diff --git a/source/build/include/baselayer.h b/source/build/include/baselayer.h
index 4d9ac6269..555f2a2ab 100644
--- a/source/build/include/baselayer.h
+++ b/source/build/include/baselayer.h
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ struct GameInterface
 		va_start(ap, fmt);
 		FString f;
 		f.VFormat(fmt, ap);
-		DoPrintMessage(prio, fmt);
+		DoPrintMessage(prio, f);
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/source/common/console/c_console.cpp b/source/common/console/c_console.cpp
index 0b9ab28e8..b9fba6b15 100644
--- a/source/common/console/c_console.cpp
+++ b/source/common/console/c_console.cpp
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@
 #include "v_font.h"
 #include "printf.h"
 #include "inputstate.h"
+#include "i_time.h"
+#include "gamecvars.h"
 
 
 #define LEFTMARGIN 8
@@ -123,15 +125,13 @@ static GameAtExit *ExitCmdList;
 #define SCROLLDN 2
 #define SCROLLNO 0
 
-CVAR (Bool, show_messages, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
-
 // Buffer for AddToConsole()
 static char *work = NULL;
 static int worklen = 0;
 
 CVAR(Float, con_notifytime, 3.f, CVAR_ARCHIVE)
 CVAR(Bool, con_centernotify, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE)
-CUSTOM_CVAR(Int, con_scaletext, 0, CVAR_ARCHIVE)		// Scale notify text at high resolutions?
+CUSTOM_CVAR(Int, con_scaletext, 2, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)		// Scale notify text at high resolutions?
 {
 	if (self < 0) self = 0;
 }
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ CUSTOM_CVAR(Int, con_notifylines, NUMNOTIFIES, CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG | CVAR_ARCHIVE)
 }
 
 
-int PrintColors[PRINTLEVELS+2] = { CR_RED, CR_GOLD, CR_GRAY, CR_GREEN, CR_GREEN, CR_GOLD };
+int PrintColors[PRINTLEVELS+2] = { CR_RED, CR_GOLD, CR_YELLOW, CR_GREEN, CR_GREEN, CR_GOLD };
 
 static void setmsgcolor (int index, int color);
 
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ void FNotifyBuffer::AddString(int printlevel, FString source)
 	TArray<FBrokenLines> lines;
 	int width;
 
-	if ((printlevel != 128 && !show_messages) ||
+	if (hud_messages != 2 ||
 		source.IsEmpty() ||
 		//gamestate == GS_FULLCONSOLE ||
 		//gamestate == GS_DEMOSCREEN ||
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ int PrintString (int iprintlevel, const char *outline)
 #endif
 
 			conbuffer->AddText(printlevel, outline);
-			if (vidactive && screen && (iprintlevel & PRINT_NOTIFY))
+			if (vidactive && (iprintlevel & PRINT_NOTIFY))
 			{
 				NotifyStrings.AddString(printlevel, outline);
 			}
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ void FNotifyBuffer::Tick()
 		if (Text[i].TimeOut != 0 && --Text[i].TimeOut <= 0)
 			break;
 	}
-	if (i > 0)
+	if (i < Text.Size())
 	{
 		Text.Delete(0, i);
 	}
@@ -1106,9 +1106,6 @@ void FNotifyBuffer::Draw()
 		j = notify.TimeOut;
 		if (j > 0)
 		{
-			if (!show_messages && notify.PrintLevel != 128)
-				continue;
-
 			double alpha = (j < NOTIFYFADETIME) ? 1. * j / NOTIFYFADETIME : 1;
 
 			if (notify.PrintLevel >= PRINTLEVELS)
diff --git a/source/common/gamecvars.cpp b/source/common/gamecvars.cpp
index a99cf27a1..5b8f21a32 100644
--- a/source/common/gamecvars.cpp
+++ b/source/common/gamecvars.cpp
@@ -257,7 +257,6 @@ CVARD(Bool, hud_showmapname, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG, "enable/disab
 CVARD(Bool, hud_position, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE, "aligns the status bar to the bottom/top")
 CVARD(Bool, hud_bgstretch, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_FRONTEND_DUKELIKE, "enable/disable background image stretching in wide resolutions")
 CVARD(Int, hud_messagetime, 120, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_FRONTEND_DUKELIKE, "length of time to display multiplayer chat messages")
-// Should be available to all games - the message handling should also be consolidated into a game independent feature.
 CUSTOM_CVARD(Int, hud_messages, 1, CVAR_ARCHIVE, "enable/disable showing messages")
 {
 	if (self < 0 || self > 2) self = 1;
@@ -266,16 +265,15 @@ CUSTOM_CVARD(Int, hud_messages, 1, CVAR_ARCHIVE, "enable/disable showing message
 
