diff --git a/engine/actor.go b/engine/actor.go
index 84fb999..511541e 100644
--- a/engine/actor.go
+++ b/engine/actor.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ var _ Prepper = &Actor{}
 var errCollision = errors.New("collision detected")
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(Actor{})
+	gob.Register(&Actor{})
 }
 
 // Thorson-style movement:
diff --git a/engine/anim.go b/engine/anim.go
index bc843cd..04ba674 100644
--- a/engine/anim.go
+++ b/engine/anim.go
@@ -1,8 +1,14 @@
 package engine
 
+import "encoding/gob"
+
 // Ensure Anim satisfies Animer.
 var _ Animer = &Anim{}
 
+func init() {
+	gob.Register(&Anim{})
+}
+
 // AnimFrame describes a frame in an animation.
 type AnimFrame struct {
 	Frame    int // show this frame
diff --git a/engine/animref.go b/engine/animref.go
index e1961b2..3ab46d6 100644
--- a/engine/animref.go
+++ b/engine/animref.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(AnimRef{})
+	gob.Register(&AnimRef{})
 }
 
 // AnimRef manages an Anim using a premade AnimDef from the cache.
diff --git a/engine/asset.go b/engine/asset.go
index 8f547b3..eb071ec 100644
--- a/engine/asset.go
+++ b/engine/asset.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/gob"
 	"image"
 	"io/fs"
+	"os"
 
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
 )
@@ -38,6 +39,28 @@ func loadGobz(dst interface{}, assets fs.FS, path string) error {
 	return gob.NewDecoder(gz).Decode(dst)
 }
 
+// SaveGobz takes an object, gob-encodes it, gzips it, and writes to disk.
+func SaveGobz(src interface{}, name string) error {
+	f, err := os.CreateTemp(".", name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer os.Remove(f.Name())
+	defer f.Close()
+
+	gz := gzip.NewWriter(f)
+	if err := gob.NewEncoder(gz).Encode(src); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := gz.Close(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return os.Rename(f.Name(), name)
+}
+
 // ImageRef loads images from the AssetFS into *ebiten.Image form.
 // It is your responsibility to import _ "image/..." for whatever
 // format the files are in, and to load it (either return it as a
diff --git a/engine/camera.go b/engine/camera.go
index 1fa1c06..be4b2f8 100644
--- a/engine/camera.go
+++ b/engine/camera.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(Camera{})
+	gob.Register(&Camera{})
 }
 
 // Camera models a camera that is viewing a scene.
diff --git a/engine/debug.go b/engine/debug.go
index 514ec3b..d4c4567 100644
--- a/engine/debug.go
+++ b/engine/debug.go
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(GobDumper{})
-	gob.Register(PerfDisplay{})
+	gob.Register(&GobDumper{})
+	gob.Register(&PerfDisplay{})
 }
 
 // DebugToast debugprints a string for a while, then disappears.
diff --git a/engine/fill.go b/engine/fill.go
index 7864102..3d28fcc 100644
--- a/engine/fill.go
+++ b/engine/fill.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package engine
 
 import (
+	"encoding/gob"
 	"image/color"
 
 	"github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten/v2"
@@ -9,6 +10,12 @@ import (
 // Ensure Fill satisfies Drawer.
 var _ Drawer = &Fill{}
 
+func init() {
+	gob.Register(Fill{})
+	gob.Register(color.Gray{})
+	gob.Register(color.RGBA{})
+}
+
 // Fill fills the screen with a colour.
 type Fill struct {
 	ID
diff --git a/engine/game.go b/engine/game.go
index 2f122cd..9fb77ff 100644
--- a/engine/game.go
+++ b/engine/game.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(Game{})
+	gob.Register(&Game{})
 }
 
 // Game implements the ebiten methods using a collection of components.
diff --git a/engine/image.go b/engine/image.go
index 29ef64b..e70159a 100644
--- a/engine/image.go
+++ b/engine/image.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(Image{})
+	gob.Register(&Image{})
 }
 
 // Image draws an image at a position.
diff --git a/engine/scene.go b/engine/scene.go
index 338974f..0ef0e13 100644
--- a/engine/scene.go
+++ b/engine/scene.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 var _ Scener = &Scene{}
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(Scene{})
+	gob.Register(&Scene{})
 }
 
