December 4th, 2015

This is a sub-page of Proto:Persona 5.

AudioLots of changed audio. EventsSome changes in cognition. ModelsNow with test models! AnimationsGIFs incoming! GraphicsThe female protagonist is no longer M.I.A. TexturesSo many real people... AreasSo many real things... ScriptsLots of test scripts. VideosA little different from what the truth serum imagined. Persona 4 Golden LeftoversThe truth is out there! June 13, 2014 ebootThis might be a little broken...

General Differences#

To do: Move some of these differences to different subpages if necessary. Get some gifs showing the loading screens in this build.

• The game boots up on a debug menu.
• The prototype was designed with original PS3 hardware in mind and the game hasn't yet been optimized for later models, as running it on the PS3 Slim or Super Slim causes it to load events extremely slowly and lock-up/crash very frequently.
• The prototype natively supports 1080p internal resolution and 60fps. The final game only supports up to 720p and 30fps.
• Although this build is stable for the most part, there are some crashes that can happen. Likely due to the disc.
  • Starting the batting, fishing, and crossword minigames.
• NPCs don't load in fields a lot of the time, leading to some softlocks throughout the game. Likely due to the disc, sense NPCs appear and do work in prerelease material shown around 2015.
• The opening is not implemented; however, the video is in the files.
• Loading screens look a little different.
  • The "Take Your Time" loading screen graphic is centered instead of being in the corner.
• Most of the Japanese voice acting has been implemented, with some missing lines.
• The Triple Seven convenience store on central street is instead another store called "Lawson" in this build, which is named after a real-life convenience store. Oddly, this wouldn't be the first time the series partnered with Lawson.
• The Big Bang Burger mascot has a different design. Looking alot more
• When opening a tutorial from the pause menu, either Joker or Morgana says, "Let me Explain!".
• The city map shows red exclamation marks with details of story objectives along with blue tarot cards representing confidants rather than just showing the blue tarot cards in the final game.
• The chalk drawing and message Joker can write on the chalkboard in the classroom is different, unlike the Phantom Thieves logo in the final.
• Getting spotted by a shadow puts every party member including Joker in a scared running animation. These animations are mostly unused, however everyone besides Haru, and Akechi are seen in the cutscene where everyone is running away from the boulder in Futaba's palace.

Gameplay Differences#

• The unused shadow disguise mechanic is implemented in this build of the game. It can be activated by clicking L3 whenever Joker's glove glows red, and reaching rank 10 of Ann's confidant. Interestingly, while this red glowing effect for Joker's glove was scrapped due to the removal of the disguise mechanic in vanilla Persona 5, it makes a return and ends up being used in Persona 5 Royal whenever Joker is able to grapple hook an enemy from a distance.
• Collision when jumping to another platform in palaces is a bit scuffed. This leads to the player sometimes getting stuck in geometry, resulting in a softlock unless you move the player out through the Debug Menu when pressing L2+R2 in a field.
• The protagonist can't dash in dungeons.
• While in Mementos, the Morgana car can do a little speed boost when the circle button is pressed.

Doubt/Broken Confidants#

The scrapped doubt and broken confidant mechanic can be accessed and manipulated with the L3 debug menu, letting you choose if a confidant is in doubt, the doubt points, and if it's broken or not. Below are screenshots of the mechanic being tested on Ann Takamaki's confidant listing and how it affects the UI of the confidant.

Title Screen#

Early	Final (Feb. 2016)

Completely different from the final. There is no music, placeholder art that has concept art of Joker, and "a5" which most likely means "Alpha 5". There are a few options here, most of them are fast forwards to a certain point in the game and appear in every debug build of the game (execpt the June 2016 build). The functions and what they translate to are:

• Start - Takes you to the prologue.
• First Day in Tokyo - Takes you to the day Joker first arrives in Tokyo.
• After Clearing Kamoshida - Takes you to the day Kamoshida's heart changes.
• After Clearing Madarame - Takes you to the day Madarame's heart changes.
• After Clearing Kaneshiro - Takes you to the day Kaneshiro's heart changes.
• After Clearing Futuba - Takes you to the day Futaba's heart changes.
• After Clearing Okumura - Takes you to the day Okumura's heart changes.
• After Clearing Female Prosecutor - Takes you to the day Sae's heart changes.
• After Clearing Shido - Takes you to the day Shido's heart changes.
• First Day of Mementos - Takes you to the day you go to the Mementos Depths.
• Load - Loads a save file.
• Calendar - You can select any day or time; notably uses the calendar graphics from Persona 4 Golden.
• Exit - Takes you to the bootup debug screen.

