diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index dafd0fd26..5f01347c1 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ set(ES_SOURCES
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/Sound.cpp
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/SystemData.cpp
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/ThemeData.cpp
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/ThemeData_applicators.cpp
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/VolumeControl.cpp
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/Window.cpp
     ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src/XMLReader.cpp
diff --git a/src/SystemData.cpp b/src/SystemData.cpp
index e7055d510..187b223e8 100644
--- a/src/SystemData.cpp
+++ b/src/SystemData.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,14 @@ SystemData::SystemData(const std::string& name, const std::string& fullName, con
 	mRootFolder->sort(FileSorts::SortTypes.at(0));
 
 	mTheme = std::make_shared<ThemeData>();
-	mTheme->loadFile(getThemePath());
+	try
+	{
+		mTheme->loadFile(getThemePath());
+	} catch(ThemeException& e)
+	{
+		LOG(LogError) << e.what();
+		mTheme = std::make_shared<ThemeData>(); // reset to empty
+	}
 }
 
 SystemData::~SystemData()
diff --git a/src/ThemeData.cpp b/src/ThemeData.cpp
index 229dd18fb..89169779d 100644
--- a/src/ThemeData.cpp
+++ b/src/ThemeData.cpp
@@ -4,81 +4,125 @@
 #include "Sound.h"
 #include "resources/TextureResource.h"
 #include "Log.h"
-#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
-#include <boost/assign.hpp>
 #include "pugiXML/pugixml.hpp"
+#include <boost/assign.hpp>
 
-// Defaults
-std::map<std::string, FontDef > ThemeData::sDefaultFonts = boost::assign::map_list_of
-	("listFont", FontDef(0.045f, ""))
-	("descriptionFont", FontDef(0.035f, ""))
-	("fastSelectLetterFont", FontDef(0.15f, ""));
+std::map< std::string, std::map<std::string, ThemeData::ElementPropertyType> > ThemeData::sElementMap = boost::assign::map_list_of
+	("image", boost::assign::map_list_of
+		("pos", NORMALIZED_PAIR)
+		("size", NORMALIZED_PAIR)
+		("origin", NORMALIZED_PAIR)
+		("path", PATH)
+		("tile", BOOLEAN))
+	("text", boost::assign::map_list_of
+		("pos", NORMALIZED_PAIR)
+		("size", NORMALIZED_PAIR)
+		("text", STRING)
+		("color", COLOR)
+		("fontPath", PATH)
+		("fontSize", FLOAT)
+		("center", BOOLEAN))
+	("textlist", boost::assign::map_list_of
+		("pos", NORMALIZED_PAIR)
+		("size", NORMALIZED_PAIR)
+		("selectorColor", COLOR)
+		("selectedColor", COLOR)
+		("primaryColor", COLOR)
+		("secondaryColor", COLOR)
+		("fontPath", PATH)
+		("fontSize", FLOAT))
+	("sound", boost::assign::map_list_of
+		("path", PATH));
 
-std::map<std::string, unsigned int> ThemeData::sDefaultColors = boost::assign::map_list_of
-	("listPrimaryColor", 0x0000FFFF)
-	("listSecondaryColor", 0x00FF00FF)
-	("listSelectorColor", 0x000000FF)
-	("listSelectedColor", 0x00000000)
-	("descriptionColor", 0x48474DFF)
-	("fastSelectLetterColor", 0xFFFFFFFF)
-	("fastSelectTextColor", 0xDDDDDDFF);
+namespace fs = boost::filesystem;
 
-std::map<std::string, ImageDef> ThemeData::sDefaultImages = boost::assign::map_list_of
-	("backgroundImage", ImageDef("", true))
-	("headerImage", ImageDef("", false))
-	("infoBackgroundImage", ImageDef("", false))
-	("verticalDividerImage", ImageDef("", false))
-	("fastSelectBackgroundImage", ImageDef(":/button.png", false))
-	("systemImage", ImageDef("", false));
+#define MINIMUM_THEME_VERSION 3
+#define CURRENT_THEME_VERSION 3
 
-std::map<std::string, SoundDef> ThemeData::sDefaultSounds = boost::assign::map_list_of
-	("scrollSound", SoundDef(""))
-	("gameSelectSound", SoundDef(""))
-	("backSound", SoundDef(""))
-	("menuOpenSound", SoundDef(""))
-	("menuCloseSound", SoundDef(""));
-
-
-
-const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& ThemeData::getDefault()
-{
-	static const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData> def = std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>(new ThemeData());
-	return def;
-}
+// still TODO:
+// * how to do <include>?
 
