How to start a game in a paused state?

[buttonsrtoys]

I would like to start my game in a paused state with simple instructions on the screen, such as "Arrow keys to navigate, Space bar to shoot". Once the user hits one of these keys, the text would disappear and the game would start.

 

I'm clear on showing and hiding the text. Is there a simple technique for pausing the start of the game? Most of the examples I'm finding online are more involved than what I'm looking for.

[tips4design]

Are you using actual game states? Than it would be easy to create a paused state or something like that.

[buttonsrtoys]

I'm not using game states currently. My game is effectively the classic Asteroids where play resets after all the targets are destroyed. The functionality's mostly there though I haven't programmed the play reset. Should I consider introducing game states? I'm not considering issuing the game. It's more of an exercise in getting up to speed on Phaser and JS.

[VitaZheltyakov]

You just need to add a custom flag switching off update.

create: function() {var work = false;}update: function() {if (work) {/* do */}}

[buttonsrtoys]

Thanks. So this would require editing the Phaser JS? I was hoping to avoid this, or is this what most users do? 

[VitaZheltyakov]

Thanks. So this would require editing the Phaser JS? I was hoping to avoid this, or is this what most users do? 

No, Phaser JS do not need editing. This must be done in your code.

[Horizonicblue]

Hi

Here is one example 

http://phaser.io/examples/v2/misc/pause-menu

I think this will help you to solve your problem

 

Initially show your instructions and make pause true in create function,

use something like input.onDown to unpause the game and remove instructions.