diff --git a/source/graphics/CinemaTrack.cpp b/source/graphics/CinemaTrack.cpp
index 7bc52eb852..264a9811d6 100644
--- a/source/graphics/CinemaTrack.cpp
+++ b/source/graphics/CinemaTrack.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ CCinemaPath::CCinemaPath(const CCinemaData& data, const TNSpline& spline)
 		DistModePtr = &CCinemaPath::EaseOutIn;
 		break;
 	default:
-		debug_printf(L"Cinematic mode not found for %d ", data.m_Mode);
+		debug_printf("Cinematic mode not found for %d ", data.m_Mode);
 		break;
 	}
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ CCinemaPath::CCinemaPath(const CCinemaData& data, const TNSpline& spline)
 		DistStylePtr = &CCinemaPath::EaseSine;
 		break;
 	default:
-		debug_printf(L"Cinematic mode not found for %d !", data.m_Style);
+		debug_printf("Cinematic mode not found for %d !", data.m_Style);
 		break;
 	}
 	//UpdateDuration();
diff --git a/source/graphics/Color.cpp b/source/graphics/Color.cpp
index b36707bfc9..ab41a1a4df 100644
--- a/source/graphics/Color.cpp
+++ b/source/graphics/Color.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,6 @@ void ColorActivateFastImpl()
 #endif
 	else
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"No SSE available. Slow fallback routines will be used.\n");
+		debug_printf("No SSE available. Slow fallback routines will be used.\n");
 	}
 }
diff --git a/source/graphics/MapReader.cpp b/source/graphics/MapReader.cpp
index 95a54fef52..85996f45fb 100644
--- a/source/graphics/MapReader.cpp
+++ b/source/graphics/MapReader.cpp
@@ -1140,7 +1140,7 @@ void CXMLReader::ReadXML()
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"Invalid XML element in map file: %hs\n", name.c_str());
+			debug_printf("Invalid XML element in map file: %s\n", name.c_str());
 			debug_warn(L"Invalid map XML data");
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/source/graphics/TextRenderer.cpp b/source/graphics/TextRenderer.cpp
index e5e8025ec3..9f7bb00bbe 100644
--- a/source/graphics/TextRenderer.cpp
+++ b/source/graphics/TextRenderer.cpp
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ void CTextRenderer::PrintfAdvance(const wchar_t* fmt, ...)
 	va_end(args);
 
 	if (ret < 0)
-		debug_printf(L"CTextRenderer::Printf vswprintf failed (buffer size exceeded?) - return value %d, errno %d\n", ret, errno);
+		debug_printf("CTextRenderer::Printf vswprintf failed (buffer size exceeded?) - return value %d, errno %d\n", ret, errno);
 
 	PutAdvance(buf);
 }
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void CTextRenderer::PrintfAt(float x, float y, const wchar_t* fmt, ...)
 	va_end(args);
 
 	if (ret < 0)
-		debug_printf(L"CTextRenderer::PrintfAt vswprintf failed (buffer size exceeded?) - return value %d, errno %d\n", ret, errno);
+		debug_printf("CTextRenderer::PrintfAt vswprintf failed (buffer size exceeded?) - return value %d, errno %d\n", ret, errno);
 
 	Put(x, y, buf);
 }
diff --git a/source/gui/CGUI.cpp b/source/gui/CGUI.cpp
index 3ab9b9e7f4..c24877243e 100644
--- a/source/gui/CGUI.cpp
+++ b/source/gui/CGUI.cpp
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@ void CGUI::Xeromyces_ReadRootObjects(XMBElement Element, CXeromyces* pFile, boos
 	XMBElementList children = Element.GetChildNodes();
 	for (int i=0; i<children.Count; ++i)
 	{
-		//debug_printf(L"Object %d\n", i);
+		//debug_printf("Object %d\n", i);
 		XMBElement child = children.Item(i);
 
 		if (child.GetNodeName() == el_script)
diff --git a/source/gui/CInput.cpp b/source/gui/CInput.cpp
index e0776d921d..6dffac0d36 100644
--- a/source/gui/CInput.cpp
+++ b/source/gui/CInput.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ InReaction CInput::ManuallyHandleEvent(const SDL_Event_* ev)
 		int rawLength = strlen(rawText);
 		std::wstring wtext = wstring_from_utf8(rawText);
 
-		debug_printf(L"SDL_TEXTEDITING: text=%hs, start=%d, length=%d\n", rawText, ev->ev.edit.start, ev->ev.edit.length);
+		debug_printf("SDL_TEXTEDITING: text=%s, start=%d, length=%d\n", rawText, ev->ev.edit.start, ev->ev.edit.length);
 		m_WantedX=0.0f;
 
 		if (SelectingText())
diff --git a/source/gui/scripting/ScriptFunctions.cpp b/source/gui/scripting/ScriptFunctions.cpp
index 84145d8384..3d98cc51d3 100644
--- a/source/gui/scripting/ScriptFunctions.cpp
+++ b/source/gui/scripting/ScriptFunctions.cpp
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ void SetCameraTarget(ScriptInterface::CxPrivate* UNUSED(pCxPrivate), float x, fl
 // Useful for testing the crashlog/stack trace code.
 int Crash(ScriptInterface::CxPrivate* UNUSED(pCxPrivate))
 {
-	debug_printf(L"Crashing at user's request.\n");
+	debug_printf("Crashing at user's request.\n");
 	return *(volatile int*)0;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/lib/allocators/dynarray.cpp b/source/lib/allocators/dynarray.cpp
index a8b80ead05..22cab0691f 100644
--- a/source/lib/allocators/dynarray.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/allocators/dynarray.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ Status da_set_size(DynArray* da, size_t new_size)
 	{
 		ok = vm::Commit(uintptr_t(end), size_delta_pa);
 		if(!ok)
-			debug_printf(L"Commit failed (%p %lld)\n", end, (long long)size_delta_pa);
+			debug_printf("Commit failed (%p %lld)\n", (void *)end, (long long)size_delta_pa);
 	}
 	// shrinking
 	else if(size_delta_pa < 0)
diff --git a/source/lib/debug.cpp b/source/lib/debug.cpp
index 35102c38ab..df29334cd6 100644
--- a/source/lib/debug.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/debug.cpp
@@ -74,9 +74,9 @@ static const size_t MAX_TAGS = 20;
 static u32 tags[MAX_TAGS];
 static size_t num_tags;
 
-void debug_filter_add(const wchar_t* tag)
+void debug_filter_add(const char* tag)
 {
-	const u32 hash = fnv_hash(tag, wcslen(tag)*sizeof(tag[0]));
+	const u32 hash = fnv_hash(tag, strlen(tag)*sizeof(tag[0]));
 
 	// make sure it isn't already in the list
 	for(size_t i = 0; i < MAX_TAGS; i++)
@@ -93,9 +93,9 @@ void debug_filter_add(const wchar_t* tag)
 	tags[num_tags++] = hash;
 }
 
-void debug_filter_remove(const wchar_t* tag)
+void debug_filter_remove(const char* tag)
 {
-	const u32 hash = fnv_hash(tag, wcslen(tag)*sizeof(tag[0]));
+	const u32 hash = fnv_hash(tag, strlen(tag)*sizeof(tag[0]));
 
 	for(size_t i = 0; i < MAX_TAGS; i++)
 	{
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ void debug_filter_clear()
 	std::fill(tags, tags+MAX_TAGS, 0);
 }
 
-bool debug_filter_allows(const wchar_t* text)
+bool debug_filter_allows(const char* text)
 {
 	size_t i;
 	for(i = 0; ; i++)
@@ -139,19 +139,24 @@ bool debug_filter_allows(const wchar_t* text)
 }
 
 #undef debug_printf	// allowing #defining it out
-void debug_printf(const wchar_t* fmt, ...)
+void debug_printf(const char* fmt, ...)
 {
-	wchar_t buf[16384];
-	
+	char buf[16384];
+
 	va_list ap;
 	va_start(ap, fmt);
-	const int numChars = vswprintf_s(buf, ARRAY_SIZE(buf), fmt, ap);
-	if(numChars < 0)
-		debug_break();	// poor man's assert - avoid infinite loop because ENSURE also uses debug_printf
+	const int numChars = vsprintf_s(buf, ARRAY_SIZE(buf), fmt, ap);
+	if (numChars < 0)
+		debug_break();  // poor man's assert - avoid infinite loop because ENSURE also uses debug_printf
 	va_end(ap);
 
-	if(debug_filter_allows(buf))
-		debug_puts(buf);
+	debug_puts_filtered(buf);
+}
+
+void debug_puts_filtered(const char* text)
+{
+	if(debug_filter_allows(text))
+		debug_puts(text);
 }
 
 
@@ -460,7 +465,7 @@ ErrorReaction debug_DisplayError(const wchar_t* description,
 	const wchar_t* filename = path_name_only(pathname);
 
 	// display in output window; double-click will navigate to error location.
-	debug_printf(L"%ls(%d): %ls\n", filename, line, description);
+	debug_printf("%s(%d): %s\n", utf8_from_wstring(filename).c_str(), line, utf8_from_wstring(description).c_str());
 
 	ErrorMessageMem emm;
 	const wchar_t* text = debug_BuildErrorMessage(description, filename, line, func, context, lastFuncToSkip, &emm);
diff --git a/source/lib/debug.h b/source/lib/debug.h
index 9459da4375..ea581fd3ae 100644
--- a/source/lib/debug.h
+++ b/source/lib/debug.h
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ extern void debug_break();
  *
  * @param fmt Format string and varargs; see printf.
  **/
-LIB_API void debug_printf(const wchar_t* fmt, ...) WPRINTF_ARGS(1);
+LIB_API void debug_printf(const char* fmt, ...) PRINTF_ARGS(1);
 
 
 /**
@@ -232,13 +232,13 @@ LIB_API ErrorReaction debug_DisplayError(const wchar_t* description, size_t flag
  * in future, allow output with the given tag to proceed.
  * no effect if already added.
  **/
-LIB_API void debug_filter_add(const wchar_t* tag);
+LIB_API void debug_filter_add(const char* tag);
 