 CCMD (togglemessages)
 {
-
 	if (hud_messages)
 	{
-		Printf (128, "%s\n", GStrings("MSGOFF"));
+		gi->PrintMessage(PRINT_MEDIUM, "%s\n", GStrings("MSGOFF"));
 		hud_messages = false;
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		Printf (128, "%s\n", GStrings("MSGON"));
 		hud_messages = true;
+		gi->PrintMessage(PRINT_MEDIUM, "%s\n", GStrings("MSGON"));
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/screentext.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/screentext.cpp
index e3cf83e13..792d70d89 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/screentext.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/screentext.cpp
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ void G_PrintGameQuotes(int32_t snum)
         }
 #endif
 
-		if (text_quote.IsNotEmpty() && ps->ftq == -32878) height = gametext_(x, y, text_quote, textsh(k), pal, texto(k), texta(k), TEXT_XCENTER).y + (1 << 16);
+		if (text_quote.IsNotEmpty() && ps->ftq == -32768) height = gametext_(x, y, text_quote, textsh(k), pal, texto(k), texta(k), TEXT_XCENTER).y + (1 << 16);
         else height = gametext_(x, y, quoteMgr.GetQuote(ps->ftq), textsh(k), pal, texto(k), texta(k), TEXT_XCENTER).y + (1<<16);
     }
     while (0);
@@ -1154,7 +1154,7 @@ void P_DoQuote(int32_t q, DukePlayer_t *p)
     {
 		auto qu = quoteMgr.GetQuote(q);
         if (p == g_player[screenpeek].ps && qu[0] != '\0')
-			Printf(PRINT_MEDIUM | PRINT_NOTIFY, cq ? OSDTEXT_DEFAULT "%s\n" : "%s\n", qu);
+			Printf((cq? PRINT_LOW : PRINT_MEDIUM) | PRINT_NOTIFY, "%s\n", qu);
 
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/rr/src/screentext.cpp b/source/rr/src/screentext.cpp
index 327fcb6c4..6aea65a7b 100644
--- a/source/rr/src/screentext.cpp
+++ b/source/rr/src/screentext.cpp
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@ void P_DoQuote(int32_t q, DukePlayer_t *p)
     {
 		auto qu = quoteMgr.GetQuote(q);
         if (p == g_player[screenpeek].ps && qu[0] != '\0')
-            Printf(PRINT_NOTIFY, cq ? OSDTEXT_DEFAULT "%s\n" : "%s\n", qu);
+			Printf((cq ? PRINT_LOW : PRINT_MEDIUM) | PRINT_NOTIFY, "%s\n", qu);
 
     }
 
@@ -1178,7 +1178,7 @@ void GameInterface::DoPrintMessage(int prio, const char* t)
 		if (p->ftq == QUOTE_RESERVED || p->ftq == QUOTE_RESERVED2) return;
 
 	if (p == g_player[screenpeek].ps)
-		Printf(PRINT_NOTIFY, cq ? OSDTEXT_DEFAULT "%s\n" : "%s\n", t);
+		Printf(prio|PRINT_NOTIFY, cq ? OSDTEXT_DEFAULT "%s\n" : "%s\n", t);
 
 	if (hud_messages == 1)
 	{
diff --git a/source/sw/src/game.cpp b/source/sw/src/game.cpp
index f9a0d98ad..e4a572994 100644
--- a/source/sw/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/sw/src/game.cpp
@@ -1352,8 +1352,8 @@ InitLevel(void)
 
     if (ArgCheat)
     {
-        SWBOOL bak = hud_messages;
-        hud_messages = FALSE;
+        int bak = hud_messages;
+        hud_messages = 0;
         EveryCheatToggle(&Player[0],NULL);
         hud_messages = bak;
         GodMode = TRUE;
diff --git a/source/sw/src/text.cpp b/source/sw/src/text.cpp
index 842b77f7d..bdeabf16c 100644
--- a/source/sw/src/text.cpp
+++ b/source/sw/src/text.cpp
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ void PutStringInfo(PLAYERp pp, const char *string)
     if (!hud_messages)
         return;
 
-    Printf(PRINT_LOW|PRINT_NOTIFY, "%s", string); // Put it in the console too
+    Printf(PRINT_MEDIUM|PRINT_NOTIFY, "%s", string); // Put it in the console too
     if (hud_messages == 1) PutStringInfoLine(pp, string);
 }