Dynamic Sprite: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:52, 16 January 2024

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A Dynamic Sprite is a Sprite that loads its own graphics into the VRAM (Video Memory of the Super Nintendo). This allows the sprite to use an unlimited amount of poses (animation frames) and to have a greater amount of enemy variety in a level.

It could also be considered a dynamic sprite if it loads other resources such as its color palette or tilemaps, in these cases it is usually differentiated using the term "Dynamic Palettes", "Dynamic Tilemaps", "Dynamic Background", etc.

Why is a dynamic sprite system necessary?

The VRAM of the SNES is very limited, allowing only 64 kb of memory to be used for both level graphics, tilemaps and sprite graphics. If we consider the space that is only destined for sprites (Sprite Pages), in general games do not use more than 16 kb of VRAM for sprites, which is equivalent to a space of 128x256 that is divided between all enemies, characters, player or any entity made with sprites.

Also considering that sprites can only use 8 color palettes, a dynamic sprite system that includes dynamic color palettes is also necessary, since, with only 8 color palettes the amount of different enemies you can use in a level is reduced a lot.

To solve these problems what is done is to have a system of dynamic sprites that allows to change in real time both graphics and color palettes and thus not to have all these limitations at the moment of working with sprites.

Practical Applications

Dynamic sprites have several applications, the most common is to use them for the player of a game, although in reality they could be used for enemies, bosses, decoration, etc.

Here is a list of utilities of a good dynamic sprite system:

Decrease level loading time: Since each sprite loads its own graphics, it is not necessary that these are loaded during level loading.
If you add a dynamic color palette system, you can use any dynamic sprite in any level.
Being able to have Sprites with multiple animations and poses without worrying about video memory space.
Be able to rotate or scale sprites without the need for mode 7.
Make Players, most of the sprites used as player are almost impossible without using dynamic sprites.
Being able to make huge sprites with various poses, using double buffering techniques you can load really big poses without worrying about flickering.
Bosses: many bosses are impossible to make without dynamic sprites.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 To solve these problems what is done is to have a system of dynamic sprites that allows to change in real time both graphics and color palettes and thus not to have all these limitations at the moment of working with sprites.
-== Aplicaciones Prácticas ==
+== Practical Applications ==
-Los sprites dinámicos tienen varias aplicaciones, lo más común es utilizarlos para el player de un juego, aunque en realidad podría ser utilizado para enemigos, bosses, decoración, etc.
+Dynamic sprites have several applications, the most common is to use them for the player of a game, although in reality they could be used for enemies, bosses, decoration, etc.
-Acá una lista de utilidades de un buen sistema de sprites dinámicos:
+Here is a list of utilities of a good dynamic sprite system:
-<ul>
-<li>Disminuir Tiempo de carga de nivel: Dado que cada sprite carga sus propios gráficos, no es necesario que estos se carguen durante la carga del nivel.</li>
+*Decrease level loading time: Since each sprite loads its own graphics, it is not necessary that these are loaded during level loading.
-<li>Si añades un sistema de paletas de colores dinámicas, puedes usar cualquier sprite dinámico en cualquier nivel.</li>
+*If you add a dynamic color palette system, you can use any dynamic sprite in any level.
-<li>Poder tener Sprites con múltiples animaciones y poses sin preocuparse del espacio en la memoria de video.</li>
+*Being able to have Sprites with multiple animations and poses without worrying about video memory space.
-<li>Poder rotar o escalar sprites sin necesidad de modo 7.</li>
+*Be able to rotate or scale sprites without the need for mode 7.
-<li>Hacer Players, la mayoría de los sprites usados como player son casi imposibles sin usar sprites dinámicos.</li>
+*Make Players, most of the sprites used as player are almost impossible without using dynamic sprites.
-<li>Poder hacer sprites enormes con varias poses, usando técnicas de doble buffer se pueden cargar poses realmente grandes sin preocuparse por flickering.</li>
+*Being able to make huge sprites with various poses, using double buffering techniques you can load really big poses without worrying about flickering.
-<li>Jefes: muchos jefes son imposibles de hacer sin sprites dinámicos.</li>
+*Bosses: many bosses are impossible to make without dynamic sprites.
-</ul>