diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/winlayer.c b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/winlayer.c
index 5d40476bb..99ad7621e 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/build/src/winlayer.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/build/src/winlayer.c
@@ -494,10 +494,20 @@ static void print_os_version(void)
             }
             break;
         }
-        if (osv.dwMajorVersion == 6 && osv.dwMinorVersion == 0)
+
+        if (osv.dwMajorVersion == 6)
         {
-            ver = "Vista";
             is_vista = 1;
+            switch (osv.dwMinorVersion)
+            {
+            case 0:
+                ver = "Vista";
+                break;
+            case 1:
+                ver = "7";
+                break;
+            }
+            break;
         }
         break;
 
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c
index 4437c1fe1..6f28d262a 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/actors.c
@@ -568,8 +568,8 @@ void A_DeleteSprite(int s)
     }
     if (apScriptGameEvent[EVENT_KILLIT])
     {
-        static int p, pl;
-        pl=A_FindPlayer(&sprite[s],&p);
+        int p, pl=A_FindPlayer(&sprite[s],&p);
+
         Gv_SetVar(g_iReturnVarID,0, -1, -1);
         X_OnEvent(EVENT_KILLIT, s, pl, p);
         if (Gv_GetVar(g_iReturnVarID, -1, -1))
@@ -7756,15 +7756,18 @@ void G_MoveWorld(void)
         do
         {
             i = headspritestat[k];
-            while (i > 0)
+
+            while (i >= 0)
             {
-                if (A_CheckSpriteFlags(i,SPRITE_NOEVENTCODE))
+                j = nextspritestat[i];
+
+                if (A_CheckSpriteFlags(i, SPRITE_NOEVENTCODE))
                 {
-                    i = nextspritestat[i];
+                    i = j;
                     continue;
                 }
-                j = nextspritestat[i];
-                pl=A_FindPlayer(&sprite[i],&p);
+
+                pl = A_FindPlayer(&sprite[i],&p);
                 X_OnEvent(EVENT_GAME,i, pl, p);
                 i = j;
             }
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c
index 0e159620a..fdae2b7a2 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
 #include <shellapi.h>
 #endif
 
-#define BUILDDATE " 20081230"
+#define BUILDDATE " 20090101"
 #define VERSION " 1.2.0devel"
 
 static int floor_over_floor;
@@ -1951,14 +1951,18 @@ static void ReadPaletteTable()
 {
     int i,j,fp;
     char lookup_num;
+
+    for (j = 0; j < 256; j++)
+        tempbuf[j] = j;
+
+    for (i=1;i<MAXPALOOKUPS;i++)
+        makepalookup(i,tempbuf,0,0,0,1);
+
     if ((fp=kopen4load("lookup.dat",0)) == -1)
     {
         if ((fp=kopen4load("lookup.dat",1)) == -1)
         {
-            initprintf("LOOKUP.DAT not found, creating dummy palette lookups\n");
-            for (i=0;i<256;i++)
-                tempbuf[i] = ((i+32)&255);  //remap colors for screwy palette sectors
-            makepalookup(MAXPALOOKUPS,tempbuf,0,0,0,1);
+            initprintf("LOOKUP.DAT not found\n");
             return;
         }
     }
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/duke3d.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/duke3d.h
index 2e2528dba..2ea81877b 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/duke3d.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/duke3d.h
@@ -962,7 +962,7 @@ enum LogoFlags_t {
     LOGO_TENSCREEN         = 512
 };
 
-extern int g_numPalettes;
+extern int g_numRealPalettes;
 extern int g_scriptDebug;
 
 #define MAXCHEATLEN 20
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/funct.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/funct.h
index 32fed2cc4..1d1325e52 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/funct.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/funct.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ extern int isanearoperator(int lotag);
 extern inline int CheckPlayerInSector(int sect);
 extern int ldist(spritetype *s1,spritetype *s2);
 extern int dist(spritetype *s1,spritetype *s2);
-extern int A_FindPlayer(spritetype *s,int *d);
+extern int __fastcall A_FindPlayer(spritetype *s,int *d);
 extern int P_FindOtherPlayer(int p,int *d);
 extern void G_DoSectorAnimations(void);
 extern int GetAnimationGoal(int *animptr);
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
index 60bea0f8c..bf1b3ef18 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
@@ -7163,7 +7163,7 @@ void G_DoSpriteAnimations(int x,int y,int a,int smoothratio)
 
