Final Fantasy VIII Book

Ever since I played Final Fantasy VIII, I have always wished I could have a book of the amazing storyline. I have waited and waited until someone could atleast make Chapter One of a book called "Final Fantasy VIII". I soon realized Square (now Square-Enix :mad2: ) will not make a book. I also thought that maybe someone else would. I don't think they would write a book that is actually FFVIII, but moreover a fanfic or something.

I know no one will do it, so I will. I have decided I am going to make the book. This book I will be writing should follow the storyline of Final Fantasy VIII with almost perfection. I am going to put the exact script in there, to make it almost authentic. TO be honest, I am doing this for myself. I want to read it, play the game in my mind as I read some text.

I already have the script done, and now for the daunting task of writing. I am actually having a friend play the game while I take loads of screenshots (He completed the Dollet mission, and I have over 100mb of jpegs.).

First off, I want everyones opinion on this. Should I continue and complete it? Bad idea? What is your opinion. Remember, this should be an almost-exact replica of the game, just paperitized.

Also, I may need some help. I need someone who knows FFVIII in and out. I don't mean a person who has played it once or twice, but a person who has beat it many times, knows the game almost by heart, researched it, etc etc. I mean, thet can recite the storyline to me, tell the the theme of the game, and tell me how many pixels Rinoa takes up on a 17" screen when you are looking at her 37.32 degrees left of her middle fingernail of her right hand and is 4.32 feet away from you. :p

I may also need someone who is quite creative with words, or someone who can descibe someone or something easily. I tend to read math books, and stuff, so this is a bit of a challenge for me.

If you wish to, I would appreciate an email (quadricode@comcast.net) or an AIM message (Quadricode).

Thanks you!

I think it sounds like a great idea.

The only thing I am worried about, though, is over-dramaticized scenes. One thing I really dislike about 99% of fanfics is that it's usually so gushy it's hard to read.

I would really love to take a look at your work when you write this thing. I love to write but sometimes when I try to explain certain things, the right words don't come out.

There are several things to take into account. For one, walking distance between areas, mini-games, etc. Take for instance, the mission in Balamb later on in the game when it is occupied, and you have to run around back and fourth looking for clues. Would adding miniscule details detere from the plot, and make it feel like something it shouldn't be?

I think certain things must be less detailed. The conversion won't feel smooth if there is too much "squall and gang ran to the dog, then left to the train, then went back, then talked to a soldier.."

I don't know if I can make this clear... I know that it sounds like it will run very smoothly, and it might, but it might also be very difficult to prtray certain things in written form.

It would be really cool if you wrote some of it, and then presented it to the board for opinions, especially if you don't know how to convert certain things from game to writing!

Fetch quests is just one example... How do you portray walking through the dungeon in galbadia garden, with all of the different key-locks, people, and such? You might prefer to alter it a certain way. Also, when it is required to split the team into groups, how will you spit them? When there are certain events with multiple ways to complete them, how will you go about that?

I guarantee there will be some conflicts... so good luck in your conversion; I think it will be more difficult than it sounds! If you need any opinions this board is also here.

I was thinking about many of the problems you just listed. My only problem is...I don't want to drive away from the game too much. My whole point of it is to feel as if your playing Final Fantasy VIII...or are in the plot atleast by reading.

For battles...There won't be a lot of the battle elements, of course.

As for details, I am a bit worried too. I am the person to list every single facet of something, tell its color, brightness, hue, etc etc. :p . But, that is something that needs to come down a bit.

And as for portraying things, that is also a challenge. It will be hard to explain Balamb garden...or what a garden is...to a person who has never played.

I know this project would be (very) hard, but I strongly do wish to go through with it. WHen I complete chapter one, and revise (and revise)...I think I will post for opinion.

LOL - I did this once! A bunch of years ago I novelized a few chapers - the end of disc 2 and and begining of disc 3 to be exact. Although I took the script from rpgamer.com, I definately tweaked it, changing things here and there, taking some things in a different context, etc. To make something that's interesting to read, you really can't do the script word for word, it won't come across. As long as you stick to the "spirit" of the game, you will feel it when its read, but you'll just find it boring if you stay too close to the original. Then it will just feel like you're playing without the fun of actually playing. Good luck.