It's important to note that the field, character models/animations, and graphics from the final title screen are unused in this build.

Skill name changes#

To do: Any other skill names changed?

Even though all of these skills work the same as later builds and the final, the only thing changed were their names.

Changed Facilities#

Velvet Room#

Early	Final

Mostly the same as the final, but there are a few differences to note:

• Fusion tutorials are explained with Caroline and Justine voice clips, whereas in the final the voice clips are Igor's.
• In the process of being fused, the personas speak and scream when chopped by the guillotine.
• The music stops during the fusion cutscene and resumes when the event ends.
• Fused Personas do not gain bonus experience through Arcana Burst from Social Link completion. Instead, Arcana Burst allows the player to assign bonus stat points without leveling up the Persona. This is similar how it works in Metaphor: Refantazio when leveling up a character. The Persona learns a new skill with every three points allotted to a stat.

Watch on YouTube

Iwai Shop#

Early	Final

Mostly the same as the final besides some differences:

• The sell icon is green instead of yellow
• The customize icon is green instead of blue.

Takemi Shop#

Early	Final

Mostly the same as the final, but still has some changes:

• The fields' collision is kinda buggy, you can clip through Takemi's desk and the door on the right side by just walking into both.

SW.BIN#

In the swordtrack folder, there's a file called SW.BIN. This file is actually an early EBOOT.BIN dating back to a year and a half before the December build. This eboot contains a TON of debug symbols (way too many to name all of them), so it was most likely compiled in debug mode rather than release. It also calls the files from the P4G folder and the sample folder. These were removed in the December build's eboot, minus a single file from the sample folder, sample/holdup_command.spr.spd. There is also a lot of other files referenced that once existed but were removed or moved to other locations. This build also only has the model/field directory, which most likely explains the December build's event viewer calling that folder, as it's a leftover from this build.

