Game States

Abstract

In the previous chapter, you programmed the main gameplay elements of the Jewel Jam game. However, the game as it stands is far from complete. For example, nothing happens when the jewel cart disappears from the screen. Also, when you start the program, the game immediately begins without any warning. What is still needed is a way to incorporate menus and overlays in the game so the player can change settings, get help, or start playing the game. When the player is, for example, in a menu screen, the type of interaction with the game is very different from when the player is solving a level or trying to survive as long as possible. When programming a game, you have to think about how to incorporate these different game states and switch between them.