Ken Kutaragi insisted on Spider-Man font for PS3
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Mar 29th 2007 at 3:22PM }
According to Sony's Teiyu Goto, "If you really look at the PS3 contour carefully, it is rounded when viewing the console in profile. Rather than creating a typography with all the risks that entails, it was wiser to use the one from Spider-Man, for which Sony has the rights."
Er, call us confused, but what are all the risks that creating a new font entails? Death and destruction raining down? Sharp edges? Cats and dogs living together? Thankfully, Kutaragi wasn't a hardcore Comic Sans fan, or who knows what the PS3 would have ended up looking like.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Eric Draven @ Mar 29th 2007 3:30PM
Ken Kutaragi really needs to kill himself.
haywood jablomey @ Mar 29th 2007 3:33PM
Yet another example of laziness on Sony's part.
Knuckles Dawson @ Mar 29th 2007 3:34PM
What about the fact that the original Xbox Font was a variation of the font "1979", used then by Spiderman and now the PS3.
JodyAnthony @ Mar 29th 2007 3:34PM
I hate comic sans. It is so pointlessly overused. There are actually "road construction ahead" signs around where I live in comic sans! What the hell
Metalmurphy @ Mar 29th 2007 3:35PM
Who the hell cares? Its a cool font, it looks good on the PS3. Thats all it matters.
Eric @ Mar 29th 2007 3:43PM
I cringe when I see the PS3 logo like when I see people using overused fonts on their website. It looks amateurish and lazy. Like when someone uses Jokerman or Matisse
Tango Charlie @ Mar 29th 2007 3:46PM
Thank you for including that BanComicSans.com link! I was reading the reviews for Viva Pinata and kind of looking forward to playing it until I noticed that all of the interface type uses Comic Sans. I can now never touch that game.
Kizzle @ Mar 29th 2007 5:01PM
"I hate comic sans. It is so pointlessly overused. There are actually "road construction ahead" signs around where I live in comic sans! What the hell"
We need pics!
Richard Mitchell @ Mar 29th 2007 3:45PM
Bad fonts?! Mass hysteria!
bill pullman @ Mar 29th 2007 8:06PM
agreed. i think the font looked played out even before Sony used it. could've been worse -- they could've used the Ogilvie font. when i saw Summoner using it, i almost puked.
Admiral @ Mar 29th 2007 3:47PM
Font talk = sloooow news day.
samfish @ Mar 29th 2007 3:48PM
Considering the amount of knock off fonts that only change, like, the way a comma is or something, I think Nintendo or MS should rip off the Spidey 3 font for their next console's logo.
(01) @ Mar 29th 2007 3:49PM
I always just assumed it was nice for Sony to be able use the Spider-Man font for the PS3, but didn't give it much more thought. Others however, must have found it much more interesting....
samfish @ Mar 29th 2007 3:51PM
People also severely overuse Anna ICG and Papyrus.
I like both of those fonts, but God DAMNIT, they're everywhere! I can't use them anymore without feeling like a hack these days.
Not as bad as Comic Sans, of course, but still..
Roflgoat @ Mar 29th 2007 3:52PM
Playstation 3? MORE LIKE GHEYSTATION 3!!!!1
JodyAnthony @ Mar 29th 2007 3:54PM
The only font worth using is Times New Roman (or in rare cases Arial)
Matt B @ Mar 29th 2007 3:54PM
IF this seriously bothers you, take any blunt object and jam it in your worthless eye. Then maybe you will get perspective on life.
rokerovakero @ Mar 29th 2007 3:55PM
It is unbelievable that Sony could not create something new for such a big product. it looks like they are just trying to show no matter how bad they marketed it, it will still sell.
Todd @ Mar 29th 2007 3:55PM
Heh. We finally get to see what Sony, and Ken, find most important in a gaming console.
IslandLife @ Mar 29th 2007 3:56PM
While your at it, will someone please ban the use of "Brush Script". That is such an awful font. Sooo many bad fonts and poor usage of fonts...ughhh, Hermann Zapf and Emil Ruder must be spinning in their graves.
Diamondxp @ Mar 29th 2007 4:01PM
damn we have a shitload of designers here present company included.
