Dear Geohounds,

Recently, the Topic of allowing Turbo functions in Grandia 2 was brought up and I consider this to be a reasonable discussion to have.

7-8 years ago, Turbo wasn't really considered too much, since there was a general mindset of "nothing that original hardware doesn't allow". As far as I am aware, neither Dreamcast nor PS2 had a default turbo function, so that kind of thinking was very valid. However, the "basic stance" on something should be questioned regularly, to make sure that it is still correct.

As far as I am aware, a Turbo function would mostly benefit from skipping dialogue during that run. Personally, I don't consider mashing through textboxes during a long run a "speedrun skill", that needs to be compared with other runners.

The only section that I could imagine where Turbo might make a difference is the Armwrestling minigame, and even that is something you will win by default during any% runs. There are currently no 100% runs, so I don't see a point in taking into account an empty category for the current rules. Should there ever be any interest in 100% runs, then I am sure that we can adjust the rules further in a fair way for that category.

Long story short, I am in favor of allowing Turbo functions for Grandia 2 speedruns.

List of open bounties for all FVIII speedrun categories

Please note that all bounties require you to provide a method that can be reproduced on a legit copy of the game, without any tools/software that manipulate your game and/or savefile.

Task: Find a way to enter the Esthar continent near the Great Salt Lake at the beginning of Disc 3, before the Ruby Dragon Laguna Dream. Reward: 100€ (Ahramanyu)

Task: Find a way to enter the President's Room in Esthar right after the final Laguna Dream. Reward: 100€ (Ahramanyu)

Greetings,

With the release of the "Remaster" version of FFVIII we once more have voices within the community that would like to discuss the known FPS issue where both the 2013 Release and the 2019 Remaster for PC run slightly faster on Win7, compared to other operating systems. We also need to figure out where to place the "HD" versions in general, and if they should be separated by console or not.

The short topic first: Right now, all "HD" console versions are under one new category, all put together. We do not see a reason YET to separate them, but that is simply due to us not having enough information on any differences yet. If you for any evidence for us that the PS4 version and, for example, the Xbox version have noticeable differences, please point them out to us in this topic. HD PC will be its own category and not be put together with the 2013 release.

Secondly, the Windows issue. While I personally love Windows 7, it already is a very old OS and will no longer be supported by Microsoft within the next year. It is understandable that a lot of runners would prefer to use a modern OS and to not be forced to run Win7 (for security reasons alone).

No decision on that has been made and we would like to discuss with the community the following options, while also asking for other solutions that we haven't considered yet.

1) Allow all operating systems and do not differentiate. 2) Allow all operating systems, but note the one used per run. 3) Separate PC runs done on Win7 as its own category. 4) Ban Win7 as OS for PC runs entirely.

This is not a call that we can make on our own. We do require your input. Please share this thread to any FFVIII runner you know and ask them to contribute.

Regards

As of January 19th 2016, we will not accept runs anymore for the top 10 of pc any% that were done on a modified version of the game. This includes replacing soundfiles, HD enhancements or any other changes of the original gamefiles.

Already accepted runs will not be touched in any way.

The reason for this decision was the fact that replacing the midi-soundfiles of FFVIII would shorten the speedrun slighty, which is something that we would like to avoid in the future. If you are a runner who cares about the competetive aspect of speedrunning, then we are sure that you would want to compete on even ground.

¤¤UPDATE¤¤

It is now allowed to use the ps1 quality audiofiles under Resources. The reason why those files are allowed, while RaW is not, is the way RaW works: RaW mod does NOT replace the audiofiles, but it disables them, resulting in audio related triggers happening early (as can be seen in Laguna Dream #1). Replacing the files directly with the suggested audio package will make every trigger work properly.

After recent events, where a very good run died at Ultimecia ( /hug W1ndows), i decided to do some testing.

Problem: At the french version of the Steam Release, Hero/Holy War has a chance to miss, which causes the character to die to Grievers Schockwave Pulsar.

Setup for testing: To figure out if that problem only exists in the french version, i installed every language of the game and used 400 Hero on 3 different junctioned characters (each character used a Hero on himself as soon as the old one ran out).

• Zell: No Vitality-, Magic-J or Spirit-J
• Selphie: Vitality-J, but no Magic-J or Spirit-J
• Squal: No Vitality-J, no Magic-J but Spirit-J

Results:

• English: 0/400
• French: 52/400
• Italian: 46/400
• German: 36/400
• Spanish: 32/400

Observation: During all tests, not a single time did the Hero miss on Zell or Selphie. Every single miss happens on the character with a high Spirit-Value (i switched around, to make). After knowing that Spirit seems to be the issue, i raised Squalls spirit to 255 and threw 100 Hero and 100 Holy War on him.

