Commodore 128D - Page 117

Sprites:
Programmable,
Movable Object
Blocks
You already have learned about some of the Commodore 128's
exceptional graphics capabilities, You've learned how to use the first
set of high level graphics statements to draw circles, boxes, lines and
dots. You have also learned how to color the screen, switch graphic
modes, paint objects on the screen and scale them. Now it's time to
take the next step in graphics programming—sprite animation.
If you have worked with the Commodore 64, you already know some
thing about sprites. For those of you who are not familiar with the
subject, a sprite is a movable object that you can form into any
shape or image. You can color sprites in 16 colors. Sprites can even
be multicolor. The best part is that you can move them on the
screen. Sprites open the door to computer animation.
Sprite Creation
The first step in programming sprites is designing the way the sprite
looks. For example, suppose you want to design a rocket ship or a
racing car sprite. Before you can color or move the sprite, you must
first design the image. In C128 mode, you can create sprites in these
three ways:
1. Using SPRite DEFinition mode (SPRDEF)
2. Using the new SPRITE statements within a program
3. Using the same method as the Commodore 64.
Sprite Definition Mode—The SPRDEF Command
The Commodore 128 has a built-in SPRite DEFinition mode which
enables you to create sprites on your Commodore 128. You may be
familiar with the Commodore 64 method of creating sprites, in which
you are required to either have an additional sprite editor, or design a
sprite on a piece of graph paper and then READ in the coded sprite
DATA and POKE it into an available sprite block. With the new Com
modore 128 sprite definition command SPRDEF, you can construct
and edit your own sprites in a special sprite work area.
To enter SPRDEF mode, type:
SPRDEF
and press RETURN. The Commodore 128 displays a sprite grid on
the screen. In addition, the computer displays the prompt:
SPRITE NUMBER?
Enter a number between 1 and 8. The computer fills the grid and
displays the corresponding sprite in the upper right corner of the
screen. From now on, we will refer to the sprite grid as the work areg.
109 USING C128 MODE—Color, Animation and Sprite Graphics Statements