sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland) (07/15/89)
Newsgroups: Comp.sys.amiga Subject: AnimObs and AnimComps Expires: References: Sender: Scott Sutherland Reply-To: sutherla@orange6 (scott sutherland) Followup-To: Distribution: na Organization: University of Florida Quantum Theory Project Keywords: AnimObs, AnimComps Last week I posted an article about the magazine Ami Project. I stated that I had obtained Vol. 1 #7 and that it was invaluable because it had an extensive article on AnimObs and AnimComps. I was reminded of the following problems and/or questions I had about 1 to 2 years ago and had mentally shelved. One of the most powerful and overlooked features of Amiga graphics (in my opinion) is the AnimOb/AnimComp/Animate series of commands. Books like Compute!'s "Inside Amiga Graphics", Berry's "Inside the Amiga with C", and Peck's "Programmer's Guide to the Amiga" completely ignore this feature. I can understand the omission in the latter two, but NOT in the first one. The first of the Mortimore books does cover the "animation" commands, but it is definitely a reference book, not a tutorial for the amateur. I have seen an older version of the RKM's and I recall that there is some documentation concerning these entities. (Can anyone elaborate on exactly what is there? I am waiting for the new versions of the RKM's before I buy. (I have the Includes and Autodocs)) I cannot find any other references to these seemingly powerful commands, not even in the extensive FF Disks. The Ami Project article has been my only saving grace. So I pose the following questions: 1) Why are these commands avoided like the plague in Amiga books when animation is one of the Amiga's strong points? 2) Does anyone **USE** these commands, and, if so, for what kinds of applications? (Can you send me C source code??) 3) Can anyone point me to other references for these commands? Any books or articles I've overlooked? 4) Can anyone tell me if any PD or Commercial programs are available which use these features? I have heard that the old A1000 demo program ROBOCITY uses them exclusively. I was able to find a copy of the executable, but I cannot find the source. Anyone know where I can find the ROBOCITY source?? ANY help or comments would be greatly appreciated. I want to use these powerful commands since they look like fun to "play with". Thanks, Scott Sutherland
johnl@tw-rnd.SanDiego.NCR.COM (John Lindwall) (07/18/89)
In article <615@orange6.qtp.ufl.edu>, sutherla@qtp.ufl.edu (scott sutherland) writes: > One of the most powerful and overlooked features of Amiga graphics > (in my opinion) is the AnimOb/AnimComp/Animate series of commands. Books > Yes, I also agree that the system is very interesting. It's problem in my opinion is its [lack of] speed. > 1) Why are these commands avoided like the plague in Amiga books when > animation is one of the Amiga's strong points? IMO, programmers avoid it due to it's slowness. It is not difficult (and actually fun) to write a stripped-down and faster set of animation object routines. Use BltBitMap() to zap the images on the screen for speed. I have a crude blob [Blitter Object] system of my own which I am currently cleaning up. I am also adding support for double-buffered displays. > 2) Does anyone **USE** these commands, and, if so, for what kinds of > applications? (Can you send me C source code??) > 3) Can anyone point me to other references for these commands? Any > books or articles I've overlooked? I played with the Animation system (GELS) by using the RKM's and an article in Amazing Computing as references. (I don't recall the issue of Amazing Computing, but it was sometime in 87 I believe). The Amazing article is invaluable due to mistakes in the RKM (at least my vintage 'white books' have the mistakes mentioned). One example: the delta values for producing motion are expressed as binary fractions. > 4) Can anyone tell me if any PD or Commercial programs are available > which use these features? I have heard that the old A1000 > demo program ROBOCITY uses them exclusively. I was able to > find a copy of the executable, but I cannot find the source. > Anyone know where I can find the ROBOCITY source?? > I've never seen any. > ANY help or comments would be greatly appreciated. I want to use these powerful > commands since they look like fun to "play with". > Playing with them IS fun, but using them for high-speed graphics applications (games!) is not going to work very well, IMO. E-mail me and I can send sources to some of this stuff, which will let you see the speed of the system. [I'm on vacation from 7-18 to 7-24, but I'll reply after I return]. John Lindwall johnl@tw-rnd.SanDiego.NCR.COM
nor1675@dsacg2.UUCP (Michael Figg) (07/24/89)
From article <435@tw-rnd.SanDiego.NCR.COM>, by johnl@tw-rnd.SanDiego.NCR.COM (John Lindwall): > > I played with the Animation system (GELS) by using the RKM's and > an article in Amazing Computing as references. (I don't recall the > issue of Amazing Computing, but it was sometime in 87 I believe). This, I believe, refers to an article by Mike Swinger, which was one of four, appearing in Amazing Computing around vol 1 issue 10 through vol 2 issue 2. I worked briefly with a couple of these articles, and they were quite informative. I haven't really been following this thread so I don't know what has been said, but the author (Mike Swinger) got wind of the discussion and is curious of what is being said. He is a local member here in Columbus of AmiCON and can be reached on the Earthrise BBS at (614) 451-0155. He sounds like he is reaady and willing to answer questions. -- "Hot Damn! Groat Cakes Again Michael Figg Heavy on the thirty weight!" DLA Systems Automation Center Columbus, Oh. (614)-238-2446 (Temporarily)