diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index b2407f2a..7505aec8 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ config/init.cfg
 config/saved.cfg
 config/servers.cfg
 config/configtemplates.zip
+packages/misc/checksums_md5.txt
 source/enet/.deps/
 source/enet/.libs/
 source/enet/Makefile
diff --git a/assaultcube.sh b/assaultcube.sh
index addc3e14..ffaa6bbd 100755
--- a/assaultcube.sh
+++ b/assaultcube.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # CUBE_DIR should refer to the directory in which AssaultCube is placed.
 #CUBE_DIR=~/assaultcube
 #CUBE_DIR=/usr/local/assaultcube
-#CUBE_DIR=./
+#CUBE_DIR=.
 CUBE_DIR=$(dirname "$(readlink -f "${0}")")
 
 # CUBE_OPTIONS starts AssaultCube with any command line options you choose.
@@ -49,47 +49,14 @@ then
   MACHINE_NAME=
 fi
 
-if [ -x "/sbin/ldconfig" ]; then
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libX11")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure X11 libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libSDL-1.2")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure SDL v1.2 libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libSDL_image")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure SDL_image libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libz")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure z libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libogg")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure ogg libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libvorbis")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure vorbis libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libopenal")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure OpenAL-Soft libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libcurl")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure Curl libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-fi
+BINARYPATH="${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}client"
 
-if [ -x "${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}client" ]; then
+if [ "$1" = "--outputbinarypath" ]; then
+  echo "${BINARYPATH}"
+  exit 0
+elif [ -x "${BINARYPATH}" ]; then
   cd "${CUBE_DIR}"
-  exec "${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}client" ${CUBE_OPTIONS} "$@"
-elif [ -e "${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}client" ]; then
-  echo "Insufficient permissons to run AssaultCube."
-  echo "Please change (chmod) the AssaultCube client in the bin_unix folder to be readable/executable."
+  exec "${BINARYPATH}" ${CUBE_OPTIONS} "$@"
 else
   echo "Your platform does not have a pre-compiled AssaultCube client."
   echo "Please follow the following steps to build a native client:"
@@ -100,3 +67,4 @@ else
   echo "4) If the compile succeeds, return to this directory and re-run this script."
   exit 1
 fi
+
diff --git a/check_install.sh b/check_install.sh
index 59abfced..16c60eb8 100755
--- a/check_install.sh
+++ b/check_install.sh
@@ -1,274 +1,91 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-# Launches AssaultCube, configures an AC server, or installs/removes an AC menuitem.
-# This file remains compatible with Bourne Shell, in case it is used on another *nix system.
-
-# AC Version, this suffix is used to name the userdata directory and desktop launcher.
-ACVERSION="v1.2"
-# Default server options:
-DEFSERVER="-Cconfig/servercmdline.txt"
-# Default client options:
-DEFCLIENT="--home=${HOME}/.assaultcube_v1.2 --init"
-
-# These two aliases below are automatically chosen later in this script.
-# You can specify them here though, if you would prefer.
+# Checks certain parts of an AssaultCube installation
+#
+# Try this, if your game does not start.
 #
-# Path to the AssaultCube directory:
-CUBEDIRC=""
-# Name of the AssaultCube executable:
-CUBEEXEC=""
 
