diff --git a/Engine.c b/Engine.c
index abd0250..a5b3069 100644
--- a/Engine.c
+++ b/Engine.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ Mix_Chunk* loadSFX(char* filename)
 
 void renderBackground()
 {
-    applySurface(0, 0, rightHere->bgImage, screen, NULL);
+    applySurface(0, 0, rightHere->spriteSheet, screen, &(rightHere->clip));
     animate(rightHere);
 }
 
@@ -481,8 +481,7 @@ void mainmenu()
   while (!select)
   {
     timeStart(&fps);
-    applySurface(0, 0, rightHere->bgImage, screen, NULL);
-    animate(rightHere);
+    renderBackground();
 
     while(SDL_PollEvent(&event))
     {
diff --git a/Kaos.c b/Kaos.c
index 1c1876f..1586b1b 100644
--- a/Kaos.c
+++ b/Kaos.c
@@ -179,23 +179,21 @@ Kaos* newLook(Player* t, char d)
 void runLook(Kaos* self)
 {
   Look* kSelf = self->kType;
-  SDL_Rect playerClip = { 0,0,16,16};
   switch(kSelf->dir)
   {
     case 'n':
-      playerClip.x = 96;
+      kSelf->target->clip.x = 96;
       break;
     case 's':
-      playerClip.x = 32;
+      kSelf->target->clip.x = 32;
       break;
     case 'e':
-      playerClip.x = 64;
+      kSelf->target->clip.x = 64;
       break;
     case 'w':
-    default:
+      kSelf->target->clip.x = 0;
       break;
   }
-  changeSprite(kSelf->target, &playerClip);
 }
 
 void deleteLook(Kaos* target)
@@ -277,29 +275,24 @@ Kaos* newFaceEachother(Player* p1, Player* p2)
 void runFaceEachother(Kaos* self)
 {
   FaceEachother* kSelf = self->kType;
-  SDL_Rect p1Clip = {0,0,16,16};
-  SDL_Rect p2Clip = {0,0,16,16};
 
   if (kSelf->p1->point.x > kSelf->p2->point.x)
-    p2Clip.x = 64;
+    kSelf->p2->clip.x = 64;
 
   if (kSelf->p1->point.x < kSelf->p2->point.x)
-    p1Clip.x = 64;
+    kSelf->p1->clip.x = 64;
 
   if (kSelf->p1->point.y > kSelf->p2->point.y)
   {
-    p1Clip.x = 96;
-    p2Clip.x = 32;
+    kSelf->p1->clip.x = 96;
+    kSelf->p2->clip.x = 32;
   }
 
   if (kSelf->p1->point.y < kSelf->p2->point.y)
   {
-    p1Clip.x = 32;
-    p2Clip.x = 96;
+    kSelf->p1->clip.x = 32;
+    kSelf->p2->clip.x = 96;
   }
-
-  changeSprite(kSelf->p1, &p1Clip);
-  changeSprite(kSelf->p2, &p2Clip);
 }
 
 void deleteFaceEachother(Kaos* target)
diff --git a/Player.c b/Player.c
index 4e438aa..047c50b 100644
--- a/Player.c
+++ b/Player.c
@@ -22,44 +22,33 @@ typedef struct hyperKaos HyperKaos;
 
 Player* newPlayer(char* filename, int a, int b)
 {
-  SDL_Rect originClip;
-  originClip.x = 32;
-  originClip.y = 0;
-  originClip.h = 16;
-  originClip.w = 16;
-  Uint32 rmask, gmask, bmask, amask;
-
-  #if SDL_BYTEORDER == SDL_BIG_ENDIAN
-    rmask = 0xff000000;
-    gmask = 0x00ff0000;
-    bmask = 0x0000ff00;
-    amask = 0x000000ff;
-  #else
-    rmask = 0x000000ff;
-    gmask = 0x0000ff00;
-    bmask = 0x00ff0000;
-    amask = 0xff000000;
-  #endif
-
   Player* self = malloc(sizeof(Player));
 
