NFG's Pixel Font Engine
Printed From: Pixel Joint
Category: The Lounge
Forum Name: Diversions
Forum Discription: Get to know your fellow pixel freaks. Chat about anything to do with video games, comic books, anime, movies, television, books, music, sports or any other off topic bs you can think of.
URL: https://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7988
Printed Date: 08 January 2026 at 11:27pm
Topic: NFG's Pixel Font Engine
Posted By: NFG
Subject: NFG's Pixel Font Engine
Date Posted: 04 March 2009 at 3:30am
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Some of you might remember me 'cause of http://nfggames.com/neography/pivot/entry.php?id=397&w=nfg_games - that pixel art book I wrote, and the rest of you are probably better off if you don't...
But I'm here to admit another pixel fetish I harbour: 8x8 arcade fonts. Over the last four weeks or so I've been ripping and collating arcade fonts, and I hacked up a little http://nfggames.com/games/fontmaker/ - Font Engine tool so you can create and play with the thing. Each font has a complete alphabet, often with lower case and most with at least a functional set of punctuation. In addition, if you're bored, you can read my commentary on most of 'em. Sadly it's mostly me gushing about how awesome giant pixels and small fonts are... if that sort of thing excites you like it does me, I've http://nfgworld.com/mb/post/1613 - released the PHP code for your free use and abuse. You can keep up to date with new fonts and changes to the code http://nfgworld.com/mb/post/1614 - here . Here's a mostly-complete sampler of the fonts I've assembled so far:  |
Replies:
Posted By: zennext
Date Posted: 05 March 2009 at 5:31pm
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http://nfggames.com/games/fontmaker/ This is the link you want for font engine tool. |
Posted By: NFG
Date Posted: 05 March 2009 at 5:53pm
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WTF happened there? Thanks for pointing that out, zennext. I've fixed the original post.
Also, since posting that, I've put up a http://nfggames.com/games/fontmaker/lister.php - list of all fonts for your quick reference. |
Posted By: Metaru
Date Posted: 11 March 2009 at 12:15am
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i can't believe i've played almost 70% of that list... so far, namco has used the same font all these years on almost all their arcades, isnt it? ------------- I ate leel's babies |
Posted By: NFG
Date Posted: 11 March 2009 at 12:21am
| Namco did use the same font for most of their games, but they're not alone: Atari, Konami Taito, Capcom, SNK and pretty much everyone has used it as well. Even on newer, modern or 3D games you'll find the same font with more pixels. |
Posted By: Metaru
Date Posted: 11 March 2009 at 6:55pm
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indeed. i clearly remember playing ridge racer and seeing it at the best times screens. PS: and raiden's one is indeed my favorite too. ------------- I ate leel's babies |
Posted By: NFG
Date Posted: 16 March 2009 at 3:32am
A couple of big upgrades to the script today. I worked out a method for listing every font in a row, as well as a counter for tallying up the current font total. And Twystneko put together a word-balloon mod for his shmups scene generator, and it's all available now:
(EDIT: fixed the images. Hotlinking to the fine pixeljoint establishment is now allowed. =)) So, the current font count is  amazing fonteroonies. Here's the list!
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Posted By: NFG
Date Posted: 20 March 2009 at 12:22am
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http://nfggames.com/games/fontmaker/ - New version of the fontmaker page is up!
I'm happy with this new page, it's much more user-friendly, with word-balloon controls, but no more colour mixer. (No one used it anyway). You can still get that on the http://nfggames.com/games/fontmaker/index2.php - old version . As usual, many thanks to Twyst for helping me out with the tricky bits, and 99% of the javascript. And boy, wait till you see HIS new project. |
Posted By: Metaru
Date Posted: 21 March 2009 at 12:47pm
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Fantasy Zone, Raiden Figthers & Armored warriors, my favorites so far.
------------- I ate leel's babies |
Posted By: tripnfall
Date Posted: 27 March 2009 at 9:01am
| I've been making fonts lately, this will be good reference material. |
Posted By: NFG
Date Posted: 22 June 2009 at 5:38am
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I'm still at it. =)
The German game mag GEE http://nfgworld.com/mb/post/1754 - mentioned the font machine recently, much to my happiness. Also, Added three... five... nine new fonts: * 
That's the alien-looking font from Taito's Bubble Memories.  <- Great game!
And two more from the same game. Sadly the non-alien 8x8 font is just the regular arcade font everyone uses, so I didn't bother. * 
* 
Finally, worked out support for large fonts in a way that doesn't break http://nfggames.com/games/fontmaker/ - the font machine , and re-added two Alien vs Predator fonts: * 
* 
* 
* 
* 
As always, you can http://nfgworld.com/mb/post/1806 - download the code if this sort of thing excites you as much as it does me. =D So that's 111 8x8 fonts and counting. <3 them pixels. |
Posted By: NFG
Date Posted: 18 August 2009 at 4:58am
Still adding new fonts, including some big ones. The total now is an astonishing  fonts.
* 
* 
* 
* 
And some more 8x8 beauties: * 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
The http://nfgworld.com/mb/post/1974 - PHP script and all the fonts are always up to date, and now include all the larger fonts as well as the 8x8 ones. |
Posted By: Antifarea
Date Posted: 18 August 2009 at 11:30am
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Very nice Font Engine tool... I bookmarked it, I might spread the word with some of my friends, since it's pretty cool. I hope this keeps getting further updates, I'm curious to check what comes up next.
------------- |
Posted By: NFG
Date Posted: 18 December 2025 at 3:19am
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While searching for something I'd done I was served up this thread, from waaaay back.
The font list and font totals a few posts up are updated live, and they're accurate: 183 fonts and counting! I just added four new ones a couple of days ago, and I'm working on another update now. Long live the pixels. =) |