There are [in my opinion, too many] fanfics already, that claim to be "the written chronicle of FFVIII" or so ['claim', 'cause I've never read any of them].

I do respect your decision to take on such a huge task.

I would like to say I'm one who knows the game inside out, upside down, but I don't think I am. I'm just obsessed with it.

I did do a great [=long] fanfic almost like it. I told the almost exact story of the game, but with a little twist that after all changed everything. It can be found on fanfiction.net under the pen name Kamrusepas, if anyone's interest. The fic's called Stranger Than Fiction.

I suppose I still don't realize it yet, but I cannot see why the book couldn't follow the original script atleast 95%, and still have goodness in it. I want to stick to Final Fantasy VIII, and not go off in my own direction. I mean, sure, a tweak here or there...but to be honest, I would find more interest in a thing that is close to the...real thing. I don't know. --- Actually, I dont think it will be the script that gives it its 'goodness', I think it is the writing inbetween.

I think this can be a very interesting story, as long as its all worded right. I mean, I can say that what I have written so far sucks beyond reason. I am not that good at describing in a 'non-textbook' style of way.

But, I do wish to give it a shot, and see what turns up. I so badly want to read the story abck to myself :P.

Anyway, what is a fanfic? I don't consider this a fanfic since I am not adding and new story lines, or going off in my own direction...or anything.

Also: I dont like fanfics [under my definition]. Well, maybe there can be good ones, but they would be very hard to find. I think most of them out there are short things teenagers would write in the 5 minutes they have after class [no disrespect given there at all]. But...I just plainly dont like 'em. And that is the reason why I want to create a novelized final fantasy.

---also, ShivaBlizzard8, you dont have your original writing do you?

Is this going to be written in first, second or third person?

Also be aware that there are some minor branches in the storyline. For example: (SPOILER) When you fight X-ATM092, you can actually destroy it. If you do, you won't see the scene where Quitis finishes it off with the boat's guns.

I think fanfictions are stories based off of existing published stories (movies, novels, etc...) that go beyond the original storyline, written by fans of the original stories.

wow I was just thinking about how ff8 could make a good book. But its four disc's, how long is the book going to be?

I think the most exciting way to represent the (SPOILER)fight against X-ATM092 is the version when Quistis takes out her machine gun on the ship and blows it to hell as you dive onto the ship... don't you?

The really tough decisions is how you represent the party, like when you split up and half your party goes to the (SPOILER)missile base. Who is going with you? Certainly Selphie.. but alone?

When you represent a dungeon, I think it's important you don't go through all of the details of the puzzles, twists and turns of the dungeon to too large of an extent. When traveling through the dungeon with all the locks to open all the different kinds of doors, you might want to simplify it to looking for one lock, after checking the door and finding out it's locked. I think it would detere from the story too much.

The best novelization of FFVIII I have ever seen is "Angel Wings" by Noacat. She took a LOT of liberties with the story, but I must say, absolutely brilliant nonetheless. Anyway, just go for it. It's a great idea, and it sounds like your really into it.

Gwelenguchenkus:
Mmmm, yes, simplification would be a key part in writing this. But, where is the line [of over simplifying and over clarifying]?

I am just afraid I will over simplify is i simplify, and over clarify if I clarify. With your example: Finding 1 key instead of 100 keys would probably be better, but I would like to represent some struggle...hmm...decisions, decisions.
I suppose struggle can still be represented, I just dont want it to be...toooo easy.

black shadow:
How long? Hmm, hard to say. I know when I type it, it will be in the following font and size:


Quistis: Funny? No, no, it's not that! I'm just happy. ...

I think that is pretty accurate..(Book Antiqua, size 11)
I will have margins of 1" (all the way around).
With just the script, it is about 220 pages. So, I dont know, I think you can make estimates henceforth.
(And who knows how long it would be if it were the size of a normal novel.)

