Final Fantasy XV: Cup Noodle XV Special Edition

[Daydreamer]

Since we are kind of on the topic here now, what are the chances of PS1 games getting an HD remaster treatment? Specifically I mean are there technical limitations that prevent a PS1 game from being remasted as easily as a PS2 game? I'd love to see xenogears HD as I've never actually played it.

[Vagrant]

Chrono Trigger continuing should have been the most asked for game

[Tidane]

Since we are kind of on the topic here now, what are the chances of PS1 games getting an HD remaster treatment? Specifically I mean are there technical limitations that prevent a PS1 game from being remasted as easily as a PS2 game? I'd love to see xenogears HD as I've never actually played it.

The reason that it is so "difficult" to get the PS1 Final Fantasy games remastered is either because they don't have the original, uncompressed painted backgrounds or the originals were made in a very low quality. In either case, they would have to be redone. With the more recent 3D games and assets, it is a bit easier to remaster because the textures (and in some cases, models) are created at a higher resolution or polygon count. When you remaster them, you actually use the existing higher quality assets.

The PS1 Final Fantasy games make (heavy) use of pre-rendered backgrounds. Basically, they use 3D assets, render them, take a picture, and put it into the game. This is why if you use an emulator and upscale everything, the backgrounds look extremely poor. You could (in theory) go through and re-create all the assets that were used to make the background and capture another picture at a higher resolution to use in a remaster, but that is obviously a lot of work. You could also go in and try to manually re-draw all the backgrounds, but that is also obviously a lot of work. There's no way to make an image bigger and add information to it (that is, if you just make an image bigger, it gets blurrier). There are techniques to guess at what the image would look like, but those generally look bad because there is no generic solution to do it. Different algorithms are better for different images and none of them will look as good as if you did it for real.

In the case of Xenogears, I think the opposite is true (based on a few screenshots and videos, as I've never played it). The background in the game appear to be polygonal real-time renders while the characters are sprite-based. I imagine that there's no way SE has those assets, though, as they didn't develop the game (Monolith, perhaps) and just own the IP.

EDIT: Here's a NeoGAF link about Final Fantasy IX backgrounds that were included on the disc vs original concepts.

[Saga]

Hype or not, I'm gobbling up piece of footage for this game that comes out as XV is single-handedly rekindling my interest in the FF franchise. FF13 was a linear mess up until Gran Pulse, and I personally hated the story. The sequel extravaganza also put me off, and even FFX-2 didn't do it for me very much despite some of the class-based costume nostalgia. FFXV feels like the first FF game in a long time to hearken back to its exploration roots. I thought that "5 things you need to know" video from the previous page put it perfectly when they talked about XV basically translating the overhead world map to full-scale, massively open areas. This game is the reason I'll be buying a PS4 when it comes out since I haven't pulled the trigger on either next-gen console yet.

[Lucavi]

Chrono Trigger continuing should have been the most asked for game

As much as I love CT, I love -playing- FFT more.

[Tyrath]

I took it and asked for more Chrono. Think you guys got the FFT shit covered.

[Charismatic]

I stressed a strong desire for more Mana games (and specifically referenced SD2 and 3)

[Psion]

hahah among other things I asked for a Xenogears reboot. Too many people do not know the awesomeness of that storyline, but that game really hasn't aged well. ( I know it will never happen though)

Actually, that was what i asked for as well, a xenogears/xenosaga reboot. lol

[Destinye]

Since we are kind of on the topic here now, what are the chances of PS1 games getting an HD remaster treatment? Specifically I mean are there technical limitations that prevent a PS1 game from being remasted as easily as a PS2 game? I'd love to see xenogears HD as I've never actually played it.

Obvious things aside, they also no longer have the source code for some games thus they can't even outsource it to the people who have done the FFX/X-2 HD remaster. VII/VIII/IX for example will most likely never be remastered or properly remade due to this fact. Look at Nintendo, they took original Zelda OoT/MM/LttP assets and the people they work with remastered em perfectly from pre-rendered to...actually rendered lol. So it's something that's possible as long as they have original assets and source code.

And of course, actually want to. SE is a on mobile kick though and with XIV taking up most of their dev focus in general it's unlikely to ever happen at this point.

[Ratatapa]

I don't understand why people keep saying No source code = no remake

They didn't had KH 1 source code and had to do 1.5 from scratch

http://www.screwattack.com/news/king...remade-scratch

According to Nomura in an E3 video made by Square Enix, all the master assets from the original Kingdom Hearts were lost long ago. This has forced the dev team to break out physical copies of the game, rip out whatever they could use, and rework that stuff in HD. Even with all this, there is a lot they have to remake from scratch.

So I don't see why they couldn't get a Xenogears CD and do the same shit

[Spira]

The reason that it is so "difficult" to get the PS1 Final Fantasy games remastered is either because they don't have the original, uncompressed painted backgrounds or the originals were made in a very low quality. In either case, they would have to be redone. With the more recent 3D games and assets, it is a bit easier to remaster because the textures (and in some cases, models) are created at a higher resolution or polygon count. When you remaster them, you actually use the existing higher quality assets.

