usplash: can't get console font: Invalid argument

Binary package hint: usplash

I'm trying to use example usplash theme from /usr/share/doc/libusplash-dev/examples.

But I got this error when trying to test the theme that was created. "usplash: can't get console font: Invalid argument"

These are the steps I took and the result I got.
I have installed ubuntu about 1 week ago and I am fairly sure that I am running the most current version.
Ubuntu 8.04 hardy
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Hi, I'm trying to make a custom usplash .so file of my own.
I was hoping to use it to replace the ubuntu loading screen when the pc boots and shuts down.

I went to this site for instructions.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/USplashCustomizationHowto

I went to the folder called
/usr/share/doc/libusplash-dev/examples

I used terminal to compile the .so file, using the makefile and make command.

The .so that was created I copyed to
/usr/lib/usplash

I then opened startup manager selected the theme i had created.
I closed startup manger and typed

sudo update-initramfs -u

After that was done I typed sudo usplash

Instead of seeing the example .so I had compiled, I saw a brief black bar.

In terminal I received the output.

"usplash: can't get console font: Invalid argument"

Am I doing something wrong? I would greatly appreciate any help.