Fonts and commercial RM games

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

What if the Font has a public download link then you just put the link to the download page? Does that count as redistribution?

 

[Nathanial]

What if the Font has a public download link then you just put the link to the download page? Does that count as redistribution?

Nope, as long as the site you're linking to is allowed to legally distribute it. You have to be careful when linking to various font sites... Like I said before, it's common for sites to give away "free" fonts that are just pirated fonts in the first place (although the site distributing them might not actually know this!).

Redistributing the font is exactly what it sounds like... Distributing the font file WITH your game.

Other game engines bitmap font files. That is, instead of using the font data directly in the game, it calls for images of the font. That's the watered down version, anyway. The work around for this is you're not redistributing the font, you're using the font as artwork in your game (which is legally permitable since you're not actually DISTRIBUTING the font). Any text is calling those images of the characters of the font. Here's an example. Make sense? Not sure if a script exists or how easy it would be to implement in RPG Maker though... but it IS a common work around! As far as the legality of this? It's a grey line. Go with your gut when you make your choices... I'm not telling you one or the other.

Try not to fret too much about it. I don't mean to exaggerate any of this, it's just something I had to deal with back in April before we exhibited one of my games at PAX East in Boston. If I can help save one person some time, then I feel better dealing with the crap I did!

Here's the site I used to purchase my games fonts. Just make sure you purchase the correct license! Pricing varies for different fonts/packages. You might be able to find one you like that's really affordable

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

So far I think the only one that I encountered that uses bitmaped fonts would be the battle system of MOG... But I think that's only for the pop-ups

 

[Alkorri]

I've been following this discussion with some interest as I'm aiming to work on a commercial title a year down the line. Nathanial has certainly given food for thought!

Sharm, not sure if this is the right place to ask, but is there any font creation software you would recommend...?

 

[Sharm]

Nope, I've only tried a few free ones and they're all awful in some way. Also, many of the "make your own font" sites have hidden in their terms that they actually own your font and can sell it if they want but you only keep personal usage rights. I'm going to be doing some research before I buy one.

 

[Alkorri]

I look forward to hearing what you find out This will be something I have to consider when I start work on a commercial title a year from now.

I also heard from a friend that it could take "years" to create your own font, so I might have to shelve out money for licensing after all if that is true.

 

[Sharm]

Years seems far too long. I know there are a lot of glyphs and that they all need to be tweaked to work with every single other glyph but there is a lot of repetition and if the program is good some of that stuff can be automated. A good solid month for a simple font seems much more likely as long as you don't get too crazy with the alternate language support.