Memoirs of an X register

So you are using char graphics; how will you smoothly move objects around the screen? Or will the invaders move only in 1-char jumps?

I will try to use the smooth scrolling registers to move the invaders.

 

-Thom

I will try to use the smooth scrolling registers to move the invaders.

 

Another approach to moving invaders is to have several different versions of the invader characters shifted by different amounts. As a simple example, if the invaders are 12 pixels wide and have two animation frames, you could have one animation frame drawn using the leftmost 12 pixels in a pair of characters and the other drawn using the rightmost 12. If there are four animation frames, then you could have invaders up to 10 pixels wide drawn in a two-character space or 18 pixels wide using a three-character space.

I will try to use the smooth scrolling registers to move the invaders.

 

Another approach to moving invaders is to have several different versions of the invader characters shifted by different amounts. As a simple example, if the invaders are 12 pixels wide and have two animation frames, you could have one animation frame drawn using the leftmost 12 pixels in a pair of characters and the other drawn using the rightmost 12. If there are four animation frames, then you could have invaders up to 10 pixels wide drawn in a two-character space or 18 pixels wide using a three-character space.

The problem with that is you can run out of characters real quick; I think the A800 only has 128 chars to work with.

 

Depends on what you're doing, I suppose.

I chose to load multiple character sets into memory, and change the CHBAS pointer at vertical blank. It takes up more memory, yes, but it will allow me to provide smooth animation for everything without sacrificing too many cpu cycles.

 

-Thom

 

I will try to use the smooth scrolling registers to move the invaders.

 

Another approach to moving invaders is to have several different versions of the invader characters shifted by different amounts. As a simple example, if the invaders are 12 pixels wide and have two animation frames, you could have one animation frame drawn using the leftmost 12 pixels in a pair of characters and the other drawn using the rightmost 12. If there are four animation frames, then you could have invaders up to 10 pixels wide drawn in a two-character space or 18 pixels wide using a three-character space.

The problem with that is you can run out of characters real quick; I think the A800 only has 128 chars to work with.

 

Depends on what you're doing, I suppose.