Spectrum Computing

I read that the SAM Coupé has software defined sprites, but can't see this in the manual. Have I been mislead?

It was certainly possible to grab bits of the screen from BASIC and draw them elsewhere on the screen, which could be used as a primitive sprite function. Something like GET$ and PUT$ if I recall correctly.

Do you mean sprites available from Basic? Yes, I recall SAM's Basic was quite advanced and allowed such stuff.

Ralf wrote: ↑Mon Apr 09, 2018 2:59 pm Do you mean sprites available from Basic? Yes, I recall SAM's Basic was quite advanced and allowed such stuff.

Thank [mention]Ralf[/mention], but I can see no mention of this in the manual.

Ah, found a copy of the manual online. The relevant commands are GRAB and PUT. It's not really "sprites" as such, but is enough building blocks (including the ability to mask graphics) that you can create simple software sprites in BASIC without too much difficulty. Only works in screen modes 3 and 4 though apparently.

I really must get round to installing SimCoupe and playing around with the SAM again some time. Shame the actual hardware is so darned hard to get hold of!

Thanks [mention]AndyC[/mention], I'm using ZEsarUX from [mention]chernandezba[/mention] which supports the machine. You are right about the price of the original hardware. It's mad!

Thanks!
Although Sam emulation on ZEsarUX is experimental

Hi,

no, Sam Coupé have no hardware sprites. The only hardware things you can use are line interrupts and palette change, that's all. On the other hand, BASIC is pretty clever and allow you to use a blitter and so on, but behind the scenes it is all software.

Fred magazine ran some coding articles that can be found here

https://sam.speccy.cz/coding.html

including number 20 Sprites