Acknowledgments

I would like to give my sincerest gratitude to Vras28 and MetalFrieza3000 for being very understanding & trustworthy modders, and providing crystal clear explanations.
In his initial research, Vras also thanked pxgamer13 and Raide Z, and so will I.

None of this would have ever been possible without such efforts.
We would still be looking for strings and changing their pointers, one value at a time.
They have all helped in the transition from mechanical to logical scenario analysis.

Introduction

Before proceeding with the guide, it is highly recommended to have decent knowledge of the hexadecimal system, which is what NIM's guide is all about.
Given how the game was written in C (presumably), knowing a few programming basics would not hurt at all.

SPOILER: The words function, arguments, parameters, property, integer, float and string will be thrown around a bunch, so watch out!

Basic Concepts

The following principles also apply to Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and Raging Blast 1.
Everything else, after the GSAC-GSDT Relation, is exclusive to Budokai Tenkaichi 3.

GSC files are divided into sections. Each section contains a 16-byte header and its data.
Because GSC files are meant to be interpreted as scripts, said data can be treated as if it were lines of code.
In this case, the lines of code are represented by a series of bytes.

Back to the header, here are its contents:

• Name (a 4-byte string, stored at byte 0 of the header)
• Header Size (an integer, always to 16, stored at byte 4)
• Data Size (an integer, stored at byte 8)
• ID (an integer, mainly used for GSAC's, stored at byte 12)

• GSCF (first section of the file, containing all other sections)
• GSHD (stores two integers representing the GSC version)
• GSCD (stores all GSAC's below it, until it reaches the GSDT)
• GSAC (unlike the rest, a section that is found numerous times)
• EOFC (end of section, indicated by EOF - End of File)
• GSDT (last section of the file; DT likely stands for Data)

• 3 & 1, representing v3.1 of the GSC format (for Budokai Tenkaichi 2)
• 3 & 2, representing v3.2 of the GSC format (for Budokai Tenkaichi 3)
• 3 & 3, representing v3.3 of the GSC format (for Raging Blast 1)

GSAC-GSDT Relation

To avoid confusion, GSAC's will be referred to as scenes, whereas the GSDT will be called data, because that is exactly what it is: just data. Nothing more to it.
Nothing more than an unorganized set of integers and floats.
Due to several scenes often reusing the same data, changing the data directly is discouraged, and so is deleting data or adding already-existing data.
Although, the latter is the least harmful out of the three.

For the scenes to get the data in the first place, they make use of parameters. Each parameter consists of:

• Data Type (0x0A for integers, 0x1A for floats, 0x2A for strings)
• Offset (address of input date relative to its section, divided by 4, stored as an unsigned short)

Instructions and Properties

Instructions are stored in 4 bytes. These bytes represent its arguments.
Depending on the instruction type, the preceding bytes may behave differently.
Other than that, an instruction may or may not take parameters.
It may or may not take properties as well, which also take parameters.

Here is a hex interpretation of an instruction:
00 01 02 03
XX YY ZZ ZZ

The argument in red represents the instruction type, which can take the following values:

• 01 (function call)
• 02 (scene call)
• 03 (unused, but very similar to 02)

List of Preliminary Scenes

The following scenes are found at the beginning of every GSC, in this exact order:

• Scene -1 (0xFFFFFFFF)
• Scene 1k (0xE8030000)
• Scene -2 (0xFEFFFFFF)
• Scene -3 (0xFDFFFFFF)
• Scene -4 (0xFCFFFFFF)
• Scene -5 (0xFBFFFFFF)

List of Functions and Properties

Please note that the functions have been listed in ascending order (smallest to biggest).
All given ID's are in decimal. For each function and property, there will be:

• A hex interpretation (the bytes used for the instruction);
• A brief description;
• A location (what scenes it can be found in);
• The parameters, if any are used.

Function 1

Hex Interpretation

0x01010100

Description

Stops the flow of execution until some time has passed.
For instance, if there are two cameras (one before, and one after the function), the 2nd camera will not play until the time expires.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

A time interval (float).

Function 2

Hex Interpretation

0x01010200

Description

Marks the ID of the scenario, used to identify what audio, lip-syncing and subtitle files will be used.