 ThemeData::ThemeData()
 {
-	setDefaults();
-
-	std::string defaultDir = getHomePath() + "/.emulationstation/es_theme_default.xml";
-	if(boost::filesystem::exists(defaultDir))
-		loadFile(defaultDir);
+	mVersion = 0;
 }
 
-void ThemeData::setDefaults()
+void ThemeData::loadFile(const std::string& path)
 {
-	mFontMap.clear();
-	mImageMap.clear();
-	mColorMap.clear();
-	mSoundMap.clear();
+	ThemeException error;
+	error.setFile(path);
 
-	mFontMap = sDefaultFonts;
-	mImageMap = sDefaultImages;
-	mColorMap = sDefaultColors;
-	mSoundMap = sDefaultSounds;
+	mPath = path;
+
+	if(!fs::exists(path))
+		throw error << "Missing file!";
+
+	mVersion = 0;
+	mViews.clear();
+
+	pugi::xml_document doc;
+	pugi::xml_parse_result res = doc.load_file(path.c_str());
+	if(!res)
+		throw error << "XML parsing error: \n    " << res.description();
+
+	pugi::xml_node root = doc.child("theme");
+	if(!root)
+		throw error << "Missing <theme> tag!";
+
+	// parse version
+	mVersion = root.child("version").text().as_float(-404);
+	if(mVersion == -404)
+		throw error << "<version> tag missing!\n   It's either out of date or you need to add <version>" << CURRENT_THEME_VERSION << "</version> inside your <theme> tag.";
+
+
+	if(mVersion < MINIMUM_THEME_VERSION)
+		throw error << "Theme is version " << mVersion << ". Minimum supported version is " << MINIMUM_THEME_VERSION << ".";
+
+	// parse views
+	for(pugi::xml_node node = root.child("view"); node; node = node.next_sibling("view"))
+	{
+		if(!node.attribute("name"))
+			throw error << "View missing \"name\" attribute!";
+
+		ThemeView view = parseView(node);
+
+		if(view.elements.size() > 0)
+			mViews[node.attribute("name").as_string()] = view;
+	}
 }
 
-unsigned int getHexColor(const char* str, unsigned int defaultColor)
+ThemeData::ThemeView ThemeData::parseView(const pugi::xml_node& root)
 {
+	ThemeView view;
+	ThemeException error;
+	error.setFile(mPath.string());
+
+	for(pugi::xml_node node = root.first_child(); node; node = node.next_sibling())
+	{
+		if(!node.attribute("name"))
+			throw error << "Element of type \"" << node.name() << "\" missing \"name\" attribute!";
+
+		auto elemTypeIt = sElementMap.find(node.name());
+		if(elemTypeIt == sElementMap.end())
+			throw error << "Unknown element of type \"" << node.name() << "\"!";
+
+		ThemeElement element = parseElement(node, elemTypeIt->second);
+
+		view.elements[node.attribute("name").as_string()] = element;
+	}
+
+	return view;
+}
+
+unsigned int getHexColor(const char* str)
+{
+	ThemeException error;
 	if(!str)
-		return defaultColor;
+		throw error << "Empty color";
 
 	size_t len = strlen(str);
 	if(len != 6 && len != 8)
-	{
-		LOG(LogError) << "Invalid theme color \"" << str << "\" (must be 6 or 8 characters)";
-		return defaultColor;
-	}
+		throw error << "Invalid color (bad length, \"" << str << "\" - must be 6 or 8)";
 
 	unsigned int val;
 	std::stringstream ss;
@@ -91,13 +135,12 @@ unsigned int getHexColor(const char* str, unsigned int defaultColor)
 	return val;
 }
 
-std::string resolvePath(const char* in, const std::string& relative)
+std::string resolvePath(const char* in, const fs::path& relative)
 {
 	if(!in || in[0] == '\0')
 		return in;
 
-	boost::filesystem::path relPath(relative);
-	relPath = relPath.parent_path();
+	fs::path relPath = relative.parent_path();
 	
 	boost::filesystem::path path(in);
 	
@@ -114,102 +157,63 @@ std::string resolvePath(const char* in, const std::string& relative)
 	return path.generic_string();
 }
 
-void ThemeData::loadFile(const std::string& themePath)
+
+ThemeData::ThemeElement ThemeData::parseElement(const pugi::xml_node& root, const std::map<std::string, ElementPropertyType>& typeMap)
 {
-	if(themePath.empty() || !boost::filesystem::exists(themePath))
-		return;
+	ThemeException error;
+	error.setFile(mPath.string());
 