sample/sample1.pam (The only file removed from the sample file in this build)
P4G/init/cmm.bin (this may have been moved to the "init" folder)
P4G/facility/msg_combine.bmd (this may have been moved to the "facility" folder)
P4G/facility/msg_combine_lvup.bmd (this may have been moved to the "init" folder)
P4G/facility/msg_usercmm.bmd
P4G/facility/msg_sklcard.bmd
P4G/facility/cmbtalk.arc
camp/persona/pst_00a.dds (The Persona icons from the P4G folder used to be located here, or had duplicates, though only 5 were hardcoded)
camp/persona/pst_00b.dds
camp/persona/pst_00c.dds
camp/persona/pst_00d.dds
camp/persona/pst_0C9.dds
facility/cmbroot.arc (All of these .arc files got removed by the Dec build, besides the nEntry.arc file in the P4G folder)
facility/elvgirl.arc (Likely a Persona 3 Portable leftover)
facility/book.arc
facility/costume.arc
facility/sklcard.arc
init/camp.arc
facility/combine.arc
facility/msg_item.bmd (this is in P4G's facility folder, so it could of been moved there later. It isn't referenced in SW.BIN)
model/character/0070/c0070_001_00.GMD (Judging by the models in this folder in the Dec build, this model seems to be a removed Gray background NPC model seen in early devolpment footage)
model/character/enemy/em0001.GMD (moved to 0001 folder)
model/character/enemy/em0002.GMD (moved to 0002 folder)
model/character/enemy/symbol/sym000.GMD
model/character/persona/ps0000.GMD (moved to 0000 folder)
model/character/event/n1000_00_00.GMD (model/character/event got removed by the Dec 4 build)
model/character/event/n1001_00_00.GMD
model/character/0149/c0149_003_00.GMD (This folder and all its files got removed by the Dec 4 build)
model/character/0001/emt0001_051.GAP (Unused face emotion animations for the Protagonist)
model/field/f000_004_0.GFS (A entirely unused field)
%s%s/movie/mov%03d.pam (according to this, this build possibly supports pam files, so it seems they tested between using pam files and usm files)
movie/mov302.pam
test/tohyama/psq001.usm
test/miyashita/PS3Pad.spd
test/kosaka/editor/sphere.GFS
test/kosaka/editor/cylinder.GFS
test/kosaka/w000.bf
test/kosaka/h000.bf
test/kosaka/AI_test.GFS
test/kosaka/ai_test.NAV
test/kosaka/collis_test.GFS
test/kosaka/collis_test.COL
test/niida/scene/alexandria.GFS
test/niida/scene/a_sky.GFS
test/kosaka/001_b01.GMD
test/niida/scene/alexandria.ENV
test/kosaka/path_test3.GFS
test/niida/scene/playertest.GMD (Likely the same model seen in the sample folder)
test/kosaka/bone.GFS
test/tohyama/f002_001.CAR
test/tohyama/test.spd
test/horinouchi/camptop_test.GMD (Likely the protagonist pause menu model)
test/horinouchi/campBgDat.uad
test/tohyama/mailDataTable.ftd
test/tohyama/msg_pcParamChange.bmd
test/tohyama/msg_suspicion.bmd (Likely the same message seen in data.cpk/field/script/caution.bf)
test/miyashita/p_cuchulainn.GMD
test/niida/ui/f222_003_0.GFS
test/niida/ui/menu_c0001_001_A.GMD (The protagonist pause menu model)
test/niida/ui/menu_c0001_001_A_line.GMD
test/niida/ui/menu_c0001_001_A.GAP
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi01.GMD ("Genchi" means "actual place", or "site")
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi02.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi04.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi05.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi06.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi07.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi08.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi09.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi10.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_genchi11.GMD
test/niida/scene/npc_rakuda01_stand.GMD (Rakuda means camel)
test/niida/scene/npc_rakuda01_sit.GMD
test/niida/001_b00.GMD
test/takeuchi/grass_5.GFS
test/takeuchi/bc_tarban.GMD (Tarban is a traditional headwear item)
test/takeuchi/tree.GFS
test/tohyama/NewProject2.acb (Seems like they didn't name this file)
test/tohyama/NewProject2.awb
test/takeuchi/dump/enemy_memdump.txt
test/takeuchi/dump/persona_memdump.txt
test/takeuchi/dump/player_memdump.txt
test/yonezawa/lifeSimTbl.bin
test/yonezawa/lifeSim.bf
test/yonezawa/gfs/field_001_002.GFS (Likely the same as data.cpk/model/field_tex/f001_002_0.GFS)
test/yonezawa/gfs/p3yukari.GFS (Likely the same model seen in the sample folder)
test/yonezawa/gfs/a_sky.GFS
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFglow01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFglowred.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris02.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris03.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris04.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris05.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris06.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris07.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris08.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFiris09.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFnjring01-.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFnjring02-.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFnjring03.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFnjring04.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFray01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFray02.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFray03.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareA/LFstreak01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBglowbl01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBglowbl02.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBglowbl03.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBiris001.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBiris002.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBiris003.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBiris004.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBnjring01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBraybl01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBraybl02.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBrayring1.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareB/LFBstreak01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareC/LFCraybl01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareC/LFCstreak01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFlareC/LFnjring02-.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFilter/lensfilter01.dds
test/yonezawa/image/LensFilter/lensfilter02.dds
test/yonezawa/image/img0000.dds
test/yonezawa/ddsImage/img0000.dds
test/yonezawa/minimap/
test/yonezawa/env/snap_shot.ENV
test/yonezawa/dungeonSimulator/imgDungeon.dds
test/yonezawa/effect/agidin.EPL
test/yonezawa/effect/agidin_fil.EPL
test/yonezawa/effect/bufdin.EPL
test/yonezawa/effect/jiodin.EPL
test/yonezawa/effect/be_critical_line.EPL
test/yonezawa/model/test_car.GMD (Likely the same model seen in the data.cpk/model/field_tex/object/m007_019.GMD)
test/yonezawa/carPath.FBN
test/yonezawa/CutIn/bct_p_bc%04d_%d.dds
test/horinouchi/chara.dds
test/horinouchi/pst_001.dds
test/horinouchi/pst_0bd.dds
test/suzuki/p5_trainmap.dds
test/suzuki/p5_trainmap_base.dds
test/suzuki/p5_trainmap_icon.dds
test/hiura/bustup/b%03d_%02d.dds
test/hiura/bustup/tie_koma_data_test_01.dds
test/hiura/bustup/koma_back_01.dds
test/hiura/bustup/koma_back_02.dds
test/hiura/bustup/koma_type_01.dds
test/hiura/bustup/koma_type_02.dds
test/hiura/bustup/bst_chara.dat
test/hiura/event/test_mes.bmd
test/hiura/event/intervent.bmd
test/suzuki/chara.dds
test/suzuki/calender.spd
test/suzuki/rain_01.dds
test/suzuki/camptop_test.GMD
test/suzuki/itemshop_test.dds
test/suzuki/fclItemModel.uad
test/ikeda/wipe/test.dds (This folder and graphics are oddly added when starting up the 2014 eboot if they aren't present)
test/ikeda/wipe/test2.dds
test/ikeda/lips/s00.lsd
test/ikeda/lips/s02.lsd
test/ikeda/lips/s05.lsd
test/ikeda/wipe/wipe.GMD
test/ikeda/msg/test.bf
test/yonezawa/BCD/DataNote.BCD
test/yonezawa/BCD/refuge.BCD
test/yonezawa/camera/cameraData.txt (This folder seems to be used for the Camera Edit, in the Battle debug menu on bootup)
test/yonezawa/camera/cameraEdtInit.txt
test/yonezawa/camera/bes_atc.EPL
test/yonezawa/camera/cameraEdtInitCri.txt
test/yonezawa/camera/cameraEdtInitEnemy.txt
test/suzuki/campBgDat.dat
test/suzuki/gunji_UI.GMD (Takemi's facility model)
test/suzuki/gunji_UI.GAP