 /**
  * in future, discard output with the given tag.
  * no effect if not currently added.
  **/
-LIB_API void debug_filter_remove(const wchar_t* tag);
+LIB_API void debug_filter_remove(const char* tag);
 
 /**
  * clear all filter state; equivalent to debug_filter_remove for
@@ -251,7 +251,12 @@ LIB_API void debug_filter_clear();
  * useful for a series of debug_printfs - avoids needing to add a tag to
  * each of their format strings.
  **/
-LIB_API bool debug_filter_allows(const wchar_t* text);
+LIB_API bool debug_filter_allows(const char* text);
+
+/**
+ * call debug_puts if debug_filter_allows allows the string.
+ **/
+LIB_API void debug_puts_filtered(const char* text);
 
 /**
  * write an error description and all logs into crashlog.txt
@@ -263,7 +268,7 @@ LIB_API bool debug_filter_allows(const wchar_t* text);
  * @return Status; ERR::REENTERED if reentered via recursion or
  * multithreading (not allowed since an infinite loop may result).
  **/
-LIB_API Status debug_WriteCrashlog(const wchar_t* text);
+LIB_API Status debug_WriteCrashlog(const char* text);
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -489,7 +494,7 @@ LIB_API Status debug_DumpStack(wchar_t* buf, size_t maxChars, void* context, con
  * this can be quite slow (~1 ms)! On Windows, it uses OutputDebugString
  * (entails context switch), otherwise stdout+fflush (waits for IO).
  **/
-LIB_API void debug_puts(const wchar_t* text);
+LIB_API void debug_puts(const char* text);
 
 /**
  * return the caller of a certain function on the call stack.
diff --git a/source/lib/file/common/file_stats.cpp b/source/lib/file/common/file_stats.cpp
index ddbf76fa3c..a8f06dc361 100644
--- a/source/lib/file/common/file_stats.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/file/common/file_stats.cpp
@@ -264,13 +264,13 @@ template<typename T> int percent(T num, T divisor)
 
 void file_stats_dump()
 {
-	if(!debug_filter_allows(L"FILE_STATS|"))
+	if(!debug_filter_allows("FILE_STATS|"))
 		return;
 
 	const double KB = 1e3; const double MB = 1e6; const double ms = 1e-3;
 
-	debug_printf(L"--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n");
-	debug_printf(L"File statistics:\n");
+	debug_printf("--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n");
+	debug_printf("File statistics:\n");
 
 	// note: we split the reports into several debug_printfs for clarity;
 	// this is necessary anyway due to fixed-size buffer.
diff --git a/source/lib/file/file_system.cpp b/source/lib/file/file_system.cpp
index 1c2606d208..ac972fa4f2 100644
--- a/source/lib/file/file_system.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/file/file_system.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ Status CreateDirectories(const OsPath& path, mode_t mode)
 	errno = 0;
 	if(wmkdir(path, mode) != 0)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"CreateDirectories: failed to mkdir %ls (mode %d)", path.string().c_str(), mode);
+		debug_printf("CreateDirectories: failed to mkdir %s (mode %d)", path.string8().c_str(), mode);
 		WARN_RETURN(StatusFromErrno());
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/lib/file/io/io.h b/source/lib/file/io/io.h
index 29dd1cbde6..42fd490e17 100644
--- a/source/lib/file/io/io.h
+++ b/source/lib/file/io/io.h
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ static inline Status Run(const Operation& op, const Parameters& p = Parameters()
 	COMPILER_FENCE;
 	const double t1 = timer_Time();
 	const off_t totalSize = p.blockSize? numBlocks*p.blockSize : op.size;
-	debug_printf(L"IO: %.2f MB/s (%.2f)\n", totalSize/(t1-t0)/1e6, (t1-t0)*1e3);
+	debug_printf("IO: %.2f MB/s (%.2f)\n", totalSize/(t1-t0)/1e6, (t1-t0)*1e3);
 #endif
 
 	return INFO::OK;
diff --git a/source/lib/file/vfs/vfs_lookup.cpp b/source/lib/file/vfs/vfs_lookup.cpp
index 35e414942f..28e61b20b0 100644
--- a/source/lib/file/vfs/vfs_lookup.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/file/vfs/vfs_lookup.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ static Status CreateDirectory(const OsPath& path)
 		return ERR::FILE_ACCESS;
 
 	// unexpected failure
-	debug_printf(L"wmkdir failed with errno=%d\n", errno);
+	debug_printf("wmkdir failed with errno=%d\n", errno);
 	DEBUG_WARN_ERR(ERR::LOGIC);
 	WARN_RETURN(StatusFromErrno());
 }
diff --git a/source/lib/ogl.cpp b/source/lib/ogl.cpp
index f374e35439..5c701fd980 100644
--- a/source/lib/ogl.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/ogl.cpp
@@ -375,8 +375,8 @@ static void importExtensionFunctions()
 
 static void dump_gl_error(GLenum err)
 {
-	debug_printf(L"OGL| ");
-#define E(e) case e: debug_printf(L"%ls\n", WIDEN(#e)); break;
+	debug_printf("OGL| ");
+#define E(e) case e: debug_printf("%s\n", #e); break;
 	switch (err)
 	{
 	E(GL_INVALID_ENUM)
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ static void dump_gl_error(GLenum err)
 #endif
 	E(GL_OUT_OF_MEMORY)
 	E(GL_INVALID_FRAMEBUFFER_OPERATION)
-	default: debug_printf(L"Unknown GL error: %04x\n", err); break;
+	default: debug_printf("Unknown GL error: %04x\n", err); break;
 	}
 #undef E
 }
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ void ogl_WarnIfErrorLoc(const char *file, int line)
 	}
 
 	if(error_enountered)
-		debug_printf(L"%hs:%d: OpenGL error(s) occurred: %04x\n", file, line, (unsigned int)first_error);
+		debug_printf("%s:%d: OpenGL error(s) occurred: %04x\n", file, line, (unsigned int)first_error);
 }
 
 
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ bool ogl_SquelchError(GLenum err_to_ignore)
 	}
 
 	if(error_enountered)
-		debug_printf(L"OpenGL error(s) occurred: %04x\n", (unsigned int)first_error);
+		debug_printf("OpenGL error(s) occurred: %04x\n", (unsigned int)first_error);
 
 	return error_ignored;
 }
diff --git a/source/lib/path.h b/source/lib/path.h
index 89e13c6e6f..989f956c8e 100644
--- a/source/lib/path.h
+++ b/source/lib/path.h
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ public:
 private:
 	void PrintToDebugOutput() const
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"Path %ls, separator %c\n", path.c_str(), separator);
+		debug_printf("Path %s, separator %c\n", string8().c_str(), (char)separator);
 	}
 
 	void DetectSeparator()
diff --git a/source/lib/res/h_mgr.cpp b/source/lib/res/h_mgr.cpp
index ffae058471..3e782ba074 100644
--- a/source/lib/res/h_mgr.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/res/h_mgr.cpp
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ static Status h_data_tag_type(const Handle h, const H_Type type, HDATA*& hd)
 	// h_alloc makes sure type isn't 0, so no need to check that here.
 	if(hd->type != type)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"h_mgr: expected type %ls, got %ls\n", hd->type->name, type->name);
+		debug_printf("h_mgr: expected type %s, got %s\n", utf8_from_wstring(hd->type->name).c_str(), utf8_from_wstring(type->name).c_str());
 		WARN_RETURN(ERR::H_TYPE_MISMATCH);
 	}
 
@@ -565,12 +565,12 @@ static void h_free_hd(HDATA* hd)
 
 #ifndef NDEBUG
 	// to_string is slow for some handles, so avoid calling it if unnecessary
-	if(debug_filter_allows(L"H_MGR|"))
+	if(debug_filter_allows("H_MGR|"))
 	{
 		wchar_t buf[H_STRING_LEN];
 		if(vtbl->to_string(hd->user, buf) < 0)
 			wcscpy_s(buf, ARRAY_SIZE(buf), L"(error)");
-		debug_printf(L"H_MGR| free %ls %ls accesses=%lu %ls\n", hd->type->name, hd->pathname.string().c_str(), (unsigned long)hd->num_derefs, buf);
+		debug_printf("H_MGR| free %s %s accesses=%lu %s\n", utf8_from_wstring(hd->type->name).c_str(), hd->pathname.string8().c_str(), (unsigned long)hd->num_derefs, utf8_from_wstring(buf).c_str());
 	}
 #endif
 
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ static Status Init()
 
 static void Shutdown()
 {
-	debug_printf(L"H_MGR| shutdown. any handle frees after this are leaks!\n");
+	debug_printf("H_MGR| shutdown. any handle frees after this are leaks!\n");
 	// objects that store handles to other objects are destroyed before their
 	// children, so the subsequent forced destruction of the child here will
 	// raise a double-free warning unless we ignore it. (#860, #915, #920)
diff --git a/source/lib/self_test.cpp b/source/lib/self_test.cpp
index 0a15f0db62..d7705052b1 100644
--- a/source/lib/self_test.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/self_test.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ int self_test_register(SelfTestRecord* r)
 
 void self_test_run_all()
 {
-	debug_printf(L"SELF TESTS:\n");
+	debug_printf("SELF TESTS:\n");
 	const double t0 = timer_Time();
 
 	// someone somewhere may want to run self-tests twice (e.g. to help
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void self_test_run_all()
 	}
 
 	const double dt = timer_Time() - t0;
-	debug_printf(L"-- done (elapsed time %.0f ms)\n", dt*1e3);
+	debug_printf("-- done (elapsed time %.0f ms)\n", dt*1e3);
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/apic.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/apic.cpp
index edc126a9a4..3dd3eef038 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/apic.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/apic.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ static Status GetAndValidateApicIds()
 	// having one zero-valued ID is legitimate)
 	if(numUnique == 1 && sortedApicIds[0] == 0 && numIds != 1)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"APIC: all zero\n");
+		debug_printf("APIC: all zero\n");
 		return ERR::CPU_FEATURE_MISSING;	// NOWARN
 	}
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static Status GetAndValidateApicIds()
 	// imperfect or doesn't allow access to all processors.
 	if(numUnique != numIds)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"APIC: not unique\n");
+		debug_printf("APIC: not unique\n");
 		return ERR::FAIL;	// NOWARN
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/cache.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/cache.cpp
index 80fc086db2..717da409e6 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/cache.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/cache.cpp
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ static const Characteristics* CharacteristicsFromDescriptor(Descriptor descripto
 			return &characteristics;
 	}
 
