TYPOGRAPHY IN VIDEOGAMES

Abstract

The article presents an overview of typography in the context of video games. The research work began with an overview of typography as a multi-layered tool for communication, serving as a carrier of information but also as a carrier of meaning, identity and atmosphere. The work is concretized by researching the development of typography used in video games, from the first video games to contemporary titles. The research reveals the adaptation of designers from creating typography limited to a small grid of pixels, keeping readability as the main goal, to creating typography that has many layers to it: being recognizable, memorable, unique and creative, all while maintaining readability and usability. Technological limitations and creativity are proven to be inversely proportional values; greater limitations provoke a focus on readability and usability, and by removing limitations, designers have greater freedom, producing creative, more complex typographic solutions. After researching the history, the article focuses on case studies, selecting four video games whose typographic systems are closely investigated. From typographic logos and titles, to typography that appears during gameplay, there is an analysis of design decisions, genre implications, and typography as a central design element. Through the redesign of typographic logos of three video games, the importance of respecting previously researched typographic principles is demonstrated, showing how changing the appearance of typography changes genre expectations.