When most of us consider video game visuals, we might think of graphics — how realistically an alien world, race track or war zone can be replicated. We might not immediately think of fonts. But a new book aims to draw attention to the importance of typography’s role in immersing players in games. Arcade Game Typography focuses on arcade games from the 1970s through to the 1990s, as Tetris and Space Invaders exploded in popularity — a time when fonts were crucial in communicating messages and attracting potential players.
There were limitations to this design; letters had to be shaped on an 8×8 pixel grid. But as the book’s author, Toshi Omagari, a typeface designer at Monotype UK, explains, “limitation is great driver of creativity”. The breadth of examples in the book, which has lesser known gems as well as familiar favourites, highlights that sense of creativity even if it was not always a successful font — something Omagari is quick to point out.
For more, visit https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/21-27-october-2019/arcade-game-typography/