-	pugi::xml_document doc;
-	pugi::xml_parse_result result = doc.load_file(themePath.c_str());
-	if(!result)
+	ThemeElement element;
+	element.extra = root.attribute("extra").as_bool(false);
+
+	for(pugi::xml_node node = root.first_child(); node; node = node.next_sibling())
 	{
-		LOG(LogWarning) << "Could not parse theme file \"" << themePath << "\":\n   " << result.description();
-		return;
-	}
+		auto typeIt = typeMap.find(node.name());
+		if(typeIt == typeMap.end())
+			throw error << "Unknown property type \"" << node.name() << "\" (for element of type " << root.name() << ").";
 
-	pugi::xml_node root = doc.child("theme");
-
-	// Fonts
-	for(auto it = mFontMap.begin(); it != mFontMap.end(); it++)
-	{
-		pugi::xml_node node = root.child(it->first.c_str());
-		if(node)
+		switch(typeIt->second)
 		{
-			std::string path = resolvePath(node.child("path").text().as_string(it->second.path.c_str()), themePath);
-			if(!boost::filesystem::exists(path))
-			{
-				LOG(LogWarning) << "Font \"" << path << "\" doesn't exist!";
-				path = it->second.path;
-			}
+		case NORMALIZED_PAIR:
+		{
+			std::string str = std::string(node.text().as_string());
 
-			float size = node.child("size").text().as_float(it->second.size);
-			mFontMap[it->first] = FontDef(size, path);
-			root.remove_child(node);
+			size_t divider = str.find(' ');
+			if(divider == std::string::npos) 
+				throw error << "invalid normalized pair (\"" << str.c_str() << "\")";
+
+			std::string first = str.substr(0, divider);
+			std::string second = str.substr(divider, std::string::npos);
+
+			Eigen::Vector2f val(atof(first.c_str()), atof(second.c_str()));
+
+			element.properties[node.name()] = val;
+			break;
+		}
+		case STRING:
+			element.properties[node.name()] = std::string(node.text().as_string());
+			break;
+		case PATH:
+		{
+			std::string path = resolvePath(node.text().as_string(), mPath.string());
+			if(!fs::exists(path))
+				LOG(LogWarning) << "  Warning: theme \"" << mPath << "\" - could not find file \"" << node.text().get() << "\" (resolved to \"" << path << "\")";
+			element.properties[node.name()] = path;
+			break;
+		}
+		case COLOR:
+			element.properties[node.name()] = getHexColor(node.text().as_string());
+			break;
+		case FLOAT:
+			element.properties[node.name()] = node.text().as_float();
+			break;
+		case BOOLEAN:
+			element.properties[node.name()] = node.text().as_bool();
+			break;
+		default:
+			throw error << "Unknown ElementPropertyType for " << root.attribute("name").as_string() << " property " << node.name();
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Images
-	for(auto it = mImageMap.begin(); it != mImageMap.end(); it++)
-	{
-		pugi::xml_node node = root.child(it->first.c_str());
-		if(node)
-		{
-			std::string path = resolvePath(node.child("path").text().as_string(it->second.path.c_str()), themePath);
-			if(!boost::filesystem::exists(path))
-			{
-				LOG(LogWarning) << "Image \"" << path << "\" doesn't exist!";
-				path = it->second.path;
-			}
-
-			bool tile = node.child("tile").text().as_bool(it->second.tile);
-			mImageMap[it->first] = ImageDef(path, tile);
-			root.remove_child(node);
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Colors
-	for(auto it = mColorMap.begin(); it != mColorMap.end(); it++)
-	{
-		pugi::xml_node node = root.child(it->first.c_str());
-		if(node)
-		{
-			mColorMap[it->first] = getHexColor(node.text().as_string(NULL), it->second);
-			root.remove_child(node);
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Sounds
-	for(auto it = mSoundMap.begin(); it != mSoundMap.end(); it++)
-	{
-		pugi::xml_node node = root.child(it->first.c_str());
-		if(node)
-		{
-			std::string path = resolvePath(node.text().as_string(it->second.path.c_str()), themePath);
-			if(!boost::filesystem::exists(path))
-			{
-				LOG(LogWarning) << "Sound \"" << path << "\" doesn't exist!";
-				path = it->second.path;
-			}
-
-			mSoundMap[it->first] = SoundDef(path);
-			root.remove_child(node);
-		}
-	}
-
-	if(root.begin() != root.end())
-	{
-		std::stringstream ss;
-		ss << "Unused theme identifiers:\n";
-		for(auto it = root.children().begin(); it != root.children().end(); it++)
-		{
-			ss << "    " << it->name() << "\n";
-		}
-
-		LOG(LogWarning) << ss.str();
-	}
-}
-
-void ThemeData::playSound(const std::string& identifier) const
-{
-	mSoundMap.at(identifier).get()->play();
+	return element;
 }
diff --git a/src/ThemeData.h b/src/ThemeData.h
index 572e6c63e..cf2cfb897 100644
--- a/src/ThemeData.h
+++ b/src/ThemeData.h
@@ -1,82 +1,146 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
 #include <memory>
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
-#include "resources/Font.h"
-#include "resources/TextureResource.h"
-#include "Renderer.h"
-#include "AudioManager.h"
-#include "Sound.h"
+#include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
+#include <boost/variant.hpp>
+#include <Eigen/Dense>
+#include "pugiXML/pugixml.hpp"
+#include "GuiComponent.h"
 
