diff --git a/prospect-gl/2d.rkt b/prospect-gl/2d.rkt
index 02707c2..e33f84d 100644
--- a/prospect-gl/2d.rkt
+++ b/prospect-gl/2d.rkt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
          (struct-out scene)
          (except-out (struct-out sprite) sprite)
          (rename-out [sprite <sprite>] [make-sprite sprite])
+         simple-sprite
          update-scene
          update-sprites
          2d-world)
@@ -55,6 +56,11 @@
 (define (make-sprite z instructions)
   (sprite z (seal instructions)))
 
+(define (simple-sprite z x y w h i)
+  (make-sprite z `((translate ,x ,y)
+                   (scale ,w ,h)
+                   (texture ,i))))
+
 (define (update-sprites . ss)
   (patch-seq* (cons (retract (sprite ? ?) #:meta-level 1)
                     (map (lambda (s) (assert s #:meta-level 1)) ss))))
diff --git a/prospect-gl/examples/basic.rkt b/prospect-gl/examples/basic.rkt
index dcbf819..0eec63e 100644
--- a/prospect-gl/examples/basic.rkt
+++ b/prospect-gl/examples/basic.rkt
@@ -22,14 +22,8 @@
                  )
           (spawn (lambda (e s) #f)
                  (void)
-                 (update-sprites (sprite 0 `((translate 50 50)
-                                             (scale 50 50)
-                                             (texture ,(circle 50 "solid" "orange"))
-                                             ))
-                                 (sprite -1 `((translate 60 60)
-                                              (scale 50 50)
-                                              (texture ,(circle 50 "solid" "green"))
-                                              ))))
+                 (update-sprites (simple-sprite 0 50 50 50 50 (circle 50 "solid" "orange"))
+                                 (simple-sprite -1 60 60 50 50 (circle 50 "solid" "green"))))
           (spawn (lambda (e s)
                    (match e
                      [(message _)