diff --git a/game.go b/game.go
index edf2675..872c1a8 100644
--- a/game.go
+++ b/game.go
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@ type Game struct {
 	projectileMask *ebiten.Image
 
 	Pos         Coordinates
+	Paused      bool
 	initialized bool
 	mover       *Mover
 	projectiles map[int]*Projectile
 	explosion   *Explosion
 
 	counter int
+	timer   int
 	targets []*Mover
 
 	gamepadIDsBuf []ebiten.GamepadID
@@ -69,17 +71,6 @@ func (g *Game) Update() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	//handle gamepad input
-	inpx := ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 0)
-	inpy := ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 1)
-	if inpx >= 0.15 || inpx <= -0.15 {
-		g.mover.Pos.X += ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 0) * 5
-	}
-
-	if inpy >= 0.15 || inpy <= -0.15 {
-		g.mover.Pos.Y += ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 1) * 5
-	}
-
 	if !g.initialized {
 		g.Initialize()
 
@@ -89,7 +80,7 @@ func (g *Game) Update() error {
 		g.StepGame()
 	}
 
-	g.CleanupTargets()
+	g.timer++
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -165,22 +156,28 @@ func (g *Game) StepGame() {
 
 	g.HandleInput()
 
-	g.mover.Update()
-	g.explosion.Update()
+	if !g.Paused {
 
-	g.UpdateTargets()
-	g.UpdateProjectiles()
+		g.UpdateHeroPosition()
 
-	//append new projectiles
-	g.AppendProjectiles()
+		g.mover.Update()
+		g.explosion.Update()
 
-	//add new target with increasing frequency
-	g.AddNewTargets()
+		g.UpdateTargets()
+		g.UpdateProjectiles()
 
-	//handle pulsewave updates
-	g.HandlePulseWaveUpdate()
+		//append new projectiles
+		g.AppendProjectiles()
 
-	g.counter++
+		//add new target with increasing frequency
+		g.AddNewTargets()
+
+		//handle pulsewave updates
+		g.HandlePulseWaveUpdate()
+
+		g.CleanupTargets()
+		g.counter++
+	}
 }
 
 func (g *Game) AddNewTargets() {
@@ -294,17 +291,18 @@ func (g *Game) AppendProjectiles() {
 
 func (g *Game) HandleInput() {
 	if len(g.gamepadIDs) > 0 {
-		maxButton := ebiten.GamepadButton(ebiten.GamepadButtonCount(0))
-		for b := ebiten.GamepadButton(0); b < maxButton; b++ {
-			if ebiten.IsGamepadButtonPressed(0, ebiten.GamepadButton11) {
-				if !g.explosion.Active {
-					g.explosion.SetOrigin(g.mover.Pos)
-					g.explosion.Reset()
-					g.explosion.ToggleActivate()
-				}
+		if ebiten.IsGamepadButtonPressed(0, ebiten.GamepadButton11) {
+			if !g.explosion.Active {
+				g.explosion.SetOrigin(g.mover.Pos)
+				g.explosion.Reset()
+				g.explosion.ToggleActivate()
 			}
 		}
 
+		if inpututil.IsGamepadButtonJustPressed(0, ebiten.GamepadButton9) {
+			g.Paused = !g.Paused
+		}
+
 		//account for controller sensitivity
 		xaxis := ebiten.StandardGamepadAxisValue(0, ebiten.StandardGamepadAxisRightStickHorizontal)
 		yaxis := ebiten.StandardGamepadAxisValue(0, ebiten.StandardGamepadAxisRightStickVertical)
@@ -320,3 +318,16 @@ func (g *Game) HandleInput() {
 		g.mover.SetAngle(inputangle)
 	}
 }
+
+func (g *Game) UpdateHeroPosition() {
+	//handle gamepad input
+	inpx := ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 0)
+	inpy := ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 1)
+	if inpx >= 0.15 || inpx <= -0.15 {
+		g.mover.Pos.X += ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 0) * 5
+	}
+
+	if inpy >= 0.15 || inpy <= -0.15 {
+		g.mover.Pos.Y += ebiten.GamepadAxisValue(0, 1) * 5
+	}
+}