diff --git a/control.go b/control.go
index 859d828..766a95e 100644
--- a/control.go
+++ b/control.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"io/ioutil"
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"runtime/pprof"
@@ -17,10 +18,44 @@ func (h JsonHandler) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 
 func startGame(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 	log.Println("asked to create a game")
-	g, err := games.get("", true)
-	if err != nil {
-		http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		return
+
+	requested_game_name := idg.Hash()
+	width, height := float32(*width), float32(*height)
+
+	// here we determine if we are going to run with defaults or pick them off
+	// a posted json blob
+	if req.Method == "POST" {
+		body, err := ioutil.ReadAll(req.Body)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("unable to read request body:", err)
+		}
+		req.Body.Close()
+		conf := struct {
+			With   float32 `json:"width"`
+			Height float32 `json:"height"`
+			Name   string  `json:"name"`
+		}{}
+		err = json.Unmarshal(body, &conf)
+		if err != nil {
+			NewFailure(err.Error())
+			if err := json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(NewFailure(err.Error())); err != nil {
+				http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		requested_game_name = conf.Name
+		width = conf.With
+		height = conf.Height
+	}
+
+	g := games.get(requested_game_name)
+	if g == nil {
+		log.Printf("Game '%s' non-existant; making it now", requested_game_name)
+		g = NewGame(requested_game_name, width, height)
+		go g.run()
+		games.add(g)
+	} else {
+		log.Printf("Game '%s' found: %p", requested_game_name, g)
 	}
 
 	game_json := struct {
diff --git a/game.go b/game.go
index 124e043..84eea66 100644
--- a/game.go
+++ b/game.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	// "encoding/json"
-	"errors"
 	"log"
 	"sort"
 	"sync"
@@ -53,31 +51,17 @@ type MapLock struct {
 // get is a function that returns a game if found, and creates one if
 // not found and force is true. In order to get a hash (rather than use
 // the string you pass) send "" for id.
-func (ml *MapLock) get(id string, force bool) (*game, error) {
+func (ml *MapLock) get(id string) *game {
 	ml.Lock()
-	g, ok := games.m[id]
+	g, _ := ml.m[id]
 	ml.Unlock()
+	return g
+}
 
-	if ok {
-		return g, nil
-	}
-
-	if !force {
-		return nil, errors.New("game not found")
-	}
-
-	if id == "" {
-		id = idg.Hash()
-	}
-
-	_g := NewGame(id, float32(*width), float32(*height))
-	go _g.run()
-
+func (ml *MapLock) add(g *game) {
 	ml.Lock()
-	ml.m[id] = _g
+	ml.m[g.id] = g
 	ml.Unlock()
-
-	return _g, nil
 }
 
 type game struct {
diff --git a/protocol.go b/protocol.go
index c1ba03a..554a6b3 100644
--- a/protocol.go
+++ b/protocol.go
@@ -98,14 +98,23 @@ func addPlayer(ws *websocket.Conn) {
 		log.Println("problem parsing the requested game id")
 		return
 	}
+	log.Printf("requested game id: %+v", gid)
 
-	force := *debug
-	game, err := games.get(gid.Id, force)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Printf("ERROR: game '%s' not found", gid.Id)
-		websocket.JSON.Send(ws, NewFailure("game 404"))
-		return
+	game := games.get(gid.Id)
+	log.Printf("found game: %p", game)
+	if game == nil {
+		log.Println("game was nil")
+		force := *debug
+		if force {
+			log.Println("forcing game start")
+			game = NewGame(gid.Id, float32(*width), float32(*height))
+			go game.run()
+			games.add(game)
+		} else {
+			log.Printf("ERROR: game '%s' not found", gid.Id)
+			websocket.JSON.Send(ws, NewFailure("game 404"))
+			return
+		}
 	}
 
 	player_id := idg.Hash()