diff --git a/source/build/include/build.h b/source/build/include/build.h
index 172874b1b..1294dbf80 100644
--- a/source/build/include/build.h
+++ b/source/build/include/build.h
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ enum rendmode_t {
 
 #define MAXVOXELS 1024
 #define MAXSTATUS 1024
-#define MAXPLAYERS 16
 // Maximum number of component tiles in a multi-psky:
 #define MAXPSKYTILES 16
 #define MAXSPRITESONSCREEN 2560
diff --git a/source/core/d_net.h b/source/core/d_net.h
index 75aa806a4..5b72f38ef 100644
--- a/source/core/d_net.h
+++ b/source/core/d_net.h
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ void Net_SkipCommand (int type, uint8_t **stream);
 
 void Net_ClearBuffers ();
 
+bool D_CheckNetGame(void);
+
 
 // Netgame stuff (buffers and pointers, i.e. indices).
 
diff --git a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
index bf19c2169..7728dc53c 100644
--- a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
+++ b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
 #include "screenjob.h"
 #include "statusbar.h"
 #include "uiinput.h"
+#include "d_net.h"
 
 CVAR(Bool, autoloadlights, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE|CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 CVAR(Bool, autoloadbrightmaps, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ int lastTic;
 
 int automapMode;
 bool automapFollow;
+extern int pauseext;
 
 CCMD(togglemap)
 {
@@ -137,6 +139,7 @@ void I_DetectOS(void);
 void LoadScripts();
 void app_loop();
 void DrawFullscreenBlends();
+void MainLoop();
 
 
 bool AppActive;
@@ -280,15 +283,6 @@ void UserConfig::ProcessOptions()
 		Printf("Build-format config files not supported and will be ignored\n");
 	}
 
-#if 0 // MP disabled pending evaluation
-	auto v = Args->CheckValue("-port");
-	if (v) netPort = strtol(v, nullptr, 0);
-
-	netServerMode = Args->CheckParm("-server");
-	netServerAddress = Args->CheckValue("-connect");
-	netPassword = Args->CheckValue("-password");
-#endif
-
 	auto v = Args->CheckValue("-addon");
 	if (v)
 	{
@@ -866,9 +860,9 @@ int RunGame()
 	auto exec = C_ParseCmdLineParams(nullptr);
 	if (exec) exec->ExecCommands();
 
-	gamestate = GS_LEVEL;
 	SetupGameButtons();
 	gi->app_init();
+
 	app_loop();
 	return 0; // this is never reached. app_loop only exits via exception.
 }
@@ -1150,6 +1144,15 @@ void S_SetSoundPaused(int state)
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if (!netgame
+#if 0 //def _DEBUG
+		&& !demoplayback
+#endif
+		)
+	{
+		pauseext = !state;
+	}
+
 }
 
 FString G_GetDemoPath()
diff --git a/source/core/mainloop.cpp b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
index 9f09a73db..3848da8ba 100644
--- a/source/core/mainloop.cpp
+++ b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ int oldentertics;
 int gametic;
 
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
+// 
+//
+//==========================================================================
 
 void G_BuildTiccmd(ticcmd_t* cmd) 
 {
@@ -105,8 +110,13 @@ void G_BuildTiccmd(ticcmd_t* cmd)
 	cmd->consistancy = consistancy[myconnectindex][(maketic / ticdup) % BACKUPTICS];
 }
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//
+//
+//==========================================================================
 
-void G_Ticker()
+static void GameTicker()
 {
 	int i;
 
@@ -116,11 +126,6 @@ void G_Ticker()
 	// Todo: Migrate state changes to here instead of doing them ad-hoc
 	while (gameaction != ga_nothing)
 	{
-		if (gameaction == ga_newgame2)
-		{
-			gameaction = ga_newgame;
-			break;
-		}
 		switch (gameaction)
 		{
 		}
@@ -181,18 +186,15 @@ void G_Ticker()
 		gi->Startup();
 		break;
 
-	case GS_MENUSCREEN:
-	case GS_FULLCONSOLE:
-		gi->DrawBackground();
-		break;
-
 	case GS_LEVEL:
 		gi->Ticker();
 		break;
 
+	case GS_MENUSCREEN:
+	case GS_FULLCONSOLE:
 	case GS_INTERMISSION:
 	case GS_INTRO:
-		RunScreenJobFrame();
+		// These elements do not tick at game rate.
 		break;
 
 	}
@@ -201,54 +203,65 @@ void G_Ticker()
 
 //==========================================================================
 //
-// D_Display
-//
-// Draw current display, possibly wiping it from the previous
+// Display
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-void D_Display()
+void Display()
 {
-	FGameTexture* wipe = nullptr;
-
-	if (screen == NULL)
-		return; 				// for comparative timing / profiling
-
-	if (!AppActive && (screen->IsFullscreen() || !vid_activeinbackground))
+	if (screen == nullptr || !AppActive && (screen->IsFullscreen() || !vid_activeinbackground))
 	{
 		return;
 	}
 
 	screen->FrameTime = I_msTimeFS();
 	screen->BeginFrame();
+	twodpsp.ClearClipRect();
 	twod->ClearClipRect();
-	if ((gamestate == GS_LEVEL) && gametic != 0)
+	switch (gamestate)
 	{
-		// [ZZ] execute event hook that we just started the frame
-		//E_RenderFrame();
-		//
-		gi->Render();
+	case GS_MENUSCREEN:
+		gi->DrawBackground();
+		break;
+
+	case GS_FINALE:
+		// screen jobs are not bound by the game ticker so they need to be ticked in the display loop.
+		RunScreenJobFrame();
+		break;
+
+	case GS_LEVEL:
+		if (gametic != 0)
+		{
+			gi->Render();
+			DrawFullscreenBlends();
+		}
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		break;
 	}
 