-# --help document
-for cmdoptions in $@; do
-  if [ "$cmdoptions" = "--help" ]; then
-    echo "Usage: "$0" OPTION(S)"
-    echo ""
-    echo "The AssaultCube launcher/menuitem installer. AssaultCube is a multiplayer,"
-    echo "first-person shooter game, based on the CUBE engine, with fast, arcade gameplay."
-    echo ""
-    echo "If none of the below options are chosen, this script will launch an AssaultCube"
-    echo "client and any arguments from http://assault.cubers.net/docs/commandline.html"
-    echo "will be added to AssaultCube's launch."
-    echo ""
-    echo "Note: Except for --basedirectory and --defaultsoff the below commands can't be"
-    echo "      used conjunctionally with one another."
-    echo ""
-    echo "Options:"
-    echo "--help                  This help message."
-    echo "--installmenuitem       Installs (or overwrites an existing "$ACVERSION") menuitem for"
-    echo "                        the current user (only), then exits. Any arguments used"
-    echo "                        from http://assault.cubers.net/docs/commandline.html"
-    echo "                        will be added to the launcher."
-    echo "--removemenuitem        Removes all menuitems for the current user, then exits."
-    echo "--basedirectory=value   Specifies the absolute path to AssaultCube's base"
-    echo "                        directory. Useful if you're running this script from a"
-    echo "                        different directory."
-    echo "--installserver=value   Helps you configure an AssaultCube server launcher. If"
-    echo "                        no \"value\" is chosen, the launcher file will be named"
-    echo "                        \"serverlauncher\"."
-    echo "--runserver             Runs an AssaultCube server with the default"
-    echo "                        configuration found in ./config/servercmdline.txt, plus"
-    echo "                        whatever you specify yourself on this commandline (not"
-    echo "                        recommended - preferably use --installserver instead)."
-    echo "--defaultsoff           Turns off ./config/servercmdline.txt options, when using"
-    echo "                        --runserver, or turns off --init and --home when using"
-    echo "                        an AssaultCube client."
-    exit 0
-  fi
-done
+CUBE_DIR=$(dirname "$(readlink -f "${0}")")
+cd "$CUBE_DIR"
 
-for cmdoptions in $@; do
-  # Store all arguments that aren't part of this script:
-  TEMP1=`echo "$ACARGUMENTS" "$cmdoptions" | sed 's/--installmenuitem.*\|--removemenuitem.*\|--basedirectory.*\|--installserver.*\|--runserver.*\|--defaultsoff.*\|//g'`
-  ACARGUMENTS=`echo "$TEMP1"`
-  # Turn off the defaults if this was requested:
-  if [ "$cmdoptions" = "--defaultsoff" ]; then
-    DEFCLIENT="" && DEFSERVER=""
-  fi
-done
+# check libs
 