-struct FontDef
+template<typename T>
+class TextListComponent;
+
+class Sound;
+class ImageComponent;
+class NinePatchComponent;
+class TextComponent;
+class Window;
+
+namespace ThemeFlags
 {
-	FontDef() {}
-	FontDef(float sz, const std::string& p) : path(p), size(sz) {}
+	enum PropertyFlags : unsigned int
+	{
+		PATH = 1,
+		POSITION = 2,
+		SIZE = 4,
+		ORIGIN = 8,
+		COLOR = 16,
+		FONT_PATH = 32,
+		FONT_SIZE = 64,
+		TILING = 128,
+		SOUND = 256,
+		CENTER = 512,
+		TEXT = 1024
+	};
+}
 
-	std::string path;
-	float size;
+class ThemeException : public std::exception
+{
+protected:
+	std::string msg;
 
-	inline const std::shared_ptr<Font>& get() const { if(!font) font = Font::get((int)(size * Renderer::getScreenHeight()), path); return font; }
+public:
+	virtual const char* what() const throw() { return msg.c_str(); }
 
-private:
-	mutable std::shared_ptr<Font> font;
+	template<typename T>
+	friend ThemeException& operator<<(ThemeException& e, T msg);
+	
+	inline void setFile(const std::string& filename) { *this << "Error loading theme from \"" << filename << "\":\n   "; }
 };
 
-struct ImageDef
+template<typename T>
+ThemeException& operator<<(ThemeException& e, T appendMsg)
 {
-	ImageDef() {}
-	ImageDef(const std::string& p, bool t) : path(p), tile(t) {}
-
-	std::string path;
-	bool tile;
-
-	inline const std::shared_ptr<TextureResource>& getTexture() const { if(!texture && !path.empty()) texture = TextureResource::get(path); return texture; }
-
-private:
-	mutable std::shared_ptr<TextureResource> texture;
-};
-
-struct SoundDef
-{
-	SoundDef() {}
-	SoundDef(const std::string& p) : path(p) { sound = std::shared_ptr<Sound>(new Sound(path)); AudioManager::getInstance()->registerSound(sound); }
-
-	std::string path;
-
-	inline const std::shared_ptr<Sound>& get() const { return sound; }
-
-private:
-	std::shared_ptr<Sound> sound;
-};
+	std::stringstream ss;
+	ss << e.msg << appendMsg;
+	e.msg = ss.str();
+	return e;
+}
 
 class ThemeData
 {
+private:
+
+	class ThemeElement
+	{
+	public:
+		bool extra;
+		std::string type;
+
+		std::map< std::string, boost::variant<Eigen::Vector2f, std::string, unsigned int, float, bool> > properties;
+
+		template<typename T>
+		T get(const std::string& prop) { return boost::get<T>(properties.at(prop)); }
+
+		inline bool has(const std::string& prop) { return (properties.find(prop) != properties.end()); }
+	};
+
+	class ThemeView
+	{
+	public:
+		ThemeView() : mExtrasDirty(true) {}
+		virtual ~ThemeView() { for(auto it = mExtras.begin(); it != mExtras.end(); it++) delete *it; }
+
+		std::map<std::string, ThemeElement> elements;
+		
+		const std::vector<GuiComponent*>& getExtras(Window* window);
+
+	private:
+		bool mExtrasDirty;
+		std::vector<GuiComponent*> mExtras;
+	};
+
 public:
-	static const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& getDefault();
 
 	ThemeData();
 
-	void setDefaults();
+	// throws ThemeException
 	void loadFile(const std::string& path);
 
