diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e776c8b..1240192 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ endif()
 
 # --- Locate SDL2 ---
 # Uses SDL2_DIR on Windows, on Linux it's found automatically
-# Locate SDL2
 find_package(SDL2 REQUIRED)
 
 # --- Locate SDL2_ttf ---
@@ -57,21 +56,67 @@ set(SOURCES
 )
 
 
+#--- executable ---
 add_executable(Snake ${SOURCES})
 
 
 #--- link libraries ---
 if(WIN32)
+    # Link libraries statically on Windows to prevent missing basic libraries on other systems.
+    target_link_options(Snake PRIVATE -static)
     target_link_libraries(Snake ${SDL2_LIBRARIES} ${SDL_TTF_LIBRARIES})
 else()
     target_link_libraries(Snake SDL2::SDL2 SDL2_ttf::SDL2_ttf)
 endif()
 
 
+# --- Copy assets to output folder ---
+file(COPY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/assets DESTINATION ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR})
+
+
 # --- Copy SDL2 DLLs to the output folder on Windows ---
 if(WIN32)
     foreach(DLL ${SDL2_DLLS} ${SDL2_TTF_DLLS})
         add_custom_command(TARGET Snake POST_BUILD COMMAND
             ${CMAKE_COMMAND} -E copy_if_different ${DLL} $<TARGET_FILE_DIR:Snake>)
     endforeach()
+endif()
+
+
+
+
+############################################
+######## generate release .zip file ########
+############################################
+# Generate a distributable ZIP archive for sharing the game.
+# Note: currently only intended for windows systems
+# Usage:
+#   1. Build the project: cd build && cmake .. && make
+#   2. Generate ZIP file: cpack
+#   3. Share the ZIP file for others to run the game effortlessly.
+if(WIN32)
+# generator for zip archive TODO add other generator e.g. installer
+set(CPACK_GENERATOR "ZIP")
+
+# Specify to exclude the top-level directory from the archive.
+set(CPACK_INCLUDE_TOPLEVEL_DIRECTORY ON)
+
+# Specify the components to be included in the package
+install(TARGETS Snake
+        RUNTIME DESTINATION .
+        COMPONENT Runtime
+)
+
+# copy DLL files
+install(FILES ${SDL2_DLLS} ${SDL2_TTF_DLLS}
+        DESTINATION .
+        COMPONENT Runtime
+)
+# copy assets folder
+install(DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/assets
+        DESTINATION .
+        COMPONENT Assets
+)
+
+include(CPack)
 endif()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/fonts/CenturyGothic.ttf b/assets/fonts/CenturyGothic.ttf
similarity index 100%
rename from fonts/CenturyGothic.ttf
rename to assets/fonts/CenturyGothic.ttf
diff --git a/fonts/Prototype.ttf b/assets/fonts/Prototype.ttf
similarity index 100%
rename from fonts/Prototype.ttf
rename to assets/fonts/Prototype.ttf
diff --git a/fonts/Quirkus.ttf b/assets/fonts/Quirkus.ttf
similarity index 100%
rename from fonts/Quirkus.ttf
rename to assets/fonts/Quirkus.ttf
diff --git a/fonts/ZIPERHEA.ttf b/assets/fonts/ZIPERHEA.ttf
similarity index 100%
rename from fonts/ZIPERHEA.ttf
rename to assets/fonts/ZIPERHEA.ttf
diff --git a/assets/player_scores.bin b/assets/player_scores.bin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12df44f
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/player_scores.bin differ
diff --git a/sounds/crash_rock-cinematic.wav b/assets/sounds/crash_rock-cinematic.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/crash_rock-cinematic.wav
rename to assets/sounds/crash_rock-cinematic.wav
diff --git a/sounds/eat-bite1.wav b/assets/sounds/eat-bite1.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/eat-bite1.wav
rename to assets/sounds/eat-bite1.wav
diff --git a/sounds/eat-bite2.wav b/assets/sounds/eat-bite2.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/eat-bite2.wav
rename to assets/sounds/eat-bite2.wav
diff --git a/sounds/eat-crunch1.wav b/assets/sounds/eat-crunch1.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/eat-crunch1.wav
rename to assets/sounds/eat-crunch1.wav
diff --git a/sounds/eat-crunch2.wav b/assets/sounds/eat-crunch2.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/eat-crunch2.wav
rename to assets/sounds/eat-crunch2.wav
diff --git a/sounds/portal1_short.wav b/assets/sounds/portal1_short.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/portal1_short.wav
rename to assets/sounds/portal1_short.wav
diff --git a/sounds/portal2_oscillate.wav b/assets/sounds/portal2_oscillate.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/portal2_oscillate.wav
rename to assets/sounds/portal2_oscillate.wav
diff --git a/sounds/portal3_in-out.wav b/assets/sounds/portal3_in-out.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/portal3_in-out.wav
rename to assets/sounds/portal3_in-out.wav
diff --git a/sounds/portal4_ramp.wav b/assets/sounds/portal4_ramp.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/portal4_ramp.wav
rename to assets/sounds/portal4_ramp.wav
diff --git a/sounds/space-gun.wav b/assets/sounds/space-gun.wav
similarity index 100%
rename from sounds/space-gun.wav
rename to assets/sounds/space-gun.wav
diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index e482e95..4da2d06 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ config_t config = {
     .cycleDurationMs = 400,
     .difficulty = 1,
     .snakeDefaultLength = 2,
-    .leaderboardFilename = "",
+    .leaderboardFilename = "player_scores.bin",
     //.defaultMapName = "default"      //10x10
     .defaultMapName = "intermediate" //15x15
     //.defaultMapName = "empty"        //20x10
diff --git a/src/game.c b/src/game.c
index e17ecd8..2b811cf 100644
--- a/src/game.c
+++ b/src/game.c
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ gameData_t game = {
 
