Final Fantasy VIII locations

The world of Final Fantasy VIII has no known name, yet is diverse as it is large. It is composed of three large continents and several islands of varying sizes.

The various locales in this world include: the laid-back seaside towns of Balamb and Dollet, the busseling metropoli of Deling City and Esthar, the remote and mysterious retreats of Shumi Village and the Deep Sea Research Center, the quiet sanctuaries of Winhill and Edea's Orphanage; as well as the composed environments of the scorching Kashkabald Desert, the lush Rosfall Forest, the enigmatic Centra Ruins; and the dark, forboding soul of Ultimecia Castle. TOCleft

Currency
The world of FFVIII uses gil as its official currency. It is accepted world-wide however it is unknown how this came about due to the differences and origins of each country. It is also unknown whether or not this is the only currency used, if not then this may be a worldly accepted trade currency. For notation we will use "gil" for gil amounts.

Commerce
People in FFVIII can be seen working in schools and universities, shops, bars, travel agencies, recruited in armies, raising chocobos, sailing boats and research. One assumes some FFVIII residents fish and grow produce to supply their fellow countrymen with consumable goods and that there must be a market in every city/village. One such job that is explored in detail is the profession of being a SeeD mercenary.



Geography
The world of FFVIII is covered in large part with water, having three large continents and several islands of varying sizes. The world has two main superpowers: Galbadia, a military dicatorship, and Esthar, a scientifically advanced nation. There are also many other countries - those mentioned are Balamb, Dollet and Trabia. Timber and Winhill were once independent states, but were annexed by Galbadia prior to the start of the game. It can be assumed that other countries exist - Centra, once home to the Centran Empire (which was destroyed by the Lunar Cry), appears to be empty in-game, aside from the Centra ruins and Edea's house.

Climate
The climates reflect that of some of Earth's primary western countries (Europe, America, Africa). In the north is a snow covered, northern arctic climate in Trabia that gradually turns into barren lands and plains further south in Esthar which were altered by Esthar's experiments. In Galbadia and Balamb, as solitary lands girted by ocean, the landscapes are primarily filled with mountain ranges, forests and green fields. Galbadia also possesses a desert known as the Dingo Desert. Further south in the country of Centra the lands are barren due to the events that lead to the Centra Crater although there are tentative fields in the southern-most island. The world's largest desert, Kashkabald Desert, is also located on this land.

Flora/Fauna
The world of FFVIII consists of two types of Fauna; native and foreign. Most common animals such as Chocobos, cats and dogs (a deer also appears during an FMV of Galbadia Garden attacking Balamb) are considered native fauna because they originate on planet, while some other species (namely the monsters) are considered foreign because they originate from the moon, having been brought to the planet due to the Lunar Cry. All plant species on this world resemble that of the real-world Earth with the exception of plant-like monsters such as the Ochu and Malboro.

Politics
The politics of the world of Final Fantasy VIII are primarily based around conflict between nations, at least that is what is explored during the game. There is the dictatorship of Galbadia and Esthar and their constant war between each other as well as the numerous freedom-fighter rebellions originating from Timber. Also there exists the apparent neutrality of SeeD and its existence as a public mercenary force available for hire from both sides.

Mythology
The primary mythology explored in the game is that involving the Sorceress and the obtainment of her near godlike powers; called Sorceress Power.

Other themes explored are the mythology of ghosts, spirits and aliens. Such themes are encountered and explored by the player during certain events in the game.

Entertainment

 * Triple Triad
 * Flower Arrangement/Crafts
 * Travel
 * Television
 * T-boarding

Technology
Though mostly relative to real-world late 1990's there are some instances in the world of Final Fantasy VIII where the extent of technology went far more into the realm of science fiction.

Esthar Technology
By far the most advanced civilization in the world of Final Fantasy VIII Esthar owes this largely due to its priority of technological advancement resulting in such endeavors as space travel. Purely scientific the secretive country possesses flying cars and camouflage shielding that renders its city hidden from the rest of the world. It was Estharian technology that created the Lunatic Pandora and enabled it to become mobile. It was also Estharian technology that enabled the common person to be able to manipulate magic as a weapon, a trait that was long believed only possible for a Sorceress. Estharian tech was also used to battle, contain and even mimic Sorceress Power.

Gunblades
The unique Gunblade weapon is part sword blade and part gun mechanism. The firing of the Gunblade's gun-chambers induced a tremor in the blade effectively making it similar to a vorpal or vibro blade, escalating its cutting capacity. As of Final Fantasy VIII there are at least eight models of the weapon available. Each with a unique design and required unique items to modify.

