Patent ID: 6155923
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: A63F,G09B,G09G

Abstract:
In a videogame system having a video random access memory (VRAM) for storage of character elements, a source of the character elements and a display screen for providing a videogame system display to a user, a method of allocating VRAM character element storage for storage of character elements, which comprises the steps of:a) providing a videogame system having a VRAM, a source of the character elements and a display screen for providing a videogame system display to a user;b) defining a video display area in the VRAM which corresponds to the videogame system display and determining which of the character elements will appear in the videogame system display;c) assigning VRAM storage space for each character element which appears in the videogame system display and storing a character element count corresponding to the number of times that each character element, assigned to the VRAM appears in the videogame system display;d) updating the video display area and updating the character element count; ande) when the character element count for each character element is decremented to zero, considering the VRAM storage space occupied by the character element having a zero character element count as vacant and assigning the vacant VRAM storage space to a new character element from said source.