Early Character Names#

Several files reference early names for characters. While a few of these can be identified (primarily due to some uses of the names being left in the final product), it is unclear which characters many of the names refer to, or if they even correspond to characters who still exist in the final game.

Located in hdd.cpk/P4G/init is a cmpTable.bin file, which contains a .BMD message file called camp_msg.bmd. While this file exists in future builds in ps3.cpk/init/camp.pak, this version is unique as it contains a name bank and various strings relating to early character names. The readings of the given names are confirmed in some included messages that looks to be a test related to interacting with characters by phone. The namebank is listed below, as well as romanized names and final names:

The test messages are:

system_camp_tel_sel
>{X}に連絡を取りますか?
> Do you want to contact X?

cmp_test_tell_wait
>・・・・・・・・・。

cmp_test_tel_yugo
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないよ。
Hello?
Now? I don't mind.

cmp_test_tel_ann
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないけどー?
Hello? 
Right now? I don't really mind, but—?

cmp_test_tel_reiji
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないぜ。
Hello?
Now? I don't really mind.

cmp_test_tel_shino
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないけど。
Hello?
Now? I don't really mind, but...

cmp_test_tel_ryou
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないぜ。
Hello?
Now? I don't really mind.

cmp_test_tel_kaoru
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないよ。
Hello?
Now? I don't really mind

cmp_test_tel_akemi
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないけど。
Hello?
Now? I don't really mind, but...

cmp_test_tel_rituko
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないけど。
Hello?
Now? I don't really mind, but...

cmp_test_tel_mituki
もしもし?
今から? 別に構わないけど。
Hello?
Now? I don't really mind, but...