 PALONLY:
 
-            if (sector[sect].floorpal && sector[sect].floorpal < g_numPalettes && !A_CheckSpriteFlags(t->owner,SPRITE_NOPAL))
+            if (sector[sect].floorpal && sector[sect].floorpal < g_numRealPalettes && !A_CheckSpriteFlags(t->owner,SPRITE_NOPAL))
                 t->pal = sector[sect].floorpal;
 
             if (s->owner == -1) continue;
@@ -7204,7 +7204,7 @@ PALONLY:
             else t->picnum += T1;
             t->shade -= 6;
 
-            if (sector[sect].floorpal && sector[sect].floorpal < g_numPalettes && !A_CheckSpriteFlags(t->owner,SPRITE_NOPAL))
+            if (sector[sect].floorpal && sector[sect].floorpal < g_numRealPalettes && !A_CheckSpriteFlags(t->owner,SPRITE_NOPAL))
                 t->pal = sector[sect].floorpal;
             break;
 
@@ -7215,7 +7215,7 @@ PALONLY:
                 break;
             }
         default:
-            if (sector[sect].floorpal && sector[sect].floorpal < g_numPalettes && !A_CheckSpriteFlags(t->owner,SPRITE_NOPAL))
+            if (sector[sect].floorpal && sector[sect].floorpal < g_numRealPalettes && !A_CheckSpriteFlags(t->owner,SPRITE_NOPAL))
                 t->pal = sector[sect].floorpal;
             break;
         }
@@ -10301,16 +10301,22 @@ static void G_LoadExtraPalettes(void)
 
     fp = kopen4loadfrommod(lookfn,0);
     if (fp != -1)
-        kread(fp,(char *)&g_numPalettes,1);
+        kread(fp,(char *)&g_numRealPalettes,1);
     else
         G_GameExit("\nERROR: File 'lookup.dat' not found.");
 
 #if defined(__APPLE__) && B_BIG_ENDIAN != 0
     // this is almost as bad as just setting the value to 25 :P
-    g_numPalettes = (g_numPalettes * (uint64)0x0202020202 & (uint64)0x010884422010) % 1023;
+    g_numRealPalettes = (g_numRealPalettes * (uint64)0x0202020202 & (uint64)0x010884422010) % 1023;
 #endif
 
-    for (j=g_numPalettes-1;j>=0;j--)
+    for (j = 0; j < 256; j++)
+        tempbuf[j] = j;
+
+    for (j=g_numRealPalettes+1;j<MAXPALOOKUPS;j++)
+        makepalookup(j,tempbuf,0,0,0,1);
+
+    for (j=g_numRealPalettes-1;j>=0;j--)
     {
         kread(fp,(signed char *)&look_pos,1);
         kread(fp,tempbuf,256);
@@ -10319,11 +10325,11 @@ static void G_LoadExtraPalettes(void)
 
     for (j = 255; j>=0; j--)
         tempbuf[j] = j;
-    g_numPalettes++;
-    makepalookup(g_numPalettes, tempbuf, 15, 15, 15, 1);
-    makepalookup(g_numPalettes + 1, tempbuf, 15, 0, 0, 1);
-    makepalookup(g_numPalettes + 2, tempbuf, 0, 15, 0, 1);
-    makepalookup(g_numPalettes + 3, tempbuf, 0, 0, 15, 1);
+    g_numRealPalettes++;
+    makepalookup(g_numRealPalettes, tempbuf, 15, 15, 15, 1);
+    makepalookup(g_numRealPalettes + 1, tempbuf, 15, 0, 0, 1);
+    makepalookup(g_numRealPalettes + 2, tempbuf, 0, 15, 0, 1);
+    makepalookup(g_numRealPalettes + 3, tempbuf, 0, 0, 15, 1);
 
