HW mod to remove the 8 sprites per scanline limitation

[Shiru]

Isn't a practial one, and probably not very original one. It just somehow get into my head and I thought to share.

It does not require anything special, but comes with drawbacks - now there is limitation 8 sprites per column, and it is not very compatible with existing games.

So, what are the steps to perform the mod:

1) Turn your TV screen 90 degrees to a side.

Alternative version:

1) Tilt your head 90 degress to a side.

[3gengames]

8 spites per column? But I guess that'd be neat to see in one game. Maybe could be used to turn a DK game into a vs or whatever with one game? I dunno...

[snarfblam]

it is not very compatible with existing games.

Hmm... I'd like to test this myself to confirm.

[TmEE]

This method was used in a lot of earlier arcade machines.

[WedNESday]

Don't be so stupid Shiru.

*Tilts his head*

My goodness.....the flickering....its gone!

There is a problem though. When I turned my TV upside down the flickering came back but only this time from right to left.

[tokumaru]

This method was used in a lot of earlier arcade machines.

It was also used in this Atari 2600 Raycaster, because rays are cast horizontally while the screen is drawn vertically. It still looks pretty bad though... Personally I'd have tried using some interpolation and player/missile graphics to smooth out the edges of the walls.

EDIT: Also, I seriously considered using this "mod" with the MSX, in order to make a side-scroller with pixel-perfect scrolling. Sprite limitations are pretty severe on the TMS9918, so there would be some benefit in this area too. I think I consider a vertical sprite limitation less annoying than a horizontal one.

[Bregalad]

This remember the horrible DS game "Brain Age" where you had to turn your DS around... this sucked pretty bad as you could barely hold it anymore. Since the game is terrible anyways it wasn't even bothering.

[tokumaru]

With a handheld system this is actually a viable option, as long as the controls aren't bad in the new orientation (it might make a big difference depending on whether the player is right-handed or left-handed).

[psycopathicteen]

...but when I turned my television sideways, all the sprites fell off the side of the screen.

[infiniteneslives]

I'm PISSED! I tried turning my TV sideways based on your suggestion, and you never cautioned that my T.V. may not be as stable sitting on it's side. My TV ended up falling off the entertainment center and shattered the tube.

*DANGER* this idea isn't all it's cracked up to be! The limitations may destroy prized possessions of yours.

[TmEE]

When I turn my TV sideways I'll get some awesome discoloration caused by my speakers half a meter away...

[WedNESday]

This is just one big joke right?

[tepples]

Yeah, I don't even think any Vs. games were designed for a vertical monitor.

[tokumaru]

This is just one big joke right?

It is? Someone should have told infiniteneslives before he ruined his TV!!! Now I'm glad I didn't try it, since the game I'm making for this mod is still too early in development... I might have to rethink some things! Here's a mockup of the game I'm making:

mockup.png (1.88 KiB) Viewed 4778 times

[tepples]

If you want to have a Dhalsim arm that extends horizontally, the background's probably the best way to do it so that you don't get flicker like with the Magnet Beam in the original Mega Man. As for using it while jumping, you could change the angle if it's used in the air, like Smash Bros. series does for Ness's PK Fire (front B). But your backgrounds may have to be simple so that you don't get attribute clash when the arm extends over them.