Thanks. Expanded item names should be fairly easy, but time consuming. The items currently use fixed length strings (padded with spaces). I belive space for longer item names could be reclaimed by removing the padding, but it will require updating parts of the engine that expect them to be fixed size. Several places that reference item names don't use the game's standard text routine, so items don't use DTE either.

I'll have to think about that. I've actually contemplated doing variable width, but I haven't fully evaluted what would be involved. The issue would be various parts of the game that don't use the standard text routine. I'd have to either change them to use the routine or make sure I don't break them in any case.

Well, I know variable width's overkill, but it'd be a interesting. Plus I've wanted to do one ever since I read KingMike's doc about it, but I haven't yet. In the mean time, here's a bunch of fixed width:



These three are SNES era Final Fantasy fonts. The first two are a custom font that claims to have the selected the best charaters from various SquareSoft fonts (with black and grey shadows). The third is from FFVI, it had icons, so I included them too.

I adjusted the window border slightly, as the original border looked to tight on top.



This set is the font from the GBA port. The first two are the orignal with black and grey shadows. The third one is modifed with two tone shading, ostensibly so it looks better at fixed width. One thing I'v always liked about this font is the text figures (lower case numerals).  However, it's clearly designed for variable width, which shows pretty badly with some letter combinations. (Perhaps I can adjust the kerning a bit. Hmm.)

These ones also include a less obtrusive window border that I feel matches a condensed font better.



These three are non Final Fantasy fonts. The fist one is a modified Dragon Quest font. It's pretty meh. The second one is more interesting. It even included it's own border. I like the font, but the lack of proper lower case is a dissapointment and the border is too busy for my taste. The half-tone background is pretty cool and I might steal the idea.

The last one is a font I designed (for no paticular reason) named "chunky". As you can see, it's extra black. I'm not serious about using this one, but I haven't done much with it, so I threw it in for kicks.

I grabbed a few more fonts to try out, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. As is, I delayed the real work messing with these.

There is a choice. Ask and thou shalt receive:



Anyone else have a preference? I can pretty much move that number anywhere I want within the three or so lines surrounding the RHand stuffs.

~DS

I was talking to Kitsune Sniper and he did a mockup of an idea, tell me what you think of it:



I think this would easily be possible. It would give me a TON more space for item names. I'd have to leave the arrow count at the edge of the line and hope no arrow names take up THAT much space, but still. Or I could move it up a line back to where it was (moving it down another line would be alot more difficult. Just trust me. I've already looked into it).

I could also fit "Right Hand" and "Left Hand" if I did that.

~DS

I think it does. That half of the screen is for when you choose equipment to put on.

~DS

Always gotta try and outdo me, eh Gem? Anyway, yours is for the PSX version, IIRC. Do it on the SNES version. =P

Also, you're going to get something that you wanted. I'm having to re-arrange the shop menus to get the equipment thing to work (expanding the item-length covered up the damned prices anyway! So I had to move the items one row up!).

Edit: So here it is, folks. New and improved item names in the equip menu and shops:



I am now able to use item names that are up to 15 characters long (none of the current names are final)!

Edit2: I've thrown in an item shop for extra mind-blowage.

However, I am left with ONE bug. It is quite fixable, and involves doing something I was planning on doing ANYWAY (expanding the item menu to allow for bigger item names):



Again, extra props to Kitsune Sniper for inspiration.

~DS