-	debug_printf(L"Unknown cache/TLB descriptor 0x%x\n", (unsigned int)descriptor);
+	debug_printf("Unknown cache/TLB descriptor 0x%x\n", (unsigned int)descriptor);
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/linux/dir_watch_inotify.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/linux/dir_watch_inotify.cpp
index 93c5ad2d80..863bf4649f 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/linux/dir_watch_inotify.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/linux/dir_watch_inotify.cpp
@@ -156,13 +156,13 @@ static void* inotify_event_loop(void*)
 			else if(errno == EBADF)
 			{
 				// probably just lost the connection to inotify - kill the thread
-				debug_printf(L"inotify_event_loop: Invalid file descriptor inotifyfd=%d\n", inotifyfd);
+				debug_printf("inotify_event_loop: Invalid file descriptor inotifyfd=%d\n", inotifyfd);
 				return NULL;
 			}
 			else
 			{
 				// oops
-				debug_printf(L"inotify_event_loop: select error errno=%d\n", errno);
+				debug_printf("inotify_event_loop: select error errno=%d\n", errno);
 				return NULL;
 			}
 			errno = 0;
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ Status dir_watch_Poll(DirWatchNotifications& notifications)
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"dir_watch_Poll: Notification with invalid watch descriptor wd=%d\n", polled_notifications[i].wd);
+			debug_printf("dir_watch_Poll: Notification with invalid watch descriptor wd=%d\n", polled_notifications[i].wd);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/osx/osx_sys_cursor.mm b/source/lib/sysdep/os/osx/osx_sys_cursor.mm
index fbda78b6b8..f4da463ec5 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/osx/osx_sys_cursor.mm
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/osx/osx_sys_cursor.mm
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Status sys_cursor_create(int w, int h, void* bgra_img, int hx, int hy, sys_curso
 								colorSpaceName:NSCalibratedRGBColorSpace bytesPerRow:w*4 bitsPerPixel:0];
 	if (!bitmap)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"sys_cursor_create: Error creating NSBitmapImageRep!\n");
+		debug_printf("sys_cursor_create: Error creating NSBitmapImageRep!\n");
 		return ERR::FAIL;
 	}
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ Status sys_cursor_create(int w, int h, void* bgra_img, int hx, int hy, sys_curso
 	if (!image)
 	{
 		[bitmap release];
-		debug_printf(L"sys_cursor_create: Error creating NSImage!\n");
+		debug_printf("sys_cursor_create: Error creating NSImage!\n");
 		return ERR::FAIL;
 	}
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ Status sys_cursor_create(int w, int h, void* bgra_img, int hx, int hy, sys_curso
 
 	if (!impl)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"sys_cursor_create: Error creating NSCursor!\n");
+		debug_printf("sys_cursor_create: Error creating NSCursor!\n");
 		return ERR::FAIL;
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/udbg.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/udbg.cpp
index 415c28d803..9470be573f 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/udbg.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/udbg.cpp
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ void udbg_launch_debugger()
 	else if (ret > 0)
 	{
 		// Parent (original) fork:
-		debug_printf(L"Sleeping until debugger attaches.\nPlease wait.\n");
+		debug_printf("Sleeping until debugger attaches.\nPlease wait.\n");
 		sleep(DEBUGGER_WAIT);
 	}
 	else // fork error, ret == -1
@@ -92,25 +92,16 @@ void udbg_launch_debugger()
 
 #include <android/log.h>
 
-void debug_puts(const wchar_t* text)
+void debug_puts(const char* text)
 {
-	// The Android logger doesn't like "%ls" format strings, so convert
-	// the message to UTF-8 before outputting
-	Status err;
-	std::string str = utf8_from_wstring(text, &err);
-	__android_log_print(ANDROID_LOG_WARN, "pyrogenesis", "%s", str.c_str());
+	__android_log_print(ANDROID_LOG_WARN, "pyrogenesis", "%s", text);
 }
 
 #else
 
-void debug_puts(const wchar_t* text)
+void debug_puts(const char* text)
 {
-	// printf doesn't like %ls strings that contain non-ASCII characters
-	// (it tends to print nothing and return an error), so convert to
-	// UTF-8 before outputting
-	Status err;
-	std::string str = utf8_from_wstring(text, &err);
-	printf("%s", str.c_str());
+	printf("%s", text);
 	fflush(stdout);
 }
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp
index 58599abc50..390bc161fd 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/unix.cpp
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ static ErrorReactionInternal try_gui_display_error(const wchar_t* text, bool man
 
 ErrorReactionInternal sys_display_error(const wchar_t* text, size_t flags)
 {
-	debug_printf(L"%ls\n\n", text);
+	debug_printf("%s\n\n", utf8_from_wstring(text).c_str());
 
 	const bool manual_break   = (flags & DE_MANUAL_BREAK  ) != 0;
 	const bool allow_suppress = (flags & DE_ALLOW_SUPPRESS) != 0;
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ Status sys_open_url(const std::string& url)
 
 		execlp(URL_OPEN_COMMAND, URL_OPEN_COMMAND, url.c_str(), (const char*)NULL);
 
-		debug_printf(L"Failed to run '" URL_OPEN_COMMAND "' command\n");
+		debug_printf("Failed to run '" URL_OPEN_COMMAND "' command\n");
 
 		// We can't call exit() because that'll try to free resources which were the parent's,
 		// so just abort here
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/x/x.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/x/x.cpp
index 050780567d..2684ae5494 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/x/x.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/unix/x/x.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #if HAVE_X
 
 #include "lib/debug.h"
+#include "lib/utf8.h"
 #include "lib/sysdep/gfx.h"
 #include "lib/sysdep/cursor.h"
 
@@ -127,16 +128,16 @@ static bool get_wminfo(SDL_SysWMinfo& wminfo)
 
 	if(ret == -1)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"SDL_GetWMInfo failed\n");
+		debug_printf("SDL_GetWMInfo failed\n");
 		return false;
 	}
 	if(ret == 0)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"SDL_GetWMInfo is not implemented on this platform\n");
+		debug_printf("SDL_GetWMInfo is not implemented on this platform\n");
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	debug_printf(L"SDL_GetWMInfo returned an unknown value: %d\n", ret);
+	debug_printf("SDL_GetWMInfo returned an unknown value: %d\n", ret);
 	return false;
 }
 
@@ -213,7 +214,7 @@ wchar_t *sys_clipboard_get()
 			&len, &bytes_left,
 			&data);
 		if(result != Success)
-			debug_printf(L"clipboard_get: result: %d type:%lu len:%lu format:%d bytes_left:%lu\n", 
+			debug_printf("clipboard_get: result: %d type:%lu len:%lu format:%d bytes_left:%lu\n", 
 				result, type, len, format, bytes_left);
 		if(result == Success && bytes_left > 0)
 		{
@@ -224,8 +225,8 @@ wchar_t *sys_clipboard_get()
 			
 			if(result == Success)
 			{
-				debug_printf(L"clipboard_get: XGetWindowProperty succeeded, returning data\n");
-				debug_printf(L"clipboard_get: data was: \"%hs\", type was %lu, XA_STRING atom is %lu\n", data, type, XA_STRING);
+				debug_printf("clipboard_get: XGetWindowProperty succeeded, returning data\n");
+				debug_printf("clipboard_get: data was: \"%s\", type was %lu, XA_STRING atom is %lu\n", (char *)data, type, XA_STRING);
 				
 				if(type == XA_STRING) //Latin-1: Just copy into low byte of wchar_t
 				{
@@ -238,7 +239,7 @@ wchar_t *sys_clipboard_get()
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				debug_printf(L"clipboard_get: XGetWindowProperty failed!\n");
+				debug_printf("clipboard_get: XGetWindowProperty failed!\n");
 				return NULL;
 			}
 		}
@@ -374,7 +375,7 @@ Status sys_clipboard_set(const wchar_t *str)
 {
 	ONCE(x11_clipboard_init());
 
-	debug_printf(L"sys_clipboard_set: %ls\n", str);
+	debug_printf("sys_clipboard_set: %s\n", utf8_from_wstring(str).c_str());
 
 	if(selection_data)
 	{
@@ -429,7 +430,7 @@ static XcursorPixel cursor_pixel_to_x11_format(const XcursorPixel& bgra_pixel)
 
 Status sys_cursor_create(int w, int h, void* bgra_img, int hx, int hy, sys_cursor* cursor)
 {
-	debug_printf(L"sys_cursor_create: using Xcursor to create %d x %d cursor\n", w, h);
+	debug_printf("sys_cursor_create: using Xcursor to create %d x %d cursor\n", w, h);
 	XcursorImage* image = XcursorImageCreate(w, h);
 	if(!image)
 		WARN_RETURN(ERR::FAIL);
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/tests/test_wdbg_sym.h b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/tests/test_wdbg_sym.h
index e0d7383e07..88846bad3d 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/tests/test_wdbg_sym.h
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/tests/test_wdbg_sym.h
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ class TestWdbgSym : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 		wchar_t chars[] = { 'w','c','h','a','r','s',0 };
 		wchar_t many_wchars[1024]; memset(many_wchars, 'a', sizeof(many_wchars));
 
-		debug_printf(L"\n(dumping stack frames may result in access violations...)\n");
-		debug_printf(L"  locals: %.0d %.0c %.0c %.0g %.0g %.0d %.0d\n", ints[0], chars[0], many_wchars[0], large_array_of_large_structs[0].d1, small_array_of_large_structs[0].d1, large_array_of_small_structs[0].i1, small_array_of_small_structs[0].i1);
+		debug_printf("\n(dumping stack frames may result in access violations...)\n");
+		debug_printf("  locals: %.0d %.0c %.0c %.0g %.0g %.0d %.0d\n", ints[0], chars[0], many_wchars[0], large_array_of_large_structs[0].d1, small_array_of_large_structs[0].d1, large_array_of_small_structs[0].i1, small_array_of_small_structs[0].i1);
 