   self->counter = 0;
+
   self->spriteSheet = NULL;
   self->spriteSheet = loadImage(filename);
-  self->sprite = SDL_CreateRGBSurface(0,16,16,32,rmask,gmask,bmask,amask);
-  applySurface(0, 0, self->spriteSheet, self->sprite, &originClip);
+
+  self->clip.x = 32;
+  self->clip.y = 0;
+  self->clip.h = 16;
+  self->clip.w = 16;
+
   self->point.x = a;
   self->point.y = b;
   self->bearing.x = 0;
   self->bearing.y = 0;
+
   self->boundBox.x = self->point.x - 8;
   self->boundBox.y = self->point.y - 8;
   self->boundBox.h = 16;
   self->boundBox.w = 16;
+
   self->frontFaceBox.x = self->boundBox.x;
   self->frontFaceBox.y = self->boundBox.y + 16;
   self->frontFaceBox.w = 16;
   self->frontFaceBox.h = 16;
+
   self->tombStone = 0;
 
   return self;
@@ -68,7 +57,6 @@ Player* newPlayer(char* filename, int a, int b)
 void killPlayer(Player* self)
 {
 
-  SDL_FreeSurface(self->sprite);
   SDL_FreeSurface(self->spriteSheet);
   free(self);
 }
@@ -123,7 +111,7 @@ void movePlayer(Player* self, Room* hereNow)
 
   int kt = 0;
   int kf = 0;
-  if (checkKCollision(rightHere, &(self->boundBox), rightHere->eventTriggers, &kf, &kt))
+  if (checkKCollision(rightHere, self, rightHere->eventTriggers, &kf, &kt, 0))
   {
     if (!kt)
     {
@@ -134,7 +122,7 @@ void movePlayer(Player* self, Room* hereNow)
       kaosFlag = kf;
     }
   }
-  if (checkKCollision(rightHere, &(self->frontFaceBox), rightHere->eventTriggers, &kf, &kt))
+  if (checkKCollision(rightHere, self, rightHere->eventTriggers, &kf, &kt, 1))
   {
     if (kt)
     {
@@ -148,7 +136,7 @@ void movePlayer(Player* self, Room* hereNow)
   int outgoing = 0;
   if (!captive)
   {
-  if (checkWCollision(rightHere, &(self->boundBox), rightHere->warps, &outgoing))
+  if (checkWCollision(rightHere, self, rightHere->warps, &outgoing))
   {
     nextChunk = rightHere->warps[outgoing]->chunk;
 
@@ -176,76 +164,55 @@ void movePlayer(Player* self, Room* hereNow)
 
 void drawPlayer(Player* self)
 {
-  applySurface(self->point.x - 8, self->point.y - 8, self->sprite, screen, NULL);
+  applySurface(self->point.x - 8, self->point.y - 8, self->spriteSheet, screen, &(self->clip));
   walkAnim(self);
 }
 