-	inline const FontDef& getFontDef(const std::string& identifier) const { return mFontMap.at(identifier); }
-	inline std::shared_ptr<Font> getFont(const std::string& identifier) const { return mFontMap.at(identifier).get(); }
-	inline const ImageDef& getImage(const std::string& identifier) const { return mImageMap.at(identifier); }
-	inline unsigned int getColor(const std::string& identifier) const { return mColorMap.at(identifier); }
-	void playSound(const std::string& identifier) const;
+	enum ElementPropertyType
+	{
+		NORMALIZED_PAIR,
+		PATH,
+		STRING,
+		COLOR,
+		FLOAT,
+		BOOLEAN
+	};
 
-	inline void setFont(const std::string& identifier, FontDef def) { mFontMap[identifier] = def; }
-	inline void setColor(const std::string& identifier, unsigned int color) { mColorMap[identifier] = color; }
+	void renderExtras(const std::string& view, Window* window, const Eigen::Affine3f& transform);
+
+	void applyToImage(const std::string& view, const std::string& element, ImageComponent* image, unsigned int properties);
+	void applyToNinePatch(const std::string& view, const std::string& element, NinePatchComponent* patch, unsigned int properties);
+	void applyToText(const std::string& view, const std::string& element, TextComponent* text, unsigned int properties);
+
+	template <typename T>
+	void applyToTextList(const std::string& view, const std::string& element, TextListComponent<T>* list, unsigned int properties);
+
+	void playSound(const std::string& name);
 
 private:
-	static std::map<std::string, ImageDef> sDefaultImages;
-	static std::map<std::string, unsigned int> sDefaultColors;
-	static std::map<std::string, FontDef > sDefaultFonts;
-	static std::map<std::string, SoundDef> sDefaultSounds;
+	static std::map< std::string, std::map<std::string, ElementPropertyType> > sElementMap;
 
