One For The 'Swarm' Fans

Simonsoft Sprites Version 2 came on a disc with 30 entries in the catalogue. This was certainly going to take some time to review! First step was to read the manual, 32 unnumbered pages.

It is immediately apparent that the author hasn't given too much consideration to disc users, as to use any program involves using the downloader provided and a table of PAGE values in the manual. Very messy.

However the two demonstr ation games included convinced me that if writing "swarm" type games is your bent then this one is for you.

Back to the package proper. The disc (or cassette) contains two sprite definition programs, 20 different sprite control programs (machine code for speed), two demonstration games and some ready defined sprites assembled in "books" that the user can play around with.

The 20 programs give users access to almost any sprite effect they may want, and are packaged separately so that only the code needed for a specific effect is in the computer.

I was quite impressed by a number of features:

* The enlargement facility gives up to x 5 magnification of a sprite. Both base sprites and their clones can be constrained to move along preset paths.

* Transfer plotting plus background storage. The back ground beneath a sprite is replaced after a sprite moves on. This means some loss of speed but sprites do not change colour when moving over background.

This is quite a nice package with a number of very good facilities for anyone wanting to write programs using lots of motion in Mode 2.

However the manual and/or the loading of the programs could be made a lot clearer for disc users.

Alan Plume