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Game Configuration and Scenes

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In this section, you’ll learn how to set up the core structure of a Phaser game by configuring its settings and organizing your game logic into scenes. Understanding these concepts is essential for building scalable and maintainable games.

  1. What is Game Configuration?

Game configuration in Phaser refers to the initial setup that defines how your game will run. This includes settings like the game’s size, rendering type, physics engine, and which scene(s) to start with.

Key Configuration Options

Option Description Example Value
type Rendering method (Phaser.AUTO, Phaser.CANVAS, Phaser.WEBGL) Phaser.AUTO
width Width of the game canvas (in pixels) 800
height Height of the game canvas (in pixels) 600
backgroundColor Background color of the game canvas '#3498db'
physics Physics engine and its settings { default: 'arcade' }
scene Scene(s) to load at startup MainScene or [Scene1, Scene2]

  1. Creating a Basic Game Configuration

Let’s look at a simple example of a Phaser game configuration:

const config = {
    type: Phaser.AUTO, // Automatically choose WebGL or Canvas
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    backgroundColor: '#222222',
    physics: {
        default: 'arcade',
        arcade: {
            gravity: { y: 0 },
            debug: false
        }
    },
    scene: MainScene // We'll define this scene next
};

const game = new Phaser.Game(config);

Explanation:

  • type: Phaser.AUTO lets Phaser pick the best renderer.
  • width and height set the canvas size.
  • backgroundColor sets the background color.
  • physics enables the Arcade Physics engine.
  • scene specifies which scene(s) to load first.

  1. What are Scenes in Phaser?

Scenes are the building blocks of a Phaser game. Each scene represents a distinct part of your game, such as:

  • The main menu
  • The gameplay area
  • A game over screen

Why use scenes?

  • Organize your code into logical sections.
  • Easily switch between different parts of your game.
  • Manage resources and logic separately for each part.

  1. Creating a Scene

A scene is a JavaScript class that extends Phaser.Scene. It typically has three main methods:

Method Purpose
preload() Load assets (images, sounds, etc.)
create() Set up game objects and initial state
update() Game loop logic, runs every frame

Example: A Simple Scene

class MainScene extends Phaser.Scene {
    constructor() {
        super({ key: 'MainScene' }); // Unique identifier for the scene
    }

    preload() {
        // Load assets here
        this.load.image('logo', 'assets/logo.png');
    }

    create() {
        // Add objects to the scene
        this.add.image(400, 300, 'logo');
    }

    update(time, delta) {
        // Game logic that updates every frame
    }
}

Explanation:

  • constructor() sets a unique key for the scene.
  • preload() loads the image asset.
  • create() adds the image to the center of the screen.
  • update() is empty for now, but you’ll use it for game logic.

  1. Adding Multiple Scenes

You can define multiple scenes and specify them in the configuration:

const config = {
    // ... other config options ...
    scene: [MainMenuScene, GameScene, GameOverScene]
};

Phaser will start with the first scene in the array unless you specify otherwise.

  1. Switching Between Scenes

To switch from one scene to another, use:

this.scene.start('GameScene');

This is typically done in response to an event, like a button click.

  1. Practical Exercise

Exercise:
Create a Phaser game with two scenes: a "WelcomeScene" that displays "Welcome to the Game!" and a "PlayScene" that displays "Game Started!". When the user clicks anywhere in the "WelcomeScene", switch to the "PlayScene".

Solution

class WelcomeScene extends Phaser.Scene {
    constructor() {
        super({ key: 'WelcomeScene' });
    }

    create() {
        this.add.text(200, 250, 'Welcome to the Game!', { fontSize: '32px', fill: '#fff' });
        this.input.once('pointerdown', () => {
            this.scene.start('PlayScene');
        });
    }
}

class PlayScene extends Phaser.Scene {
    constructor() {
        super({ key: 'PlayScene' });
    }

    create() {
        this.add.text(250, 250, 'Game Started!', { fontSize: '32px', fill: '#fff' });
    }
}

const config = {
    type: Phaser.AUTO,
    width: 800,
    height: 600,
    backgroundColor: '#222',
    scene: [WelcomeScene, PlayScene]
};

const game = new Phaser.Game(config);

Common Mistakes & Tips:

  • Make sure each scene has a unique key.
  • Use this.scene.start('SceneKey') to switch scenes.
  • Remember to add all scenes to the scene array in the config.

  1. Summary

  • Game configuration sets up the core settings for your Phaser game.
  • Scenes help organize your game into logical sections.
  • Each scene typically has preload, create, and update methods.
  • You can define multiple scenes and switch between them as needed.

Next up: You’ll learn how to load and display images in your game, building on the structure you’ve just created!

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