Writing Classes in My Game

What Are Classes?

A class is a blueprint used to create objects in programming.

Classes help organize code by grouping:

  • properties
  • variables
  • methods
  • behaviors

In my game, classes are used to create:

  • the player
  • enemies
  • sharks
  • NPCs
  • scoring systems

This makes the game easier to manage and reuse.

Example 1: Creating a Class

One class I created is called GameScorer.

class GameScorer {
  constructor(gameEnv) {
    this.gameEnv = gameEnv;
    this.score = 0;
    this.coinsCollected = 0;
    this.totalCoins = 0;
  }
}

Explanation

This class is responsible for:

  • tracking score
  • counting collected coins
  • managing scoreboard information

The constructor() initializes values when the object is created.

Example 2: Adding Methods to a Class

Classes can contain methods (functions).

collectCoin(points = 10) {
  this.coinsCollected++;
  this.score += points;
  this.updateDisplay();
}

Explanation

This method:

  1. increases the coin count
  2. adds points to the score
  3. updates the scoreboard display

Methods allow objects to perform actions.

Example 3: Creating Objects From Classes

After writing a class, objects can be created using new.

gameEnv.gameScorer = new GameScorer(gameEnv);

Explanation

This creates a new GameScorer object that the game can use during gameplay.

Example 4: Player Class

My game engine also uses a Player class.

{ class: Player, data: octopusData }

Explanation

The Player class controls:

  • movement
  • animations
  • collisions
  • interactions

This allows the octopus character to behave like a playable object.

Example 5: Shark Class

I also created a custom shark enemy class.

import Shark from '@assets/js/GameEnginev1.1/Shark.js';

Explanation

The shark class gives enemies custom behavior like:

  • chasing the player
  • movement logic
  • collision behavior

Using separate classes keeps enemy systems organized.

Why Writing Classes Is Important

Writing classes helped my project by:

  • organizing large amounts of code
  • making systems reusable
  • reducing repeated code
  • simplifying debugging
  • improving readability

Without classes, the game would be much harder to expand and maintain.