They need a char-sized number, and memory used to be a tightly-budgeted commodity.<p>Reminds me of this story of a game developer who magically got their game under the limit at the 11th hour<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dodgycoder.net&#x2F;2012&#x2F;02&#x2F;coding-tricks-of-game-developers.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.dodgycoder.net&#x2F;2012&#x2F;02&#x2F;coding-tricks-of-game-deve...</a>