-# Work out the absolute path to the AssaultCube directory.
-# This will skip if it's already chosen (see head of script).
-if [ -z "$CUBEDIRC" ]; then
-  # Check if specified via switch.
-  for cmdoptions in $@; do
-    TEMP1="$(echo "$cmdoptions" | sed -n 's/--basedirectory=//p')"
-    if [ -n "$TEMP1" ]; then
-      CUBEDIRC="$(readlink -f "$(eval echo $TEMP1)")"
+SERVERLIBS="libz libcurl"
+CLIENTLIBS="libSDL-1.2 libz libcurl libX11 libSDL_image libogg libvorbis libopenal"
+
+if [ -x "/sbin/ldconfig" ]; then
+  echo "checking libraries:"
+  for libname in $SERVERLIBS; do
+    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep $libname)" ]; then
+      echo " library $libname not found - this lib is required for server and client installations"
+    else
+      echo " found $libname"
     fi
   done
-  # Or, use current directory.
-  if [ "$CUBEDIRC" = "" ]; then
-    CUBEDIRC="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "${0}")")"
-  fi
-fi
-
-# Work out if we're using a server or client binary.
-for cmdoptions in $@; do
-  TEMP1="$(echo "$cmdoptions" | grep -e --installserver)"
-  TEMP2="$(echo "$cmdoptions" | grep -e --runserver)"
-  if [ -n "$TEMP2" ]; then
-    EXECTYPE="server"
-  fi
-  if [ -n "$TEMP1" ]; then
-    EXECTYPE="server"
-    # If --installserver was used, prepare the value to be used.
-    SERVERLAUNCHER="$(echo "$TEMP1" | sed -n 's/--installserver=//p')"
-    if [ -z "$SERVERLAUNCHER" ]; then
-      SERVERLAUNCHER="serverlauncher"
-    fi
-  fi
-done
-if [ "$EXECTYPE" != "server" ]; then
-  EXECTYPE="client"
-fi
-
-# Work out what binary our processor/OS requires.
-# This will skip if it's already chosen (see head of script).
-if [ -z "$CUBEEXEC" ]; then
-  if [ -x "$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix/native_"$EXECTYPE" ]; then
-    CUBEEXEC="native_"$EXECTYPE""
-  elif [ "$(uname -s)" = "Linux" ]; then
-    if [ "$(uname -m)" = "x86_64" ]; then
-      CUBEEXEC="linux_64_"$EXECTYPE""
+  for libname in $CLIENTLIBS; do
+    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep $libname)" ]; then
+      echo " library $libname not found - this lib is required for client installations only"
     else
-      CUBEEXEC="linux_"$EXECTYPE""
+      echo " found $libname"
     fi
+  done
+else
+  echo "skipping libraries check: couldn't find /sbin/ldconfig"
+  echo " to run a server, you'll need:" $SERVERLIBS
+  echo " to run a client, you'll need:" $SERVERLIBS $CLIENTLIBS
+fi
+echo ""
+
+# check all files that belong to the installation
+# (use source/dev_tools/generate_md5_checksums.sh to generate a checksum file)
+
+CHKSUMFILE="packages/misc/checksums_md5.txt"
+if [ -e $CHKSUMFILE ]; then
+  echo "checking installed game files:"
+  if md5sum -c $CHKSUMFILE --status; then
+    echo " all files of the AC package are checked and OK"
   else
-    if [ "$(uname -m)" = "x86_64" ]; then
-      CUBEEXEC="unknown_64_"$EXECTYPE""
-    else
-      CUBEEXEC="unknown_"$EXECTYPE""
-    fi
-  fi
-fi
-
-# Remove existing menuitems, if they exist:
-for cmdoptions in $@; do
-  if [ "$cmdoptions" = "--removemenuitem" ]; then
-    EXISTINGEXEC=`find "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/ -name "assaultcube*" | xargs`
-    if [ -n "$EXISTINGEXEC" ]; then
-      echo "The following menuitem(s) currently exist:"
-      echo "$EXISTINGEXEC"
-      read -p "Would you like them all to be deleted? (Y/N): " -r REPLY
-      if [ "$REPLY" = "y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "yes" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "Y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "YES" ]; then
-        find "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/ -name "assaultcube*" -delete
-        echo "Deleted menuitems as requested."
-        exit 0
-      else
-        echo "The existing menuitems will remain."
-        exit 0
-      fi
-    else
-      echo "No pre-existing menuitems were found."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-  fi
-done
-
-# A few bits of error checking, before we try doing anything else:
-if [ ! -x "$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" ]; then
-  # Maybe this script in the wrong directory?
-  if [ ! -d ""$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix" ]; then
-    echo "The \"bin_unix\" folder was not found."
-    echo "Please run this script from inside the main AssaultCube directory."
-    echo "Or, use the --basedirectory switch to state the absolute path as an argument."
-    echo "Example: sh "$0" --basedirectory=/path/to/assaultcube/directory"
-    exit 1
-  # Or perhaps, the binary exists, but isn't executable?
-  elif [ ! -x "$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" ] && [ -e "$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" ]; then
-    echo "Insufficient permissons to run AssaultCube."
-    echo "Please change (chmod) the AssaultCube "$EXECTYPE" in the bin_unix folder to be readable/executable."
-    exit 1
-  else
-    echo "Your platform does not have a pre-compiled AssaultCube "$EXECTYPE"."
-    echo "Please follow the following steps to build a native "$EXECTYPE":"
-    echo "1) Ensure you have the following DEVELOPMENT libraries installed:"
-    if [ "$EXECTYPE" = "server" ]; then
-      echo "   SDL, zlib, libcurl"
-    else
-      echo "   OpenGL, SDL, SDL_image, zlib, libogg, libvorbis, OpenAL Soft, libcurl"
-    fi
-    echo "2) Ensure clang++ and any other required build tools are installed."
-    if [ "$EXECTYPE" = "server" ]; then
-      echo "3) Change directory to ./source/src/ and type \"make server_install\"."
-    else
-      echo "3) Change directory to ./source/src/ and type \"make install\"."
-    fi
-    echo "4) If the compile succeeds, return to this directory and re-run this script."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-fi
-
-# Some more bits of error checking before we try anything else. This test checks if
-# all required libraries are installed, then warns the user accordingly.
-#
-# Firstly, server requirements (as they're also required for the client):
-if [ -x "/sbin/ldconfig" ]; then
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libSDL-1.2")" ]; then
-    echo "To run an AssaultCube server, please ensure SDL v1.2 libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libz")" ]; then
-    echo "To run an AssaultCube server, please ensure z libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libcurl")" ]; then
-    echo "To run an AssaultCube server, please ensure Curl libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  # Next, client requirements:
-  if [ "$EXECTYPE" = "client" ]; then
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libX11")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure X11 libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libSDL_image")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure SDL_image libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libogg")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure ogg libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libvorbis")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure vorbis libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libopenal")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure OpenAL-Soft libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
+    echo " some files of your AC installation appear to be missing or damaged"
+    read -p " press enter, to see the list of files..." -r dummy
+    md5sum -c $CHKSUMFILE --quiet | less
   fi
 else
-  echo "NOTE: We couldn't find /sbin/ldconfig, so we're unable to test if you have all."
-  echo "of the libraries required to run an AssaultCube server. We'll continue anyway."
+  echo "skipping file check: couldn't find $CHKSUMFILE"
 fi
+echo ""
 
