diff --git a/client/player_character.cpp b/client/player_character.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e20c92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/player_character.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+/* Copyright: (c) Kayne Ruse 2013
+ * 
+ * This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+ * warranty. In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+ * arising from the use of this software.
+ * 
+ * Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+ * including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+ * freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+ * 
+ * 1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+ * claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+ * in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+ * appreciated but is not required.
+ * 
+ * 2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+ * misrepresented as being the original software.
+ * 
+ * 3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source
+ * distribution.
+*/
+#include "player_character.hpp"
+
+#define WALKING_SPEED 140
+
+void PlayerCharacter::Update(double delta) {
+	if (diagonal) {
+		constexpr double d = 1.0/sqrt(2);
+		position += motion * delta * d;
+	}
+	else {
+		position += motion * delta;
+	}
+	sprite.Update(delta);
+}
+
+void PlayerCharacter::AdjustDirection(Direction direction) {
+	//shift the movement in this direction
+	switch(direction) {
+		case Direction::NORTH:
+			if (motion.y >= 0) {
+				motion.y -= WALKING_SPEED;
+			}
+		break;
+		case Direction::SOUTH:
+			if (motion.y <= 0) {
+				motion.y += WALKING_SPEED;
+			}
+		break;
+		case Direction::WEST:
+			if (motion.x >= 0) {
+				motion.x -= WALKING_SPEED;
+			}
+		break;
+		case Direction::EAST:
+			if (motion.x <= 0) {
+				motion.x += WALKING_SPEED;
+			}
+		break;
+	}
+	//face the correct direction
+	ResetDirection();
+}
+
+void PlayerCharacter::FaceDirection(Direction direction) {
+	//this function depends on the format of the sprite sheets
+	switch(direction) {
+		case Direction::NORTH:
+			sprite.SetYIndex(1);
+		break;
+		case Direction::SOUTH:
+			sprite.SetYIndex(0);
+		break;
+		case Direction::WEST:
+			sprite.SetYIndex(2);
+		break;
+		case Direction::EAST:
+			sprite.SetYIndex(3);
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+void PlayerCharacter::ResetDirection() {
+	//base the direction on the character's movement
+	if (motion.y > 0) {
+		FaceDirection(Direction::SOUTH);
+	}
+	else if (motion.y < 0) {
+		FaceDirection(Direction::NORTH);
+	}
+	else if (motion.x > 0) {
+		FaceDirection(Direction::EAST);
+	}
+	else if (motion.x < 0) {
+		FaceDirection(Direction::WEST);
+	}
+	ResetSpeed();
+}
+
+void PlayerCharacter::ResetSpeed() {
+	//diagonal
+	if (motion.x != 0 && motion.y != 0) {
+		sprite.SetDelay(0.1);
+		diagonal = true;
+	}
+	//cardinal
+	else if (motion != 0) {
+		sprite.SetDelay(0.1);
+		diagonal = false;
+	}
+	//not moving
+	else {
+		sprite.SetDelay(0);
+		sprite.SetXIndex(0);
+		diagonal = false;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/client/player_character.hpp b/client/player_character.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b33baca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/player_character.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/* Copyright: (c) Kayne Ruse 2013
+ * 
+ * This software is provided 'as-is', without any express or implied
+ * warranty. In no event will the authors be held liable for any damages
+ * arising from the use of this software.
+ * 
+ * Permission is granted to anyone to use this software for any purpose,
+ * including commercial applications, and to alter it and redistribute it
+ * freely, subject to the following restrictions:
+ * 
+ * 1. The origin of this software must not be misrepresented; you must not
+ * claim that you wrote the original software. If you use this software
+ * in a product, an acknowledgment in the product documentation would be
+ * appreciated but is not required.
+ * 
+ * 2. Altered source versions must be plainly marked as such, and must not be
+ * misrepresented as being the original software.
+ * 
+ * 3. This notice may not be removed or altered from any source
+ * distribution.
+*/
+#ifndef PLAYERCHARACTER_HPP_
+#define PLAYERCHARACTER_HPP_
+
+#include "vector2.hpp"
+#include "sprite_sheet.hpp"
+
+class PlayerCharacter {
+public:
+	enum class Direction {
+		NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST
+	};
+
+	PlayerCharacter() = default;
+	~PlayerCharacter() = default;
+
+	void Update(double delta);
+
+	void DrawTo(SDL_Surface* const dest) { sprite.DrawTo(dest, position.x, position.y); }
+
+	//clunky code results in smooth movement and controls
+	void AdjustDirection(Direction);
+	void FaceDirection(Direction);
+	void ResetDirection();
+	void ResetSpeed();
+
+	//accessors and mutators
+	Vector2 SetPosition(Vector2 v) { return position = v; }
+	Vector2 ShiftPosition(Vector2 v) { return position += v; }
+	Vector2 GetPosition() { return position; }
+
+	Vector2 SetMotion(Vector2 v) { return motion = v; }
+	Vector2 ShiftMotion(Vector2 v) { return motion += v; }
+	Vector2 GetMotion() { return motion; }
+
+	SpriteSheet* GetSprite() { return &sprite; }
+private:
+	Vector2 position;
+	Vector2 motion;
+	SpriteSheet sprite;
+
+	//for moving diagonally
+	bool diagonal = false;
+};
+
+#endif