Group nearly done. Sprite.anchor appears to be broken though, must fix.

src/gameobjects/GameObjectFactory.js

@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ Phaser.GameObjectFactory.prototype = {
     },
 
     /**
-    * Create a new Sprite with specific position and sprite sheet key.
+    * Create a new Sprite with specific position and sprite sheet key that will automatically be added as a child of the given parent.
     *
     * @param x {number} X position of the new sprite.
     * @param y {number} Y position of the new sprite.
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ Phaser.GameObjectFactory.prototype = {
 
     },
 
+    group: function (parent, name) {
+
+        return new Phaser.Group(this.game, parent, name);
+
+    },
+
     audio: function (key, volume, loop) {
 
         return this.game.sound.add(key, volume, loop);

src/gameobjects/Sprite.js

@@ -7,9 +7,13 @@ Phaser.Sprite = function (game, x, y, key, frame) {
 
 	this.game = game;
 
+    //  If exists = false then the Sprite isn't updated by the core game loop or physics subsystem at all
     this.exists = true;
-    this.active = true;
+
+    //  An "invisible" sprite isn't rendered at all
     this.visible = true;
+
+    //  This is a handy little var your game can use to determine if a sprite is alive or not, it doesn't effect rendering
     this.alive = true;
 
     this.group = null;
@@ -144,6 +148,11 @@ Phaser.Sprite.prototype.constructor = Phaser.Sprite;
  */
 Phaser.Sprite.prototype.update = function() {
 
+    if (!this.exists)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
     this._cache.dirty = false;
 
     if (this.animations.update())