-	std::map<std::string, ImageDef> mImageMap;
-	std::map<std::string, unsigned int> mColorMap;
-	std::map<std::string, FontDef > mFontMap;
-	std::map< std::string, SoundDef > mSoundMap;
+	boost::filesystem::path mPath;
+	float mVersion;
+
+	ThemeView parseView(const pugi::xml_node& view);
+	ThemeElement parseElement(const pugi::xml_node& element, const std::map<std::string, ElementPropertyType>& typeMap);
+
+	ThemeElement* getElement(const std::string& viewName, const std::string& elementName);
+
+	std::map<std::string, ThemeView> mViews;
+
+	std::map< std::string, std::shared_ptr<Sound> > mSoundCache;
 };
+
+
+template <typename T>
+void ThemeData::applyToTextList(const std::string& view, const std::string& element, TextListComponent<T>* list, unsigned int properties)
+{
+
+}
diff --git a/src/ThemeData_applicators.cpp b/src/ThemeData_applicators.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..83e4d6aa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ThemeData_applicators.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+#include "ThemeData.h"
+
+#include "Renderer.h"
+#include "components/ImageComponent.h"
+#include "components/NinePatchComponent.h"
+#include "components/TextComponent.h"
+#include "Sound.h"
+#include "Log.h"
+
+using namespace ThemeFlags;
+
+Eigen::Vector2f getScale(GuiComponent* comp)
+{
+	if(comp && comp->getParent())
+		return comp->getParent()->getSize();
+	
+	return Eigen::Vector2f((float)Renderer::getScreenWidth(), (float)Renderer::getScreenHeight());
+}
+
+ThemeData::ThemeElement* ThemeData::getElement(const std::string& viewName, const std::string& elementName)
+{
+	auto viewIt = mViews.find(viewName);
+	if(viewIt == mViews.end())
+		return NULL;
+
+	auto elemIt = viewIt->second.elements.find(elementName);
+	if(elemIt == viewIt->second.elements.end())
+		return NULL;
+
+	return &elemIt->second;
+}
+
+void ThemeData::applyToImage(const std::string& viewName, const std::string& elementName, ImageComponent* image, unsigned int properties)
+{
+	LOG(LogInfo) << " req image [" << viewName << "." << elementName << "]  (flags: " << properties << ")";
+
+	ThemeElement* elem = getElement(viewName, elementName);
+	if(!elem)
+	{
+		LOG(LogInfo) << "    (missing)";
+		return;
+	}
+
+	Eigen::Vector2f scale = getScale(image);
+	
+	if(properties & POSITION && elem->has("pos"))
+	{
+		Eigen::Vector2f denormalized = elem->get<Eigen::Vector2f>("pos").cwiseProduct(scale);
+		image->setPosition(Eigen::Vector3f(denormalized.x(), denormalized.y(), 0));
+	}
+
+	if(properties & ThemeFlags::SIZE && elem->has("size"))
+		image->setResize(elem->get<Eigen::Vector2f>("size").cwiseProduct(scale), true);
+
+	if(properties & ORIGIN && elem->has("origin"))
+		image->setOrigin(elem->get<Eigen::Vector2f>("origin"));
+
+	if(properties & PATH && elem->has("path"))
+		image->setImage(elem->get<std::string>("path"));
+	
+	if(properties & TILING && elem->has("tile"))
+		image->setTiling(elem->get<bool>("tile"));
+}
+
+void ThemeData::applyToNinePatch(const std::string& viewName, const std::string& elementName, NinePatchComponent* patch, unsigned int properties)
+{
+	ThemeElement* elem = getElement(viewName, elementName);
+	if(!elem)
+		return;
+
+	Eigen::Vector2f scale = getScale(patch);
+	
+	if(properties & POSITION && elem->has("pos"))
+	{
+		Eigen::Vector2f denormalized = elem->get<Eigen::Vector2f>("pos").cwiseProduct(scale);
+		patch->setPosition(Eigen::Vector3f(denormalized.x(), denormalized.y(), 0));
+	}
+
+	if(properties & PATH && elem->has("path"))
+		patch->setImagePath(elem->get<std::string>("path"));
+
+	if(properties & ThemeFlags::SIZE && elem->has("size"))
+		patch->setSize(elem->get<Eigen::Vector2f>("size").cwiseProduct(scale));
+}
+
+void ThemeData::applyToText(const std::string& viewName, const std::string& elementName, TextComponent* text, unsigned int properties)
+{
+	ThemeElement* elem = getElement(viewName, elementName);
+	if(!elem)
+		return;
+
+	Eigen::Vector2f scale = getScale(text);
+
+	if(properties & POSITION && elem->has("pos"))
+	{
+		Eigen::Vector2f denormalized = elem->get<Eigen::Vector2f>("pos").cwiseProduct(scale);
+		text->setPosition(Eigen::Vector3f(denormalized.x(), denormalized.y(), 0));
+	}
+
+	if(properties & ThemeFlags::SIZE && elem->has("size"))
+		text->setSize(elem->get<Eigen::Vector2f>("size").cwiseProduct(scale));
+
+	if(properties & COLOR && elem->has("color"))
+		text->setColor(elem->get<unsigned int>("color"));
+
+	if(properties & CENTER && elem->has("center"))
+		text->setCentered(elem->get<bool>("center"));
+
+	if(properties & TEXT && elem->has("text"))
+		text->setText(elem->get<std::string>("text"));
+
+	// TODO - fonts
+}
+
+void ThemeData::playSound(const std::string& elementName)
+{
+	ThemeElement* elem = getElement("common", elementName);
+	if(!elem)
+		return;
+
+	if(elem->has("path"))
+	{
+		const std::string path = elem->get<std::string>("path");
+		auto cacheIt = mSoundCache.find(path);
+		if(cacheIt != mSoundCache.end())
+		{
+			cacheIt->second->play();
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		std::shared_ptr<Sound> sound = std::shared_ptr<Sound>(new Sound(path));
+		sound->play();
+		mSoundCache[path] = sound;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp b/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp
index 2df321dea..78914057e 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiFastSelect.cpp
@@ -12,20 +12,23 @@ GuiFastSelect::GuiFastSelect(Window* window, IGameListView* gamelist) : GuiCompo
 	setSize(Renderer::getScreenWidth() * 0.6f, Renderer::getScreenHeight() * 0.6f);
 
 	const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme = mGameList->getTheme();
+	using namespace ThemeFlags;
 
-	mBackground.setImagePath(theme->getImage("fastSelectBackgroundImage").path);
+	theme->applyToNinePatch("fastSelect", "background", &mBackground, PATH);
 	mBackground.fitTo(mSize);
 	addChild(&mBackground);
 
 	mLetterText.setSize(mSize.x(), mSize.y() * 0.75f);
 	mLetterText.setCentered(true);
-	mLetterText.setFromTheme(theme, "fastSelectLetterFont", "fastSelectLetterColor");
+	theme->applyToText("fastSelect", "letter", &mLetterText, FONT_PATH | COLOR);
+	// TODO - set font size
 	addChild(&mLetterText);
 
 	mSortText.setPosition(0, mSize.y() * 0.75f);
 	mSortText.setSize(mSize.x(), mSize.y() * 0.25f);
 	mSortText.setCentered(true);
-	mSortText.setFromTheme(theme, "descriptionFont", "fastSelectTextColor");
+	theme->applyToText("fastSelect", "subtext", &mSortText, FONT_PATH | COLOR);
+	// TODO - set font size
 	addChild(&mSortText);
 
