Final Fantasy VIII on Mac OS! Updated For Crossover 25!

 

 

The Ultimate Guide to Installing Final Fantasy VIII on Mac OS Using Codeweavers Crossover! (Crossover 25 Update)

   

    Hello, this is Kaos Nova, and here is another one of my guides to getting a Windows game working on Mac OS using Codeweavers Crossover.  This time, we will be getting into the Final Fantasy game series!  This time, we will be going into getting Final Fantasy VIII running.  Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy 8, or FFVIII, was a JRPG originally released for the Sony Playstation or PS1 back in 1999, almost two years after the release of Final Fantasy VII.  So far, The Remastered Version of Final Fantasy VIII isn't running, but hopefully that will change.  For now, we will be going into how to install and run the original PC version of Final Fantasy VIII for Windows using the Disc and the Steam Versions of the game.

     To get started, you should have the correctly installed version of Steam on Codeweavers Crossover.  I have a guide for Installing Steam updated for Crossover 25.  If you are using the Disc Version, it's as easy as having the Discs or their own related images on hand.  Without further delay, let's get started!

Disc Version

Installing the Game

    So, with the complete set of installation discs on hand, proceed to "install a new application".  Since the disc version is not the preset for installation, or the CrossTie, Install an Unlisted Application, as shown below.  The preset or CrossTie is only for the Steam version now.

    Now to set this up, select your Final Fantasy VIII Installation disc by booting it up and selecting "setup.exe" within the disc.

    Now set the Bottle to be a Windows 98 Bottle.  Title it "Final Fantasy VIII"

     

Now, with all the preferences established, install Final Fantasy VIII from the Install Disc

    Now, you will have a series of installation screens.  This series of images will guide you on how to go through the installation.  Don't change from the default on each of the screens.

There will be a delay in the ending of the installation as a restart of the virtual machine occurs.  This can take 5 to 15 minutes.  Do not quickly assume the installer has crashed!  This is a normal part of a successful installation. 

The Bottle should look like this after the Installation from the Disc has finished.

Installing Dependencies

   

    Now that the game has installed, your work is not complete yet!  You have a number of dependencies to install into the game bottle for Final Fantasy VIII before the game can run!  The direct media files have failed to initially install, and without the proper libraries for audio and music, the game may crash when entering the world map or a battle, since the proper files for running the music of the world map or the music of the battle screens are missing.  This is how you fix this defect!

First, Install Direct X For Pre-Windows XP Games.  Select the App, then select the Final Fantasy VIII Bottle!

 

 

Now Install with all the proper preferences checked off!

    After Installing DirectX in the older version, you should go and catch some of the directmedia libraries.  This will also happen with the Steam Version, only here, you have to install into the Final Fantasy VIII Game Bottle!  So select wine configuration, followed by selecting the "libraries" tab, shown here.

 

 

 

The following libraries need to be installed into the Wine Configuration

 

Here are the .dlls so you can copy and paste them in easily.  

dmband.dll
dmime.dll
dmloader.dll
dmstyle.dll
dmsynth.dll
dmusic.dll
eax.dll

Now that you have installed the dependencies, make sure you have the Final Fantasy game disc in your drive and start the game by double clicking on the Final Fantasy VIII game icon!

Now the game does not initially run, but rather ff8 configure is running, you cannot access the configuration app, so quit configure and the main game will begin.

    Initially, the game will play in a tiny window, so click the screen and the game window will upscale into fullscreen mode.

    Now the game has begun and will run.  Just remember to check your game manual for the controls because the ff8configure app had the keyboard control mappings for the game, but without it, you need a manual for the game to see the controls.  

    Congratulations!  The game has begun.  However, you cannot adjust the preferences for the game past the default settings from 1999.  This disc version gets a 3/5 compatibility rating for these limits on its functionality.  You also have to change discs with the gameplay in this version which the Steam Version has a single complete install for the App.  The Steam Version runs far better, which is where we will take a look at how to run that version of Final Fantasy VIII next!

Steam Version

    With the Steam Version of Final Fantasy VIII, the process gets a little easier, since you can install the dependencies into the Steam Bottle before Installing the game itself.  The dependencies which you Install also make installing the other early Final Fantasy games for Windows playable as well.  You should first install and set up Steam for Crossover 24, which I have a guide for here on YouTube.  If you have already Installed Steam, or after you have Installed Steam, proceed to the next step.

 Direct Media Dependencies

    There are a number of Direct Media Libraries which don't install properly into Steam or when Steam installs Final Fantasy VIII, or Final Fantasy VII.  However, unlike the disc install method, we install the dependencies into the Steam Bottle instead of into the base game bottle.  So "Install a New Application" and type in "Direct Music".  

 

You should see this window

 

 Then select Steam in the drop down menu for which bottle you will install Direct Music into

 

 

    Now Install.  You may see a warning about incompatibility, but it will still install just fine.  The installation will end with a simulated restart of the virtual windows machine

Now go to the Steam Bottle and enter wine configuration to manually install a few specific dependencies (.dlls)  In wine configuration click on the "Libraries" tab as shown below. 

 

 

Here are the .dlls so you can copy and paste them in easily.  

dmband.dll
dmime.dll
dmloader.dll
dmstyle.dll
dmsynth.dll
dmusic.dll
eax.dll

Otherwise, type in the names of the files and click the "add" button as shown below

    After you have added all the dependencies using this method, click the "Apply" button to confirm, and then go into Steam and Install the game with Steam.  Start up Final Fantasy VIII, and you have a few more setup options.

First, there is a Final Fantasy VIII configuration.  The very app that wouldn't work in the disc version of the game!  Here you can set up your controller, which is primarily a Bluetooth XBox Controller when it comes to Steam.  There's a full controller setup guide in Steam available

Then set up the graphics settings.  Set it to your display's native resolution.  My native resolutions are 1440x900, 1920x1080 or 2560x1600, but look in the "About This Mac" for "Displays" to see what your computer's native resolutions are.

Now Begin the Game!

 Conclusion

    With all of these steps completed, you should have a great time playing Final Fantasy VIII on Codeweavers Crossover!  There are also guides for Final Fantasy VII, Deus Ex, Age of Empires II, Age of Empires III, Command & Conquer Remastered, and PCSX2 Emulator!  In conclusion, I would like to invite you to check out the Forums on Codeweavers.  Entries for various apps have forums and Tips for getting the Applications to work!  If you are available to actively test and rate the compatibility of various Applications on Codeweavers Crossover, you may want to consider becoming a Bettertester!  As a Bettertester, you regularly test Apps and can be rewarded with Bettertester Points to buy merchandise or even extended subscriptions to Crossover, saving money you would need for renewing your subscription!

 

    You can follow additional guides for getting Windows applications running on Mac OS over here on my blog : Radio Kaos.  You can also follow additional instructional video guides on my YouTube Playlist, Kaos Tutorials.  Kaos Tutorials episodes are also available on the Rumble Channel of the same name.

      Work on my Channel and Blog can be supported over on My Tip Jar or My Merch Store on StreamLabs.  I also have a Store on TeeSpring.  You can make a donation with a suggestion in the notes and/or subject of the donation over on CashApp.  No amount for this donation with a suggestion is too small or too great! I can also be followed on Patreon or Locals for early and exclusive access to certain videos.  Now, in conclusion of this article, "Be safe out there and I will be signing off!"