Another message file contains a different table of early character names - PL_TALK_01.bmd, located in data.cpk/battle/talk. This file contains messages relating to Persona negotiations, and starts off with a table of names for characters involved:

This build, like the final retail versions, contain references to early character names in the data.cpk/battle directory, such as in the various datCharaOrder.bmd or datCooperate.bmd files:

• Ryuji = Reiji
• Yusuke = Yugo
• Haru = Ranko
• Futaba = Hutaba (in Japanese fu and hu are generally interchangeable)

The data.cpk/battle/gui directory contains four older image files with the early names for Ryuji and Yusuke.

Seed of Doubt#

A fully unused mechanic seen neither in the final game nor this prototype, likely scrapped earlier in development. According to the script shown below in the folder of field/script/caution.bf, if the player has a confidant doubt them a "seed of doubt" will be planted in people's minds. At first you can't spend time for three days, and you'll be questioned by the police. If it blossoms, a police pursuit will happen. If you don't dodge them, it's game over... "Giwaku" is the Japanese word for "doubt".

人々の心の中にÙつ『疑惑の芽』
The seeds of doubt in people's minds
『疑惑の芽』がつぼみをつけました
The seeds of doubt have begun to bud
『疑惑の芽』が花開きました
The seeds of doubt have blossomed
『疑惑の芽』がÙち始めました
The seeds of doubt began to grow

KEYFREETIME_GET_PENALTY
>今は目立つ行動は控えた方がいいだろう⋯ 今日は大人しく帰る事にした。
>It's probably best to refrain from conspicuous behavior for now... I decided to go home quietly today.

GIWAKUHELP_LV1_penalty
ミッション や ¼頼の受領·達成、部コーポレイト、夜間のÜ部施設の利用
Accepting and completing missions and requests, using the UE Corporate and UE facilities at night
普通の高校生が行わないような行動
Behavior that normal high school students would not engage in

GIWAKUHELP_LV2_penalty
できる限り目立つ行動は控え、普通の高校生らしい生活 を心がけて下さい。
Please refrain from conspicuous behavior as much as possible and try to live the life of a normal high school student.

GIWAKUHELP_LV3_penalty
このままでは正体がばれる危険があります。ほとぼりが冷めるまで 3日間自由な行動ができません。
If you continue like this, you risk being exposed. You will not be able to move freely for 3 days until the heat dies down.

GIWAKUHELP_LV1_penalty
『疑惑の芽』がÙち、花開くと、3日間自由な行動ができなくなる ので注Äしましょう。
Be careful, once the "seed of doubt" grows and blossoms, you will not be able to move freely for 3 days.

GIWAKUHELP_LV1_gameover
ミッション や ¼頼の受領·達成、Ü部コーポレイト夜間のÜ部施設の利用 など
Accepting and completing missions and requests, using the UE Corporate facilities at night, etc.

普通の高校生が行わないような行動 は、人々の心の中の『疑惑の芽』をÙてます。
Behavior that is not typical of high school students will raise the seeds of doubt in people's minds.

逆に、自宅での時間つぶし、会活動 や 部活 など、普通の高校生らしい行動 で疑惑は薄れます。
On the other hand, suspicions are lessened when he behaves like a normal high school student, killing time at home, participating in social activities, and participating in club activities.

GIWAKUHELP_LV2_gameover
不審者として警察に通報される可能性があります。普通の高校生らしい生活 を心がけて下さい。
You may be reported to the police as a suspicious person, so please try to live the life of a normal high school student.

GIWAKUHELP_LV3_gameover
このままでは警察官に 職務質問 をかけられます。急いで疑惑を解消するための行動をとって下さい。
If you continue like this, you will be questioned by the police. Please take action immediately to resolve the suspicion.

GIWAKUHELP_LV1_gameover
『疑惑の芽』が花開くと、不審者とみなされ、警察官から職務質問をかけられる ようになります。
Once the seeds of suspicion blossom, you will be considered a suspicious person and may be questioned by police officers.

警察官の追及をかわせなければ ゲームオーバー となりますので注 して下さい。
Please note that if you do not dodge the police officers' pursuit, the game will be over.

There are also a few 3D models in the folder of field/NPC, which has four states of the seed of doubt. There are no animations for it, besides the fully grown one that has one animation of it's eye looking left to right.

References#