-	// Draw overlay elements to the 2D drawer
 	NetUpdate();			// send out any new accumulation
+
+	// Draw overlay elements
 	CT_Drawer();
 	C_DrawConsole();
 	M_Drawer();
 	FStat::PrintStat(twod);
-
-	// Handle the final 2D overlays.
-	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL) DrawFullscreenBlends();
 	DrawRateStuff();
 
 	videoShowFrame(0);
 }
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
 // Forces playsim processing time to be consistent across frames.
 // This improves interpolation for frames in between tics.
 //
 // With this cvar off the mods with a high playsim processing time will appear
 // less smooth as the measured time used for interpolation will vary.
+//
+//==========================================================================
 
 static void TicStabilityWait()
 {
@@ -280,9 +293,12 @@ static void TicStabilityEnd()
 	stabilityticduration = std::min(stabilityendtime - stabilitystarttime, (uint64_t)1'000'000);
 }
 
+//==========================================================================
 //
-// TryRunTics
+// The most important function in the engine.
 //
+//==========================================================================
+
 void TryRunTics (void)
 {
 	int 		i;
@@ -296,7 +312,7 @@ void TryRunTics (void)
 	// will all be wasted anyway.
 	if (pauseext) 
 		r_NoInterpolate = true;
-	bool doWait = cl_capfps || r_NoInterpolate /*|| netgame*/;
+	bool doWait = cl_capfps || r_NoInterpolate;
 
 	// get real tics
 	if (doWait)
@@ -328,14 +344,7 @@ void TryRunTics (void)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (ticdup == 1)
-	{
-		availabletics = lowtic - gametic;
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		availabletics = lowtic - gametic / ticdup;
-	}
+	availabletics = lowtic - gametic / ticdup;
 
 	// decide how many tics to run
 	if (realtics < availabletics-1)
@@ -362,6 +371,7 @@ void TryRunTics (void)
 			gi->Predict(myconnectindex);
 #endif
 		}
+		gi->GetInput(nullptr);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -431,10 +441,9 @@ void TryRunTics (void)
 				D_DoAdvanceDemo ();
 			}
 #endif
-			//if (debugfile) fprintf (debugfile, "run tic %d\n", gametic);
 			C_Ticker ();
 			M_Ticker ();
-			G_Ticker();
+			GameTicker();
 			gametic++;
 
 			NetUpdate ();	// check for new console commands
@@ -482,7 +491,7 @@ void MainLoop ()
 			// Update display, next frame, with current state.
 			I_StartTic ();
 
-			D_Display();
+			Display();
 			Mus_UpdateMusic();		// must be at the end.
 		}
 		catch (CRecoverableError &error)
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h b/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h
index 315422fcb..d44c2c4eb 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/duke3d.h
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ struct GameInterface : public ::GameInterface
 	void ResetFollowPos(bool message) override;
 	void GetInput(InputPacket* packet) override;
 	void UpdateSounds() override;
+	void Startup() override;
+	void DrawBackground() override;
+	void Render() override;
+	void Ticker() override;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp
index 0920d59a6..c0500974b 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp
@@ -400,6 +400,24 @@ static void Startup()
 //
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+void GameInterface::Startup()
+{
+
+}
+void GameInterface::DrawBackground()
+{
+
+}
+void GameInterface::Render()
+{
+
+}
+void GameInterface::Ticker()
+{
+
+}
+
+
 void GameInterface::RunGameFrame()
 {
 	switch (gamestate)
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/global.h b/source/games/duke/src/global.h
index 41768b54e..ac6b8f58a 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/global.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/global.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "sounds.h"
 #include "constants.h"
 #include "types.h"
+#include "d_net.h"
 
 BEGIN_DUKE_NS
 
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/types.h b/source/games/duke/src/types.h
index 7ab4ae0f8..685b7bcf0 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/types.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/types.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 #include "names.h"
 #include "packet.h"
+#include "d_net.h"
 
 BEGIN_DUKE_NS
 
diff --git a/source/glbackend/glbackend.h b/source/glbackend/glbackend.h
index 66b7f3dc0..ed91273a9 100644
--- a/source/glbackend/glbackend.h
+++ b/source/glbackend/glbackend.h
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@ public:
 };
 
 extern GLInstance GLInterface;
+extern F2DDrawer twodpsp;
 
 void renderSetProjectionMatrix(const float* p);
 void renderSetViewMatrix(const float* p);
diff --git a/source/sw/src/game.h b/source/sw/src/game.h
index c7a1ec15c..cae06d40d 100644
--- a/source/sw/src/game.h
+++ b/source/sw/src/game.h
@@ -2057,7 +2057,6 @@ extern short numplayers, myconnectindex;
 extern short connecthead, connectpoint2[MAXPLAYERS];
 */
 extern int *lastpacket2clock;
-extern char username[MAXPLAYERS][50];
 
 // save player info when moving to a new level
 extern USER puser[MAX_SW_PLAYERS_REG];