 
-void changeSprite(Player* self, SDL_Rect* clip)
-{
-  SDL_Rect zeroOffset;
-  zeroOffset.x = 0;
-  zeroOffset.y = 0;
-  SDL_FillRect(self->sprite, NULL, 0x000000);
-  SDL_BlitSurface(self->spriteSheet, clip, self->sprite, &zeroOffset);
-}
-
 void walkAnim(Player* self)
 {
-  SDL_Rect playerClip;
-  playerClip.w = 16;
-  playerClip.h = 16;
-  playerClip.y = 0;
   if (self->bearing.y > 0)
   {
     if (self->counter == 0)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 32;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 32;
     }
     if (self->counter == 4)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 48;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 48;
     }
   }
   if (self->bearing.y < 0)
   {
     if (self->counter == 0)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 112;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 112;
     }
     if (self->counter == 4)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 96;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 96;
     }
   }
   if (self->bearing.x > 0)
   {
     if (self->counter == 0)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 64;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 64;
     }
     if (self->counter == 4)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 80;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 80;
     }
   }
   if (self->bearing.x < 0)
   {
     if (self->counter == 0)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 0;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 0;
     }
     if (self->counter == 4)
     {
-      playerClip.x = 16;
-      changeSprite(self, &playerClip);
+      self->clip.x = 16;
     }
   }
   self->counter++;
@@ -285,4 +252,15 @@ int playerIsInRect(Player* self, SDL_Rect* rect)
     && (playerY >= rect->y && playerY <= rect->y + rect->h))
     return 1;
   else return 0;
+}
+
+int playerFacesRect(Player* self, SDL_Rect* rect)
+{
+  SDL_Rect* pBox = &(self->frontFaceBox);
+  int playerX = pBox->x + (pBox->w)/2;
+  int playerY = pBox->y + (pBox->h)/2;
+  if ((playerX >= rect->x && playerX <= rect->x + rect->w)
+    && (playerY >= rect->y && playerY <= rect->y + rect->h))
+    return 1;
+  else return 0;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Player.h b/Player.h
index 433faf2..513025f 100644
--- a/Player.h
+++ b/Player.h
@@ -7,24 +7,26 @@ typedef struct
 
 typedef struct player
 {
-    int counter;
     Coord point;
     Coord bearing;
+
     SDL_Rect boundBox;
     SDL_Rect frontFaceBox;
-    SDL_Surface* spriteSheet;
-    SDL_Surface* sprite;
-    int tombStone;
 
+    SDL_Surface* spriteSheet;
+    SDL_Rect clip;
+    int counter;
+
+    int tombStone;
 } Player;
 
 Player* newPlayer(char* filename, int a, int b);
 void killPlayer(Player* target);
 
 void movePlayer(Player* self, Room* rightHere);
-void changeSprite(Player* self, SDL_Rect* clip);
 void drawPlayer(Player* self);
 void walkAnim(Player* self);
 
 int playerFaces(Player* self, char dir);
-int playerIsInRect(Player* self, SDL_Rect* rect);
\ No newline at end of file
+int playerIsInRect(Player* self, SDL_Rect* rect);
+int playerFacesRect(Player* self, SDL_Rect* rect);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Room.c b/Room.c
index 900e262..78ec1d4 100644
--- a/Room.c
+++ b/Room.c
@@ -116,14 +116,11 @@ Room* newRoom(char* filename, int a)
   self->numberOfSigils = 0;
   self->maxNumberOfSigils = 4;
 
-  SDL_Rect zeroRect;
-  zeroRect.x=0;
-  zeroRect.y=0;
-  zeroRect.w=320;
-  zeroRect.h=180;
+  self->clip.x=0;
+  self->clip.y=0;
+  self->clip.w=320;
+  self->clip.h=180;
   self->spriteSheet = loadImage(filename);
-  self->bgImage = loadImage("assets/img/backgrounds/loading.gif");
-  SDL_BlitSurface(self->spriteSheet, &zeroRect, self->bgImage, &zeroRect);
   self->frameNo = 0;
 
   return self;
@@ -163,9 +160,7 @@ void deleteRoom(Room* target)
   target->sigils = NULL;
 
   SDL_FreeSurface(target->spriteSheet);
-  SDL_FreeSurface(target->bgImage);
   target->spriteSheet = NULL;
-  target->bgImage = NULL;
 
   free(target);
 }
@@ -174,50 +169,32 @@ void deleteRoom(Room* target)
 // room bg graphics
 //
 