JodyAnthony @ Mar 29th 2007 4:01PM
Isn't Hermann Zapf still alive?
robert @ Mar 29th 2007 4:03PM
so how does sony own the rights to the font?
it was originally designed in 1995 and is owned by the design house (T-26) that created it
http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/t26/mata/
mj @ Mar 29th 2007 8:15PM
I'M TYPING THIS ENTIRE POST IN COMIC SANS I LOVE THIS FONT XOXOXO COMIC SANS YOU'RE IN ALL MY DESKTOP THEMES!!! LETS BAN ALL THE FONT H473R22
perfectchaos @ Mar 29th 2007 4:07PM
i wasn't aware that the type of font used could make or break a system...i used to think actual games sold systems, but i guess in this day in age if you slip up and put the wrong font on your system you can kiss your ass goodbye.
Crono @ Mar 29th 2007 4:12PM
seriously people. Its a font. For once, I agree with Matt B.
And nice Ghostbusters reference, since it looks like only one other person here got it.
JodyAnthony @ Mar 29th 2007 4:13PM
perfectchaos, you'd be surprised how important image is to a products sales.
anyway, now that I look at it, you can totally see the consoles look being inspired by the font. Just look at the S in playstation, and look at a ps3 from either of the sides (or top/bottom if you have the console verticle)
Silent K @ Mar 29th 2007 8:40PM
I noticed this a while ago. I've always detested that font. On Spiderman movie posters, etc - it's fine. But it makes no sense on the PS3 - It simply does not fit.
Mephistopheles @ Mar 29th 2007 4:17PM
Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Courier New, FixedSys and MS San Serif are over-used as well. When was the last time you went to a web-site that didn't have these fonts?
32_Footsteps @ Mar 29th 2007 4:21PM
I think every writer has their favorite fonts for various things. I typically use good ol' Times New Roman for actual work to submit, and Arial for publishing (because people whine when you use serifs). I like using Courier New for writing emails for its simplicity, and I also use it to edit (because I like fixed width for checking mistakes, and each letter looks sufficiently different to eliminate confustion).
But for my own enjoyment? Nothing is classier than Garamond, baby.
For the PS3 font... I think people deride it just because it looks like Sony is trying to somehow tie the PS3 in with the Spider-Man movies. Personally, I just wish companies would use serifs more. Serifs rule.
J @ Mar 29th 2007 4:27PM
Spider man Spide..... ah screw it. The song kind of sucked any ways.
P.S. the Wii would like to play commercials suck ass. How about something a little more exciting.
JodyAnthony @ Mar 29th 2007 4:27PM
"Serifs rule."
I am with you 100%
Kite @ Mar 29th 2007 4:28PM
The reason why Verdana is used so much in websites, is because it is easily the most 'professional' and easy on the eye. Try making your site in comic sans, or even times new roman for that matter...
Example:
(http://www.fanboys-online.com/index.php , Sorry scott, yours is the only one I know that really uses times in the newspost :p)
And I do agree that font doesnt matter in this case. But to say that it doesn't matter at all, breaks the web developer in me :(
Ritz @ Mar 29th 2007 4:30PM
Hmmm, I was thinking along the lines of brand confusion.
saboola @ Mar 29th 2007 11:45PM
They should have used Wingdings. Wingdings is worth 600 dollars.
mccomber @ Mar 29th 2007 4:33PM
As JodyAnthony points out, the two go together, just as the ps2 logo did with the ps2 system. It was very square, sharp edged... look at the letters in the ps3/spiderman logo. It's shaped almost exactly the same way as the ps3 system. I've seen a couple of photochop mockups using other fonts, and they don't really fit the system. It's rounded shape calls for a slightly rounded font, and why not use one that already exists rather than trying to create something from scratch? Looks better than BankGothic at least.
As for the importance... how many times has this come up now? I realize it's a(nother) popular thing to criticize about the PS3, but the fact that it's a reoccurring topic speaks to the awareness people have of it's impact.
Oh yeah, and rock on Garamond.
SuperC142 @ Mar 29th 2007 10:13PM
>> 26. Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, Tahoma, Courier New, FixedSys and MS San Serif are over-used as well. When was the last time you went to a web-site that didn't have these fonts?
---
Those fonts are virtually guaranteed to be on all PCs and web developers have to be able to count on the font being present (unlike in print). Mac users would say the same about Helvetica, etc.
