The VG Resource

What about 3ds max? It has some good importers for .DAE and .FBX. FBX should atleast work.

(04-14-2012, 09:16 AM)thegameexplorer Wrote: [ -> ]What about 3ds max? It has some good importers for .DAE and .FBX. FBX should atleast work.

The models do open in 3DS Max, but I'm even more clueless as to how to use it, so I can't even tell if the colors open with the models. (I was able to get the colors to display in Maya, but I couldn't figure out a way to do so in 3DS Max.) When I tried exporting the models from it into a format I could use in other programs, they still came out colorless. I don't know how much of it is due to my own ineptitude, and how much is due to the inherent problem with the FFVII models. However, I do seem to recall getting error messages during the export process about files that 3DS Max couldn't find, and those were (of course) the non-standard texture files with all the info. (If you wanna check it out for yourself, there's a small sampling of models here http://www.mediafire.com/?dqdhdt0y21s2vlj but I don't think I used Notepad to correct any of the texture locations for the few actual textures on those files; I think that was before I knew about that.)

Anyway, in other news, I've got the next batch of FFVIII models ready!

There's only one standard enemy in this bunch:

All the rest are bosses.
Okay, so, anyway, we're getting pretty close to the end now. There's only about three, maybe four more batches of models to go, then all the combat models will be...! Ah! I almost forgot!

Okay, in the file list, in between Ultimecia's forms from the final battle are two models that I don't know what they are or what purpose they serve:
Since magic is listed separately and isn't included in this file set, they presumably aren't just spell effects, but I don't know what they are, either. The sphere doesn't seem to have any associated animations; it might be something that encircles Ultimecia as she's transforming from one form to another, perhaps. (Been too long since I played the game; I don't remember how the transformations worked.) The lightning bolt-looking thing has animations that make it twirl in place, and move backwards, so perhaps it's some sort of sub-target Ultimecia summons? (Stupid strategy guide doesn't cover the fight with Ultimecia, so I can't look it up in my usual place. )

I can't imagine any possible use for the one that's just a sphere, and the other doesn't seem like it would have very many uses, but...should I go ahead and rip them anyway? If so, what should I call them and how should they be categorized?

Well, the models you uploaded are fine but, they use vertex coloring thats why there are only eye textures. I'm sorry but you'll have to find a way to get the rgb values and paint them.

Actually, Oilboyle is a boss too.
And that squiggly line thing definitely looks familiar. It's been a while since I played FF8, but I think it might act like the Bit in FF6's Air Force battle and absorbs spells or GFs or something..? I'm not 100% sure. Check out the FF wiki and poke around Ultimecia's pages and you might find it.

(04-16-2012, 11:02 AM)thegameexplorer Wrote: [ -> ]Well, the models you uploaded are fine but, they use vertex coloring thats why there are only eye textures. I'm sorry but you'll have to find a way to get the rgb values and paint them.

Actually, it's even more complicated than that; the models *do* have shading, so the only way to replicate it is to both grab a color *and* use a gradient to try and make it look vaguely right...and the one time I tried that, it really looked awful. Plus it seems like I can't even do that on the more complicated models. (It worked semi-okay on Chaos, but the human characters don't work as handily...)

(04-17-2012, 01:39 AM)Tonberry2k Wrote: [ -> ]Actually, Oilboyle is a boss too.
And that squiggly line thing definitely looks familiar. It's been a while since I played FF8, but I think it might act like the Bit in FF6's Air Force battle and absorbs spells or GFs or something..? I'm not 100% sure. Check out the FF wiki and poke around Ultimecia's pages and you might find it.

Ooh, you're right! Why did I remember it as being attacked by lots of little Oilboyles as you slog through the bowels of the Garden? Now that you mention it, I can remember the way they showed up towards the end...why do I only remember things when someone else reminds me first? Ughh...I hate being me...

I might actually dig out my old memory cards after all; last time I looked around at the FF wiki, it didn't seem to have much about Ultimecia's forms or anything. I could try watching someone's playthrough, but there'd be no guarantee they'd turn on the naming so I could see what to call things.

Yeah, two Oilboyles ambush you before NORG. And don't worry, there's no shame in needing your memory jogged.

A few nitpicks on the site;
1. I'd move Biggs and Wedge to the "Other Characters" section since they're not technically bosses and act more like NPCs.
2. Sorceress A, UFO, and Pupu are enemies and not bosses.
3. "The Brothers" is actually just called "Brothers." Similarly, "Diabolos" is just called "Diablos" in this game.

any luck finding the train

They've all been uploaded! Also, I made the changes Tonberry2k suggested.


Final Fantasy always has the strangest mixture of magic, technology, and unnatural monsters.

On the names maybe, but the icons still contain the spelling errors.

Whoa...I've been gone a long time. Sorry about that....

(04-23-2012, 06:52 PM)Tonberry2k Wrote: [ -> ]A few nitpicks on the site;
1. I'd move Biggs and Wedge to the "Other Characters" section since they're not technically bosses and act more like NPCs.
2. Sorceress A, UFO, and Pupu are enemies and not bosses.
3. "The Brothers" is actually just called "Brothers." Similarly, "Diabolos" is just called "Diablos" in this game.

Ah, sorry. I can understand how I goofed on Brothers, since it sounds awkward to talk about "Brothers" without a "the" in front of it, but I'm not sure how I managed to screw up the spelling on Diablos. Fixed versions:


Oh, and if Biggs and Wedge are going to be in the "Other Characters" section, then Seifer probably belongs there too. I should probably see if he's there or what, but...my Internet is running really slowly today, so...ahem...anyway...moving on...

I do actually have some more models ready. They look a pretty poor showing for how long it's been since I last posted any, but...well, anyway....

Into the "Other Characters" category, we have two troubled teens...
Then we have a few more standard enemies (the last of them, I believe).
And finally we have some more bosses.
Hopefully I haven't forgotten how to do anything in the long time I haven't been working on this stuff...I think I did everything right. (The actual ripping I did ages ago, so I'm sure it's all right, it's just the icons/previews and submission stuff that I'm no longer sure of...)

Fantastic stuff! Glad to see you back.

Okay, so looking ahead to the next batch of models, we're starting to get into the party members, including one of the ones who poses the biggest problems. Namely, Zell Dincht. As to the problem, you can see for yourself from this render...
...the guy's got no hands. Because he's a fist fighter, his hands are his weapons, but for some reason the only thing in the weapon files for him are the textures for his different fighting gloves, not the shape of the hands. (The same thing happens with Kiros's katal blades, and he doesn't even have multiple weapons, so there was no point to doing it that way!) The triangles on the ends of his wrists seem to be placeholders or something. I have no idea how the game deals with them, or where it gets Zell's actual hands from.

So, anyone who wants to use Zell's model for anything is going to have to graft someone else's hands onto his wrists. No problem there, I presume, and I'll be sure to add in a text file to the .zip to make certain that people understand. But what should I do about the render for the preview? Should I make sure the lack of hands is clearly visible so people aren't surprised, or should I try to minimize the effect?

Also, was a decision ever reached about whether it would be preferred to include the characters' weapons with their models or in a separate submission? Zell's not the only party member in the next batch, so I need to know how to proceed. (Though first I have to dig out my old memory cards and re-play the final battle to see what to do with a few of the weirder models, and see if there's a name for Ultimecia's different forms...)

You could do either, but I'd keep them separate.

Maybe it's a colour mesh and therefore not viewable?