 		// note: we don't want any kind of dialog to be raised, because
 		// this test now always runs. therefore, just make sure a decent
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class TestWdbgSym : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 #endif
 		debug_FreeErrorMessage(&emm);
 
-		debug_printf(L"(done dumping stack frames)\n");
+		debug_printf("(done dumping stack frames)\n");
 	}
 
 	// also used by test_stl as an element type
@@ -254,17 +254,17 @@ class TestWdbgSym : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 		static HDC s_hdc = (HDC)0xff0;
 
 #if 0	// output only needed when debugging
-		debug_printf(L"\nTEST_ADDRS\n");
-		debug_printf(L"p_int     addr=%p val=%d\n", &p_int, p_int);
-		debug_printf(L"p_double  addr=%p val=%g\n", &p_double, p_double);
-		debug_printf(L"p_pchar   addr=%p val=%hs\n", &p_pchar, p_pchar);
-		debug_printf(L"p_uintptr addr=%p val=%lu\n", &p_uintptr, p_uintptr);
+		debug_printf("\nTEST_ADDRS\n");
+		debug_printf("p_int     addr=%p val=%d\n", &p_int, p_int);
+		debug_printf("p_double  addr=%p val=%g\n", &p_double, p_double);
+		debug_printf("p_pchar   addr=%p val=%s\n", &p_pchar, p_pchar);
+		debug_printf("p_uintptr addr=%p val=%lu\n", &p_uintptr, p_uintptr);
 
-		debug_printf(L"l_uint    addr=%p val=%u\n", &l_uint, l_uint);
-		debug_printf(L"l_wchars  addr=%p val=%ls\n", &l_wchars, l_wchars);
-		debug_printf(L"l_enum    addr=%p val=%d\n", &l_enum, l_enum);
-		debug_printf(L"l_u8s     addr=%p val=%d\n", &l_u8s, l_u8s);
-		debug_printf(L"l_funcptr addr=%p val=%p\n", &l_funcptr, l_funcptr);
+		debug_printf("l_uint    addr=%p val=%u\n", &l_uint, l_uint);
+		debug_printf("l_wchars  addr=%p val=%s\n", &l_wchars, utf8_from_wstring(l_wchars));
+		debug_printf("l_enum    addr=%p val=%d\n", &l_enum, l_enum);
+		debug_printf("l_u8s     addr=%p val=%d\n", &l_u8s, l_u8s);
+		debug_printf("l_funcptr addr=%p val=%p\n", &l_funcptr, l_funcptr);
 #else
 		UNUSED2(p_uintptr);
 		UNUSED2(p_pchar);
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg.cpp
index 84a28563ec..d0370a03c7 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg.cpp
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ bool debug_IsStackPointer(void* p)
 }
 
 
-void debug_puts(const wchar_t* text)
+void debug_puts(const char* text)
 {
-	OutputDebugStringW(text);
+	OutputDebugStringW(wstring_from_utf8(text).c_str());
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg_sym.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg_sym.cpp
index bbbf764bb1..0ca635ce10 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg_sym.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdbg_sym.cpp
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ static Status DetermineSymbolAddress(DWORD id, const SYMBOL_INFOW* sym, const Du
 
 	*pp = (const u8*)(uintptr_t)addr;
 
-	debug_printf(L"SYM| %ls at %p  flags=%X dk=%d sym->addr=%I64X fp=%I64x\n", sym->Name, *pp, sym->Flags, dataKind, sym->Address, state.stackFrame->AddrFrame.Offset);
+	debug_printf("SYM| %s at %p  flags=%X dk=%d sym->addr=%I64X fp=%I64x\n", utf8_from_wstring(sym->Name).c_str(), *pp, sym->Flags, dataKind, sym->Address, state.stackFrame->AddrFrame.Offset);
 	return INFO::OK;
 }
 
@@ -1170,7 +1170,7 @@ static bool ptr_already_visited(const u8* p)
 		static bool haveComplained;
 		if(!haveComplained)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"WARNING: ptr_already_visited: capacity exceeded, increase maxVisited\n");
+			debug_printf("WARNING: ptr_already_visited: capacity exceeded, increase maxVisited\n");
 			debug_break();
 			haveComplained = true;
 		}
@@ -1469,7 +1469,7 @@ static Status udt_dump_normal(const wchar_t* type_name, const u8* p, size_t size
 			continue;
 		if(ofs >= size)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"INVALID_UDT %ls %d %d\n", type_name, ofs, size);
+			debug_printf("INVALID_UDT %s %d %d\n", utf8_from_wstring(type_name).c_str(), ofs, size);
 		}
 		//ENSURE(ofs < size);
 
@@ -1581,7 +1581,7 @@ static Status dump_sym_unknown(DWORD type_id, const u8* UNUSED(p), DumpState& st
 	if(!pSymGetTypeInfo(hProcess, state.moduleBase, type_id, TI_GET_SYMTAG, &type_tag))
 		WARN_RETURN(ERR::SYM_TYPE_INFO_UNAVAILABLE);
 
-	debug_printf(L"SYM: unknown tag: %d\n", type_tag);
+	debug_printf("SYM: unknown tag: %d\n", type_tag);
 	out(L"(unknown symbol type)");
 	return INFO::OK;
 }
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdir_watch.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdir_watch.cpp
index 0b4868efa3..a73948dcaf 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdir_watch.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wdir_watch.cpp
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ public:
 			{
 				// (this could conceivably happen if a kernel debugger
 				// hangs the system during the wait duration.)
-				debug_printf(L"WARNING: IO may still be pending; to avoid memory corruption, we won't free the buffer.\n");
+				debug_printf("WARNING: IO may still be pending; to avoid memory corruption, we won't free the buffer.\n");
 				DEBUG_WARN_ERR(ERR::TIMED_OUT);
 				// intentionally leak m_data and m_ovl!
 			}
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/counter.h b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/counter.h
index 0e269d8919..b850e80d3b 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/counter.h
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/counter.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public:
 	// (compiled-generated) ctor only sets up the vptr
 	virtual ~ICounter() {}
 
-	virtual const wchar_t* Name() const = 0;
+	virtual const char* Name() const = 0;
 
 	// Activate with an error return value is much cleaner+safer than
 	// throwing exceptions in the ctor.
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/hpet.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/hpet.cpp
index d7ef9375e0..de584c2c3f 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/hpet.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/hpet.cpp
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ public:
 	{
 	}
 
-	virtual const wchar_t* Name() const
+	virtual const char* Name() const
 	{
-		return L"HPET";
+		return "HPET";
 	}
 
 	Status Activate()
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ private:
 		const u32 period_fs = (u32)bits(caps_and_id, 32, 63);
 		ENSURE(period_fs != 0);	// "a value of 0 in this field is not permitted"
 		frequency = 1e15 / period_fs;
-		debug_printf(L"HPET: rev=%X vendor=%X bits=%d period=%08X freq=%g\n", revision, vendorID, counterBits, period_fs, frequency);
+		debug_printf("HPET: rev=%X vendor=%X bits=%d period=%08X freq=%g\n", revision, vendorID, counterBits, period_fs, frequency);
 
 		if(period_fs > 0x05F5E100)	// 100 ns (spec guarantees >= 10 MHz)
 			return ERR::CORRUPTED;	// avoid using HPET (e.g. if calibration was still in progress)
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/pmt.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/pmt.cpp
index b0837a2d65..4932ca1202 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/pmt.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/pmt.cpp
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ public:
 	{
 	}
 
-	virtual const wchar_t* Name() const
+	virtual const char* Name() const
 	{
-		return L"PMT";
+		return "PMT";
 	}
 
 	Status Activate()
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/qpc.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/qpc.cpp
index c7ebfbd120..61c6293e46 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/qpc.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/qpc.cpp
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ public:
 	{
 	}
 
-	virtual const wchar_t* Name() const
+	virtual const char* Name() const
 	{
-		return L"QPC";
+		return "QPC";
 	}
 
 	Status Activate()
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tgt.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tgt.cpp
index dd08e4574f..e38063b922 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tgt.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tgt.cpp
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ static const UINT PERIOD_MS = 2;
 class CounterTGT : public ICounter
 {
 public:
-	virtual const wchar_t* Name() const
+	virtual const char* Name() const
 	{
-		return L"TGT";
+		return "TGT";
 	}
 
 	Status Activate()
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tsc.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tsc.cpp
index 394108d6bf..adc51cee07 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tsc.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/tsc.cpp
@@ -126,9 +126,9 @@ static bool IsSandyBridge()
 class CounterTSC : public ICounter
 {
 public:
-	virtual const wchar_t* Name() const
+	virtual const char* Name() const
 	{
-		return L"TSC";
+		return "TSC";
 	}
 
 	Status Activate()
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/whrt.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/whrt.cpp
index e7988a2a5e..0ff0ca3480 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/whrt.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/whrt/whrt.cpp
@@ -77,13 +77,13 @@ static ICounter* GetNextBestSafeCounter()
 		Status err = ActivateCounter(counter);
 		if(err == INFO::OK)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"HRT: using name=%ls freq=%f\n", counter->Name(), counter->NominalFrequency());
+			debug_printf("HRT: using name=%s freq=%f\n", counter->Name(), counter->NominalFrequency());
 			return counter;	// found a safe counter
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			wchar_t buf[100];
-			debug_printf(L"HRT: activating %ls failed: %ls\n", counter->Name(), StatusDescription(err, buf, ARRAY_SIZE(buf)));
+			debug_printf("HRT: activating %s failed: %s\n", counter->Name(), utf8_from_wstring(StatusDescription(err, buf, ARRAY_SIZE(buf))).c_str());
 			DestroyCounter(counter);
 		}
 	}
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ static void InitCounter()
 	nominalFrequency = counter->NominalFrequency();
 	resolution       = counter->Resolution();
 	counterBits      = counter->CounterBits();
-	debug_printf(L"HRT: counter=%ls freq=%g res=%g bits=%d\n", counter->Name(), nominalFrequency, resolution, counterBits);
+	debug_printf("HRT: counter=%s freq=%g res=%g bits=%d\n", counter->Name(), nominalFrequency, resolution, counterBits);
 