The PS1 Final Fantasy games make (heavy) use of pre-rendered backgrounds. Basically, they use 3D assets, render them, take a picture, and put it into the game. This is why if you use an emulator and upscale everything, the backgrounds look extremely poor. You could (in theory) go through and re-create all the assets that were used to make the background and capture another picture at a higher resolution to use in a remaster, but that is obviously a lot of work. You could also go in and try to manually re-draw all the backgrounds, but that is also obviously a lot of work. There's no way to make an image bigger and add information to it (that is, if you just make an image bigger, it gets blurrier). There are techniques to guess at what the image would look like, but those generally look bad because there is no generic solution to do it. Different algorithms are better for different images and none of them will look as good as if you did it for real.

In the case of Xenogears, I think the opposite is true (based on a few screenshots and videos, as I've never played it). The background in the game appear to be polygonal real-time renders while the characters are sprite-based. I imagine that there's no way SE has those assets, though, as they didn't develop the game (Monolith, perhaps) and just own the IP.

EDIT: Here's a NeoGAF link about Final Fantasy IX backgrounds that were included on the disc vs original concepts.

it seems as tho based on the link you posted they did keep quite a number of the original concepts that were downscaled for use on the PS1. but i think only the devs will know for sure whether it can be used to be worked into a remaster. being that this was PS1 era, i doubt they ever anticipated the HD format, and so even the HQ backgrounds might not be sufficient to be sharp when using the HD format.

that said, im sure there are ways to digitally touch up the concept art if the quality isn't too shabby. a good deal of work on the FFX hd remaster is very similar to ps1-style areas in that they dont use 3D areas but just pre-rendered backgrounds (they mix 2d and 3d backgrounds quite evenly in X) so it has been done. the rest of the work is really just making the 3d models look better. the only truly 3d environment in the ps1 titles were the battles.

I'd love to see 7-9 being remastered in such a fashion. 7 would need the most work, and probably stylistic changes to 3d models (no more blocky arms.. and to suit the style they'd crafted out in Coff7) and possbily music too. not too optimistic about it tho. i'd also prefer 5 and 6 in 3d ala ff4 first because well, sequence

[Vaspinne]

On BG it seems pretty well known why FFXV has taken as long as it has. But if any of you know people still kind of clueless as to why things happened the way they did, this video is a pretty interesting watch explaining all the bumps and changes in development over the last few years

[Spira]

Quite an interesting video. What it doesn't mention are the small hints or giveaways to the renaming of the project tho.. Especially the ROEN renaming one.. The people there clearly knew that vs13 was 15 and changed it on their website but probably weren't aware that it was a change that was still under wraps and changed it back only when people noticed and commented on it

[Gokulo]

Ramuh confirmed for the demo:
http://www.siliconera.com/2015/03/12...-summon-ramuh/

[6souls]

SE x Coleman

Spoiler: show

Square Enix is collaborating with Coleman Company, a company that specializes in outdoor recreation products, for Final Fantasy XV.

All of the tents, tables, chairs, and tableware will be Coleman-branded. According to Square Enix, this will is an important part of the game’s “fantasy based on reality” theme.

http://gematsu.com/2015/03/final-fan...ping-equipment

[Tidane]

All of the tents, tables, chairs, and tableware will be Coleman-branded. According to Square Enix, this will is an important part of the game’s “fantasy based on reality” theme.

I have no real philosophical issues with having subtle, non-intrusive advertising in games where it makes sense. I don't like buying full priced products with ads in them, as it feels a bit slippery to start paying for products than some third party is paying to get ads placed into. If my game is not cheaper or free, then I have an expectation that they're selling me a product and not advertisement. Slopes of ice and all that.

I never would've thought that Final Fantasy would have in game branding, but given the context of the world, it isn't going to be out of place (assuming they do it correctly). Even though the vast majority of my camping gear is Coleman, I never would've noticed without this article. I would have preferred that they had created a fictitious brand because lore and whatnot, but wutevs.

That said, I find it hilarious that they try to play it off as an important part of the game theme and not just an obvious way to make more money. If it truly is important and everything ends up being real brands and it looks like an advertisement, I know a game that I won't be playing.

[Waraji]

How the fuck do they pull all that shit in their trunk. Is that part of the Fantasy theme or Realistic theme?

[Tidane]

How the fuck do they pull all that shit in their trunk. Is that part of the Fantasy theme or Realistic theme?

Trunk of Holding, so fantasy.

[Lucavi]

How the fuck do they pull all that shit in their trunk. Is that part of the Fantasy theme or Realistic theme?

How the fuck do they carry all those potions on their persons with black coats and bare chests everywhere?

Answer: they store everything - the potions, the camping shit, all of it - wherever Noctis stores his spare weapons.

[Tyrath]

They obviously borrowed the bag that can hold everything from Hermione.