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>> 29. "Serifs rule."
>> I am with you 100%
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ewww ;-)
---
I know a lot of people here are saying "it's just a font, what's the big deal?" but, to a designer, font selection is *extremely* important.
IslandLife @ Mar 29th 2007 4:43PM
@JodyAnthony
Your right Zapf is still alive. That guy is so freakin' old I thought he was dead by now. LONG LIVE ZAPF!!
Matt B @ Mar 29th 2007 4:44PM
Looks like my lucky day chrono. I'll be picking up a lotto ticket on my way home. ;)
Felix T. Katt @ Mar 29th 2007 4:46PM
The reason Verdana, Arial, Times, Tahoma, etc. are all used everywhere on the web is because they are standard fonts that exist natively on both PCs and Macs by default.
Anyone that uses a custom font on a website is shooting themself in the foot. Unless the user coming to your site has that exact font on their machine as well (which is HIGHLY unlikely), then all they are going to see is probably Courier.
Now, as for the PS3 font, the "dangers" are probably something along the lines of trying to make sure that any custom font they create doesn't too closely resemble a font someone else has created. If it does, they could be sued by the creator for infringement.
Don'tcha just love our litiguous society.
Steve @ Mar 30th 2007 9:36AM
Here's a mystery that's been bothering me for years.
Spiderman, the movie franchise, was created by Sony so why do Spiderman games based on the movie appear on non-Sony platforms? I can understand Spiderman appearing in that Marvel Alliance game because it's not based in any way on a film but those Spiderman games are. Even when it's just a loose connection you still have the actors from the movies doing the vocals and all.
Doesn't anyone else find this strange? It's almost like Nintendo allowing a game to be sold based on the Super Mario Bros movie.
josh @ Mar 29th 2007 5:20PM
I noticed the font and assumed they did it to link the PS3 subtly to another big Sony success, the Spider-Man movies. Most people won't see the font and directly think of Spider-Man, but perhaps it will make them slightly more positive towards the PS3, based on how they feel about Spider-Man.
Which is a good idea, if that's why they did it.
JodyAnthony @ Mar 29th 2007 5:19PM
if I remember to grab my camera tomorrow when i go out, pics will be had tomorrow night.
(in other words, no pics will be had, as i am very forgetful)
http://jodyanthony.deviantart.com
Tanster @ Mar 29th 2007 5:37PM
I like Eurostile as well =]
deaftly @ Mar 29th 2007 5:54PM
the spiderman font is just gay though
Graison Swaan @ Mar 29th 2007 6:18PM
24. I got the ghostbusters reference. Venkman rules.
Digi Smalls @ Mar 29th 2007 6:22PM
why is it far fetched that Sony wants to connote movies with PS3?
very much so. it's a huge part of their strategy. HD movie playback is what supposedly justifies the price difference between 360 and PS3. its obviously not the games that differentiate it.
.
ill trooper @ Mar 29th 2007 6:35PM
As a font dude and designer, I was really disappointed when I saw that font carry over from pre-release E3 hype to actual manufactured models.
I've gotten to the point where I don't think about it too much anymore, but the idea that Sony would tie the two entities together (beyond maybe offering a free Blu-Ray of Spiderman) is UNNECESSARY. The machine exists seperately from a movie franchise. You are Sony. You make up amazing tweaky logos ALL THE TIME (MiniDisc logo, Digital8 logo, PS2 logo, the blobbish Walkman 'W' logo, etc.) and I can't accept the 'risky mission is just too risky' argument. The Sony design department is one of the few parts of the company that really shines consistantly.
Sad that no one stepped up and gave the thing it's own identity.
Digi Smalls @ Mar 29th 2007 6:49PM
the original playstation logotype font was so great. i think its an honest change of focus.
.
Mephistopheles @ Mar 30th 2007 3:31AM
The reason Spiderman games based on the movies appear on other systems is because Sony doesn't own all the rights to Spiderman. Marvel has the rights to the characters, Sony has only some specific rights to the movie. I'm not sure which but you can have rights to the movie in numerous areas such as the rights to distribute, the rights to produce, the rights to merchandise, the rights to make a game based off the movie, et cetera.