-for cmdoptions in $@; do
-  if [ "$cmdoptions" = "--installmenuitem" ]; then
-    # Installing the .desktop item:
-    mkdir -p "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications
-    cat > ""${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_$ACVERSION.desktop" << EOF
-[Desktop Entry]
-Version=1.0
-Type=Application
-Name=AssaultCube $ACVERSION
-Keywords=assaultcube;game;fps;
-GenericName=First Person Shooter Game
-Categories=Game;ActionGame;Shooter;
-Terminal=false
-StartupNotify=false
-Exec=sh -c "cd "$CUBEDIRC" && bin_unix/$CUBEEXEC $DEFCLIENT $ACARGUMENTS"
-Icon=$CUBEDIRC/docs/images/icon.png
-Comment=A multiplayer, first-person shooter game, based on the CUBE engine. Fast, arcade gameplay.
-EOF
-    chmod +x ""${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_"$ACVERSION".desktop"
-    if [ -x "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_"$ACVERSION".desktop ]; then
-      echo "An AssaultCube menuitem has been successfully installed to"
-      echo ""${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_"$ACVERSION".desktop"
-      exit 0
-    else
-      echo "Installing an AssaultCube menuitem has failed for an unknown reason."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-  fi
-done
+# list existing desktop launcher items
 
-# Runs an AssaultCube server, or starts serverwizard to configure a launcher for it:
-if [ "$EXECTYPE" = "server" ]; then
-  if [ -n "$SERVERLAUNCHER" ]; then
-    cd "$CUBEDIRC" && touch "$SERVERLAUNCHER".sh
-    chmod 755 "$SERVERLAUNCHER".sh
-    bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" --wizard "$SERVERLAUNCHER".sh bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC"
-  else
-    cd "$CUBEDIRC" && bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" $DEFSERVER $ACARGUMENTS
-  fi
-# Runs an AssaultCube client:
-elif [ "$EXECTYPE" = "client" ]; then
-  cd "$CUBEDIRC" && bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" $DEFCLIENT $ACARGUMENTS
+LAUNCHERPATH="${HOME}/.local/share/applications/"
+EXISTINGEXEC=`find "${LAUNCHERPATH}" -name "assaultcube*" | xargs`
+if [ "$EXISTINGEXEC" != "" ]; then
+  echo "the following menuitem(s) wer found:"
+  echo " $EXISTINGEXEC"
 else
-  echo "Tried launching AssaultCube, but we couldn't detect if a server or client was required."
-  echo "This is most likely a bug, rather than a user error."
+  echo "no desktop launcher items were found - run install_or_remove_menuitem.sh to create one"
+fi
+echo ""
+
+# find out, which binaries would be used to start the game
+
+echo "checking game executables:"
+SERVERBIN=`./server.sh --outputbinarypath`
+CLIENTBIN=`./assaultcube.sh --outputbinarypath`
+
+if [ -x "$SERVERBIN" ]; then
+  echo " the server will use the binary $SERVERBIN"
+elif [ -e "$SERVERBIN" ]; then
+  echo " the server would use the binary $SERVERBIN, if the permissions would allow it"
+else
+  echo " the server would use the binary $SERVERBIN, but the file does not exist"
 fi
 
+if [ -x "$CLIENTBIN" ]; then
+  echo " the game client will use the binary $CLIENTBIN"
+elif [ -e "$CLIENTBIN" ]; then
+  echo " the server would use the binary $CLIENTBIN, if the permissions would allow it"
+else
+  echo " the server would use the binary $CLIENTBIN, but the file does not exist"
+fi
+
+exit 0
 
diff --git a/install_or_remove_menuitem.sh b/install_or_remove_menuitem.sh
index b0d90227..339acf19 100755
--- a/install_or_remove_menuitem.sh
+++ b/install_or_remove_menuitem.sh
@@ -1,193 +1,51 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 # Adds a custom menuitem for AssaultCube to your Desktop's launcher.
 