Location

The beginning of Scene -3.

Parameters

An integer that ranges from 0 to 47.

Function 3

Hex Interpretation

0x01000300

Description

Marks the start of a scene. Nothing else.

Location

The beginning of any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

None.

Function 4

Hex Interpretation

0x01000400

Description

Marks the end of a scene, and the start of a battle.
It resets the battle camera, and allows the characters to move around.

Location

The end of any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

None.

Function 5

Hex Interpretation

0x01000500

Description

Marks the character positions on the map.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 3.

Parameters

None.

Function 6

Hex Interpretation

0x01000600

Description

Marks the disabling of all VFX (aura charges, ki-charging auras and camera shakes).

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 5.

Parameters

None.

Function 7

Hex Interpretation

0x01000700

Description

Marks the storage of conditional properties, audio-related and scene-related.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 6.

Parameters

None.

Properties

a type (0x08610200)

A predetermined scene link that takes two parameters:

Condition ID (int)

Scene ID (int)

v type (0x08760200)

A predetermined audio link that takes two parameters:

Condition ID (int)

Voice Line ID (int)

Function 8

Hex Interpretation

0x01020800

Description

Manages post-cutscene events, one for each scene.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 14.

Parameters

Event ID (int)

Character ID (int)

Function 9

Hex Interpretation

0x01010900

Description

Indicates the end of the battle.

Location

The end of any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 3.

Parameters

Battle Outcome ID (int), which can take these values:

00 = You Win! (K.O.)

01 = You Lose! (K.O.)

02 = You Win! (Ringout)

03 = You Lose! (Ringout)

Function 10

Hex Interpretation

0x01050A00

Description

Initializes the Battle Settings.

Location

The beginning of Scene -4.

Parameters

Map ID (int), that ranges from 0 to 34

Initial BGM Track ID (int)

Battle Time ID (int), which can take the following values:

00 = Infinite (default value)

01 = 60 s

02 = 90 s

03 = 180 s

04 = 240 s

Announcer ID (int), which can take the following values:

00 = Ox King

01 = Videl

02 = Supreme Kai

03 = Shenron (default value)

04 = Announcer 1

05 = Announcer 2

06 = Announcer 3

07 = Videl (used for Battle Training only)

Enable/Disable Map Destruction (int), that acts like a boolean - 00 means disabled, 01 means enabled

The other Battle Time values are unused, because the battle still goes on, even if the timer ends.

Function 11

Hex Interpretation

0x01020B00

Description

Initializes the Team Settings.

Location

Scene -4; repeated twice; next to Function 10.

Parameters

Team ID (int), that acts like a boolean - 00 refers to Player 1's Team, 01 refers to the Opponent's Team

Number of Teammates (int), that ranges from 1 to 5

Function 12

Hex Interpretation

0x010E0C00

Description

Initializes the Character Settings.

Location

Scene -4; next to Function 11.

Parameters

Character Index (int), that ranges from 0 to 4

Character ID (int), that ranges from 0 to 160

Costume ID (int), that ranges from 0 to 3

Enable/Disable Damaged Costume (int), that acts like a boolean - 00 means disabled, 01 means enabled

Z-Item ID #8 (int) (represents a Strategy Type Z-Item

Initial Health Percentage (int), that ranges from 1 to 100

Z-Item ID #1 (int)

Z-Item ID #2 (int)

Z-Item ID #3 (int)

Z-Item ID #4 (int)

Z-Item ID #5 (int)

Z-Item ID #6 (int)

Z-Item ID #7 (int)

Function 13

Hex Interpretation

0x01000D00

Description

Marks the storage of properties that change Player 1's Character Settings mid-battle.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 7.

Parameters

None.

