The '2' in early games - just why?

[Ummon]

Especially since mame, I've often wondered why they coded the '2' in games to look so ugly. I mean, it's like a ---smurfin--- beaked nose. Why didn't they not use those couple/few extra pixels??


Ugly '2'




Fixed '2'

[SavannahLion]

Never noticed or worried about it.

[1UP]

Especially since mame, I've often wondered why they coded the '2' in games to look so ugly. I mean, it's like a ---smurfin--- beaked nose. Why didn't they not use those couple/few extra pixels??

Only problem is your 'fixed' 2 would require twice as much resolution.  One pixel=2 scanlines on the original, and your version assumes pixels are only 1 scanline.  The alternative would have been more like the pic below, a slightly italic 2.  They were simply working with what they had.  No antialiasing back then either, would require a bigger pallet.  I used to program sprite graphics in the early 80s, and it was always interesting to figure out how to make the most out of your pixels, based on what you could fit into 8 squares on a piece graph paper. 

And also...no one really cared that letters were a little blocky back then.  The screens were a little fuzzy anyway.  We were just blown away by the fact that we could blow stuff up on a computer screen for a quarter.   

[Ginsu Victim]

You almost made this thread dumb enough.



Ok, now it's complete.

[TOK]

Yea, and how about the way they all say Game Over.  Its not over, its right there in front of you.

[RayB]

Especially since mame, I've often wondered why they coded the '2' in games to look so ugly. I mean, it's like a ---smurfin--- beaked nose. Why didn't they not use those couple/few extra pixels??


Ugly '2'




Fixed '2'

Take a screen cap with all the filtering effects turned off, and then we can talk.

[DaveMMR]

If this is the stuff you're noticing, it may be time to give the video games a break. 

[Malenko]

its because MAME isnt showing what the programmers wanted and isnt true to THE CODE.

[danny_galaga]

its because MAME isnt showing what the programmers wanted and isnt true to THE CODE.

or the FORCE...

[Malenko]

I just want everyone to know I wasnt being serious, perhaps you avoided the genesim threads like I should have and dont get the reference

[Ummon]

I just want everyone to know I wasnt being serious, perhaps you avoided the genesim threads like I should have and dont get the reference

I got it.  Anyways, folks, that snap above was extracted from a picture I took with my phone of a real gyruss machine.

1UP: whatever works, man. Italic is fine.

You almost made this thread dumb enough.

You know, that dude has pretty flat feet.

You were saying, Dave.......