While the BG provides the still backdrop for games, sprites allow the creation of moving objects such as player and enemy characters, bullets, and so forth.

About Sprites

Like the BG, sprites are also a commonly used structure in console games.
Sprite images are displayed on-screen as single moving objects. The standard size for an image is 16x16 dots, but this can be changed to any size. Up to 512 sprites can be displayed on-screen. However, displaying too many at one time will cause slowdown.

In this product, various different sprite images that are commonly used in games are predefined. Using the SPSET instruction, these can be assigned to a sprite created with an arbitrary management number. They can then be displayed on screen by executing the SPSHOW instruction.

◆Sprite characters

The sprite images are preloaded in the GRP4 graphic page. Although the basic size of an image is 16x16 dots, you can also use other sizes.
To check image definition numbers, please press "SPDEF" from the SMILE tool.

◆Displaying sprites on-screen

Using the SPSET instruction, you can prepare up to 512 sprites to display. Specify the image definition number to assign to each sprite number.

Use the SPOFS instruction to specify the display coordinates of a sprite in dot units. This is different from BG coordinates, which are specified in tile units.

You can also change the order in which sprites are superimposed by specifying the Z-coordinate. This coordinate is treated in the same way as the Z-coordinate in the BG, so it is also possible to display sprites in front of, or hidden behind, the BG.
The Z-coordinate also affects depth in 3D views.

Prepare a Sprite - SPSET Instruction

Use this instruction to prepare a sprite to display on the screen. Assign a management number in order to identify this sprite from the others, and select an image to use for the sprite.

Format	SPSET Management number, Image definition number Management number: Arbitrary number to assign to the new sprite (0-511) Image definition number: Number of the image to use for this sprite (0-1023)
Usage example	SPSET 0,1 This prepares sprite No. 0 and sets image 1 (an orange) as its appearance

The SPSET instruction prepares the target sprite in memory and displays it on the screen. (If you do not wish to display it, use the SPHIDE instruction.)

Change the Display Location of a Sprite - SPOFS Instruction

This instruction is used to change the display location and depth of a specified sprite. This is often used to move game characters.

Format	SPOFS Management number, X, Y, Z Management number: Management number of the target sprite (0-511) X, Y: Display coordinates on the screen Z: Coordinates in the depth direction (Rear: 1024 - Screen surface: 0 - Front: -256) Optional
Usage example	SPOFS 0, 192, 112 This displays sprite No. 0 near the center of the screen.

Scale a Sprite Up/Down - SPSCALE Instruction

This instruction is used to scale up or scale down a specified sprite.

Format	SPSCALE Management number, Magnification X, Magnification Y Management number: Management number of the target sprite (0-511) Magnification X, Magnification Y: Horizontal and vertical magnification of the original size 0.5=50%, 1.0=100%, 2.0=200%
Usage example	SPSCALE 0, 1.5, 1.5 This increases the size of sprite No. 0 by 1.5 times vertically and horizontally.

Rotate a Sprite - SPROT Instruction

This instruction is used to rotate a specified sprite.

Format	SPROT Management number, Angle Management number: Management number of the target sprite (0-511) Angle: Clockwise rotation angle (0-360) Angles beyond the upper limit or negative angles (counterclockwise rotation) can also be set.
Usage example	SPROT 0, 30 This rotates sprite No. 0 by 30 degrees clockwise

Change the base point of a sprite - SPHOME instruction

This instruction is used to change the base point of a sprite when moving it, scaling it up or down, or rotating it. In the initial state, the base point of a sprite is its top left corner.

Format	SPHOME Management number, Base point X, Base point Y Management number: Management number of the target sprite (0-511) Base point X, Y: Coordinates relative to the top left corner of the sprite If the size of the sprite is 16x16 dots, specifying X=8, Y=8 will set the base point at around the center of the sprite.
Usage example	SPHOME 0, 8, 16 This moves the base point of sprite No. 0 by 8 dots to the right and 16 dots downwards from its top left corner.

Other Sprite Instructions

There are many other sprite instructions. Please refer to HELP and the sample programs for information on how they are used. The following are the other main instructions.

◆SPHIDE instruction

Hides a sprite

◆SPSHOW instruction

Shows a hidden sprite

◆SPANIM instruction

Performs sprite animation

◆SPLINK instruction

Links multiple sprites to produce a multi-jointed character

◆SPUNLINK instruction

Releases the link made with the SPLINK instruction

◆SPCLR instruction

Stops using a specified sprite and releases the memory