BG-57:
Third person omniscient, I am pretty sure. I am going to try to write the book without those branches. Yeah, it could save me a lot of time taking the ... branched routes...But I want it to somewhat resemble normal gameplay (not a beginner nor advanced). And thank you for that fanfic clarification. I would like to [?officially?] say that this is NOT a fanfic...and maybe most would agree.


Everyone:
I think I am going to implement the Junctioning system, but I dont know. Maybe a simpler version of it. I know I cant keep track of everything. I am certainly not going to have levels, or anything...or ATB style battles :P. That would be to overwhelming.
I also have another issue...time representation. How many days do you think the game occurs...from start to finish. Bah...I dont know.
And as for items, I dont know what to do for an inventory. I cant get item after item, but items are important....this also accounts for spells.

I am sure I can list problem after problem off, but I suppose a lot can be fixed throughout the book.

I can help out here. I think I know a good deal about FF8, and I have played it many, many times.

As for whether or not you should continue writing it, that depends on how good of a writer you are. If the writing is going to be piss poor, just stop now. If you think you can actually write good, then go for it.

My writing...hmmm...
I don't know my level of writing. I feel as if I can be cliche sometimes, which I absolutly hate. -- But, I do love to write. I love to write a lot.
It is not 'piss poor' ( :P ), but I think it could be pretty good after some opinion and revision, of couse. But, others can have thier opinions.

We'll see. -- As for help, nik0tine, I would really ask questions (what wlse would I do?), and thats it. Or clarification...etc etc. But, that would also serve as a huge help ;). You can PM me..or contact me..or whatever...If you really want to. I mean, if you dont really want to be involved...or anything, you dont have to :P.
My appreciation is of the utmost stance for those who support this project, and for those who emailed me. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quadricode

Everyone:
I think I am going to implement the Junctioning system, but I dont know. Maybe a simpler version of it. I know I cant keep track of everything. I am certainly not going to have levels, or anything...or ATB style battles :P. That would be to overwhelming.

---

Well, you don't have to go into all the details of it in battles if you don't want to (like a GF taking damage for the summoner while it's in the process of being called), but it goes without saying that it would require mentioning and some explanations, as well as mention of the rumour that it causes memory loss, so that might by the time you get to the Orphanage revelation, it won't seem to come out of left field.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quadricode

I also have another issue...time representation. How many days do you think the game occurs...from start to finish. Bah...I dont know.

---

That's a tough call. There are a few times where the game obviously shows us the passage from one night to the next day or suggests it through dialogue, but most of it will have to be your own preference.

Personally, I wouldn't make it last more than a month at the most.


I'm going to e-mail you. You can get any help I may offer. Good luck with this project.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quadricode

---also, ShivaBlizzard8, you dont have your original writing do you?

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I do have a chapter or two, which I can post if you like. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quadricode

Also: I dont like fanfics [under my definition]. Well, maybe there can be good ones, but they would be very hard to find. I think most of them out there are short things teenagers would write in the 5 minutes they have after class [no disrespect given there at all].

---

Five minutes? I wrote it for ten months... :)

ShivaBlizzard8
It would be cool if you posted something. But I would prefer attaching it as a text file, so this thread doesnt get off topic.

Kamrusepas
Heh, you know what I meant :P

Squall of SeeD
I suppose a month is good. I dont know. I guess we will just see how it goes.

Everyone
A short website should be up about it soon. I will update this reply with the URL when completed. It isnt anything big, just some information, I guess. It will develope. Also, as I said to nik0tine -- only help if you really want to.
EDIT: ADDED

URL:FFVIII Book Project Official Site (I hope you know what I mean by "official".)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Quadricode

ShivaBlizzard8
It would be cool if you posted something. But I would prefer attaching it as a text file, so this thread doesnt get off topic.

---

You got it. I have a lot more drafted, incuding a chunk of the first disc and the entire basketball court scene, but this is the only part I ever really finalized. Enjoy, but please don't steal without permission - although I never planned on doing anything with this, I am a professional writer in training, so I like to keep tabs on where my work goes. :)

Some Notes:
*Just looking at this now, the "text" format took out things like italics, which I used to defereniate inner thoughts. Anything that sounds like dialogue but is not in quotations you can assume is being thought internally by the character.