 // Scene manages drawing and updating a bunch of components.
diff --git a/engine/sceneref.go b/engine/sceneref.go
index ccfc38c..e887969 100644
--- a/engine/sceneref.go
+++ b/engine/sceneref.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func init() {
 //
 //    var sc = &Scene{
 //	    Components: []interface{}{
-//			SceneRef{Path: "assets/foo.gob.gz"}  // inflated at Load time
+//			&SceneRef{Path: "assets/foo.gob.gz"}  // inflated at Load time
 //		},
 //    }
 type SceneRef struct {
diff --git a/engine/solid.go b/engine/solid.go
index 21288fa..a681949 100644
--- a/engine/solid.go
+++ b/engine/solid.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 var _ Collider = SolidRect{}
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(SolidRect{})
+	gob.Register(&SolidRect{})
 }
 
 type SolidRect struct {
diff --git a/engine/sprite.go b/engine/sprite.go
index 713dd27..d1d25c5 100644
--- a/engine/sprite.go
+++ b/engine/sprite.go
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(Sprite{})
+	gob.Register(&Sprite{})
 }
 
 // Sprite combines an Actor with the ability to Draw from a single spritesheet.
diff --git a/engine/tiles.go b/engine/tiles.go
index 93934ce..acea945 100644
--- a/engine/tiles.go
+++ b/engine/tiles.go
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(AnimatedTile{})
+	gob.Register(&AnimatedTile{})
 	gob.Register(StaticTile(0))
-	gob.Register(Tilemap{})
+	gob.Register(&Tilemap{})
 }
 
 // Tilemap renders a grid of tiles.
diff --git a/game/assets/level1.gobz b/game/assets/level1.gobz
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..72ccf22
Binary files /dev/null and b/game/assets/level1.gobz differ
diff --git a/game/aw.go b/game/aw.go
index 4563f74..dba5d33 100644
--- a/game/aw.go
+++ b/game/aw.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	gob.Register(Awakeman{})
+	gob.Register(&Awakeman{})
 }
 
 type Awakeman struct {
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 8de1fbe..4967abd 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -16,95 +16,101 @@ func main() {
 	ebiten.SetWindowSize(640, 480)
 	ebiten.SetWindowTitle("TODO")
 
-	redTileAnim := &engine.Anim{Frames: []engine.AnimFrame{
-		{Frame: 3, Duration: 12},
-		{Frame: 4, Duration: 12},
-		{Frame: 5, Duration: 12},
-		{Frame: 6, Duration: 12},
-	}}
-	greenTileAnim := &engine.Anim{Frames: []engine.AnimFrame{
-		{Frame: 0, Duration: 16},
-		{Frame: 1, Duration: 16},
-		{Frame: 2, Duration: 16},
-	}}
-	denseTiles := [][]engine.Tile{
-		{engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9)},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil},
-		{nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), engine.StaticTile(9), engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
-		{engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8)},
-		{engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7)},
-		{engine.StaticTile(9), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(9)},
-	}
-	tiles := make(map[image.Point]engine.Tile)
-	for j, row := range denseTiles {
-		for i, tile := range row {
-			if tile == nil {
-				continue
-			}
-			tiles[image.Pt(i, j)] = tile
+	if false {
+		redTileAnim := &engine.Anim{Frames: []engine.AnimFrame{
+			{Frame: 3, Duration: 12},
+			{Frame: 4, Duration: 12},
+			{Frame: 5, Duration: 12},
+			{Frame: 6, Duration: 12},
+		}}
+		greenTileAnim := &engine.Anim{Frames: []engine.AnimFrame{
+			{Frame: 0, Duration: 16},
+			{Frame: 1, Duration: 16},
+			{Frame: 2, Duration: 16},
+		}}
+		denseTiles := [][]engine.Tile{
+			{engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9)},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil},
+			{nil, nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), engine.StaticTile(9), engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, engine.StaticTile(9), nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil, nil},
+			{engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8), engine.StaticTile(8)},
+			{engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: redTileAnim.Copy()}, engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.AnimatedTile{Animer: greenTileAnim.Copy()}, engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7)},
+			{engine.StaticTile(9), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(7), engine.StaticTile(9)},
+		}
+		tiles := make(map[image.Point]engine.Tile)
+		for j, row := range denseTiles {
+			for i, tile := range row {
+				if tile == nil {
+					continue
+				}
+				tiles[image.Pt(i, j)] = tile
+			}
 		}
-	}
 