-# AC Version, this suffix is used to name the userdata directory and launcher.
-ACVERSION="v1.2"
-#
-# The two aliases below are automatically chosen, as per the scripts below it.
-# You can specify them here though, if you would prefer.
-#
-# Path to the AssaultCube directory:
-CUBEDIRC=""
-# Name of the AssaultCube executable:
-CUBEEXEC=""
+CUBE_DIR=$(dirname "$(readlink -f "${0}")")
+CUBE_EXEC=assaultcube.sh
+LAUNCHERPATH="${HOME}/.local/share/applications/"
 
-# State the path to the AssaultCube directory.
-if [ "$CUBEDIRC" = "" ]; then
-  if [ "$1" = "" ]; then
-    CUBEDIRC="$(dirname "$(readlink -f "${0}")")"
-  else
-    CUBEDIRC="$(readlink -f "$*")"
-  fi
-fi
-
-# What kind of binary file are we looking for?
-if [ "$CUBEEXEC" = "" ]; then
-  if [ -x "${CUBEDIRC}/bin_unix/native_client" ]; then
-    CUBEEXEC="native_client"
-  elif [ "$(uname -s)" = "Linux" ]; then
-    if [ "$(uname -m)" = "x86_64" ]; then
-      CUBEEXEC="linux_64_client"
-    else
-      CUBEEXEC="linux_client"
-    fi
-  else
-    if [ "$(uname -m)" = "x86_64" ]; then
-      CUBEEXEC="unknown_64_client"
-    else
-      CUBEEXEC="unknown_client"
-    fi
-  fi
-fi
+LAUNCHERFILE=assaultcube_dev.desktop
+LAUNCHERTITLE="Assaultcube v1.2dev"
 
 # Remove existing menuitem, if it exists:
-EXISTINGEXEC=`find "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/ -name "assaultcube*" | xargs`
+EXISTINGEXEC=`find "${LAUNCHERPATH}" -name "assaultcube*" | xargs`
 if [ "$EXISTINGEXEC" != "" ]; then
   echo "The following menuitem(s) currently exist:"
   echo "$EXISTINGEXEC"
-  read -p "Would you like them to be deleted? (Y/N): " -r REPLY
+  read -p "Would you like them all to be deleted? (y/N): " -r REPLY
   if [ "$REPLY" = "y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "yes" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "Y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "YES" ]; then
-    find "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/ -name "assaultcube*" -delete
+    find "${LAUNCHERPATH}" -name "assaultcube*" -delete
     echo "Deleted menuitems as requested." && echo ""
+    exit 0
   else
     echo "The existing menuitems will remain." && echo ""
   fi
 fi
 