 	// sanity checks
 	ENSURE(nominalFrequency >= 500.0-DBL_EPSILON);
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/winit.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/winit.cpp
index 717966abe9..2231f14b1c 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/winit.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/winit.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static void CallFunctionPointers(PfnLibError* begin, PfnLibError* end)
 	}
 
 	const DWORD t1 = GetTickCount();
-	debug_printf(L"WINIT| total elapsed time in callbacks %d ms (+-10)\n", t1-t0);
+	debug_printf("WINIT| total elapsed time in callbacks %d ms (+-10)\n", t1-t0);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wnuma.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wnuma.cpp
index a9ab8d0330..1cecaa5219 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wnuma.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wnuma.cpp
@@ -491,12 +491,12 @@ static bool VerifyPages(void* mem, size_t size, size_t pageSize, size_t node)
 			return false;
 		if((attributes.LargePage != 0) != (pageSize == largePageSize))
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"NUMA: is not a large page\n");
+			debug_printf("NUMA: is not a large page\n");
 			return false;
 		}
 		if(attributes.Node != node)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"NUMA: allocated from remote node\n");
+			debug_printf("NUMA: allocated from remote node\n");
 			return false;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/waio.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/waio.cpp
index 6bca04c005..802710c451 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/waio.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/waio.cpp
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ struct OvlAllocator	// POD
 	void Shutdown()
 	{
 		if(extant != 0)
-			debug_printf(L"waio: OvlAllocator::Shutdown with extant=%d\n", extant);
+			debug_printf("waio: OvlAllocator::Shutdown with extant=%d\n", extant);
 
 		InterlockedFlushSList(&freelist);
 
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ Status waio_Preallocate(int fd, off_t size)
 		if(GetLastError() == ERROR_DISK_FULL)
 			SetLastError(0);
 		else
-			debug_printf(L"waio_Preallocate(%lld) failed: %d\n", size, GetLastError());
+			debug_printf("waio_Preallocate(%lld) failed: %d\n", size, GetLastError());
 		return ERR::FAIL;	// NOWARN (either out of disk space, or error was printed)
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wmman.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wmman.cpp
index bf32e02d83..6754968374 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wmman.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wmman.cpp
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static Status mmap_mem(void* start, size_t len, int prot, int flags, int fd, voi
 	void* p = VirtualAlloc(start, len, allocationType, protect);
 	if(!p)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"wmman: VirtualAlloc(%p, 0x%I64X) failed\n", start, len);
+		debug_printf("wmman: VirtualAlloc(%p, 0x%I64X) failed\n", start, len);
 		WARN_RETURN(ERR::NO_MEM);
 	}
 	*pp = p;
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wpthread.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wpthread.cpp
index 9da6b09df8..508a28fa5e 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wpthread.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wposix/wpthread.cpp
@@ -671,7 +671,7 @@ int pthread_cancel(pthread_t thread)
 {
 	HANDLE hThread = HANDLE_from_pthread(thread);
 	TerminateThread(hThread, 0);
-	debug_printf(L"WARNING: pthread_cancel is unsafe\n");
+	debug_printf("WARNING: pthread_cancel is unsafe\n");
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsdl.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsdl.cpp
index e2cb3fab91..ac9e49d7dd 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsdl.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wsdl.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ private:
 			// at least one 32-bit XP system STILL fails here,
 			// so don't raise an error dialog.
 			if(!ok)
-				debug_printf(L"SetDeviceGammaRamp failed twice. Oh well.\n");
+				debug_printf("SetDeviceGammaRamp failed twice. Oh well.\n");
 		}
 		return (ok == TRUE);
 	}
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wvm.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wvm.cpp
index 79706dd3de..c679fa7842 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wvm.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/os/win/wvm.cpp
@@ -138,12 +138,12 @@ void DumpStatistics()
 		return;
 
 	const size_t largePageRatio = totalCommits? largePageCommits*100/totalCommits : 0;
-	debug_printf(L"%d commits (%d, i.e. %d%% of them via large pages)\n", totalCommits, largePageCommits, largePageRatio);
+	debug_printf("%d commits (%d, i.e. %d%% of them via large pages)\n", totalCommits, largePageCommits, largePageRatio);
 	if(processorsWithNoCommits != 0)
-		debug_printf(L"  processors with no commits: %x\n", processorsWithNoCommits);
+		debug_printf("  processors with no commits: %x\n", processorsWithNoCommits);
 
 	if(numa_NumNodes() > 1)
-		debug_printf(L"NUMA factor: %.2f\n", numa_Factor());
+		debug_printf("NUMA factor: %.2f\n", numa_Factor());
 }
 
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ static void* AllocateLargeOrSmallPages(uintptr_t address, size_t size, DWORD all
 	{
 		MEMORY_BASIC_INFORMATION mbi = {0};
 		(void)VirtualQuery(LPCVOID(address), &mbi, sizeof(mbi));	// return value is #bytes written in mbi
-		debug_printf(L"Allocation failed: base=%p allocBase=%p allocProt=%d size=%d state=%d prot=%d type=%d\n", mbi.BaseAddress, mbi.AllocationBase, mbi.AllocationProtect, mbi.RegionSize, mbi.State, mbi.Protect, mbi.Type);
+		debug_printf("Allocation failed: base=%p allocBase=%p allocProt=%d size=%d state=%d prot=%d type=%d\n", mbi.BaseAddress, mbi.AllocationBase, mbi.AllocationProtect, mbi.RegionSize, mbi.State, mbi.Protect, mbi.Type);
 	}
 
 	return 0;
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ CACHE_ALIGNED(struct AddressRangeDescriptor)	// POD
 		base = (intptr_t)AllocateLargeOrSmallPages(0, totalSize, MEM_RESERVE);
 		if(!base)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"AllocateLargeOrSmallPages of %lld failed\n", (u64)totalSize);
+			debug_printf("AllocateLargeOrSmallPages of %lld failed\n", (u64)totalSize);
 			DEBUG_DISPLAY_ERROR(ErrorString());
 			return ERR::NO_MEM;	// NOWARN (error string is more helpful)
 		}
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ void ReleaseAddressSpace(void* p, size_t UNUSED(size))
 		d->Free();
 	else
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"No AddressRangeDescriptor contains %P\n", p);
+		debug_printf("No AddressRangeDescriptor contains %P\n", p);
 		ENSURE(0);
 	}
 }
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ static LONG CALLBACK VectoredHandler(const PEXCEPTION_POINTERS ep)
 	bool ok = d->Commit(alignedAddress);
 	if(!ok)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"VectoredHandler: Commit(0x%p) failed; address=0x%p\n", alignedAddress, address);
+		debug_printf("VectoredHandler: Commit(0x%p) failed; address=0x%p\n", alignedAddress, address);
 		ENSURE(0);
 		return EXCEPTION_CONTINUE_SEARCH;
 	}
diff --git a/source/lib/sysdep/smbios.cpp b/source/lib/sysdep/smbios.cpp
index 88422823ca..5c410872d9 100644
--- a/source/lib/sysdep/smbios.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/sysdep/smbios.cpp
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ void FieldInitializer::operator()<const char*>(size_t flags, const char*& t, con
 
 	if(number > strings.size())
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"SMBIOS: invalid string number %d (count=%d)\n", number, (int)strings.size());
+		debug_printf("SMBIOS: invalid string number %d (count=%d)\n", number, (int)strings.size());
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ static Status InitStructures()
 	{
 		if(header+1 > end)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"SMBIOS: table not terminated\n");
+			debug_printf("SMBIOS: table not terminated\n");
 			break;
 		}
 		if(header->id == 127)	// end
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ static Status InitStructures()
 
 		default:
 			if(32 < header->id && header->id < 126)	// only mention non-proprietary structures of which we are not aware
-				debug_printf(L"SMBIOS: unknown structure type %d\n", header->id);
+				debug_printf("SMBIOS: unknown structure type %d\n", header->id);
 			break;
 		}
 
diff --git a/source/lib/timer.cpp b/source/lib/timer.cpp
index 7cdbb924dc..37b81145d1 100644
--- a/source/lib/timer.cpp
+++ b/source/lib/timer.cpp
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ TimerClient* timer_AddClient(TimerClient* tc, const wchar_t* description)
 
 void timer_DisplayClientTotals()
 {
-	debug_printf(L"TIMER TOTALS (%lu clients)\n", (unsigned long)numClients);
-	debug_printf(L"-----------------------------------------------------\n");
+	debug_printf("TIMER TOTALS (%lu clients)\n", (unsigned long)numClients);
+	debug_printf("-----------------------------------------------------\n");
 
 	while(clients)
 	{
@@ -191,44 +191,44 @@ void timer_DisplayClientTotals()
 		clients = tc->next;
 		numClients--;
 
-		const std::wstring duration = tc->sum.ToString();
-		debug_printf(L"  %ls: %ls (%lux)\n", tc->description, duration.c_str(), (unsigned long)tc->num_calls);
+		const std::string duration = tc->sum.ToString();
+		debug_printf("  %s: %s (%lux)\n", utf8_from_wstring(tc->description).c_str(), duration.c_str(), (unsigned long)tc->num_calls);
 	}
 
-	debug_printf(L"-----------------------------------------------------\n");
+	debug_printf("-----------------------------------------------------\n");
 }
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-std::wstring StringForSeconds(double seconds)
+std::string StringForSeconds(double seconds)
 {
 	double scale = 1e6;
-	const wchar_t* unit = L" us";
+	const char* unit = " us";
 	if(seconds > 1.0)
-		scale = 1, unit = L" s";
+		scale = 1, unit = " s";
 	else if(seconds > 1e-3)
-		scale = 1e3, unit = L" ms";
+		scale = 1e3, unit = " ms";
 