Properties

C type (0x08430100)

Assigns all previously given properties to a character.
It takes one parameter:

Character Index (int), that ranges from 0 to 4)

If not specified, the properties will be applied to the currently chosen character.

h type (0x08680100)

Assigns a percentage of health to the currently chosen character.
It takes one parameter:

Health Percentage (int), that ranges from 0 to 100)

I type (0x08490100)

Assigns a percentage of ki to the currently chosen character.
It takes one parameter:

Ki Percentage (int), that ranges from 0 to 100)

F type (0x08460100)

Adds a percentage of ki to the currently chosen character.
It takes one parameter:

Ki Percentage (int), that ranges from 0 to 100)

b type (0x08620100)

Assigns a given number of Blast Stocks to the currently chosen character.
It takes one parameter:

Number of Blast Stocks (int)

B type (0x08620100)

Is supposed to add a given number of Blast Stocks to the currently chosen character.
However, it acts the same as the F type property because someone at Spike messed up.
It takes one parameter:

Number of Blast Stocks (int)

0 type (0x08300100) - 6 type (0x08360100)

Assigns a Z-Item to the slot with the same number as the property type itself.
It takes one parameter:

Z-Item ID (int)

These properties also apply to Function 14.

Function 14

Hex Interpretation

0x01000E00

Description

Marks the storage of properties that change the Opponent's Character Settings mid-battle.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 13.

Parameters

None.

Properties

l type (0x086C0100)

Changes the COM Difficulty Level to the given value.
It takes one parameter:

COM Difficulty Level (int)

a type (0x08610100)

Is supposed to overwrite the 8th Z-Item of the currently chosen character.
However, it ends up affecting the next teammate's 1st Z-Item instead.
It takes one parameter:

Z-Item ID (int)

Function 15

Hex Interpretation

0x01000F00

Description

Marks the storage of audio-related properties.

Location

The beginning of Scene -5.

Parameters

None.

Properties

v type (0x08760200)

Indicates what audio file is being used, and which character is speaking.
It takes two parameters:

Voice Line ID (int)

Character Index (int)

This property also helps to make the subtitles gray if said character is not present in the scene.

Function 16

Hex Interpretation

0x010F1000

Description

Assigns the rewards given upon scenario completion.

Location

Scene -3; next to Function 2.

Parameters

Number of Z-Points for Easy Mode (int)

Number of Z-Points for Normal Mode (int)

Number of Z-Points for Hard Mode (int)

Unlockable Z-Item ID #1 (int)

Unlockable Z-Item ID #2 (int)

Unlockable Z-Item ID #3 (int)

Unlockable Map ID #1 (int)

Unlockable Map ID #2 (int)

Unlockable Map ID #3 (int)

Unlockable Character ID #1 (int)

Unlockable Character ID #2 (int)

Unlockable Character ID #3 (int)

Unlockable Scenario ID #1 (int)

Unlockable Scenario ID #2 (int)

Unlockable Scenario ID #3 (int)

Function 701

Hex Interpretation

0x0100BD02

Description

Loads the correct text PAK file, based on the scenario ID.

Location

Scene -2

Parameters

None.

Function 702

Hex Interpretation

0x0100BE02

Description

Loads the correct lip-syncing PAK file, based on the scenario ID.

Location

Scene -2; next to Function 701.

Parameters

None.

Function 801

Hex Interpretation

0x01072103

Description

Assigns the character's position and rotation.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 5.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

X Position (float)

Y Position (float)

Z Position (float)

X Rotation (float)

Y Rotation (float)

Z Rotation (float)

If not present, the game will refer to the map's original positions.

Function 802

Hex Interpretation

0x01042203

Description

Only assigns the character's position.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 5.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

X Position (float)

Y Position (float)

Z Position (float)

Function 803

Hex Interpretation

0x01042303

Description

Only assigns the character's rotation.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 5.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

X Rotation (float)

Y Rotation (float)

Z Rotation (float)

Function 804

Hex Interpretation

0x01012403

Description

Makes the character visible, in case they were invisible beforehand.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Function 805

Hex Interpretation

0x01012503

Description

Makes the character invisible, in case they were visible beforehand.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Function 806

Hex Interpretation

0x01012603

Description

Activates the Aura Charge (lingering aura) VFX.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Function 807

Hex Interpretation

0x01012703

Description

Deactivates the Aura Charge (lingering aura) VFX.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Function 808

Hex Interpretation

0x01012803

Description

Activates the Ki-Charging Aura VFX.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Function 809

Hex Interpretation

0x01012903

Description

Deactivates the Ki-Charging Aura VFX.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Function 810

Hex Interpretation

0x01012A03

Description

Activates the MAX POWER Mode Explosion VFX.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Function 901

Hex Interpretation

0x01028503

Description

Assigns an animation to a character in the scene.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Animation ID (int)

Properties

t type (0x08740100)

Speeds up or slows down an animation based on a coefficient.
It takes one parameter:

Animation Speed Coefficient (an float)

l type (0x086C0000)

Makes an animation repeatable (l is short for loop).
It takes no parameters.

w type (0x08770000)

Makes the animation freeze after its completion, because it is waiting for another animation.
It takes no parameters.
NOTE: w is short for wait.

