diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96403d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+__pycache__/*
diff --git a/map.py b/map.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..915a2a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/map.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+class TextureParsingError(BaseException):
+    pass
+
+class Texture:
+    def __init__(self, ttype, reference, name):
+        self.ttype = ttype
+        self.tref = reference
+        self.name = name
+        if ttype == "char":
+            self.texture = [reference]
+            self.loaded = True
+            self.dims = [1, 1]
+        elif ttype == "mchar":
+            self.loaded = False
+            self.texture = None
+            self.dims = None
+            # lazy load with Texture().load()
+    def load(self):
+        if self.loaded:
+            return
+        try:
+            with open("textures/" + self.tref + ".texture") as fd:
+                self.texture = [i.rstrip() for i in fd.readlines()]
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            raise TextureParsingError("error parsing " + self.tref)
+
+        # check if texture is 'jagged', e.g.
+        # there are multiple line lengths
+        j = None
+        for i in self.texture:
+            if not j:
+                j = len(i)
+            elif len(i) != j:
+                self.loaded = False
+                raise TextureParsingError("error parsing " + self.tref)
+
+        # provide dimensions (j is still in scope)
+        self.dims = [len(self.texture), j]
+        self.loaded = True
+
+class TileError(BaseException):
+    pass
+
+class Tile:
+    def __init__(self, pos, ttype):
+        self.x = pos[0]
+        self.y = pos[1]
+        self.ttype = ttype
+        self.textures = {}
+        self.dims = None
+        self.animation = 0
+    def getCoords(self):
+        return [self.x, self.y]
+    def addTexture(self, texture):
+        # check if texture is consistent
+        # with other textures' dimensions
+
+        if not self.dims:
+            self.dims = texture.dims
+        else:
+            if not self.dims == texture.dims:
+                raise TileError("texture dimensions are not consistent")
+
+        self.textures[texture.name] = texture
+    def update(self, tiles):
+        """
+        This method is designed to be replaced.
+
+        This method should be called exactly once
+        for each rendered frame, regardless if it is
+        visible.
+        """
+        pass
+    def render(self):
+        """
+        This method is designed to be replaced.
+
+        This method should be called on every frame
+        this Tile is visible.
+        """
+        try:
+            return self.textures[0]
+        except IndexError:
+            raise TileError("no textures to render!")
+
+    def use(self):
+        """ This method is designed to be replaced. """
+        pass
diff --git a/render.py b/render.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ae76006
--- /dev/null
+++ b/render.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+class RendererLoopBreak(BaseException):
+    pass
+
+class Renderer:
+    """
+    Class responsible for updating tiles, their states, animations, etc.
+
+    In the future, also takes in a WaterLayer and updates it with the game map.
+    """
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.tiles = []
+        # location of the top left corner of the viewpoint
+        self.pos = [0, 0]
+        self.viewport = [80, 24]
+
+    def addTile(self, tile):
+        self.tiles.append(tile)
+
+    def massUpdate(self):
+        for i in self.tiles:
+            if i.ttype == "standard":
+                i.update(self.tiles)
+
+    def selectForRendering(self):
+        """
+        Returns what tiles are in the viewport.
+        """
+
+        tilesInScene = []
+
+        for i in self.tiles:
+            dims = i.dims
+            pos = i.getCoords()
+
+            try:
+                for j in range(dims[0]):
+                    for k in range(dims[1]):
+                        if self.inViewport([pos[0] + j, pos[1] + k]):
+                            tilesInScene.append(i)
+                            raise RendererLoopBreak
+            except RendererLoopBreak:
+                pass
+
+        self.cachedTiles = tilesInScene
+
+        return tilesInScene
+
diff --git a/textures/simple.texture b/textures/simple.texture
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de55ac7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/textures/simple.texture
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+-+-
+|X|
++-+