-	std::wstringstream ss;
+	std::stringstream ss;
 	ss << seconds*scale;
 	ss << unit;
 	return ss.str();
 }
 
 
-std::wstring StringForCycles(Cycles cycles)
+std::string StringForCycles(Cycles cycles)
 {
 	double scale = 1.0;
-	const wchar_t* unit = L" c";
+	const char* unit = " c";
 	if(cycles > 10000000000LL)	// 10 Gc
-		scale = 1e-9, unit = L" Gc";
+		scale = 1e-9, unit = " Gc";
 	else if(cycles > 10000000)	// 10 Mc
-		scale = 1e-6, unit = L" Mc";
+		scale = 1e-6, unit = " Mc";
 	else if(cycles > 10000)	// 10 kc
-		scale = 1e-3, unit = L" kc";
+		scale = 1e-3, unit = " kc";
 
-	std::wstringstream ss;
+	std::stringstream ss;
 	ss << cycles*scale;
 	ss << unit;
 	return ss.str();
diff --git a/source/lib/timer.h b/source/lib/timer.h
index 0d0401827a..3ea03229f4 100644
--- a/source/lib/timer.h
+++ b/source/lib/timer.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 # include "lib/sysdep/arch/x86_x64/x86_x64.h"	// x86_x64::rdtsc
 #endif
 
+#include "lib/utf8.h"
 
 /**
  * timer_Time will subsequently return values relative to the current time.
@@ -62,8 +63,8 @@ typedef i64 Cycles;
  * internal helper functions for returning an easily readable
  * string (i.e. re-scaled to appropriate units)
  **/
-LIB_API std::wstring StringForSeconds(double seconds);
-LIB_API std::wstring StringForCycles(Cycles cycles);
+LIB_API std::string StringForSeconds(double seconds);
+LIB_API std::string StringForCycles(Cycles cycles);
 
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -82,8 +83,8 @@ public:
 	~ScopeTimer()
 	{
 		const double t1 = timer_Time();
-		const std::wstring elapsedTimeString = StringForSeconds(t1-m_t0);
-		debug_printf(L"TIMER| %ls: %ls\n", m_description, elapsedTimeString.c_str());
+		const std::string elapsedTimeString = StringForSeconds(t1-m_t0);
+		debug_printf("TIMER| %s: %s\n", utf8_from_wstring(m_description).c_str(), elapsedTimeString.c_str());
 	}
 
 private:
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ retry:
 		m_cycles -= t.m_cycles;
 	}
 
-	std::wstring ToString() const
+	std::string ToString() const
 	{
 		ENSURE(m_cycles >= 0);
 		return StringForCycles(m_cycles);
@@ -251,7 +252,7 @@ retry:
 		m_seconds -= t.m_seconds;
 	}
 
-	std::wstring ToString() const
+	std::string ToString() const
 	{
 		ENSURE(m_seconds >= 0.0);
 		return StringForSeconds(m_seconds);
diff --git a/source/network/tests/test_Net.h b/source/network/tests/test_Net.h
index 6568b7e528..a4c0439315 100644
--- a/source/network/tests/test_Net.h
+++ b/source/network/tests/test_Net.h
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public:
 
 		for (size_t i = 0; ; ++i)
 		{
-//			debug_printf(L".");
+//			debug_printf(".");
 			for (size_t j = 0; j < clients.size(); ++j)
 				clients[j]->Poll();
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		for (size_t i = 0; ; ++i)
 		{
-//			debug_printf(L".");
+//			debug_printf(".");
 			server.Poll();
 			for (size_t j = 0; j < clients.size(); ++j)
 				clients[j]->Poll();
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public:
 		clients.push_back(&client3);
 
 		connect(server, clients);
-		debug_printf(L"%ls", client1.TestReadGuiMessages().c_str());
+		debug_printf("%s", utf8_from_wstring(client1.TestReadGuiMessages()).c_str());
 
 		server.StartGame();
 		SDL_Delay(100);
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ public:
 		clients.push_back(&client3);
 
 		connect(server, clients);
-		debug_printf(L"%ls", client1.TestReadGuiMessages().c_str());
+		debug_printf("%s", utf8_from_wstring(client1.TestReadGuiMessages()).c_str());
 
 		server.StartGame();
 		SDL_Delay(100);
@@ -261,12 +261,12 @@ public:
 			client1Game.GetTurnManager()->PostCommand(cmd);
 		}
 
-		debug_printf(L"==== Disconnecting client 2\n");
+		debug_printf("==== Disconnecting client 2\n");
 
 		client2.DestroyConnection();
 		clients.erase(clients.begin()+1);
 
-		debug_printf(L"==== Connecting client 2B\n");
+		debug_printf("==== Connecting client 2B\n");
 
 		CGame client2BGame(true);
 		CNetClient client2B(&client2BGame);
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ public:
 
 		for (size_t i = 0; ; ++i)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"[%u]\n", client2B.GetCurrState());
+			debug_printf("[%u]\n", client2B.GetCurrState());
 			client2B.Poll();
 			if (client2B.GetCurrState() == NCS_PREGAME)
 				break;
diff --git a/source/ps/ArchiveBuilder.cpp b/source/ps/ArchiveBuilder.cpp
index 4adb3070ff..3317f4ae78 100644
--- a/source/ps/ArchiveBuilder.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/ArchiveBuilder.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ void CArchiveBuilder::Build(const OsPath& archive, bool compress)
 		)
 		{
 			VfsPath cachedPath;
-			debug_printf(L"Converting texture %ls\n", realPath.string().c_str());
+			debug_printf("Converting texture %s\n", realPath.string8().c_str());
 			bool ok = textureManager.GenerateCachedTexture(path, cachedPath);
 			ENSURE(ok);
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ void CArchiveBuilder::Build(const OsPath& archive, bool compress)
 			}
 			
 			VfsPath cachedPath;
-			debug_printf(L"Converting model %ls\n", realPath.string().c_str());
+			debug_printf("Converting model %s\n", realPath.string8().c_str());
 			bool ok = colladaManager.GenerateCachedFile(path, type, cachedPath);
 			
 			// The DAE might fail to convert for whatever reason, and in that case
@@ -149,14 +149,14 @@ void CArchiveBuilder::Build(const OsPath& archive, bool compress)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		debug_printf(L"Adding %ls\n", realPath.string().c_str());
+		debug_printf("Adding %s\n", realPath.string8().c_str());
 		writer->AddFile(realPath, path);
 
 		// Also cache XMB versions of all XML files
 		if (path.Extension() == L".xml")
 		{
 			VfsPath cachedPath;
-			debug_printf(L"Converting XML file %ls\n", realPath.string().c_str());
+			debug_printf("Converting XML file %s\n", realPath.string8().c_str());
 			bool ok = xero.GenerateCachedXMB(m_VFS, path, cachedPath);
 			ENSURE(ok);
 
diff --git a/source/ps/CConsole.cpp b/source/ps/CConsole.cpp
index e09dbbfdca..bdcbfd1fc0 100644
--- a/source/ps/CConsole.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/CConsole.cpp
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ void CConsole::InsertMessage(const wchar_t* szMessage, ...)
 	va_start(args, szMessage);
 	if (vswprintf(szBuffer, CONSOLE_MESSAGE_SIZE, szMessage, args) == -1)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"Error printfing console message (buffer size exceeded?)\n");
+		debug_printf("Error printfing console message (buffer size exceeded?)\n");
 
 		// Make it obvious that the text was trimmed (assuming it was)
 		wcscpy(szBuffer+CONSOLE_MESSAGE_SIZE-4, L"...");
diff --git a/source/ps/CLogger.cpp b/source/ps/CLogger.cpp
index a46fd544b3..9a7d58f9b1 100644
--- a/source/ps/CLogger.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/CLogger.cpp
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ void CLogger::WriteMessage(const char* message, bool doRender = false)
 
 	++m_NumberOfMessages;
 //	if (m_UseDebugPrintf)
-//		debug_printf(L"MESSAGE: %hs\n", message);
+//		debug_printf("MESSAGE: %s\n", message);
 
 	*m_MainLog << "<p>" << cmessage << "</p>\n";
 	m_MainLog->flush();
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ void CLogger::WriteError(const char* message)
 
 	++m_NumberOfErrors;
 	if (m_UseDebugPrintf)
-		debug_printf(L"ERROR: %hs\n", message);
+		debug_printf("ERROR: %s\n", message);
 
 	if (g_Console) g_Console->InsertMessage(L"ERROR: %hs", message);
 	*m_InterestingLog << "<p class=\"error\">ERROR: " << cmessage << "</p>\n";
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void CLogger::WriteWarning(const char* message)
 
 	++m_NumberOfWarnings;
 	if (m_UseDebugPrintf)
-		debug_printf(L"WARNING: %hs\n", message);
+		debug_printf("WARNING: %s\n", message);
 
 	if (g_Console) g_Console->InsertMessage(L"WARNING: %hs", message);
 	*m_InterestingLog << "<p class=\"warning\">WARNING: " << cmessage << "</p>\n";
diff --git a/source/ps/Game.cpp b/source/ps/Game.cpp
index c1600cc389..26400b05b2 100644
--- a/source/ps/Game.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/Game.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ PSRETURN CGame::ReallyStartGame()
 	if (g_NetClient)
 		g_NetClient->LoadFinished();
 
-	debug_printf(L"GAME STARTED, ALL INIT COMPLETE\n");
+	debug_printf("GAME STARTED, ALL INIT COMPLETE\n");
 
 	// The call tree we've built for pregame probably isn't useful in-game.
 	if (CProfileManager::IsInitialised())
diff --git a/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp b/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
index e85ccd762d..83611f76df 100644
--- a/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ static size_t ChooseCacheSize()
 	// always provide at least this much to ensure correct operation
 	cache = std::max(cache, (ssize_t)64);
 
-	debug_printf(L"Cache: %d (total: %d) MiB\n", (int)cache, (int)total);
+	debug_printf("Cache: %d (total: %d) MiB\n", (int)cache, (int)total);
 	return size_t(cache)*MiB;
 }
 