-	level1 := &engine.Scene{
-		ID:     "level_1",
-		Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(-32, -32, 320+32, 240+32)),
-		Components: []interface{}{
-			&engine.Fill{
-				Color:  color.Gray{100},
-				ZOrder: 0,
-			},
-			&engine.Image{
-				ID:       "bg_image",
-				Parallax: 0.5,
-				ZOrder:   1,
-				Pos:      image.Pt(-160, -120),
-				Src:      engine.ImageRef{Path: "assets/space.png"},
-			},
-			&engine.Tilemap{
-				ID:       "terrain",
-				ZOrder:   2,
-				Map:      tiles,
-				Src:      engine.ImageRef{Path: "assets/boxes.png"},
-				TileSize: 16,
-			},
-			&engine.SolidRect{
-				ID:     "ceiling",
-				Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(0, -1, 320, 0)),
-			},
-			&engine.SolidRect{
-				ID:     "left_wall",
-				Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(-1, 0, 0, 240)),
-			},
-			&engine.SolidRect{
-				ID:     "right_wall",
-				Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(320, 0, 321, 240)),
-			},
-			&game.Awakeman{
-				CameraID: "game_camera",
-				ToastID:  "toast",
-				Sprite: engine.Sprite{
-					ID: "awakeman",
-					Actor: engine.Actor{
-						CollisionDomain: "level_1",
-						Pos:             image.Pt(100, 100),
-						Size:            image.Pt(8, 16),
+		level1 := &engine.Scene{
+			ID:     "level_1",
+			Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(-32, -32, 320+32, 240+32)),
+			Components: []interface{}{
+				&engine.Fill{
+					Color:  color.Gray{100},
+					ZOrder: 0,
+				},
+				&engine.Image{
+					ID:       "bg_image",
+					Parallax: 0.5,
+					ZOrder:   1,
+					Pos:      image.Pt(-160, -120),
+					Src:      engine.ImageRef{Path: "assets/space.png"},
+				},
+				&engine.Tilemap{
+					ID:       "terrain",
+					ZOrder:   2,
+					Map:      tiles,
+					Src:      engine.ImageRef{Path: "assets/boxes.png"},
+					TileSize: 16,
+				},
+				&engine.SolidRect{
+					ID:     "ceiling",
+					Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(0, -1, 320, 0)),
+				},
+				&engine.SolidRect{
+					ID:     "left_wall",
+					Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(-1, 0, 0, 240)),
+				},
+				&engine.SolidRect{
+					ID:     "right_wall",
+					Bounds: engine.Bounds(image.Rect(320, 0, 321, 240)),
+				},
+				&game.Awakeman{
+					CameraID: "game_camera",
+					ToastID:  "toast",
+					Sprite: engine.Sprite{
+						ID: "awakeman",
+						Actor: engine.Actor{
+							CollisionDomain: "level_1",
+							Pos:             image.Pt(100, 100),
+							Size:            image.Pt(8, 16),
+						},
+						ZOrder:      3,
+						FrameOffset: image.Pt(-1, 0),
+						FrameSize:   image.Pt(10, 16),
+						Src:         engine.ImageRef{Path: "assets/aw.png"},
 					},
-					ZOrder:      3,
-					FrameOffset: image.Pt(-1, 0),
-					FrameSize:   image.Pt(10, 16),
-					Src:         engine.ImageRef{Path: "assets/aw.png"},
 				},
 			},
-		},
+		}
+
+		if err := engine.SaveGobz(level1, "level1.gobz"); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("Couldn't save level1.gobz: %v", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	g := &engine.Game{
@@ -118,7 +124,7 @@ func main() {
 				},
 				&engine.Camera{
 					ID:    "game_camera",
-					Scene: level1,
+					Scene: &engine.SceneRef{Path: "assets/level1.gobz"},
 				},
 				&engine.DebugToast{
 					ID: "toast",