The cache'ing code is now complete. Here is the before and after of the engine with cache'ing enabled. Obviouslly this is an improvement, but will still suffer for items that require updating often (aka, players typing, chatting and moving).

Before:
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/8528/beforeo.jpg

After:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5352/afterktv.jpg

And an example of the HCenter and VCenter options turned on.
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9646/s ... tscopy.jpg

And hcenter/vcenter off, letter wrap on, random color on.
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9646 ... tscopy.jpg

And some random fills.
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2705/m ... useeit.jpg

Your system won't suffer much at all. You only have to generate a string of text once, then you can just blit that cache with one call. You can see the results of a cache system with your tests. Now image what would happen if you only ever re-draw over portions of your background buffer that you HAVE to. Right now, I'm assuming your latest incarnation is just constantly re-blitting your text cache with each frame, right? Imaging having a system where you DON'T blit anything, unless you have to. :-) If you can master that, your engine will SOAR. :-D

On a side note, I hear that there are going to be significant improvements to native text drawing with the new version of DirectX that is being built for/with Windows 7. Yeah, that probably doesn't help you much. :-D

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The only difference between genius and psychosis is that society accepts the genius.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9646 ... tscopy.jpg

More updates, now with micro font and random colors on!

I haven't given up and I know it's been awhile. I'm near completion of the GUI and time for personal projects has been cut alot. I will post again once I resume project.