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General Category => Demos => Topic started by: fgbrain on 10:13, 09 October 11

Title: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: fgbrain on 10:13, 09 October 11
Hi everybody!!


My bro wants to know:  :D

Which demo has the largest 50hz-software sprite on CPC,
both in size (in bytes) and/or amount (1,2, ... 20 etc) displayed on a fully background screen OK ?

Let's count them!
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: Gryzor on 11:03, 09 October 11
Is he going to produce something bigger and better? :)
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: norecess on 13:06, 09 October 11
Balls in Zap't'Balls are huge, 50hz-animated with background.


Otherwise, I would have answered Xyphoes Fantasy, unfortunately it's not 50hz-animated.




Oh, sorry, I know you spoke about demos but demos are more about scrollers you know.. :)
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: redbox on 16:17, 09 October 11
For number of sprites, I'm pretty sure that the Boules and Bits (http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=16) demo holds the CPC record.
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TomEtJerry on 17:54, 09 October 11
Hi

Croco Meeting 4 intro has two big sprites ! That's right sprites technic are not the most used one in "big demos" (too time consumming I suppose).

T&J/GPA
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: fgbrain on 10:50, 10 October 11
Thanks all for replying..
It's been years that I'm not active in the scene, and my point is that there's not such information clearly on the wiki..

QuoteCroco Meeting 4 intro has two big sprites !
yes, but with no background  :-[
So, my sprite (size) record remains http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=1484 (http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=1484)   ?
I cannot believe it!!!
QuoteBalls in Zap't'Balls are huge, 50hz-animated with background.

I remember Multi-Ball part of the Facehugger Ultimate MD is similar.. http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=148 (http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=148)
QuoteFor number of sprites, I'm pretty sure that the Boules and Bits (http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=16) demo holds the CPC record.
The Balls-record is a nice idea!
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: redbox on 11:05, 10 October 11
Quote from: fgbrain on 10:50, 10 October 11
So, my sprite (size) record remains http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=1484 (http://www.cpc-power.com/cpcdemos/index.php?page=detail&num=1484)   ?
I cannot believe it!!!


Interesting demo, not seen this one before!  I like the Sam Cooke music too.  :)


I see the sprite is large... it appears that they way it's drawn means you could have used some optimisations for shifting the bytes...?  Otherwise I'm assuming you would have used a more complex drawing.  Is it running at 50hz?


Not technically a sprite, but Axelay used software to scroll the parallax backgrounds in his Sub Hunter (http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=6258) conversion.  This appears to be the most impressive and recent demonstration of shifting serious amounts of bytes using only software techniques.



Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TFM on 21:28, 10 October 11
Now, how big is that sprite (pixel or bytes)?
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: MacDeath on 13:54, 12 October 11
no youtube video of this record holding demo then ?
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: redbox on 14:04, 12 October 11
Quote from: TFM/FS on 21:28, 10 October 11
Now, how big is that sprite (pixel or bytes)?

I calculate it to be &fe6 bytes in size.

Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TFM on 16:54, 12 October 11
Quote from: redbox on 14:04, 12 October 11
I calculate it to be &fe6 bytes in size.

Ah no, it's never one quarter of the screen.

EDIT:  I looked at it more preceisely, it's close to 2000 bytes.
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: redbox on 17:05, 12 October 11
Good point - I think the screenshot I took must have been in false dimensions.
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TFM on 17:21, 12 October 11
Quote from: redbox on 17:05, 12 October 11
Good point - I think the screenshot I took must have been in false dimensions.

You should do a bigger one ;-)
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: fgbrain on 18:32, 13 October 11
If you read the text it says: 118x41 pixels - in mode 0 its 2419 bytes.
but its a shame really.. There are NO other suggestions?  :(


We can talk about games too, but I dont think we can find 50hz-sprites..
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: Optimus on 10:31, 14 October 11

I remember the cpc meeting 50 demo. I like the converted graphics in the background and the big sprite is nice idea. Though, it's obvious that all pixels are filling the rectangle block so you don't have to OR with the background, only to replace a rectangle area of the previous background (which is even either a horizontal line or vertical bytes because the sprite doesn't move in a faster or more arbitrary way (sinus or something)).


Now, since I first joined the scene (in 1999) I have heard rumours about a very very big sprite in a demo that doesn't fully work anymore.
http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=27791 (http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=27791)
It runs for a while but then the disk is corrupted and nobody seems to have the good original anymore. So, I haven't ever seen this big sprite part and can't imagine how big it could be.
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TFM on 18:15, 14 October 11
Quote from: fgbrain on 18:32, 13 October 11
If you read the text it says: 118x41 pixels - in mode 0 its 2419 bytes.
but its a shame really.. There are NO other suggestions?  :(


We can talk about games too, but I dont think we can find 50hz-sprites..

Well, it look smaller than 41 lines, more like 36 lines, but it doesn't matter.

Games are different! They must work properly in many circumstances. So look at Game Over (1 or 2?) and at that two player space game where these two guys (at the same time) were in space fighting very big space ships... was it Forgotten worlds? I forgot!