 	mSortId = 0; // TODO
diff --git a/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp b/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp
index da4884a3d..5a48fd57d 100644
--- a/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp
+++ b/src/components/GuiMenu.cpp
@@ -39,11 +39,12 @@ GuiMenu::GuiMenu(Window* window) : GuiComponent(window), mBackground(window, ":/
 	addChild(&mBackground);
 
 	mTheme = std::make_shared<ThemeData>();
-	mTheme->setFont("listFont", FontDef(0.09f, mTheme->getFontDef("listFont").path));
-	mTheme->setColor("listSelectorColor", 0xBBBBBBFF);
-	mTheme->setColor("listPrimaryColor", 0x0000FFFF);
-	mTheme->setColor("listSecondaryColor", 0xFF0000FF);
-	mList.setTheme(mTheme);
+	using namespace ThemeFlags;
+	mTheme->applyToTextList< std::function<void()> >("common", "menu", &mList, FONT_PATH | COLOR);
+	mList.setSelectorColor(0xBBBBBBFF);
+	mList.setColor(0, 0x0000FFFF);
+	mList.setColor(1, 0xFF0000FF);
+	// TODO - set font size to 0.09f
 
 	addChild(&mList);
 }
diff --git a/src/components/ImageComponent.h b/src/components/ImageComponent.h
index ce3dd9c3c..725723f61 100644
--- a/src/components/ImageComponent.h
+++ b/src/components/ImageComponent.h
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ public:
 	void setImage(const char* image, size_t length); //Loads image from memory.
 	void setImage(const std::shared_ptr<TextureResource>& texture); //Use an already existing texture.
 	void setOrigin(float originX, float originY); //Sets the origin as a percentage of this image (e.g. (0, 0) is top left, (0.5, 0.5) is the center)
+	inline void setOrigin(Eigen::Vector2f origin) { setOrigin(origin.x(), origin.y()); }
 	void setTiling(bool tile); //Enables or disables tiling. Must be called before loading an image or resizing will be weird.
 	void setResize(float width, float height, bool allowUpscale);
+	inline void setResize(Eigen::Vector2f size, bool allowUpscale) { setResize(size.x(), size.y(), allowUpscale); }
 	void setColorShift(unsigned int color);
 
 	void setFlipX(bool flip);
diff --git a/src/components/TextComponent.cpp b/src/components/TextComponent.cpp
index c3ae71ba2..62337433a 100644
--- a/src/components/TextComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/components/TextComponent.cpp
@@ -138,9 +138,3 @@ std::string TextComponent::getValue() const
 {
 	return mText;
 }
-
-void TextComponent::setFromTheme(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme, const std::string& fontIdentifier, const std::string& colorIdentifier)
-{
-	setFont(theme->getFont(fontIdentifier));
-	setColor(theme->getColor(colorIdentifier));
-}
diff --git a/src/components/TextComponent.h b/src/components/TextComponent.h
index 0b73d88e9..1c3410293 100644
--- a/src/components/TextComponent.h
+++ b/src/components/TextComponent.h
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ public:
 	
 	std::shared_ptr<Font> getFont() const;
 
-	void setFromTheme(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme, const std::string& fontIdentifier, const std::string& colorIdentifier);
-
 private:
 	void calculateExtent();
 
diff --git a/src/components/TextListComponent.h b/src/components/TextListComponent.h
index 45c709cc7..c89946c71 100644
--- a/src/components/TextListComponent.h
+++ b/src/components/TextListComponent.h
@@ -13,13 +13,6 @@
 #include "../ThemeData.h"
 #include <functional>
 
-#define THEME_FONT "listFont"
-#define THEME_SELECTOR_COLOR "listSelectorColor"
-#define THEME_HIGHLIGHTED_COLOR "listSelectedColor"
-#define THEME_SCROLL_SOUND "listScrollSound"
-static const int THEME_COLOR_ID_COUNT = 2;
-static const char* const THEME_ENTRY_COLOR[THEME_COLOR_ID_COUNT] = { "listPrimaryColor", "listSecondaryColor" };
-
 //A graphical list. Supports multiple colors for rows and scrolling.
 template <typename T>
 class TextListComponent : public GuiComponent
@@ -54,16 +47,28 @@ public:
 	void stopScrolling();
 	inline bool isScrolling() const { return mScrollDir != 0; }
 
-	void setTheme(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme);
 	inline void setCentered(bool centered) { mCentered = centered; }
 
