diff --git a/include/map.h b/include/map.h
index 49fff07..8c6dc0f 100644
--- a/include/map.h
+++ b/include/map.h
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ void loadMapByName(char *name);
 void loadMap(map_t map);
 
 
+//load next map in stored maps (rotate through stored maps)
+void rotateMapNext();
+
+
 //return true when provided coordinate matches the position of a collision box
 bool checkCollides(map_t map, int x, int y);
 
diff --git a/src/game.c b/src/game.c
index 4f8933a..7c899e9 100644
--- a/src/game.c
+++ b/src/game.c
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@ gameData_t game = {
 void gameInit()
 {
     LOGI("game: initializing game...\n");
-    //----- snake -----
-    // defines initial values of game.snake
-    snakeInit(); //TODO assign return value to game.snake?
-
     //----- load map -----
     //load default map if no map loaded yet
     if (!game.mapIsLoaded){
@@ -41,6 +37,10 @@ void gameInit()
         loadMapByName(config.defaultMapName);
     }
     
+    //----- snake -----
+    // defines initial values of game.snake
+    snakeInit(); //TODO assign return value to game.snake?
+
     //--- place initial food ---
     placeFood();
     LOGI("game: placed initial food at x=%d, y=%d\n", game.foodX, game.foodY);
diff --git a/src/input.c b/src/input.c
index 832da9b..c1adfff 100644
--- a/src/input.c
+++ b/src/input.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "game.h"
 #include "menu.h"
 #include "snake.h"
+#include "map.h"
 
 
 
@@ -18,16 +19,17 @@ void handleInput_runningState(SDL_Event event)
 {
     switch (event.key.keysym.sym)
     {
-    case SDLK_q:
+    case SDLK_q: // q: quit
         game.gameState = EXIT;
         break;
 
-    case SDLK_p:
+    case SDLK_p: // p: pause
     case SDLK_ESCAPE:
         game.gameState = PAUSED;
         showPauseScreen();
         break;
 
+        //--- control snake direction ---
     case SDLK_UP:
     case SDLK_w:
         snakeSetDir(UP);
@@ -48,14 +50,26 @@ void handleInput_runningState(SDL_Event event)
         snakeSetDir(RIGHT);
         break;
 
+    case SDLK_m: // m: cycle through maps
+        rotateMapNext();
+        break;
+
+    case SDLK_2: // 2: speed up game by increment
+        config.cycleDurationMs -= sqrt(config.cycleDurationMs) + 1;
+        if (config.cycleDurationMs < 20)
+            config.cycleDurationMs = 20;
+        break;
+
+    case SDLK_1: // 1: slow down game by increment
+        config.cycleDurationMs += 50;
+        break;
+
     default:
         LOGD("input: key %d is not handled in RUNNING mode\n", event.key.keysym.sym);
     }
     return;
 }
 
-
-
 //=============================
 //===== processInputEvent =====
 //=============================
diff --git a/src/map.c b/src/map.c
index c2e943f..879c3c0 100644
--- a/src/map.c
+++ b/src/map.c
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #include "game.h"
 #include "common.h"
 
+int indexLoadedMap = 0;
+
 //===========================
 //==== renderGameToArray ====
 //===========================
@@ -167,6 +169,20 @@ void loadMap(map_t map)
 }
 
 
+//===========================
+//====== rotateMapNext ======
+//===========================
+//load next map in stored maps (rotate through stored maps)
+void rotateMapNext(){
+    if (indexLoadedMap >= storedMapsCount -1 ){
+        indexLoadedMap = 0;
+    } else {
+        indexLoadedMap ++;
+    }
+    loadMap(*storedMaps[indexLoadedMap]);
+}
+
+
 
 //===========================
 //====== checkCollides ======
@@ -208,7 +224,7 @@ static const map_t map_default = {
 
 static const map_t map_empty = {
     .width = 20,
-    .height = 10,
+    .height = 15,
     .name = "empty",
     .collisions = {},
     .collisionCount = 0,
@@ -225,7 +241,7 @@ static const map_t map_intermediate = {
     .width = 15,
     .height = 15,
     .name = "intermediate",
-    .collisions = {{8, 9}, {8, 8}, {4, 5}, {0, 1}, {9, 9}, {7, 5}, {4, 0}, {3, 0}, {12, 11}, {14, 13}},
+    .collisions = {{8, 9}, {8, 8}, {4, 6}, {0, 1}, {9, 9}, {7, 6}, {4, 0}, {3, 0}, {12, 11}, {14, 13}},
     .collisionCount = 10,
     .portals = {
         {.posX = 5,