     kread(fp,&waterpal[0],768);
     kread(fp,&slimepal[0],768);
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
index ceb88835c..8d838f137 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
@@ -1768,10 +1768,11 @@ static int C_GetNextValue(int type)
     i = l-1;
     do
     {
+        if (textptr[0] == '0' && textptr[1] == 'x') break; // kill the warning for hex
         if (!isdigit(textptr[i--]))
         {
             C_ReportError(-1);
-            initprintf("%s:%d: warning: invalid definition!\n",g_szScriptFileName,g_lineNumber);
+            initprintf("%s:%d: warning: invalid character in definition: '%c'!\n",g_szScriptFileName,g_lineNumber,textptr[i+1]);
             g_numCompilerWarnings++;
             break;
         }
@@ -4620,6 +4621,14 @@ repeatcase:
             g_numCompilerErrors++;
             C_ReportError(ERROR_SYNTAXERROR);
         }
+        if (C_GetKeyword() == CON_RIGHTBRACE) // optimize "{ }" into "nullop"
+        {
+//            initprintf("%s:%d: optimizing \"{ }\" -> nullop\n",g_szScriptFileName,g_lineNumber);
+            *(--g_scriptPtr) = CON_NULLOP;
+            C_GetNextKeyword();
+            g_scriptPtr--;
+            return 0;
+        }
         g_numBraces++;
         do
             done = C_ParseCommand();
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c
index d0049a12f..ed80f7b3c 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #include "duke3d.h"
 
-const char *s_buildDate = "20081230";
+const char *s_buildDate = "20090101";
 char *MusicPtr = NULL;
 int g_musicSize;
 
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c
index 9db9f6f88..82ebcfc87 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ extern char pow2char[];
 
 extern int everyothertime;
 static int g_whichPalForPlayer = 9;
-int g_numPalettes;
+int g_numRealPalettes;
 short SpriteCacheList[MAXTILES][3];
 
 static char precachehightile[2][MAXTILES>>3];
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
index 313f1dd36..760722b1a 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.c
@@ -225,29 +225,31 @@ int dist(spritetype *s1,spritetype *s2)
     }
 }
 
-int A_FindPlayer(spritetype *s,int *d)
+int __fastcall A_FindPlayer(spritetype *s, int *d)
 {
-    int j, closest_player = 0;
-    int x, closest = 0x7fffffff;
-
     if (ud.multimode < 2)
     {
         *d = klabs(g_player[myconnectindex].ps->oposx-s->x) + klabs(g_player[myconnectindex].ps->oposy-s->y) + ((klabs(g_player[myconnectindex].ps->oposz-s->z+(28<<8)))>>4);
         return myconnectindex;
     }
 
-    TRAVERSE_CONNECT(j)
     {
-        x = klabs(g_player[j].ps->oposx-s->x) + klabs(g_player[j].ps->oposy-s->y) + ((klabs(g_player[j].ps->oposz-s->z+(28<<8)))>>4);
-        if (x < closest && sprite[g_player[j].ps->i].extra > 0)
-        {
-            closest_player = j;
-            closest = x;
-        }
-    }
+        int j, closest_player = 0;
+        int x, closest = 0x7fffffff;
 
-    *d = closest;
-    return closest_player;
+        TRAVERSE_CONNECT(j)
+        {
+            x = klabs(g_player[j].ps->oposx-s->x) + klabs(g_player[j].ps->oposy-s->y) + ((klabs(g_player[j].ps->oposz-s->z+(28<<8)))>>4);
+            if (x < closest && sprite[g_player[j].ps->i].extra > 0)
+            {
+                closest_player = j;
+                closest = x;
+            }
+        }
+
+        *d = closest;
+        return closest_player;
+    }
 }
 
 int P_FindOtherPlayer(int p,int *d)