-void changeRSprite(Room* self, SDL_Rect* clip)
-{
-  SDL_Rect zeroOffset;
-  zeroOffset.x = 0;
-  zeroOffset.y = 0;
-  SDL_BlitSurface(self->spriteSheet, clip, self->bgImage, &zeroOffset);
-}
-
 void animate(Room* self)
 {
-  SDL_Rect animClip;
-  animClip.w = 320;
-  animClip.h = 180;
-  animClip.x = 0;
 
   if (self->frameNo == 0)
   {
-    animClip.y = 180;
-    changeRSprite(self, &animClip);
+    self->clip.y = 180;
   }
   if (self->frameNo == 10)
   {
-    animClip.y = 360;
-    changeRSprite(self, &animClip);
+    self->clip.y = 360;
   }
   if (self->frameNo == 20)
   {
-    animClip.y = 540;
-    changeRSprite(self, &animClip);
+    self->clip.y = 540;
   }
   if (self->frameNo == 30)
   {
-    animClip.y = 360;
-    changeRSprite(self, &animClip);
+    self->clip.y = 360;
   }
   if (self->frameNo == 40)
   {
-    animClip.y = 180;
-    changeRSprite(self, &animClip);
+    self->clip.y = 180;
   }
   if (self->frameNo == 50)
   {
-    animClip.y = 0;
-    changeRSprite(self, &animClip);
+    self->clip.y = 0;
   }
   self->frameNo++;
   if (self->frameNo == 60) self->frameNo = 0;
@@ -234,8 +211,6 @@ int checkCollision(Room* self, Player* player, Obstruction** box)
   for (i = 1; i <= self->numberOfObstacles; i++)
   {
     if (!((*box)->tombStone) && playerIsInRect(player, &(*box)->domain))
-//    if ( (playerX >= box->x && playerX <= box->x + box->w)
-//         && (playerY >= box->y && playerY <= box->y + box->h) )
     {
       return 1;
     }
@@ -244,18 +219,13 @@ int checkCollision(Room* self, Player* player, Obstruction** box)
   return 0;
 }
 
-int checkWCollision(Room* self, SDL_Rect* player, WarpZone** warpBoxes, int* whichWarp)
+int checkWCollision(Room* self, Player* player, WarpZone** warpBoxes, int* whichWarp)
 {
   int i;
-  int playerX = player->x + (player->w)/2;
-  int playerY = player->y + (player->h)/2;
 
   for (i = 1; i <= self->numberOfWarps; i++)
   {
-    if (
-        !((*warpBoxes)->tombStone) &&
-         (playerX >= (*warpBoxes)->location.x && playerX <= ((*warpBoxes)->location.x + (*warpBoxes)->location.w)
-         && playerY >= (*warpBoxes)->location.y && playerY <= ((*warpBoxes)->location.y + (*warpBoxes)->location.h)) )
+    if (!((*warpBoxes)->tombStone) && playerIsInRect(player, &(*warpBoxes)->location))
     {
       *whichWarp = i-1;
       return 1;
@@ -265,18 +235,22 @@ int checkWCollision(Room* self, SDL_Rect* player, WarpZone** warpBoxes, int* whi
   return 0;
 }
 
-int checkKCollision(Room* self, SDL_Rect* player, HyperKaos** triggers, int* whichTrigger, int* kType)
+int checkKCollision(Room* self, Player* player, HyperKaos** triggers, int* whichTrigger, int* kType, int iType)
 {
   int i;
-  int playerX = player->x + (player->w)/2;
-  int playerY = player->y + (player->h)/2;
+  int (*checkFunc)(Player*, SDL_Rect*);
+
+  switch (iType)
+  {
+    case 0:
+      checkFunc = &playerIsInRect; break;
+    default:
+      checkFunc = &playerFacesRect; break;
+  }
 
   for (i = 1; i <= self->numberOfTriggers; i++)
   {
-
-      if (!((*triggers)->tombStone) &&
-          (playerX > ((*triggers)->domain).x && playerX < ((*triggers)->domain).x + ((*triggers)->domain).w)
-           && (playerY > ((*triggers)->domain).y && playerY < ((*triggers)->domain).y + ((*triggers)->domain).h) )
+      if (!((*triggers)->tombStone) && checkFunc(player, &(*triggers)->domain))
       {
         if ((*triggers)->eventType == 0)
         {
diff --git a/Room.h b/Room.h
index 9222660..b645b14 100644
--- a/Room.h
+++ b/Room.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void deleteWarpZone(WarpZone* target);
 typedef struct room
 {
   SDL_Surface* spriteSheet;
-  SDL_Surface* bgImage;
+  SDL_Rect clip;
   int frameNo;
 