 // list of audio files randomly played when food eaten
 const char *eatSounds[] = {
-    "../sounds/eat-bite1.wav",
-    "../sounds/eat-bite2.wav",
-    "../sounds/eat-crunch1.wav",
-    "../sounds/eat-crunch2.wav"};
+    "assets/sounds/eat-bite1.wav",
+    "assets/sounds/eat-bite2.wav",
+    "assets/sounds/eat-crunch1.wav",
+    "assets/sounds/eat-crunch2.wav"};
 #define EAT_SOUNDS_COUNT 4
 
 
@@ -76,11 +76,11 @@ void handlePortals()
             snakeSetHeadPos(p.targetX, p.targetY);
             LOGI("game: entered portal i=%d at x=%d, y=%d -> set head to x=%d y=%d\n", i, p.posX, p.posY, p.targetX, p.targetY);
             //--- play sound ---
-            //playSoundAsync("../sounds/portal1_short.wav"); //too short
-            //playSoundAsync("../sounds/portal2_oscillate.wav"); //too much bass
-            //playSoundAsync("../sounds/space-gun.wav"); //too loud
-            playSoundAsync("../sounds/portal3_in-out.wav");
-            //playSoundAsync("../sounds/portal4_ramp.wav");
+            //playSoundAsync("assets/sounds/portal1_short.wav"); //too short
+            //playSoundAsync("assets/sounds/portal2_oscillate.wav"); //too much bass
+            //playSoundAsync("assets/sounds/space-gun.wav"); //too loud
+            playSoundAsync("assets/sounds/portal3_in-out.wav");
+            //playSoundAsync("assets/sounds/portal4_ramp.wav");
             return;
         }
     }
@@ -111,12 +111,12 @@ void runGameCycle()
         // TODO consider game.lifesRemaining and reset if still good?
         //--- play crash sound ---
         LOGI("game: collided with wall or self! => show leaderboard\n");
-        playSound("../sounds/crash_rock-cinematic.wav", false); 
+        playSound("assets/sounds/crash_rock-cinematic.wav", false); 
         DELAY(200);
         //--- leaderboard ---
         //game.gameState = MENU; //TODO add config.collisionEnabled option?
-        savePlayerScore("../build/player_scores.bin"/*(game.snake.length - config.snakeDefaultLength), ttlStorage.userName, config.difficulty, *storedMaps[ttlStorage.userSelectedMap - 1]*/);
-        readTopScores("../build/player_scores.bin");
+        savePlayerScore(config.leaderboardFilename/*(game.snake.length - config.snakeDefaultLength), ttlStorage.userName, config.difficulty, *storedMaps[ttlStorage.userSelectedMap - 1]*/);
+        readTopScores(config.leaderboardFilename);
         game.gameState = MENU;
         activeMenu = LEADERBOARD;
         return;
diff --git a/src/render.c b/src/render.c
index 8ec408e..0dfeaf6 100644
--- a/src/render.c
+++ b/src/render.c
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ void renderStartMenu()
     //=========== only first loop ================
     if(ttlStorage.lastTimeStep == 0)
     {
-        ttlStorage.ptrFont_200 = TTF_OpenFont("../fonts/Quirkus.ttf", ttlStorage.fontSize_200);
-        ttlStorage.ptrFont_30 = TTF_OpenFont("../fonts/Quirkus.ttf", ttlStorage.fontSize_30);
+        ttlStorage.ptrFont_200 = TTF_OpenFont("assets/fonts/Quirkus.ttf", ttlStorage.fontSize_200);
+        ttlStorage.ptrFont_30 = TTF_OpenFont("assets/fonts/Quirkus.ttf", ttlStorage.fontSize_30);
 
 
         SDL_Color textColor1 = {255, 0, 255}; // rosa Text
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ void renderSettings()
     //=========== only first loop ================
     if(ttlStorage.lastTimeStep == 0)
     {  
-        ttlStorage.ptrFont_20 = TTF_OpenFont("../fonts/Prototype.ttf", ttlStorage.fontSize_20);
+        ttlStorage.ptrFont_20 = TTF_OpenFont("assets/fonts/Prototype.ttf", ttlStorage.fontSize_20);
         SDL_StartTextInput();     // start text input
     }