"Draw Text" Function Implementation

[RobDavenport]

We currently have a console_log function, we also have the beginnings of a draw_text implementation.

This function would draw text on the screen at the specificed location, similar to drawing a sprite.

How should we represent fonts?

• They could be built-in to the engine. We could support multiple font heights, since the console also has multiple potential resolutions.
• They could be similar to sprites, where we add an additional layer on the ROM and Editor to support the drawing of fonts. The drawing code could just "stamp" fonts in place similar to drawing of a sprite.
• Are we limiting it to 1-bit fonts? 2-bit? Or something else?
• What character set are we supporting? ASCII? How about foreign-language characters?
• Is there a default font we can include (and distribute) ?

I think it would be good to keep it simple and restrict it to monospace fonts - however, I'm not picky on this. But I think anything more than this is out of the scope of the feature. For example, we shouldn't need to pass in things like wrapping settings, justification, etc.

It could also potentially open up some nice hacks/tricks where developers use drawing of fonts as an alternative for sprite drawing.

What do users/developers want out of a "Draw Text" function?

• Please post your ideas as replies to this :D