*Although I "finalized: this section in terms of scenes, dialogue, description, etc, it is by no means a final draft, with everything properly spellchecked or repeated words thesaurused. Just be aware.

*I basically stuck to the main script, but I changed some things, and took creative liscense with others (for example, there's one scene between Zell and Rinoa that I did differently which was originally in a different part of the game with different dialogue that I think works better how I did it.)

ShivaBlizzard8
MmmMMmMm, That was quite nice ShivaBlizzard8.

Heh, no need to worry of me stealing pieces, nor will I distribute it.

I also...".doc"ed the .txt, much nicer. Thank you for sharing that with us.

http://home.comcast.net/~quadricode/btk.jpg

Anyway, I briefly looked at it, eager to make a reply here, and get some messages sent off.

Squall of SeeD
One month seems correct. There was a thread somewhere on these forums talking about length of games relative to time. They seemed to agree, 3-4 weeks.

Everyone
I would like to say, 'official' drafting has been started. Very hard process, but nonetheless, absolutly fun.
Describing a fight is harder than it looks. :P
Also, I decided to write on paper, because I can articulate ideas best there, instead of a computer. I dont know, something about bright sunlight on white notebook paper makes everything easier.
I think I will try to get ahold of a scanner, so I can scan my work in for my staff member(s) to read.

``Quad

No problem.

And good luck - I'm interested to see what you come up with.

That was very good, Shivablizzard8. I read roughly half of it.

I like how, when infiltratiing galbadia garden, you took a different approach in writing. Instead of describing the party unlocking doors or even simplifiying the matter, you brought up the strategy "we could ask some of the people in the garden for keys" (sorry for the horrible paraphrasing x_x) and then you break to a conversation with Raijin and Fujin, who then end up being interrupted by Squall and gang late in the conversation, which I thought was a brilliant way to bypass pointless dungeon crawling details.

send your idea to square-enix...if it's good enough...maybe you should do it

but overall, i say don't...unless for your own satisfaction or maybe you can invite people to review it to publish it or whatever the process may be

you make the final decision so there....your choice

BackRoomKid
Blahaha, probably. It does seem somewhat selfish to keep it all away. I know, on my site, I will post paragraphs, exerpts, etc etc.

And when I am done, maybe, I will send to Square-Enix. But, generally, I don't like to look this far into it. I think that is unimportant right now :D. But, we will certainly see!

Everyone
I wonder when the completion time will be. I always was thinking a year, but some things take several years. Again, I don't know.

:mad: slaps myself :mad:

Meh, nevermind that. I always think into the future with things, which I think is bad. >_< No need to worry about time...

I think I will soon post an excerpt of what I have written. And I want hard, indifferent? critiqueing (spelling..)...I dont want..."It sucks"...I want..."This is how you can improve it" :p

But, anyway, I think I will post that one excerpt here (and on my site, to those who are loyal visitors :D ). Maybe even the full Chapter One! Wow, thats a lot...
[I am not a sharing person :p , I never went to preschool, so I never learned to share.]
==================================
[to avoid a double post]
This here just gives me the chills about the project,
http://www.opcoder.com/projects/chrono/
Look at the trailer.

Now, dont let this distract the main topic of discussion , but that was an extemely good representation of CC. Even 3D-ized. Yet, Square-Enix shut it down. I found that sad, and wrong. :mad:

Lets assume I am 90% done, and the book is absolutly...wonderful [thus far]...I wouldnt want Square-Enix to hax0rz me, and shut me down.
I doubt it'll happen, but know knows

I wouldn't worry about a cease and desist letter coming your way, Quad. There's a vast difference between attempting to remake a game for the same venue that it was originally in without Square's permission, and writing your own idea of how the story went in novelized format. The intellectual copyright to this particular interpetation of things is yours. Naturally, you couldn't get it published or sell it, but you can write it and put it on a site just fine.

Otherwise, Square would have a few thousand FanFic authors across the Internet they could see in a courtroom for their attempts at novelizing everything from Final Fantasy VII to Chrono Trigger to Metroid.

mmm, yeah probably....Its 2:15 a.m., I think I will be off to write a little more, then go to bed. bah

[sorry for this short and meaningless post]

But, please, everyone continue!