Function 902

Hex Interpretation

0x01008603

Description

Enables character movement. This is unnecessary (thus unused), because Function 4 already does that.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

None.

Function 1001

Hex Interpretation

0x0101E903

Description

Creates a fade-out, usually at the beginning of a scene.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Time Interval (float)

Properties

W type (0x08570000)

Changes the fade-out color to white (l is short for White).
It takes no parameters.

w type (0x08770000)

Gives the fade-out a higher priority, thus stopping the flow of execution until the fadeout is finished.
It takes no parameters.
NOTE: These properties also apply to Function 1002.

Function 1002

Hex Interpretation

0x0101EA03

Description

Creates a fade-in, usually at the end of a scene.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Time Interval (float)

Function 1003

Hex Interpretation

0x0100EB03

Description

Disables the current fade.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

None.

Function 1201

Hex Interpretation

0x0106B104

Description

Marks the starting point of a camera.
If there are no other points, the camera becomes static.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

X Position (float)

Y Position (float)

Z Position (float)

Y Rotation (float)

X Rotation (float)

Z Rotation (float)

Function 1202

Hex Interpretation

0x0100B204

Description

Marks the 2nd point of a camera.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 1201.

Parameters

None.

Properties

l type (0x086C0700)

Represents another camera point (not just the 2nd, but also the 3rd).
It takes 7 parameters:

Transition Speed, from starting point to current camera point (float)

X Position (float)

Y Position (float)

Z Position (float)

Y Rotation (float)

X Rotation (float)

Z Rotation (float)

w type (0x08770000)

Gives the camera a higher priority, thus stopping the flow of execution until the camera is finished.
It takes no parameters.

Function 1203

Hex Interpretation

0x0100B304

Description

Resets the Battle Camera. This is unnecessary (thus unused), because Function 4 already does that.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

None.

Function 1204

Hex Interpretation

0x0101B404

Description

Shakes the current camera.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 1202.

Parameters

Shake Force/Intensity (float)

Properties

l type (0x086C0000)

Makes the shake go on repeatedly.
It takes no parameters.

Function 1205

Hex Interpretation

0x0100B504

Description

Disables the current camera shake.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000; next to Function 1203.

Parameters

None.

Function 1301

Hex Interpretation

0x01011505

Description

Does nothing. Used for debugging purposes, to load a comment (string) in memory.

Location

Scene -1

Parameters

Any string

Function 1302

Hex Interpretation

0x01001605

Description

Establishes subtitle settings.

Location

Scene -3

Parameters

None.

Properties

l type (0x086C0100)

Changes the region of the subtitles.
Its integer parameter can take one of these values:

00 = Japan

01 = USA

02 = Europe

03 = Korea (Unused)

n type (0x086E0100)

Indicates if the text is white or grey.
It takes one parameter:

Text Indicator (int), that acts like a boolean - 00 means white text, 01 means grey text)

d type (0x08640200)

Indicates the text position.
It takes two parameters:

X Position (int)

Y Position (int)

a type (0x08610200)

Indicates the text size.
It takes two parameters:

Size in terms of X (float), aka the width

Size in terms of Y (float), aka the height

s type (0x08730100)

Resizes the text using the given coefficient, otherwise known as a scale.
It takes one parameter:

Text Scale (float)

c type (0x08630400)

Assigns a color to the text.
It takes four parameters:

Amount of Red (int)

Amount of Green (int)

Amount of Blue (int)

Opacity (int)

p type (0x08700200)

Refers to the padding, between both symbols and lines.
It takes two parameters:

Padding between lines (int)

Padding between symbols (int)

w type (0x08770100)

Refers to the text alignment.
Its integer parameter can take one of these values:

00 = Right-aligned

01 = Center-aligned (default value)

02 = Left-aligned

T type (0x08540100)

Refers to the "type" of symbol, what the T stands for.
It takes one parameter:

Symbol Type (int)

It is set to 02 by default, and it enables the outline around the text.