-echo "We'll now install a custom menuitem for launching AssaultCube (only for your"
-echo "user). If you're ready to continue, press ENTER (or ctrl+c to exit)."
-read -r DUMMY
-
-echo "Would you like to run some tests to ensure that you have installed all of the"
-read -p "required libraries? Without them, AssaultCube won't be able to run (Y/N): " -r REPLY
-if [ "$REPLY" = "y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "yes" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "Y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "YES" ]; then
-  if [ -x "/sbin/ldconfig" ]; then
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libX11")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure X11 libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libSDL-1.2")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure SDL v1.2 libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libSDL_image")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure SDL_image libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libz")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure z libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libogg")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure ogg libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libvorbis")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure vorbis libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libopenal")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure OpenAL-Soft libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-    if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libcurl")" ]; then
-      echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure Curl libraries are installed."
-      exit 1
-    fi
-  else
-    echo "Couldn't find /sbin/ldconfig, so we're unable to run these tests."
-    echo "We'll install the menuitem anyway..."
-  fi
-else
-  echo "Yes sir! No tests will be done."
-fi
-
-# TODO: Add more options to the installer, if wanted.
-echo "" && echo "We'll install AssaultCube's menuitem with the default options."
-read -p "Unless you want to set advanced options? (Y/N): " -r REPLY
-if [ "$REPLY" = "y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "yes" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "Y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "YES" ]; then
-  echo "" && echo "AssaultCube will store userdata in ~/.assaultcube_"$ACVERSION" by default."
-  read -p "Do you want to store userdata elsewhere? (Y/N) " -r REPLY
-  if [ "$REPLY" = "y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "yes" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "Y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "YES" ]; then
-    echo "Please state the absolute path of where to store AssaultCube files. Note, that"
-    read -p "you should ensure this folder doesn't conflict with existing AssaultCube versions: " -r ACHOME1
-    echo "Thank you. We'll store userdata in "$ACHOME1""
-    mkdir -p "$ACHOME1"
-    ACHOME="--home="$ACHOME1""
-  else
-    echo "We'll store userdata in ~/.assaultcube_"$ACVERSION" then."
-    ACHOME="--home="${HOME}"/.assaultcube_"$ACVERSION""
-  fi
-  echo "" && echo "AssaultCube will run the \"init\" script before running graphics/sound"
-  echo "subsystems by default. We normally use ./config/init.cfg"
-  echo "Note that this script normally stores options, such as fullscreen, screen width/height and"
-  echo "therefore makes specifying those options via this script, fairly redundant."
-  read -p "Do you want to change this? (Y/N) " -r REPLY
-  if [ "$REPLY" = "y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "yes" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "Y" ] || [ "$REPLY" = "YES" ]; then
-    echo "Please state the relative path of where your new init.cfg file is. Or, leave"
-    read -p "this field blank to disable this option: " -r ACINIT1
-    if [ "$ACINIT1" = "" ]; then
-      echo "--init has been disabled."
-      ACINIT=""
-    else
-      echo "Thank you. We'll run "$ACINIT1" as an init script."
-      ACINIT="--init=\""$ACINIT1"\""
-    fi
-  else
-    echo "We'll run ./config/init.cfg as an init script then."
-    ACINIT="--init"
-  fi
-else
-  echo "The default options will be installed only."
-  ACHOME="--home="${HOME}"/.assaultcube_"$ACVERSION""
-  ACINIT="--init"
-fi
-
-# Check that a binary exists and is executable for this system:
-if [ -x "$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" ]; then
-  mkdir -p "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications
-  cat > ""${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_$ACVERSION.desktop" << EOF
+mkdir -p "${LAUNCHERPATH}"
+cat > "${LAUNCHERPATH}"${LAUNCHERFILE} << EOF
 [Desktop Entry]
 Version=1.0
 Type=Application
-Name=AssaultCube $ACVERSION
+Name=$LAUNCHERTITLE
 Keywords=assaultcube;game;fps;
 GenericName=First Person Shooter Game
 Categories=Game;ActionGame;Shooter;
 Terminal=false
 StartupNotify=false
-Exec=sh -c "cd "$CUBEDIRC" && bin_unix/$CUBEEXEC $ACHOME $ACINIT"
-Icon=$CUBEDIRC/docs/images/icon.png
+Exec=$CUBE_DIR/$CUBE_EXEC
+Icon=$CUBE_DIR/docs/images/icon.png
 Comment=A multiplayer, first-person shooter game, based on the CUBE engine. Fast, arcade gameplay.
 EOF
-  chmod +x ""${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_"$ACVERSION".desktop"
-  if [ -x "${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_"$ACVERSION".desktop ]; then
-    echo "" && echo "An AssaultCube menuitem has been successfully installed to"
-    echo ""${HOME}"/.local/share/applications/assaultcube_"$ACVERSION".desktop"
-    exit 0
-  else
-    echo "" && echo "For some reason, we're unable to install an AssaultCube menuitem."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-# But, if no binary exists, is this script perhaps in the wrong directory?
-elif [ -z ""$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix" ]; then
-  echo "The \"bin_unix\" folder was not found."
-  echo "Please run this script inside the main AssaultCube directory."
-  echo "Or, type the path to the directory as an argument when executing "$0""
-  echo "Example: bash "$0" /path/to/assaultcube/directory"
-  exit 1
-# Or perhaps, the binary exists, but isn't executable?
-elif [ -e "$CUBEDIRC"/bin_unix/"$CUBEEXEC" ]; then
-  echo "Insufficient permissons to run AssaultCube."
-  echo "Please change (chmod) the AssaultCube client in the bin_unix folder to be readable/executable."
-  exit 1
+
+chmod +x "${LAUNCHERPATH}"${LAUNCHERFILE}
+if [ -x "${LAUNCHERPATH}"${LAUNCHERFILE} ]; then
+  echo "An AssaultCube menuitem has been successfully created at"
+  echo "${LAUNCHERPATH}"${LAUNCHERFILE}
+  exit 0
 else
-  echo "Your platform does not have a pre-compiled AssaultCube client."
-  echo "Please follow the following steps to build a native client:"
-  echo "1) Ensure you have the following DEVELOPMENT libraries installed:"
-  echo "   OpenGL, SDL, SDL_image, zlib, libogg, libvorbis, OpenAL Soft, libcurl"
-  echo "2) Ensure clang++ and any other required build tools are installed."
-  echo "3) Change directory to ./source/src/ and type \"make install\"."
-  echo "4) If the compile succeeds, return to this directory and re-run this script." 
+  echo "For some reason, we're unable to install an AssaultCube menuitem."
   exit 1
 fi
+
diff --git a/server.sh b/server.sh
index b3a0aeea..65f80ef5 100755
--- a/server.sh
+++ b/server.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # CUBE_DIR should refer to the directory in which AssaultCube is placed.
 #CUBE_DIR=~/assaultcube
 #CUBE_DIR=/usr/local/assaultcube
-CUBE_DIR=./
+CUBE_DIR=.
 
