of memory). The first sprite (sprite 0) is "addressed" at memory locations 832 to 894.

LINE 40 sets the variable "V" equal to 53248, the starting address of the VIDEO CHIP. This entry lets us use the form (V+number) for sprite settings. 're using the form (V+number) when POKEing sprite settings because this format conserves memory and lets us work with smaller numbers. For example, in line 50 we typed POKE V+21. This is the same as typing POKE 53248+21 or POKE 53269... but V+21 requires less space than 53269, and is easier to remember.

LINE 50 enables or "turns on" sprite 0. There are 8 sprites, numbered from 0 to 7. To turn on an individual sprite, or a combination of sprites, all you have to do is POKE V+21 followed by a number from 0 (turn all sprites off) to 255 (turn all 8 sprites on). You can turn on one or more sprites by POKEing the following numbers:

ALL ON V+21,255

SPRITE0 V+21,1

SPRITE1 V+21,2

SPRITE2 V+21,4

SPRITE3 V+21,8

SPRITE4 V+21,16

SPRITE5 V+21,32

SPRITE6 V+21,64

SPRITE7 V+21,128

ALL OFF V+21,0

POKE V+21,1 turns on sprite 0. POKE V+21,128 turns on sprite 7. You can also turn on combinations of sprites. For example, POKE V+21,129 turns on both sprite 0 and sprite 7 by adding the two "turn on" numbers (1+128) together. (See SPRITEMAKING CHART, Page 176.)

LINE 60 sets the COLOR of sprite 0. There are 16 possible sprite colors, numbered from 0 (black) to 15 (grey). Each sprite requires a different POKE to set its color, from V+39 to V+46. POKE V+39,1 colors sprite 0 white. POKE V+46,15 colors sprite 7 grey. (See the SPRITEMAKING CHART for more information.)

When you create a sprite, as you just did, the sprite will STAY IN MEMORY until you POKE it off, redefine it, or turn off your computer. This lets you change the color, position and even shape of the sprite in DIRECT or IMMEDIATE mode, which is useful for editing purposes. As an example, RUN the program above, then type this line in DIRECT mode (without a line number) and hit the <RETURN> key:

   POKE V+39,8