O type (0x084F0200)

Indicates the outline size.
It takes two parameters:

Size in terms of X (float), aka the width

Size in terms of Y (float), aka the height

C type (0x08430400)

Assigns a color to the outline.
It takes four parameters:

Amount of Red (int)

Amount of Green (int)

Amount of Blue (int)

Opacity (int)

Function 1501

Hex Interpretation

0x0101DD05

Description

Establishes a change in Background Music.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

BGM Track ID (int)

Function 1502

Hex Interpretation

0x0100DE05

Description

Turns down the volume of the currently playing BGM.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

None.

Properties

w type (0x08770000)

Stops the flow of execution until the BGM ends.
It takes no parameters.

Function 1601

Hex Interpretation

0x01014106

Description

Plays a sound from SE_Battle.pak. As the name says, it contains most Battle Sound Effects.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Audio ID (int)

Function 1602

Hex Interpretation

0x01014206

Description

Plays an audio file out of 300 that each scenario has.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Audio ID (int)

Properties

h type (0x08680100)

Allows 2 audio files to be played at the same time.
It takes one parameter:

Audio Channel (int)

w type (0x08770000)

Stops the flow of execution until the voice line ends.
It takes no parameters.

These properties also apply to

Function 1603

Hex Interpretation

0x01024306

Description

Works the same as Function 1602, except it is used for character audio.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Character Index (int)

Voice Line ID (int)

Function 1701

Hex Interpretation

0x0101A506

Description

Stops the flow of execution until a certain button is pressed. In other words, a poor attempt at a cutscene skip.

Location

Any scene whose ID is greater than or equal to 10000.

Parameters

Button ID (int), which can take the following values:

0x00, 0x15, 0x20 = Left

0x03, 0x18, 0x23 = Up

0x01, 0x16, 0x21 = Right

0x02, 0x17, 0x22 = Down

0x13, 0x33 = R3

0x0B, 0x2B = Square

0x0A, 0x2A = Triangle

0x09, 0x29 = Cross

0x08, 0x28 = Circle

0x0E, 0x2E = L1

0x0F, 0x2F = L2

0x12, 0x32 = L3

0x10, 0x30 = R1

0x11, 0x31 = R2

0x07, 0x27 = R-Stick Up

0x04, 0x24 = R-Stick Left

0x06, 0x26 = R-Stick Down

0x05, 0x25 = R-Stick Right

0x0D, 0x2D = Select

Useful Resources

BGM ID List

Character ID List

Condition ID List

Event ID List

Map ID List

Z-Item ID List

Conclusion

To end this on a high note, I shall provide a bit more insight.

• It is always encouraged to paste the contents of the GSDT in its own file (without the header), before proceeding with anything else.
• Most of the functions listed above are unused, and the ones that are used may not be included in every scenario.
That is why I recommend reading Metal's guide on how to add BGM changes to a scenario.
Nearly the same logic can be followed for other functions - just be careful where you place them, and what values they will be using.
• To go from one cutscene to another, pressing the R3 button is required. However, this is not always the case.
If the preceding cutscene's event is one of the following, and the opponent is the one who does it, then said cutscene's activation will become automatic.
Performing a Special Attack (Blast 1 or Blast 2)
Performing a Normal Clash
Transforming, detransforming and fusing (if possible)
Switching with another teammate (if possible)
Although, if the condition for that scene involves either player falling into the ground/water (or dying), then the next cutscene will play automatically anyway.

Additional References

1. pxgamer13's tutorial on Super-Z, which was originally translated from French to Spanish, and then saved as a PDF for archival purposes.
2. Vras's original Dragon History research, obviously written in Spanish and far from finished.
3. My English adapation of the research above, made in Google Docs and converted into a PDF afterwards.
4. Metal's translation from Spanish to English of Vras's latest Dragon History research.
5. Offline Backup of this website.