 # CUBE_OPTIONS starts AssaultCube with any command line options you choose.
 CUBE_OPTIONS=""
@@ -51,32 +51,19 @@ then
   MACHINE_NAME=
 fi
 
-if [ -x "/sbin/ldconfig" ]; then
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libSDL-1.2")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure SDL v1.2 libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libz")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure z libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-  if [ -z "$(/sbin/ldconfig -p | grep "libcurl")" ]; then
-    echo "To run AssaultCube, please ensure Curl libraries are installed."
-    exit 1
-  fi
-fi
+BINARYPATH="${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}server"
 
-if [ -x "${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}server" ]; then
+if [ "$1" = "--outputbinarypath" ]; then
+  echo "${BINARYPATH}"
+  exit 0
+elif [ -x "${BINARYPATH}" ]; then
   cd "${CUBE_DIR}"
-  exec "${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}server" ${CUBE_OPTIONS} ${CUBE_OPTIONFILE} "$@"
-elif [ -e "${CUBE_DIR}/bin_unix/${SYSTEM_NAME}${MACHINE_NAME}server" ]; then
-  echo "Insufficient permissons to run AssaultCube."
-  echo "Please change (chmod) the AssaultCube server in the bin_unix folder to be readable/executable."
+  exec "${BINARYPATH}" ${CUBE_OPTIONS} ${CUBE_OPTIONFILE} "$@"
 else
   echo "Your platform does not have a pre-compiled AssaultCube server."
   echo "Please follow the following steps to build a native client:"
   echo "1) Ensure you have the following DEVELOPMENT libraries installed:"
-  echo "   SDL, zlib, libcurl"
+  echo "   zlib"
   echo "2) Ensure clang++ and any other required build tools are installed."
   echo "3) Change directory to ./source/src/ and type \"make server_install\"."
   echo "4) If the compile succeeds, return to this directory and re-run this script."
diff --git a/source/dev_tools/generate_md5_checksums.sh b/source/dev_tools/generate_md5_checksums.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..891d79d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/dev_tools/generate_md5_checksums.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# update packages/misc/checksums_md5.txt
+#
+# (this script needs to be in source/dev_tools
+
+cd $(dirname "$(readlink -f "${0}")")
+cd ../..    # get to the base dir of the installation
+
+echo Generating checksums...
+find [A-z]* -type f -print0 | xargs -0 md5sum | fgrep -v checksums_md5 | fgrep -v "  source/" | fgrep -v "gitignore" > packages/misc/checksums_md5.txt
+echo Done.
+
+
diff --git a/source/package_assaultcube.sh b/source/package_assaultcube.sh
index e4c3e981..d81e8f9a 100644
--- a/source/package_assaultcube.sh
+++ b/source/package_assaultcube.sh
@@ -183,6 +183,9 @@ find ./packages/maps/official/*.cgz | \
   xargs -i echo -e "securemap" {} | \
   sort -u >> ./config/securemaps.cfg
 
+# update checksum file
+$PATHTOACDIR/source/dev_tools/generate_md5_checksums.sh
+
 # Create the linux tarball:
 echo -e "\n... Creating the Linux tarball..."
 cd .. && mv $ACDIRFOLDERNAME AssaultCube_v$NEWACVERSION