I'd like to volunteer for one or two of the openings. Do I email you or....? :)

Nice idea. I agree with everything except that FFVIII has a great storyline. =\

Maybe it would be a good idea if you read a one or two already made novelisations of FFVIII before you start writing? That way you can see how they develop the storyline and characters and go along with the storyline? It might help your writing. I suggest reading 'The Gunblade Saga' by Peptuck. It's probably th best novelisation of FFVIII I have read.

Sorry if someone else has already given you this advice. But good luck will your writing :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gwelenguchenkus

That was very good, Shivablizzard8. I read roughly half of it.
I like how, when infiltratiing galbadia garden, you took a different approach in writing. Instead of describing the party unlocking doors or even simplifiying the matter, you brought up the strategy "we could ask some of the people in the garden for keys" (sorry for the horrible paraphrasing x_x) and then you break to a conversation with Raijin and Fujin, who then end up being interrupted by Squall and gang late in the conversation, which I thought was a brilliant way to bypass pointless dungeon crawling details.

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Thanks! :love:
It's that kind of situation where I feel that any kind of novelization needs to deviate a bit, because you really can't read, "well then they searched through rooms for about an hour and hacked some random monsters while collecting items and gil," because that would happen constantly, IMOH. But I'm glad you enjoyed it. Maybe someday I'll fininish. ;)

Kamrusepas
Email, yep! I check my email more than by PMs. Also, if youdo have AIM, I am on that often. Heh, 7 openings...doubt any will be taken soon :P

Rusty
That is what I was thinking. But, also, I dont want to absorb others ideas too much :p . [which i tend to do]

MoonZapdos
Everyone has opinions, and I do not wish to start a debate on this :p . But I think the story has the elements to make a great book. I would do VII or IX, but, I got into VIII first :D .

Everyone
I think I will be getting a scanner soon :D And if I do get one, I'll upload within the next week. Heh, I do not wish to type it up yet.

otherwise, nothing else I can think of to say/update on right now.

Blahahha, nevermind.

[excuse the bad image quality, wanted to get it under 50kb]

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Look at future posts to see why I took the image down. w00t

oh noes.. we have to read image files to read te story because you're writing it out?

You know, you can type a lot faster than you can write... hopefully.

I agree - the other nice thing about typing is the abilty to cut, paste, and move things around - plus, since the actual full script of the game is available on a ton of sites on-line, its easy to cut and paste the dialogue portion of the game into a word processor. That, and this thread would become huge and overload the browers of poor dial-up users if the entire script is scanned. If you're going to insist on writing it out longhand, I reccomend typing it up before submitting it to us. :)

No offense to your project, but you should really consider choosing a game with a storyline that doesn't suck, as you're obviously going to be putting an enormous amount of work into this thing.

Meh, okay, fine, Ill type it up first before submitting. I am sorry all you 56kers and AOLers.
I can type faster than I write, but I write with more proficiancy. Meaning, my ideas are articulated better through writing, I dont know why. [I did say this in a previous thread].

Oh, also, I wasnt planning on scanning the whole project :P

But, anyway, Azar: As said, opinions are opinions. I see absolutly nothing wrong with the storyline. Yes, and I will be putting a lot of work into this -- but you tell me, why would I be putting so much work into it?

I could go on forever explaining why. But my top reasons are:
1. I know the game, my favorite one
2. I think it is excellent for writing
3. It has romance, blah blah blah

I think the people who dislike VIII is overwhelming...mainly because they were used to the earlier ones.

I mean, tons like VI, right? Personally, I dont see why it is so amazing. I started playing, but never finished. I really like VII, VIII, and IX (well, mytic quest too!). VIII was the first brought to my attention, so naturally, I like it. Then it was VII, then IX. I think all three of those has great potential...but I see VIII being my best pick. One reason because of its linearity. I think I need a relativly linear, but thought provoking story, to put it into words -- to stay faithful to the story line.

I think that is it -- remember, the topic is the FFVIII Book, not "What is teh bestz0rz?!!?"

But, on the other hand...supported opinions are respected.

I think that is it?