Results: Holy War at 255 Sprit:

• French: 29/100 Hero on 255 Spirit:
• French: 24/100

I then continued with switching stats around: 255 Magic, no Spr-J. Not a single Miss in 200 uses. As next test, i juntioned 100 Breaks onto Squall, set his Magic at the same value and did another test with 100 Hero & 100 Holy Wars. Not a single miss. The same test with higher values (100, 150 and 200 Spirit) gave me the same result, as long as his Magic-Value matched his Spirit-Value.

[quote]Conclusion: To make sure that Hero/Holy War doesn't miss on a character in any language but english, the Magic-Value has to be higher or equal to the targets Sprit-Value.[/quote] Extra: After 100 uses of Aura Stone at a character with 255 Spirit, not a single miss happened.

• Balamb -> Balamb Garden (car): 24 seconds - Balamb Garden -> Balamb (car): 12 seconds - Shopping: 6 seconds

    	Total = 42 seconds
  
    - Balamb -> Balamb Garden (walk): 29 seconds
    - Balamb Garden -> Balamb (walk): 24 seconds
    - Shopping: 6 seconds
  
    	Total = 59 seconds
  

tl:dr - Car wins

Before the Esthar Menu starts, you have a little chat with Professor Odine. Depending on who you take with you, this dialogue will take a different amount of time.

	- Edea, Zell, Irvine: 38.5 seconds
	- Edea, Zell, Selphie: 39 seconds
	- Edea, Zell, Quistis: 37.5 seconds

As long as you don't need to adjust Irvines Health during the Esthar Menu (route dependent), taking Quistis with you is the best choice.

Purely for entertainment.

So far, we have to assume that this glitch does not provide any benefit in a speedrun. Still, using the same method, we might be able to get similar results in other areas.

Credit goes to Nickynoel

	- Irvine + Quistis: 1 minute 2 seconds
	- Irvine + Selphie: 1 minute 5.5 seconds
	- Irvine + Zell: 1 minute 2 seconds
	- Zell + Quistis: 1 minute 2.5 seconds
	- Zell + Rinoa: 1 minute 2.5 seconds

Irvine + Zell wins by providing the shortest dialogue and the fastest option to menu.

Average times for the different dialogue-options on the third visit of the Orphanage

	- Zell, Squall, Quistis (default): 2 minutes 34 seconds

	- Zell, Squall, Irvine: 2 minutes, 34 seconds
	- Zell, Squall, Selphie: 2 minutes 34 seconds

	- Rinoa, Squall, Quistis: 2 minutes 30 seconds
	- Rinoa, Squall, Zell: 2 minutes 25 seconds
	- Rinoa, Squall, Irvine: 2 minutes 20 seconds
	- Rinoa, Squall, Selphie: 2 minutes 23 seconds

	- Irvine, Squall, Quistis: 2 minutes 32 seconds
	- Irvine, Squall, Zell: 2 minutes 32 seconds
	- Irvine, Squall, Selphie: 2 minutes 33 seconds

	- Quistis, Squall, Zell: 2 minutes 35 seconds
	- Quistis, Squall, Irvine: 2 minutes 38 seconds
	- Quistis, Squall, Selphie: 2 minutes 35 seconds

	- Selphie, Squall, Quistis: 2 minutes 35 seconds
	- Selphie, Squall, Zell: 2 minutes 35 seconds
	- Selphie, Squall, Irvine: 2 minutes 34 seconds
	

tl:dr - Rinoa-Squall-Irvine wins.

How to skip the scene with Ward at Sorceress Memorial. So far, it doesn't seem like this skip allows you to continue the story.

Credit goes to FFGamer86

• Talking to Rinoa once (first option): 33 seconds

• Talking to Rinoa once (second option): 32 seconds

• Talking to Rinoa twice (first option): 30.5 seconds

• Talking to Rinoa twice (second option): 29.5 seconds

Currently, this skip is not expected to save any time, unless it is executed perfectly on the pc version. The goal is try out this mechanic in different screens with simular events.

Heyho,

i recently requested Final Fantasy VIII as a game of the Final Fantasy Series. I am not sure if i accidentally picket the wrong option when i did so, but right now, it is listed as an independent game. I'd like to have it added to the series. Thanks in advance. =)

Heyho,

i recently added a run to the Haunting Ground section. I am NOT a moderator there. I was trying to find a way to replace my name as the submitter with the name of the actual runner, but i can not find a way to do so. Is that something that a moderator for this game has to do, or am i overlooking an option?