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089 | The Universe of 8-bit Arcade Font

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In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore the universe of 8-bit arcade typefaces. We discuss the background of arcades from 1975-1985, the business models of arcades, and what makes these fonts unique. Games like Space Invaders and Sprint 2 dominated the scene. The monitor screens were divided into a 28x32 tile grid, with each tile being 1 byte of data or 8 bits. These 8-bit tiles were split into an 8x8 grid, allowing designers to turn on individual cells to create more detailed images. However, the more cells turned on, the more computer power was required. What makes these fonts so technically intriguing is how they have stood the test of time. Despite being created due to technical limitations, these fonts continue to be used today in various forms. Finally, we touch on the evolution of fonts into color fonts and what we can expect in the future with 3D rendering.

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      • Referenced:

      • Vox video The 8-bit arcade font: https://youtu.be/C5NiAoT3xsY
      • Arcade Game Typography Book (Toshi Omagari): https://readonlymemory.vg/shop/book/arcade-game-typography/
      • TechTalk: Toshi Omagari - Arcade Typography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfnkNtWBgQ0
      • The business of Arcades Article: https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/16/3740422/the-life-and-death-of-the-american-arcade-for-amusement-only
      • Colour fonts: https://nabla.typearture.com/


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