diff --git a/vacation.p8 b/vacation.p8
index 873f512..46d7066 100644
--- a/vacation.p8
+++ b/vacation.p8
@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ function outer_or_each_opt(t, mname)
  end)
 end
 
+function nop() end
+
 -- puke emits a verbose string
 -- describing item, indented to
 -- the specified depth (0 by
@@ -547,7 +549,7 @@ end
 -- hitbox for current state
 function toyphin:box()
  local st = self.state
- return self.x + st.xo, self.y + st.yo, st.ws * 8, st.hs * 8
+ return {self.x + st.xo, self.y + st.yo, st.ws * 8, st.hs * 8}
 end
 
 function toyphin:draw()
@@ -556,6 +558,43 @@ function toyphin:draw()
  spr(st.s[1+(((t()<<1)&0x0.FFFF*#st.s)&0x7FFF)], self.x + st.xo, y + st.yo, self.state.ws, self.state.hs)
 end
 
+-->8 word target
+
+wordtarget = {
+ x = 129,
+ y = 60,
+ str = "DRIFT",
+ on_hit = nop,
+}
+mknew(wordtarget, function(x)
+ poke(0x5f58, 0x81)
+ x.w = print(x.str or wordtarget.str, 0, -9999)-1
+end)
+
+function collides(b1, b2)
+ if (b1[1] > b2[1] + b2[3]) return false
+ if (b1[1] + b1[3] < b2[1]) return false
+ if (b1[2] > b2[2] + b2[4]) return false
+ return not (b1[2] + b1[4] < b2[2])
+end
+
+function wordtarget:update()
+ if collides({self.x, self.y, self.w, 7}, self.phin:box()) then
+  self:on_hit()
+  return true
+ end
+ self.x -= 1
+ return self.x < -self.w
+end
+
+function wordtarget:draw()
+ poke(0x5f58, 0x81)
+ -- debug: show hitbox
+ --rect(self.x-1, self.y-1, self.x+self.w+1, self.y + 8, 0x10F1.5a5a)
+ print(self.str, self.x+1, self.y+1, 0x100b)
+ print(self.str, self.x, self.y, 0x100a)
+end
+
 -->8
 -- arcade mode
 
@@ -634,7 +673,8 @@ end
 
 arcade_level = {
  score=0,
- maxscore=15,
+ wordcount=15,
+ wordwait = 90,
 }
 mknew(arcade_level, function(x)
  x.phin = toyphin.new{splasher=x}
@@ -643,8 +683,11 @@ mknew(arcade_level, function(x)
  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.wordcount or arcade_level.wordcount
+ x.wordtimer = x.wordwait or arcade_level.wordwait
 
  x.v = view.of{
   x.sky,
@@ -653,6 +696,7 @@ mknew(arcade_level, function(x)
   x.bg,
   x.phin,
   x.fg,
+  x.words,
  }
 
  x.s = scootbox.new()
@@ -662,12 +706,46 @@ mknew(arcade_level, function(x)
 end)
 
 function arcade_level:update()
+ if self.phin.entered then
+  if self.wordtimer <= 0 and self.wordremain > 0 then
+   self:spawn_word()
+   self.wordtimer = self.wordwait
+   self.wordremain -= 1
+  end
+  self.wordtimer -= 1
+ end
+ if self.wordremain <= 0 and self.words.next == nil then
+  self.phin.exiting = true
+ end
+ if self.phin.x > 90 then
+  -- TODO: done callback
+  self:on_level_done()
+ end
  -- TODO: timers, word loop,
  -- level state tracking and
  -- progression, etc.
  self.s:update()
 end
 
+function arcade_level:spawn_word()
+ -- TODO: basically everything.
+ --  word lists
+ --  pattern generator 
+ self.words:push_back(wordtarget.new{
+  y=32+rnd(64), -- real game uses pattern generator!
+  phin=self.phin,
+  on_hit = function(word)
+   self:word_hit(word)
+  end,
+ })
+end
+
+function arcade_level:word_hit(word)
+ self.score += 1
+ -- TODO: sfx
+ -- TODO: sparkle
+end
+
 function arcade_level:draw()
  setup_arcade_pal()
  self.s:draw()