In a demo in contrast it's way more easy, because you have very defined circumstances. But where is the gain in big sprites if they are not used for something? Just to show that they exist? Well take a calculator and see how big they can be  :laugh:  For games on the other had big sprites are very cool - and 50 fps or not doesn't matter.  :)
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: fgbrain on 22:10, 14 October 11
@optimus
Well, about the chain demo-part by EGS, you're right. I don't think anyone has a proper version of this demo  >:(
But still, I don't expect anything better than what we see at ZaptBalls game.
QuoteBut where is the gain in big sprites if they are not used for something? Just to show that they exist?
You have a point here, but then what's the purpose of demomaking afterall?

I think that if we optimize routines we can see better games as well..
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TFM on 02:11, 15 October 11
Quote from: fgbrain on 22:10, 14 October 11
You have a point here, but then what's the purpose of demomaking afterall?

Sure, right! Had a bit more games in background. It's wonderful to see demos, but I always think how it would be working in a game. Sure a lot of effects are just great and not ment to be shown in games :-)

Quote from: fgbrain on 22:10, 14 October 11
I think that if we optimize routines we can see better games as well..

Absolutely :-)))
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: Axelay on 15:11, 15 October 11
Found myself wondering how well the sub hunter scroll code would work on a single big 'sprite' at 50hz, so here's a rough little example I put together of it.


The sprite is quite limited in what it can display, it couldnt be a full bitmap, just a simple rectangular word.  The background is just a repeated test tile, but it could be any bitmap image, so the sprite isnt relying on background repetition.  There are 50 scan lines unused, which I'd judge enough to add an arkos tune and a simple writer comparable to that used in the Chaos 50 demo.  The dimension of the sprite is 119x59 pixels.


But no, I can't see it being particularly useful in a game outside of the odd special case!  :)

Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: Devilmarkus on 15:47, 15 October 11
Thats looking cool!
Would be nice to see the ASM sources...
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TFM on 00:16, 16 October 11
Have you seen PUSH? Just imagine about 3K of them  :laugh:
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: fgbrain on 12:52, 16 October 11
@axelay
Well done, nice try!!  :)
Your routine is more capable than mine of this old Chaos 50 demo.

Still, having read the intro text of Vectrix Part (Chain demo)...
I just wonder about what EGS claims about sprites 'with a size of a fullscreen' are possible ?
and HOW if answer is yes? (or perhaps not on 50hz..)
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: Gryzor on 16:25, 16 October 11
Quote from: Axelay on 15:11, 15 October 11
Found myself wondering how well the sub hunter scroll code would work on a single big 'sprite' at 50hz, so here's a rough little example I put together of it.


Heh, really nice!! Is there a reason why the bouncing sprite doesn't reach th edges of the screen?
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: TFM on 05:48, 17 October 11
Quote from: fgbrain on 12:52, 16 October 11
@axelay
Well done, nice try!!  :)
Your routine is more capable than mine of this old Chaos 50 demo.

Still, having read the intro text of Vectrix Part (Chain demo)...
I just wonder about what EGS claims about sprites 'with a size of a fullscreen' are possible ?
and HOW if answer is yes? (or perhaps not on 50hz..)

Well, think about it. Small sprites are easy to do, because they need few cpu time, right?

Very big sprites let's say a sprite that uses 90% of the V-RAM are also very easy to do, for the same reasons. Got it?
Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: Axelay on 09:22, 17 October 11
Quote from: Devilmarkus on 15:47, 15 October 11
Thats looking cool!
Would be nice to see the ASM sources...


Attached.  Bear in mind it was a bit of a quick hack job just to try out using the stack pointer, so makes "excessive" use of index registers and isnt commented, except for the bits of code I took from my previous masked sprite example a few months ago.


Quote from: fgbrain on 12:52, 16 October 11
Still, having read the intro text of Vectrix Part (Chain demo)...
I just wonder about what EGS claims about sprites 'with a size of a fullscreen' are possible ?
and HOW if answer is yes? (or perhaps not on 50hz..)



If it was meant to be a "hardware" sprite, surely it's some combination of screen splits?


Quote from: Gryzor on 16:25, 16 October 11
Heh, really nice!! Is there a reason why the bouncing sprite doesn't reach th edges of the screen?



I thought it'd look better that way?   ;)  Well OK then, the "sprite" is actually larger than it appears.  There's an extra byte either side and two above and below it that, rather than have sprite data drawn to, copies the background screen from a 'refresh buffer'.  That way it (innefficiently) covers it's tracks and looks like something that is passing over a background image without destroying it.  Thinking about it, it would not have been hard to fudge it to make it hit the edges either.

Title: Re: Largest sprites on CPC (size & number) ?
Post by: redbox on 09:49, 17 October 11
Very nice Axelay.


Like the way you re-used the repetition code from Sub Hunter to make the sprite have the colours in it, impressive effect.


Would be nice to see how large it's possible to get a large normal masked sprite - that would be useful for a game  :)
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