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ void EarlyInit()
 
 	debug_SetThreadName("main");
 	// add all debug_printf "tags" that we are interested in:
-	debug_filter_add(L"TIMER");
+	debug_filter_add("TIMER");
 
 	timer_LatchStartTime();
 
@@ -865,7 +865,7 @@ void EarlyInit()
 #if MUST_INIT_X11
 	int status = XInitThreads();
 	if (status == 0)
-		debug_printf(L"Error enabling thread-safety via XInitThreads\n");
+		debug_printf("Error enabling thread-safety via XInitThreads\n");
 #endif
 
 	// Initialise the low-quality rand function
diff --git a/source/ps/GameSetup/Paths.cpp b/source/ps/GameSetup/Paths.cpp
index 434f02cae4..b54772acfe 100644
--- a/source/ps/GameSetup/Paths.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/GameSetup/Paths.cpp
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ Paths::Paths(const CmdLineArgs& args)
 # if OS_MACOSX
 	if (osx_IsAppBundleValid())
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"Valid app bundle detected\n");
+		debug_printf("Valid app bundle detected\n");
 
 		std::string resourcesPath = osx_GetBundleResourcesPath();
 		// Ensure we have a valid resources path
diff --git a/source/ps/Loader.cpp b/source/ps/Loader.cpp
index ce4404a64d..5fa481f410 100644
--- a/source/ps/Loader.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/Loader.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ Status LDR_ProgressiveLoad(double time_budget, wchar_t* description, size_t max_
 		// either finished entirely, or failed => remove from queue.
 		if(!timed_out)
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"LOADER| completed %ls in %g ms; estimate was %g ms\n", lr.description.c_str(), task_elapsed_time*1e3, estimated_duration*1e3);
+			debug_printf("LOADER| completed %s in %g ms; estimate was %g ms\n", utf8_from_wstring(lr.description).c_str(), task_elapsed_time*1e3, estimated_duration*1e3);
 			task_elapsed_time = 0.0;
 			estimated_duration_tally += estimated_duration;
 			load_requests.pop_front();
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ done:
 		new_description = load_requests.front().description.c_str();
 	wcscpy_s(description, max_chars, new_description);
 
-	debug_printf(L"LOADER| returning; desc=%ls progress=%d\n", description, *progress_percent);
+	debug_printf("LOADER| returning; desc=%s progress=%d\n", utf8_from_wstring(description).c_str(), *progress_percent);
 
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/source/ps/Replay.cpp b/source/ps/Replay.cpp
index 4a969ced73..df50463470 100644
--- a/source/ps/Replay.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/Replay.cpp
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ void CReplayPlayer::Replay(bool serializationtest)
 		else if (type == "turn")
 		{
 			*m_Stream >> turn >> turnLength;
-			debug_printf(L"Turn %u (%u)... ", turn, turnLength);
+			debug_printf("Turn %u (%u)... ", turn, turnLength);
 		}
 		else if (type == "cmd")
 		{
@@ -208,9 +208,9 @@ void CReplayPlayer::Replay(bool serializationtest)
 				ENSURE(ok);
 				std::string hexHash = Hexify(hash);
 				if (hexHash == replayHash)
-					debug_printf(L"hash ok (%hs)", hexHash.c_str());
+					debug_printf("hash ok (%s)", hexHash.c_str());
 				else
-					debug_printf(L"HASH MISMATCH (%hs != %hs)", hexHash.c_str(), replayHash.c_str());
+					debug_printf("HASH MISMATCH (%s != %s)", hexHash.c_str(), replayHash.c_str());
 			}
 		}
 		else if (type == "end")
@@ -228,9 +228,9 @@ void CReplayPlayer::Replay(bool serializationtest)
 //			std::string hash;
 //			bool ok = game.GetSimulation2()->ComputeStateHash(hash, true);
 //			ENSURE(ok);
-//			debug_printf(L"%hs", Hexify(hash).c_str());
+//			debug_printf("%s", Hexify(hash).c_str());
 
-			debug_printf(L"\n");
+			debug_printf("\n");
 
 			g_Profiler.Frame();
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ void CReplayPlayer::Replay(bool serializationtest)
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"Unrecognised replay token %hs\n", type.c_str());
+			debug_printf("Unrecognised replay token %s\n", type.c_str());
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ void CReplayPlayer::Replay(bool serializationtest)
 	std::string hash;
 	bool ok = game.GetSimulation2()->ComputeStateHash(hash, false);
 	ENSURE(ok);
-	debug_printf(L"# Final state: %hs\n", Hexify(hash).c_str());
+	debug_printf("# Final state: %s\n", Hexify(hash).c_str());
 
 	timer_DisplayClientTotals();
 
diff --git a/source/ps/TouchInput.cpp b/source/ps/TouchInput.cpp
index 390f11bcb9..ff52debf6f 100644
--- a/source/ps/TouchInput.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/TouchInput.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ bool CTouchInput::IsEnabled()
 
 void CTouchInput::OnFingerDown(int id, int x, int y)
 {
-	debug_printf(L"finger down %d %d %d; state %d\n", id, x, y, m_State);
+	debug_printf("finger down %d %d %d; state %d\n", id, x, y, m_State);
 	m_Down[id] = true;
 	m_Prev[id] = m_Pos[id] = CVector2D(x, y);
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void CTouchInput::OnFingerDown(int id, int x, int y)
 
 void CTouchInput::OnFingerUp(int id, int x, int y)
 {
-	debug_printf(L"finger up %d %d %d; state %d\n", id, x, y, m_State);
+	debug_printf("finger up %d %d %d; state %d\n", id, x, y, m_State);
 	m_Down[id] = false;
 	m_Pos[id] = CVector2D(x, y);
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ void CTouchInput::OnFingerUp(int id, int x, int y)
 
 void CTouchInput::OnFingerMotion(int id, int x, int y)
 {
-	debug_printf(L"finger motion %d %d %d; state %d\n", id, x, y, m_State);
+	debug_printf("finger motion %d %d %d; state %d\n", id, x, y, m_State);
 
 	CVector2D pos(x, y);
 
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ InReaction CTouchInput::HandleEvent(const SDL_Event_* ev)
 	case SDL_FINGERMOTION:
 	{
 		// Map finger events onto the mouse, for basic testing
-		debug_printf(L"finger %hs tid=%lld fid=%lld x=%f y=%f dx=%f dy=%f p=%f\n",
+		debug_printf("finger %s tid=%lld fid=%lld x=%f y=%f dx=%f dy=%f p=%f\n",
 			ev->ev.type == SDL_FINGERDOWN ? "down" :
 			ev->ev.type == SDL_FINGERUP ? "up" :
 			ev->ev.type == SDL_FINGERMOTION ? "motion" : "?",
diff --git a/source/ps/UserReport.cpp b/source/ps/UserReport.cpp
index 755542d318..469b157de7 100644
--- a/source/ps/UserReport.cpp
+++ b/source/ps/UserReport.cpp
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ private:
 		CScopeLock lock(m_WorkerMutex);
 		m_Status = status;
 #if DEBUG_UPLOADS
-		debug_printf(L">>> CUserReporterWorker status: %hs\n", status.c_str());
+		debug_printf(">>> CUserReporterWorker status: %s\n", status.c_str());
 #endif
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/renderer/VertexArray.cpp b/source/renderer/VertexArray.cpp
index 8363f55b93..8128e4140f 100644
--- a/source/renderer/VertexArray.cpp
+++ b/source/renderer/VertexArray.cpp
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ void VertexArray::Layout()
 	
 	m_Stride = 0;
 	
-	//debug_printf(L"Layouting VertexArray\n");
+	//debug_printf("Layouting VertexArray\n");
 	
 	for (ssize_t idx = m_Attributes.size()-1; idx >= 0; --idx)
 	{
@@ -262,13 +262,13 @@ void VertexArray::Layout()
 		if (m_Target == GL_ARRAY_BUFFER)
 			m_Stride = Align<4>(m_Stride);
 
-		//debug_printf(L"%i: offset: %u\n", idx, attr->offset);
+		//debug_printf("%i: offset: %u\n", idx, attr->offset);
 	}
 	
 	if (m_Target == GL_ARRAY_BUFFER)
 		m_Stride = RoundStride(m_Stride);
 	
-	//debug_printf(L"Stride: %u\n", m_Stride);
+	//debug_printf("Stride: %u\n", m_Stride);
 	
 	if (m_Stride)
 		m_BackingStore = (char*)rtl_AllocateAligned(m_Stride * m_NumVertices, 16);
diff --git a/source/renderer/VertexBuffer.cpp b/source/renderer/VertexBuffer.cpp
index 6b3e399b77..a4c943d7a9 100644
--- a/source/renderer/VertexBuffer.cpp
+++ b/source/renderer/VertexBuffer.cpp
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ u8* CVertexBuffer::Bind()
 
 				// Unmap might fail on e.g. resolution switches, so just try again
 				// and hope it will eventually succeed
-				debug_printf(L"glUnmapBuffer failed, trying again...");
+				debug_printf("glUnmapBuffer failed, trying again...");
 			}
 
 			// Anything we just uploaded is clean; anything else is dirty
@@ -337,16 +337,16 @@ size_t CVertexBuffer::GetBytesAllocated() const
 
 void CVertexBuffer::DumpStatus()
 {
-	debug_printf(L"freeverts = %d\n", (int)m_FreeVertices);
+	debug_printf("freeverts = %d\n", (int)m_FreeVertices);
 
 	size_t maxSize = 0;
 	typedef std::list<VBChunk*>::iterator Iter;
 	for (Iter iter = m_FreeList.begin(); iter != m_FreeList.end(); ++iter)
 	{
-		debug_printf(L"free chunk %p: size=%d\n", *iter, (int)((*iter)->m_Count));
+		debug_printf("free chunk %p: size=%d\n", (void *)*iter, (int)((*iter)->m_Count));
 		maxSize = std::max((*iter)->m_Count, maxSize);
 	}
-	debug_printf(L"max size = %d\n", (int)maxSize);
+	debug_printf("max size = %d\n", (int)maxSize);
 }
 
 bool CVertexBuffer::UseStreaming(GLenum usage)
diff --git a/source/renderer/VertexBufferManager.cpp b/source/renderer/VertexBufferManager.cpp
index c1f6e04f5e..0efed3ff19 100644
--- a/source/renderer/VertexBufferManager.cpp
+++ b/source/renderer/VertexBufferManager.cpp
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ CVertexBuffer::VBChunk* CVertexBufferManager::Allocate(size_t vertexSize, size_t
 	typedef std::list<CVertexBuffer*>::iterator Iter;
 
