FF8/String Encoding

source for some of text codes

String Encoding

FF8 takes strings of text and converts them down to byte arrays. Some of which aligns to the grid of text in the texture. Some bytes = two characters.

Special Bytes

These bytes are points where things are inserted or a change in formatting. Some just say to ignore this string unless the player unlocked something.

Starting Byte	Size	Name	Description
0x00	1	NULL	End of string
0x03	2	Name	When see 0x03??, in a string, it's usually a characters name.
0x05	2	Icon	0x05?? used to draw a symbol from icons.tex, like controller buttons. On PC it draws the letter of keyboard keys assigned to the controls.
0x06	2	Color	0x06?? used to show a change in formatting like color
0x0A	2	Special_Value	0x0A?? can be a string or number value. Depending on which string you are reading it can be a different value.
0x0B	2 or 3	Cursor_Locations	Might be number of possible return values that determine whether this is 3 or 2 bytes. Like YES or NO questions will only be 2 bytes but screens with a list of multiple selections will will use 3 bytes.
0x0C	2	SpellID	Used to place a name of a spell.