsh cave remix. Also, the entire US version script and each map with blocked and unblocked tilesets are here, plus a little map viewer I had written to view them. I even have most of the monster sprites from the 'official' FF remake (missing a few but got the good ones like Kary and the wizard ogre).

The bad news: The disc has some damage on it, and the project was saved progressively. The later builds are not recoverable, and the only builds that are unscathed are rather primitive. It's not even enough to go on. Looks like several other projects which were abandoned will stay that way as well...

I'll get this stuff archived and put up on my server tomorrow. I hope all this helps.

EDIT: I have half of the formations outlaid. I hadn't done this in the past so it's taking some time. As anyone who's messed with this game knows there's more to FF than meets the eye...it's a very technically sound game.

[1000101]

Oh yes, I agree. FF blew me away in it's shear size, complexity, storyline, plot, gameplay, replay ability (ever do a 4 white mage party? Dad did it once, that was too scarey for me to attempt ;P )

I'd be happy with what you can recover though (maps especially). I started my own map editor (which I'll need anyway) and been taking screen shots from the game to build a huge bitmap to work from as a reference. I say, that is a bit of a pain for anyone who has done it that way.

The music, however, would be gold. I definitely would like music (and graphics) that are available (nothing worse then playing a game with no sound. It adds a lot to the 'feel' as I'm sure you know).

Anyway, thanks for taking the time, now, why are you never on MSN? ;P

[na_th_an]

This may be interesting, folks: http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/file/...antasy.png

[1000101]

Sweet, thanks dude.

I had to find it manually (got a bad referer) though.

[adosorken]

OK...I was FINALLY able to get some of the stuff up now...

http://www.nodtveidt.net/ff/

As I get stuff ready, it'll be uploaded to this directory. Currently up is the full script (American and Revised English versions), the complete enemy formation chart, ALL the enemies from the WSC version of Final Fantasy (far superior to the NES sprites), complete maps from the NES version with blocked and unblocked tilesets and the viewer I wrote, plus the collection of remixed musics. I've found some other resources as well, including all the NPCs from the WSC version as well as the complete soundtrack from the PSX version, which is said to be very very very good. I also downloaded the 22MB intro movie from the PSX version but I haven't checked it out yet...I don't want to put that up until I get a chance to view it. I'll get this stuff sorted out over the next few days and add it when I get the chance.

Hope this helps the effort.

PS: Ooops...the Revised English script has one minor error in it that I forgot to correct before I uploaded it. :o

[1000101]

Hey man, all that is awesome. Where did you get the monster graphics for the WSC version? Got all the graphics for it? I still need compatable character graphics.