Why cutting red tape costs so much money...

Business and Project Management Discussions
#1

So you’ve created something for your game (you wish to eventually sell) that requires you distribute/embed the TrueType font with game.
Seeing as how it’s someone else’s TTF, you need to seek a license. Oh, that’ll cost you a pricey four-figure sum of US dollars.

It’s all about time. To use resources someone else has created instead of creating it yourself will cost you money. You want to use it instantly, That time is money.

This I get. I just wish it didn’t cost so darn much…!

What are other people experiences?
And do you know a legal site for obtaining copyright-free, license-free, royalty-free fonts? (small charge is ok)

#2

http://www.prospector.cz/Free-graphics/Fonts/
http://www.fontmaster.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2006/10/11/17-more-free-quality-fonts/
http://www.webpagepublicity.com/free-fonts.html

Knock yourself out!

#3

Most of those “free” fonts aren’t free to distribute.

Most people dodge that issue by using texture fonts. Usually that solution is good enough.

#4

oh right, well the 19 More Free Quality Fonts appears to have legitimate free fonts, with one restricted to personal use and the other being shareware. Font master appears to be just regular free fonts that are created by normal people. I haven’t seen a fake helvetica there so maybe it’s legit fonts!

I am not too sure about web-page-publicity and they are probably someone else’s fonts.

#5

thanks oNyx, i think you just highlighted my point. Most of the ‘free’ you find on the net are not free to distribute, and generally incur a cost if you plan to charge for the game.

Pretty sure the old ‘four guys and a dog’ indie development team now has to be ‘four guys, a dog and a lawyer’.

#6

Oh, there are plenty of free resources - but you will probably find they are limited and not up to high standards! The other trend is that all the great ones are offline - as someone who creates music you come across this with royalty free samples. Having said that there are gigabytes of free [royalty free] samples bundled with magazines, so you may find the same with fonts.

You just need to know where to look! Also did you check out any of the sites I gave you? The 19 More Free Quality Fonts (link given twice) appears to have legitimate fonts, with the license restrictions clearly stated. Font Master also appears to be legit.

If you are going to ask the question, “how do I know it’s legit”? You never can unless you paid for it from a retail outlet, that’s the only true answer, or if they are accredited for it etc.