 #if DUMP_VB_STATS
-	debug_printf(L"\n============================\n# allocate vsize=%d nverts=%d\n\n", vertexSize, numVertices);
+	debug_printf("\n============================\n# allocate vsize=%d nverts=%d\n\n", vertexSize, numVertices);
 	for (Iter iter = m_Buffers.begin(); iter != m_Buffers.end(); ++iter) {
 		CVertexBuffer* buffer = *iter;
 		if (buffer->CompatibleVertexType(vertexSize, usage, target))
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"%p\n", buffer);
+			debug_printf("%p\n", buffer);
 			buffer->DumpStatus();
 		}
 	}
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ void CVertexBufferManager::Release(CVertexBuffer::VBChunk* chunk)
 {
 	ENSURE(chunk);
 #if DUMP_VB_STATS
-	debug_printf(L"\n============================\n# release %p nverts=%d\n\n", chunk, chunk->m_Count);
+	debug_printf("\n============================\n# release %p nverts=%d\n\n", chunk, chunk->m_Count);
 #endif
 	chunk->m_Owner->Release(chunk);
 }
diff --git a/source/scriptinterface/ScriptInterface.cpp b/source/scriptinterface/ScriptInterface.cpp
index 15873b2b00..487b409651 100644
--- a/source/scriptinterface/ScriptInterface.cpp
+++ b/source/scriptinterface/ScriptInterface.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ bool print(JSContext* cx, uint argc, jsval* vp)
 		std::wstring str;
 		if (!ScriptInterface::FromJSVal(cx, args[i], str))
 			return false;
-		debug_printf(L"%ls", str.c_str());
+		debug_printf("%s", utf8_from_wstring(str).c_str());
 	}
 	fflush(stdout);
 	args.rval().setUndefined();
diff --git a/source/simulation2/components/CCmpRangeManager.cpp b/source/simulation2/components/CCmpRangeManager.cpp
index 68f2ba0e18..191f02befb 100644
--- a/source/simulation2/components/CCmpRangeManager.cpp
+++ b/source/simulation2/components/CCmpRangeManager.cpp
@@ -649,17 +649,17 @@ public:
 		{
 			for (size_t i = 0; i < oldPlayerCounts.size(); ++i)
 			{
-				debug_printf(L"%d: ", (int)i);
+				debug_printf("%d: ", (int)i);
 				for (size_t j = 0; j < oldPlayerCounts[i].size(); ++j)
-					debug_printf(L"%d ", oldPlayerCounts[i][j]);
-				debug_printf(L"\n");
+					debug_printf("%d ", oldPlayerCounts[i][j]);
+				debug_printf("\n");
 			}
 			for (size_t i = 0; i < m_LosPlayerCounts.size(); ++i)
 			{
-				debug_printf(L"%d: ", (int)i);
+				debug_printf("%d: ", (int)i);
 				for (size_t j = 0; j < m_LosPlayerCounts[i].size(); ++j)
-					debug_printf(L"%d ", m_LosPlayerCounts[i][j]);
-				debug_printf(L"\n");
+					debug_printf("%d ", m_LosPlayerCounts[i][j]);
+				debug_printf("\n");
 			}
 			debug_warn(L"inconsistent player counts");
 		}
diff --git a/source/simulation2/components/tests/test_scripts.h b/source/simulation2/components/tests/test_scripts.h
index 40aa26325d..f548e06f24 100644
--- a/source/simulation2/components/tests/test_scripts.h
+++ b/source/simulation2/components/tests/test_scripts.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		if (!VfsFileExists(L"simulation/components/tests/setup.js"))
 		{
-			debug_printf(L"WARNING: Skipping component scripts tests (can't find binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/components/tests/setup.js)\n");
+			debug_printf("WARNING: Skipping component scripts tests (can't find binaries/data/mods/public/simulation/components/tests/setup.js)\n");
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/source/simulation2/system/DynamicSubscription.cpp b/source/simulation2/system/DynamicSubscription.cpp
index 5894560074..a2e1a58e88 100644
--- a/source/simulation2/system/DynamicSubscription.cpp
+++ b/source/simulation2/system/DynamicSubscription.cpp
@@ -71,18 +71,18 @@ void CDynamicSubscription::DebugDump()
 {
 	std::set<IComponent*, CompareIComponent>::iterator it;
 
-	debug_printf(L"components:");
+	debug_printf("components:");
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < m_Components.size(); i++)
-		debug_printf(L" %p", m_Components[i]);
-	debug_printf(L"\n");
+		debug_printf(" %p", (void *)m_Components[i]);
+	debug_printf("\n");
 
-	debug_printf(L"added:");
+	debug_printf("added:");
 	for (it = m_Added.begin(); it != m_Added.end(); ++it)
-		debug_printf(L" %p", *it);
-	debug_printf(L"\n");
+		debug_printf(" %p", (void *)*it);
+	debug_printf("\n");
 
-	debug_printf(L"removed:");
+	debug_printf("removed:");
 	for (it = m_Removed.begin(); it != m_Removed.end(); ++it)
-		debug_printf(L" %p", *it);
-	debug_printf(L"\n");
+		debug_printf(" %p", (void *)*it);
+	debug_printf("\n");
 }
diff --git a/source/simulation2/tests/test_Serializer.h b/source/simulation2/tests/test_Serializer.h
index 69acda6326..36958245a6 100644
--- a/source/simulation2/tests/test_Serializer.h
+++ b/source/simulation2/tests/test_Serializer.h
@@ -673,12 +673,12 @@ public:
 			std::string hash;
 			sim2.SerializeState(str);
 			sim2.ComputeStateHash(hash, false);
-			debug_printf(L"\n");
-			debug_printf(L"# size = %d\n", (int)str.str().length());
-			debug_printf(L"# hash = ");
+			debug_printf("\n");
+			debug_printf("# size = %d\n", (int)str.str().length());
+			debug_printf("# hash = ");
 			for (size_t i = 0; i < hash.size(); ++i)
-				debug_printf(L"%02x", (unsigned int)(u8)hash[i]);
-			debug_printf(L"\n");
+				debug_printf("%02x", (unsigned int)(u8)hash[i]);
+			debug_printf("\n");
 		}
 
 		double t = timer_Time();
@@ -691,7 +691,7 @@ public:
 		}
 		CALLGRIND_STOP_INSTRUMENTATION;
 		t = timer_Time() - t;
-		debug_printf(L"# time = %f (%f/%d)\n", t/reps, t, (int)reps);
+		debug_printf("# time = %f (%f/%d)\n", t/reps, t, (int)reps);
 
 		// Shut down the world
 		delete &g_TexMan;
diff --git a/source/soundmanager/SoundManager.cpp b/source/soundmanager/SoundManager.cpp
index db34628585..c6484a6a5d 100644
--- a/source/soundmanager/SoundManager.cpp
+++ b/source/soundmanager/SoundManager.cpp
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ Status CSoundManager::AlcInit()
 	const char* dev_name = (const char*)alcGetString(m_Device, ALC_DEVICE_SPECIFIER);
 
 	if (err == ALC_NO_ERROR && m_Device && m_Context)
-		debug_printf(L"Sound: AlcInit success, using %hs\n", dev_name);
+		debug_printf("Sound: AlcInit success, using %s\n", dev_name);
 	else
 	{
 		LOGERROR("Sound: AlcInit failed, m_Device=%p m_Context=%p dev_name=%s err=%x\n", (void *)m_Device, (void *)m_Context, dev_name, err);
diff --git a/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/CommandProc.cpp b/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/CommandProc.cpp
index 0a4c32c787..409956c526 100644
--- a/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/CommandProc.cpp
+++ b/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/CommandProc.cpp
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ void CommandProc::Merge()
 	{
 		const char* a = (*prev)->GetType();
 		const char* b = (*m_CurrentCommand)->GetType();
-		debug_printf(L"[incompatible: %hs -> %hs]\n", a, b);
+		debug_printf("[incompatible: %s -> %s]\n", a, b);
 		debug_warn(L"Merge illogic: incompatible command");
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/MessagePasserImpl.cpp b/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/MessagePasserImpl.cpp
index 7f324a0117..ff882d7e6e 100644
--- a/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/MessagePasserImpl.cpp
+++ b/source/tools/atlas/GameInterface/MessagePasserImpl.cpp
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ void MessagePasserImpl::Add(IMessage* msg)
 	ENSURE(msg->GetType() == IMessage::Message);
 
 	if (m_Trace)
-		debug_printf(L"%8.3f add message: %hs\n", timer_Time(), msg->GetName());
+		debug_printf("%8.3f add message: %s\n", timer_Time(), msg->GetName());
 
 	{
 		CScopeLock lock(m_Mutex);
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ IMessage* MessagePasserImpl::Retrieve()
 	}
 
 	if (m_Trace && msg)
-		debug_printf(L"%8.3f retrieved message: %hs\n", timer_Time(), msg->GetName());
+		debug_printf("%8.3f retrieved message: %s\n", timer_Time(), msg->GetName());
 
 	return msg;
 }
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ void MessagePasserImpl::Query(QueryMessage* qry, void(* UNUSED(timeoutCallback)
 	ENSURE(qry->GetType() == IMessage::Query);
 
 	if (m_Trace)
-		debug_printf(L"%8.3f add query: %hs\n", timer_Time(), qry->GetName());
+		debug_printf("%8.3f add query: %s\n", timer_Time(), qry->GetName());
 
 	// Set the semaphore, so we can block until the query has been handled
 	qry->m_Semaphore = static_cast<void*>(m_Semaphore);