Centra Technology
A unique technology that is rediscovered during the game is the technology of the ancient Centra and their mobile shelters. While comparatively outdated in most scientific aspects the technology of the Centra seem to be embedded or fused with magic and thus are of a type that is largely undiscovered in the rest of the world. Primary examples of working Centra technology are the mobile Garden installations Balamb Garden and Galbadia Garden who are both rendered mobile over land and water thanks to mystical Centra technology.

Races / Ethnic Groups
Humans - Most intelligent beings in the world of Final Fantasy VIII are human. Some humans receive Sorceress Power

Shumi - Humanoids who evolve throughout their lifetime into forms such as Moombas and even humans. They hail from the Shumi Village but can be seen elsewhere

Aliens - A short blue humanoid, PuPu, visits the world of Final Fantasy VIII during the course of the game and can be seen abducting numerous artifacts and a cow before his UFO is destroyed.

Monsters - Monsters are extraterrestrial beings from the planet's moon that have being deposited on the planet due to the Lunar Cry. Many are aggressively hostile and are not beyond invading towns and other settlements to cause chaos.



Guardian Forces
Guardian Forces are beings of immense power that can offer their power to compliment another's. It is unknown how they are formed or even where they come from however it is known that, once their trust has been earned, they can be extremely loyal to their charge and obey their orders without question. There is a rumor that excessive usage of the Guardian Forces can cause memory loss in the wielder due to the presence of the Forces.

Unknown Centuries Ago

 * The Great Hyne, became the absolute ruler of the world and creates humans as tools to do his bidding. He later attempts to quell the number of humans that existed but was defeated. He offers half of his body in truce which can be translated to half of his power given to an individual, creating the first sorceress.


 * A war between the humans start over control of the body-half. Eventually the Zebalga tribe emerge victorious but the body ignores their commands. It is later discovered that the body had no real power and the humans continued to hunt Hyne for centuries to come although they never find him.

Around 4000 Years Ago

 * The time of the Centra civilization. Centra created two major empires: Dollet and Esthar. While Dollet began to excel in military force, Esthar grew scientifically advanced.

80 Years Ago

 * The first recorded Lunar Cry strikes the center of the Centra civilization. It is utterly destroyed.


 * The Esthar people began rebuilding its scientific society, while Dollet splintered into diverse countries: Dollet, Galbadia, and Timber.

19 Years Ago

 * Ellone is born in Winhill. She has the potential to be a sorceress and had the power to send her consciousness backwards in time.

18 Years Ago

 * Sorceress Adel begins her plans for world domination by starting the Sorceress War and meets heavy resistance from Galbadia.


 * Quistis Trepe and Seifer Almasy were born.


 * Sorceress Adel discovered the existence of the Crystal Pillar, a stone from the Moon capable of reacting from a certain position on the Earth to cause a Lunar Cry. She ordered a special enclosure called Lunatic Pandora to be built around it.


 * Dr. Odine began experiments on magical beings known as Guardian Forces. He discovered that they can be Junctioned to human minds, which allowed people to use magic without having to resort to Limit Breaks. He dubbed this Para-Magic. He also studied the sorceresses' powers, and created Odine-brand jewelry which is capable of inhibiting those powers.


 * Laguna Loire meets a pianist named Julia Heartilly.


 * Laguna, Kiros and Ward were sent to the Centra Excavation Site to patrol. They lost their way and came up against a battalion of Esthar soldiers. They were trapped and only managed to escape by jumping off a huge cliff. Laguna, Kiros, and Ward were badly injured. Ward lost his voice permanently.


 * Galbadia begins its own bid for conquest and takes over Timber. The fathers of Zone and Watts are killed after Timber's capture. Zone and Watts take over leadership of the Forest Owls from their fathers. Soon, many rebel factions are created.


 * A number of scientists and researchers who were not happy with Esthar's actions, left to start their own town called Fisherman's Horizon, dedicated to pacifism.

17 Years Ago

 * Believing him dead Julia Heartilly wrote the song Eyes on Me in Laguna's memory. She later marries Fury Caraway of Galbadia and has a daughter whom they named Rinoa.


 * Sorceress Adel ordered the Esthar troops to search for any possible successors to her, whom she wishes to keep in her custody. Many girls were taken. They attempted to take a girl named Ellone from Winhill as well. Ellone's parents were killed and she was adopted and raised by a woman named Raine.


 * After recuperating from their encounter with the Esthar, Ward took up a job as janitor in the D-District Prison. Kiros roamed around as a vagabond, and Laguna found meaning in protecting the residents of Winhill, who were responsible for his return to health. He took up a job defeating the monsters that roamed around the village, and eventually formed a relationship with Raine. Kiros later finds Laguna in Winhill and joins him for a while in his job.


