Frame: Difference between revisions
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(Most fighting games use frames for timing-based elements.) |
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A '''frame''' is the primary unit of time in | A '''frame''' is the primary unit of time in all video games. Every frame, the game reads controller input, performs calculations, and renders an image on the screen. In all ''Smash'' games through ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', one frame is 1/60th of a second, meaning the game runs at 60 frames per second (60 FPS). | ||
The vast majority of timing-based elements | The vast majority of timing-based elements in most fighting games, including the ''Smash Bros.'' series, are measured in frames. For example, Mario's forward tilt in ''Brawl'' comes out on frame 5, meaning it takes about 0.08333 seconds for the first hitboxes to appear upon inputting the attack. Players use many terms to refer to particular frames of an attack, such as [[invincibility frame]]s. When invincibility frames are active, the character cannot be damaged when hit on a certain area. For example, [[Bowser]] has invincibility on his legs for part of his forward smash, and on his shell for part of his up smash. | ||
Situations can occur where the game is not capable of finishing all its calculations within one frame, resulting in a delay while it finishes up. A notable example is on [[Fountain of Dreams]] in both ''Melee'' and ''Ultimate''; many characters using special-effect-heavy attacks at once combined with the reflective floor can cause the game to stutter and lag as it fails to work fast enough to keep the framerate at 60 FPS. The disruption in framerate interferes with patterns that expect players to know exact frame times | Situations can occur where the game is not capable of finishing all its calculations within one frame, resulting in a delay while it finishes up. A notable example is on [[Fountain of Dreams]] in both ''Melee'' and ''Ultimate''; many characters using special-effect-heavy attacks at once combined with the reflective floor can cause the game to stutter and lag as it fails to work fast enough to keep the framerate at 60 FPS. The disruption in framerate interferes with patterns that expect players to know exact frame times, as due to the varying framerate each frame does not always equal 1/60th of a second. This is one of the reasons the stage is banned in doubles on ''Melee'' and on all modes on ''Ultimate'', as even minor lag can throw off experienced players. | ||
Many mechanics are restricted to integer numbers of frames. For example, most [[hitbox]]es take their current position and their position one frame ago into account in order to stretch between the intervening space, so a fast-moving attack cannot pass through a target without damaging it. As another example, time-slowing effects in ''Smash 64'' and ''Melee'' reduce the rendering framerate as well as the physics framerate, so using [[training mode]] to reduce game speed to 1/4x results in a noticeable drop in framerate. However, other elements utilize the concept of subframes, which allows decimal numbers of frames. For example, weight-based [[throw]]s can animate at varying speeds, resulting in each drawn frame showing a subframe of each animation (such as frame 10.56). Starting with ''Brawl'', this method is also used for rendering slowed-down gameplay, resulting in a consistent frame rate at the slow speeds of training mode and when [[slow motion]] effects like that of the [[Timer]] are active. | Many mechanics are restricted to integer numbers of frames. For example, most [[hitbox]]es take their current position and their position one frame ago into account in order to stretch between the intervening space, so a fast-moving attack cannot pass through a target without damaging it. As another example, time-slowing effects in ''Smash 64'' and ''Melee'' reduce the rendering framerate as well as the physics framerate, so using [[training mode]] to reduce game speed to 1/4x results in a noticeable drop in framerate. However, other elements utilize the concept of subframes, which allows decimal numbers of frames. For example, weight-based [[throw]]s can animate at varying speeds, resulting in each drawn frame showing a subframe of each animation (such as frame 10.56). Starting with ''Brawl'', this method is also used for rendering slowed-down gameplay, resulting in a consistent frame rate at the slow speeds of training mode and when [[slow motion]] effects like that of the [[Timer]] are active. | ||
Revision as of 17:58, September 14, 2019
A frame is the primary unit of time in all video games. Every frame, the game reads controller input, performs calculations, and renders an image on the screen. In all Smash games through Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, one frame is 1/60th of a second, meaning the game runs at 60 frames per second (60 FPS).
The vast majority of timing-based elements in most fighting games, including the Smash Bros. series, are measured in frames. For example, Mario's forward tilt in Brawl comes out on frame 5, meaning it takes about 0.08333 seconds for the first hitboxes to appear upon inputting the attack. Players use many terms to refer to particular frames of an attack, such as invincibility frames. When invincibility frames are active, the character cannot be damaged when hit on a certain area. For example, Bowser has invincibility on his legs for part of his forward smash, and on his shell for part of his up smash.
Situations can occur where the game is not capable of finishing all its calculations within one frame, resulting in a delay while it finishes up. A notable example is on Fountain of Dreams in both Melee and Ultimate; many characters using special-effect-heavy attacks at once combined with the reflective floor can cause the game to stutter and lag as it fails to work fast enough to keep the framerate at 60 FPS. The disruption in framerate interferes with patterns that expect players to know exact frame times, as due to the varying framerate each frame does not always equal 1/60th of a second. This is one of the reasons the stage is banned in doubles on Melee and on all modes on Ultimate, as even minor lag can throw off experienced players.
Many mechanics are restricted to integer numbers of frames. For example, most hitboxes take their current position and their position one frame ago into account in order to stretch between the intervening space, so a fast-moving attack cannot pass through a target without damaging it. As another example, time-slowing effects in Smash 64 and Melee reduce the rendering framerate as well as the physics framerate, so using training mode to reduce game speed to 1/4x results in a noticeable drop in framerate. However, other elements utilize the concept of subframes, which allows decimal numbers of frames. For example, weight-based throws can animate at varying speeds, resulting in each drawn frame showing a subframe of each animation (such as frame 10.56). Starting with Brawl, this method is also used for rendering slowed-down gameplay, resulting in a consistent frame rate at the slow speeds of training mode and when slow motion effects like that of the Timer are active.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the graphics of Assist Trophies and Poké Ball Pokémon are rendered at 30 FPS, but their position, actions, and physics interactions are still calculated 60 times per second. This technique avoids taxing the 3DS's graphical processor too heavily.
