diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index ed581fd..6bd143b 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ set(SOURCES
     src/menu.c
     src/render.c
     src/snake.c
+    src/map.c
 )
 
 
diff --git a/function-flowcharts.drawio.pdf b/function-flowcharts.drawio.pdf
index 4ace888..2d6b865 100644
Binary files a/function-flowcharts.drawio.pdf and b/function-flowcharts.drawio.pdf differ
diff --git a/include/config.h b/include/config.h
index 69be4a6..8c16e19 100644
--- a/include/config.h
+++ b/include/config.h
@@ -2,14 +2,12 @@
 
 // global configuration macros
 #define MAX_MAP_SIZE 10
-#define MAX_PORTALS 5              // Maximalanzahl an Portale
+#define MAX_MAP_FIELDS (MAX_MAP_SIZE*MAX_MAP_SIZE)
 
 // struct for storing game configuration
 typedef struct config_t
 {
   const int windowSize;            // feste Größe des Spielfensters
-  int mapWidth;                    // =10     //Kartenbreite
-  int mapHeight;                   // =10    //Kartenhöhe
   //Breite und Höhe sind gleich -> Spielfeld ist quadratisch
   int blockSizePx;                 // Pixelgröße von einem Block
   //wird über windowSize/mapHeight berechnet
diff --git a/include/game.h b/include/game.h
index cf2cd8d..2aaa19a 100644
--- a/include/game.h
+++ b/include/game.h
@@ -2,34 +2,28 @@
 
 #include "snake.h"
 #include "config.h"
+#include "map.h"
 
+// Enum that defines the current game state
 typedef enum gameState_t
 {
-    PAUSED = 0,
-    MENU,
-    RUNNING
+  EXIT = 0,
+  RUNNING,
+  MENU,
+  PAUSED
 } gameState_t;
 
-typedef struct portal_t
-{
-  int posX, posY;
-  int targetX, targetY;
-
-  char * color;
-} portal_t;
 
+// Struct that stores all data of the running game (all game-related functions access it globally)
 typedef struct gameData_t
 {
-    snake_t snake;
-    int mapCollisions[MAX_MAP_SIZE][MAX_MAP_SIZE]; // Position der Wände
-    portal_t mapPortals[MAX_PORTALS];       
-    int mapPortalCount;   // Anzahl der Portale
-
-    int foodX, foodY;   // Positon des Futters (es gibt immer nur 1 Futter)
-    int lifesRemaining; // implementieren wir nicht!!
-    int timestampLastRun;
-    bool isPaused;
-    gameState_t gameState;
+  snake_t snake;
+  map_t map;          // definition der geladenen karte
+  bool mapIsLoaded; // true when config.map is valid
+  int foodX, foodY;   // Positon des Futters (es gibt immer nur 1 Futter)
+  int lifesRemaining; // implementieren wir nicht!!
+  int timestampLastCycle;
+  gameState_t gameState;
 } gameData_t;
 
 // global struct for storing all game data (defined in game.c)
@@ -41,21 +35,14 @@ void gameInit();
 // ruft placeFood auf
 // platziert Wände
 
-bool checkIsCollided();
-// Überprüft, ob Snake mit Gegenstand/Wand kollidiert ist
-// if true -> gibt 1 an runGameCycle zurück
-
-
-void handlePortals(); // optional
+void handlePortals(); //(local)
 // Prüft, ob Snake sich auf einem Portal befindet
 //if true: snakeSetHeadPos auf
 
 void runGameCycle();
-// macht immer: handleKeyboardEvents();
-// optional: ruft checkCollision() auf
+// checkCollision() auf
 // ruft placeFood() auf
 // ruft checkEaten() auf
 // if checkEaten then snakeGrow()
-// if TickDue: Snakemove(), TickTimerReset
-// ruft snakeMove() auf
+// Snakemove(), TickTimerReset
 //ruft am Ende vom gameCycle renderGame() auf
diff --git a/include/map.h b/include/map.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b66719c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/map.h
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include "config.h"
+
+
+// Struct that stores all information needed for one Portal on the map
+typedef struct portal_t
+{
+  int posX, posY;
+  int targetX, targetY;
+  char *color;
+} portal_t;
+
+// Struct that stores all information needed for one Collision box on the map
+typedef struct collisionBox_t
+{
+  int posX, posY;
+} collisionBox_t;
+
+// Struct that describes an entire map
+typedef struct map_t {
+    int width;
+    int height;
+    const char *name[128];
+    collisionBox_t collisions[MAX_MAP_FIELDS];
+    int collisionCount;
+    portal_t portals[MAX_MAP_FIELDS];
+    int portalCount;
+} map_t;
+
+//return true when provided coordinate matches a collision box
+bool checkCollides(int x, int y);
+
+//generate random map based on difficulty level
+map_t generateMap(int difficulty);
+
+//search and load map by name (if not found loads default map)
+void loadMapByName(char *name);
+
+//load map by passed definition
+void loadMap(map_t map);
+
diff --git a/module-overview.drawio.pdf b/module-overview.drawio.pdf
index 74c19cb..6f9ef3d 100644
Binary files a/module-overview.drawio.pdf and b/module-overview.drawio.pdf differ
diff --git a/src/game.c b/src/game.c
index 04ed9fd..179343b 100644
--- a/src/game.c
+++ b/src/game.c
@@ -1,4 +1,49 @@
 #include "game.h"
+#include "map.h"
 
 // global struct for storing all game data
-gameData_t game;
\ No newline at end of file
+gameData_t game;
+
+//========================
+//======= gameInit =======
+//========================
+void gameInit()
+{
+    //----- snake -----
+    // defines initial values of game.snake
+    // snakeInit(); FIXME: uncomment when implemented
+
+    //----- load map -----
+    //load default map if no map loaded yet
+    if (!game.mapIsLoaded){
+        char * defaultName = "default";
+        loadMapByName("default");
+    }
+    // place initial food
+    //placeFood(); FIXME uncomment when implemented
+
+    //----- initialize variables -----
+    game.lifesRemaining = 1;
+    // game.lifesRemaining = config.maxLifes; TODO: add maxLifes to config
+    // game.gameState = RUNNING; ??
+
+    game.timestampLastCycle = -config.cycleDurationMs; // next cycle starts immediately
+}
+
+//=========================
+//===== handlePortals =====
+//=========================
+void handlePortals()
+{
+    return;
+}
+
+//==========================
+//====== runGameCycle ======
+//==========================
+void runGameCycle()
+{
+    if (checkCollides(game.snake.headX, game.snake.headY))
+        return;
+    return;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/map.c b/src/map.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc4daac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/map.c
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#include "map.h"
+#include "game.h"
+
+// generate random map based on difficulty level
+map_t generateMap(int difficulty)
+{
+    map_t newMap;
+    return newMap;
+    // TODO add map generator
+}
+
+// search and load map by name (if not found loads default map)
+void loadMapByName(char *name)
+{
+    return;
+    // TODO add map presets
+}
+
+// load map by passed definition
+void loadMap(map_t map)
+{
+    game.map = map;
+    game.mapIsLoaded = true;
+    return;
+}
+
+// check if there is collision at certain coordinate
+bool checkCollides(int x, int y)
+{
+    // loop through all collision boxes on the map
+    for (int i = 0; i < game.map.collisionCount; i++)
+    {
+        // return true if match found
+        if (game.map.collisions[i].posX == x && game.map.collisions[i].posY == y)
+            return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
+
+//TODO add map presets here:
\ No newline at end of file