 * Ellone is captured by the Esthar soldiers. Laguna chased after Ellone but the journey was long. To make ends meet he begins working for Timber Maniacs and many of his articles are published, he and Kiros also found side work as extras in a movie company's filming in Trabia Canyon, where they were unfortunately assailed by a real dragon.


 * On his way to Esthar, Laguna fell off a cliff and was taken in by the Shumi tribe, who nurses him back to health after about six months. In the meantime he has a profound effect on the tribe, and attempted to teach the Moombas to speak (they manage to say his name).


 * Laguna reached the Lunatic Pandora Laboratory in Esthar, where he was captured and forced to provide hard labour for the experiments of Dr. Odine. He meets up with more Moombas there. Kiros and Ward later rescue him and together they finally rescue Ellone. Before they got her, though, Odine managed to imprint Ellone's brain wave patterns onto his computer, leading him to create a machine that simulates her powers. He called the machine the Ellone Junction Machine.


 * Laguna joined up with a rebellion against Sorceress Adel, and hatches an ingenious plan to get rid of her. Though they cannot harm her physically, they trick her into a special sealing container, which they then launch into space, to be continually monitored by Esthar's space station. The container's anti-transmission waves cause constant worldwide radio static from this point forward. As part of the plan, they dump the Crystal Pillar from Lunatic Pandora into the ocean to prevent the Lunar Cry from occurring.


 * Laguna Loire was elected President of Esthar, and decided to shut Esthar from the rest of the world; partly in penance for their war, partly because he believed the rest of the world was not ready for Esthar's scientific knowledge yet. Kiros and Ward stayed on as his assistants while Ellone was sent home to Winhill. The Sorceress War ends.


 * While waiting for Laguna to return, Raine gave birth to a son named Squall. She dies soon after and a grave stone is erected in her memory. Squall and Ellone are sent to Edea's Orphanage, as orphans of the Sorceress War. Squall receives the surname "Leonhart" based on Raine's maiden name. It was given by the people who helped the birth, because the absent of his father Laguna Loire.


 * Selphie Tilmitt, Zell Dincht, and Irvine Kinneas were born.

13 Years Ago

 * Ultimecia arrives in Edea's Orphanage with Squall from the Time Compression and perished; she was succeeded by Edea Kramer. Cid and Edea realized the evil she could cause. They created Garden with the propose of stopping the eminent evil she could anytime unleash. The students/fighters raised there were called SeeDs. Cid received funding for the venture from NORG, a Shumi Villager. Three Gardens were set up: Balamb Garden, Trabia Garden, and Galbadia Garden. Balamb and Galbadia were built over old Centra Shelters. NORG setted himself up as the "Garden Master" and dwelled at the lowest level of Balamb Garden. His minions were stationed throughout the Garden, making sure Cid did what he was supposed to do.


 * All the children from the orphanage are later recruited into Garden. Squall, Zell, Seifer, and Quistis end up at Balamb Garden (where Cid Kramer became headmaster), Selphie went to Trabia Garden, and Irvine to Galbadia Garden.


 * Edea trained her own small section of SeeDs, called White SeeDs. She realized Ellone's potential as a sorceress and her special power, and gave them their mission: to protect Ellone at all costs. They were given their own ship and separated from the other SeeDs.

12 Years Ago

 * Julia Heartilly is killed in a car accident. Rinoa moves to live with her father.

1 Year Ago

 * Ultimecia reaches her mind across time and begins controlling Sorceress Edea. By this time Garden has become more or less a center for training mercenaries (the need arose due to financial concerns) and their true purpose has been forgotten. Regretfully Cid begins to prepare to fight against his wife, but delays, hoping she will prove stronger than the sorceress' will which pervades her.


 * Rinoa runs away from her father and travels to Timber, where she becomes embroiled in the Forest Owls. During this time she meets and forms a relationship with a Garden student named Seifer.


 * Possessed by Ultimecia Edea schemes to take over Galbadia. She does so by ingratiating herself with Vinzer Deling, Galbadia's dictator. He resolves to announce his new friendship with Edea via satellite dish, a technology not in use since the radio silence began 18 years back. However, the only remaining radio receiver/transmitter is in the city of Dollet. He orders his army to take it by force and repair the transmitter.

Unknown Time in the Future

 * Ultimecia, the sorceress of the era, defeats SeeD and uses the Junction Machine Ellone, created by Dr. Odine when he serve under sorceress Adel, to transfer her mind into the past. Through it she could possess sorceresses of other times and force them to do her bidding. She plots to enter Time Compression, a state in which time is fused and only she can exist.

Architecture
The overall architect in Final Fantasy VIII was designed with western European themes in mind and as such many architectural examples in the game can be linked back to modern real-world buildings and locations that are both real and theoretical. Different Architectural styles in FFVIII: