FF8/Variables

By Shard.

Game variables can be accessed using the PSHM family of script functions, and can be written to by using the POPM family of functions. Which one you use depends on the size of the variable.

The variables are all stored in save files, with the save block starting at address 0xD10 on uncompressed PC saves. The parameter to access a variable in the game scripts is basically the offset from this point in the variable block. For example, getting main story progress (word 256) just gets the two bytes starting at address 0xD10 + 0x100 = 0xE10. The varmap is continuous in memory while the game is running as well. 0x1cfe9b8

Var type	Var Number	Description
Word	84	Last area visited. This is related to SETPLACE somehow.4
Word	256	Main Story quest progress.
Byte	266	World map version? (3=Esthar locations unlocked)
Byte	334	Ultimecia Castle seals. See SEALEDOFF for details.
Byte	341	Concert Crappiness (in FH).
Byte	440	Event flags. (+1 Quad ambush, +2 quad item giver, +4/+8 Infirmary helped, +16 Nida, +64 Kadowaki Elixir, +128 Training center)
Byte	488	Alternate Party Flags. Irvine +1/+16, Quistis +2/+32, Rinoa +4/+64, Zell +8/+128.1
Byte	625	Balamb visited flags (+8 Zell's room)
Byte	720	Squall's costume (0=normal, 1=student, 2=SeeD, 3=Bandage on forehead)
Byte	721	Zell's Costume (0=normal, 1=student, 2=SeeD)
Byte	722	Selphie's costume (0=normal, 1=student, 2=SeeD)
Byte	728	Does lots of things.3
Byte	730	Flags (+1 Joined Garden Festival Committee, +4 Gave Selphie tour of BG, +16 Kadowaki asks for Cid, +32 and +64 Tomb of Unknown Kind hints?, +128 Beat all card people?)
Byte	734	Split Party Flags (+1 Zell, +2 Irvine, +4 Rinoa, +8 Quistis, +16 Selphie).2

Notes

1. When the party splits in disc 2, each party member in the inactive party except Selphie has one of the eight bits changed for this variable. One member has a flag in the 4 most significant bits, and the other has a flag in the 4 least significant bits. It's done this way so that when the characters appear, they animate towards different locations in the field, rather than stacking on top of each other.

2. This byte contains flags for which characters are in Squall's party when the party splits in disc 2.

3. List of everything known that 728 holds throughout the game:

• SeeD field exam "Conduct" score (lose points when you do something wrong at Dollet).
• Train job attempts (Timber)
• Tomb of the Unknown King student ID.
• Who you took to space in disc 3.

4. The field controlling restriction unlocking in Ultimecia's Castle uses this to figure out where to jump the party after they've broken a seal. It's unknown how SETPLACE actually sets this, it's not always related to the field ID or the SETPLACE parameter. This variable is also set at Balamb Garden's front gate manually.