diff --git a/vacation.p8 b/vacation.p8
index 957850f..16f1895 100644
--- a/vacation.p8
+++ b/vacation.p8
@@ -1268,12 +1268,11 @@ end
 wordtarget = {
  x = 129,
  y = 60,
- str = "GOOD TOY!",
  on_hit = nop,
 }
 mknew(wordtarget, function(x)
  poke(0x5f58, 0x81)
- x.w = print(x.str or wordtarget.str, 0, -9999)-1
+ x.w = print(x.str, 0, -9999)-1
 end)
 
 function collides(b1, b2)
@@ -1398,21 +1397,19 @@ end
 
 arcade_level = {
  score=0,
- max_score=999,
  wordwait = 90,
 }
 mknew(arcade_level, function(x)
  x.phin = toyphin.new{splasher=x}
- -- TODO: decent looking sky and sea
  x.sky = bg.new{c=13}
  x.sea = sea.new()
  x.bg = event_list.new()
  x.fg = event_list.new()
  x.words = event_list.new()
- -- TODO: score renderer
  x.t0 = t()
  x.wordremain = x.max_score or arcade_level.max_score
  x.wordtimer = x.wordwait or arcade_level.wordwait
+ if (type(x.wordsets) == "string") x.wordsets = csv(x.wordsets)
 
  x.v = view.of{
   x.sky,
@@ -1466,18 +1463,71 @@ function arcade_level:update()
 end
 
 function arcade_level:spawn_word()
- -- TODO: basically everything.
- --  word lists
- --  pattern generator 
+ -- pick row from pattern
+ if not self.pattern then
+  self.pattern=gen_pattern()
+  self.pattern_idx = 0
+  self.next_break = 9 + flr(rnd(9))
+ end
+ local i, pbk = (self.pattern_idx&3)+1,0
+ if self.next_break == 0 then
+  -- do pattern break
+  local np = gen_pattern()
+  i = np[1]==self.pattern[i] and 2 or 1
+  self.next_break = 9 + flr(rnd(9))
+  pbk=3
+ end
+ self.pattern_idx = i
+ self.next_break -= 1
+ local row = self.pattern[i]
+
  self.words:push_back(wordtarget.new{
-  y=32+rnd(64), -- real game uses pattern generator!
+  y=32*row+flr(rnd(13))-6,
   phin=self.phin,
   on_hit = function(word)
    self:word_hit(word)
   end,
+  str=rnd(self.wordsets[row + pbk]),
  })
 end
 
+function irnd(n)
+ return rnd(n) & 0x7fff
+end
+
+function gen_pattern()
+ local x0 = irnd(3)
+ local x1 = irnd(2)
+ if (x1 == x0) x1 = 2
+ local x2 = irnd(2)
+ if (x2 == x1) x2 = 2
+ local x3 = irnd(2)
+ if (x3 == x2) x3 = 2
+ while x3 == x2 or x3 == x0 do
+  x3 = (x3 + 1)%3
+ end
+ return {x0 + 1, x1 + 1, x2 + 1, x3 + 1}
+end
+
+function arcade_level:next_row()
+ if not self.pattern then
+  self.pattern=gen_pattern()
+  self.pattern_idx = 0
+  self.next_break = 9 + flr(rnd(9))
+ end
+ local i, pbk = (self.pattern_idx&3)+1,0
+ if self.next_break == 0 then
+  -- do pattern break
+  local np = gen_pattern()
+  i = np[1]==self.pattern[i] and 2 or 1
+  self.next_break = 9 + flr(rnd(9))
+  pbk=3
+ end
+ self.pattern_idx = i
+ self.next_break -= 1
+ return self.pattern[i], pbk
+end
+
 function arcade_level:word_hit(word)
  self.score += 1
  -- TODO: sfx
@@ -1580,11 +1630,10 @@ function start_game()
   {
    f=zonk_mode.new,
    params={{
-    file=[[center:4:20
+    file=[[center:4:19
 wELCOME! iN A LATER
 VERSION, THERE WILL
-BE INSTRUCTIONS HERE
-AND NO BG yet.]],
+BE A TUTORIAL HERE.]],
     txd=0,
     txf=1,
     cmul=0.25,
@@ -1593,8 +1642,14 @@ AND NO BG yet.]],
   {
    f = arcade_level.new,
    params = {{
-    max_score=5,
-   }}
+    max_score=25,
+    wordsets=[[JUMP,PLAY,AIR,SUN
+DRIFT,SURF,FLOAT,WAVES
+DIVE,WATER,OCEAN,SEA
+DRIFT,SOAR,IMAGINE,BE
+RELAX,CHILL,TOY,POOLTOY
+SINK,DEEP,TRANCE,FOLLOW]]
+   }},
   },
   {
    f = zonk_mode.new,
@@ -1615,8 +1670,7 @@ bREATHE OUT...
 set:bwt:0 set:txd:16 set:txf:20 set:exf:60 center:3:19
  >gREAT! iT'S LIKE
  YOU'VE BEEN DOING
-THIS ALL YOUR LIFE.
-    ]],
+THIS ALL YOUR LIFE.]],
    }},
   },
  }