Sinan-Karakaya / DQ8-Recompiled

# DQ8Recomp
An experimental native port of **Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King**
for PlayStation 2, built with PS2Recomp.
The game's MIPS code is translated to C++ locally and linked to a runtime that
implements the PS2 services it uses. Graphics use SDL3 GPU or a software reference
renderer.
**This is a development project, not a finished port.** The NTSC-U version
(`SLUS_212.07`) boots, loads saves, and reaches field gameplay, with sound from
the game's own drivers. Sustained playable performance and full-game
compatibility are still in progress. The PAL configuration is incomplete.
## Play it
You need:
- a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux, with about 8 GB of free space;
- a disc image (an `.iso` file) made from your own copy of the North American
 release of the game (SLUS-21207).
Nothing from the game is downloaded: the launcher builds the game on your
computer, from your disc.
1. Open the latest release,
 scroll down to **Assets**, and click the file for your computer to download it:
 | Your computer | File to download |
 | --- | --- |
 | Windows | `DQ8Recomp-…-Windows-x86_64.zip` |
 | Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or newer) | `DQ8Recomp-…-macOS-arm64.zip` |
 | Mac with an Intel processor | `DQ8Recomp-…-macOS-x86_64.zip` |
 | Linux on a PC | `DQ8Recomp-…-Linux-x86_64.tar.gz` |
 | Linux on ARM | `DQ8Recomp-…-Linux-arm64.tar.gz` |
 Not sure which Mac you have? In the Apple menu, choose **About This Mac**: "Apple
 M1" or later means Apple silicon, and "Intel" means Intel. The other files in
 the list are for developers.
2. Unpack it. On Windows, right-click the file and choose **Extract All**: the
 launcher can't run from inside the zip. On macOS, double-click it. On Linux,
 use your file manager's **Extract**.
3. Open the launcher.
 - **Windows:** open `dq8-launcher` in the `DQ8Recomp` folder. If Windows says it
 protected your PC, choose **More info**, then **Run anyway**.
 - **macOS:** the app isn't signed yet, so macOS blocks it. The first time, open
 Terminal, type `xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine ` (with the space at the end),
 drag **DQ8Recomp Launcher** onto the Terminal window, and press Return. That
 unblocks the app and the tools inside it. Then double-click the app.
 - **Linux:** open `dq8-launcher` in the `DQ8Recomp` folder.
4. Drag your disc image onto the launcher's window, and go through its pages with
 **Continue**. If something is missing, such as a C++ compiler, press **Install
 for me**; your computer may ask for your permission.
5. Press **Start building**. The first build takes about ten minutes on a recent
 computer, longer on an older one. Then press **Play**.
Your game files and saves are kept in a `DQ8Recomp` folder in your home folder;
the launcher's Options page can choose another before you build. To update,
download the latest release again and open it: your saves stay, and the build
only redoes what changed. In the game, **F1** opens the menu for controls,
display and sound. Running and controls
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