Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for finely controlling the rate of animation display in applications such as a video game or simulator. In one embodiment, a floating point animation timer selectively varies or eliminates the number of update periods a video cell is to be displayed to match the display time of the script to a determined time. The determined time can be empirically chosen or dynamically calculated based on the user's input. In another embodiment a sequence table provides an array of update times corresponding to the cells in a script. The number of update times a video cell is displayed can be varied to emphasize certain actions in the animation sequence. This provides a programmer with the ability to create a variety of animation sequences from a limited number of video cells and to finely manipulate the animated character to achieve a specific action.

Abstract: A system for developing stop motion animation sequences including a lighting system, an image capture system and a video processing system. An object is positioned on a stage in a desired pose and is illuminated. A camera records the illuminated object and the image capture system digitally records this image as a beauty shot. The object is then illuminated by an back light which produces a silhouette. The camera then records this silhouette and the image capture system digitally records this image as a matte shot. The object is then illuminated by an overhead light which produces a shadow on the stage. The camera records this image and the image capture system records this image as a shadow shot. The beauty, matte and shadow shots are then processed by the graphics processing system.

Abstract: A vehicle simulator has tandem surfaces for supporting first and second users, who "drive" respective first and simulated vehicles through a simulated space. A solenoid is mounted underneath each surface for selectively impacting the associated surface to give the user the sensation of having his simulated vehicle hit by a projectile.Each user sits in front of a video monitor, and each monitor is electrically connected to a computer. Each computer has a "map" of a simulated space stored in its electronic memory, and the computers are linked through a common RAM. The computers cause their monitors to display a changing video image of the simulated space to model motion of the simulated vehicles through the space, in response to signals from controls that can be manipulated by the operators.Each user controls a trigger which can be pushed to initiate the motion of a simulated projectile through the simulated space toward the user's vehicle.