After screwing around a bit - I found that if you copy the Arial.ttf from C:\windows\fonts to your RM2k3 fonts directory, and rename it msgothi0.ttc (be sure to backup the old one) it'll change the in-game font to Arial. A nice side-effect of this is that it ALSO changes the RPG Maker font while working in the Maker itself!
Okay, I am using 2003 and I tried to change the font of msgothi0.ttc to arial.ttf, rename it msgothi0.ttc just like you said. It doesnt work. The game font plus the editor font are just the same. wtf, yours is changed why isnt mine. Btw I have windows 98. I also deleted all the font files in the folder and then ran the game. I was the same. Please HELP ME
Again, it worked PERFECTLY for me. I'll find another way to fix it, if you want, but the steps I decribed are what I did, in order. (It actually was the first thing I tried!)
Also, make sure you're using MS Gothic font in the System tab.
My suggestion - copy Arial over and over and make every font in that directory Arial instead.
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This is the entire content of my Fonts directory, by the way - I don't have the .fon files you mentioned.
lol n/m I realized what I did...The font fix needs to use the .exe to work. I did read the readme. leave it to a man to not read directions, other than that my msgoth to arial worked just fine. Sorry for the inconvince, I am just a dumbass.
The only thing I don't like about RM2K3 is the fact that it takes a lot of work to create ur own custom battle characters that correspond with the world characters. I like them both just as much.