   Obstruction** obstacle;
@@ -75,12 +75,11 @@ void warpto(Room* destination);
 Room* newRoom(char* filename, int a);
 void deleteRoom(Room* target);
 
-void changeRSprite(Room* self, SDL_Rect* clip);
 void animate(Room* self);
 
 int checkCollision(Room* self, Player* player, Obstruction** box);
-int checkWCollision(Room* self, SDL_Rect* player, WarpZone** warpBoxes, int* whichWarp);
-int checkKCollision(Room* self, SDL_Rect* player, HyperKaos** triggers, int* whichTrigger, int* triggerType);
+int checkWCollision(Room* self, Player* player, WarpZone** warpBoxes, int* whichWarp);
+int checkKCollision(Room* self, Player* player, HyperKaos** triggers, int* whichTrigger, int* triggerType, int iType);
 
 void addObstacle(Room* self, int x, int y, int w, int h);
 void deleteObstacle(Room* self, int i);
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index 471e496..d147e08 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
-/* see https://sdl.beuc.net/sdl.wiki/SDLKey for keysyms */
-
+// key configuration
+// see https://sdl.beuc.net/sdl.wiki/SDLKey for keysyms
+// for joypad support use a tool like antimicro
 #define DPAD_UP       SDLK_w
 #define DPAD_DOWN     SDLK_s
 #define DPAD_LEFT     SDLK_a
 #define DPAD_RIGHT    SDLK_d
+
 #define A_BUTTON      SDLK_j
 #define B_BUTTON      SDLK_k
 #define L_BUTTON      SDLK_o
 #define R_BUTTON      SDLK_p
+
 #define FS_BUTTON     SDLK_f
 #define PAUSE_BUTTON  SDLK_q
 
-/* video scaling factor should be a positive integer */
+// video scaling factor
 #define SCALE_FACTOR 2
 
+// sound support
 //#define SOUND_ON
diff --git a/extern.h b/extern.h
index 633ae9c..d64246a 100644
--- a/extern.h
+++ b/extern.h
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ extern SDL_Surface* screen;
 extern SDL_Surface* window;
 extern Timer fps;
 extern Room* rightHere;
+
 extern Player* hero;
 extern HyperKaos** spellBook;
 
 extern int kaosFlag;
 extern int spellFlag;
-
 extern long long int savestate;
 extern int spellKnowledge[10];
 extern int bookMark;
@@ -37,10 +37,6 @@ extern SDL_Surface* selectArrow;
 extern SDL_Surface* loadingTxt;
 extern SDL_Surface* spellGlyphs;
 
-#ifdef SOUND_ON
-extern Mix_Music* menuBGM;
-#endif
-
 extern TTF_Font* font;
 extern SDL_Color textColor;
 
@@ -51,10 +47,12 @@ extern Room** mapData;
 extern Room** mapBuffer;
 extern TextBox** dialogueData;
 
+extern Kaos** kaosData;
+extern Scene** theatre;
+
 #ifdef SOUND_ON
 extern Mix_Music** bgmData;
 extern Mix_Chunk** sfxData;
+extern Mix_Music* menuBGM;
 #endif
 
-extern Kaos** kaosData;
-extern Scene** theatre;
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 83d9eca..6931e00 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ int main (int argc, char* args[])
       renderForeground();
       renderHUD();
       frameAdvance();
-      kListen(&kaosFlag);
+      kListen();
       pager();
     }
   }