-	enum CursorState {
+	enum CursorState
+	{
 		CURSOR_STOPPED,
 		CURSOR_SCROLLING
 	};
 
 	inline void setCursorChangedCallback(const std::function<void(CursorState state)>& func) { mCursorChangedCallback = func; }
 
+	inline void setFont(const std::shared_ptr<Font>& font)
+	{
+		mFont = font;
+		for(auto it = mRowVector.begin(); it != mRowVector.end(); it++)
+			it->textCache.reset();
+	}
+
+	inline void setSelectorColor(unsigned int color) { mSelectorColor = color; }
+	inline void setSelectedColor(unsigned int color) { mSelectedColor = color; }
+	inline void setScrollSound(const std::shared_ptr<Sound>& sound) { mScrollSound = sound; }
+	inline void setColor(unsigned int id, unsigned int color) { mColors[id] = color; }
+
 private:
 	static const int MARQUEE_DELAY = 900;
 	static const int MARQUEE_SPEED = 16;
@@ -81,13 +86,19 @@ private:
 	int mMarqueeOffset;
 	int mMarqueeTime;
 
-	std::shared_ptr<ThemeData> mTheme;
 	bool mCentered;
 
 	std::vector<ListRow> mRowVector;
 	int mCursor;
 
 	std::function<void(CursorState state)> mCursorChangedCallback;
+
+	std::shared_ptr<Font> mFont;
+	unsigned int mSelectorColor;
+	unsigned int mSelectedColor;
+	std::shared_ptr<Sound> mScrollSound;
+	static const unsigned int COLOR_ID_COUNT = 2;
+	unsigned int mColors[COLOR_ID_COUNT];
 };
 
 template <typename T>
@@ -103,7 +114,11 @@ TextListComponent<T>::TextListComponent(Window* window) :
 
 	mCentered = true;
 
-	mTheme = ThemeData::getDefault();
+	mFont = Font::get(FONT_SIZE_MEDIUM);
+	mSelectorColor = 0x000000FF;
+	mSelectedColor = 0;
+	mColors[0] = 0x0000FFFF;
+	mColors[1] = 0x00FF00FF;
 }
 
 template <typename T>
@@ -116,7 +131,7 @@ void TextListComponent<T>::render(const Eigen::Affine3f& parentTrans)
 {
 	Eigen::Affine3f trans = parentTrans * getTransform();
 	
-	std::shared_ptr<Font> font = mTheme->getFont(THEME_FONT);
+	std::shared_ptr<Font>& font = mFont;
 
 	const int cutoff = 0;
 	const int entrySize = font->getHeight() + 5;
@@ -157,7 +172,7 @@ void TextListComponent<T>::render(const Eigen::Affine3f& parentTrans)
 		if(mCursor == i)
 		{
 			Renderer::setMatrix(trans);
-			Renderer::drawRect(0, (int)y, (int)getSize().x(), font->getHeight(), mTheme->getColor(THEME_SELECTOR_COLOR));
+			Renderer::drawRect(0, (int)y, (int)getSize().x(), font->getHeight(), mSelectorColor);
 		}
 
 		ListRow& row = mRowVector.at((unsigned int)i);
@@ -165,10 +180,10 @@ void TextListComponent<T>::render(const Eigen::Affine3f& parentTrans)
 		float x = (float)(mCursor == i ? -mMarqueeOffset : 0);
 
 		unsigned int color;
-		if(mCursor == i && mTheme->getColor(THEME_HIGHLIGHTED_COLOR))
-			color = mTheme->getColor(THEME_HIGHLIGHTED_COLOR);
+		if(mCursor == i && mSelectedColor)
+			color = mSelectedColor;
 		else
-			color = mTheme->getColor(THEME_ENTRY_COLOR[row.colorId]);
+			color = mColors[row.colorId];
 
 		if(!row.textCache)
 			row.textCache = std::unique_ptr<TextCache>(font->buildTextCache(row.name, 0, 0, 0x000000FF));
@@ -273,7 +288,7 @@ void TextListComponent<T>::update(int deltaTime)
 		//if we're not scrolling and this object's text goes outside our size, marquee it!
 		std::string text = getSelectedName();
 
-		Eigen::Vector2f textSize = mTheme->getFont(THEME_FONT)->sizeText(text);
+		Eigen::Vector2f textSize = mFont->sizeText(text);
 
 		//it's long enough to marquee
 		if(textSize.x() - mMarqueeOffset > getSize().x() - 12)
@@ -311,18 +326,16 @@ void TextListComponent<T>::scroll()
 	}
 
 	onCursorChanged(CURSOR_SCROLLING);
-	mTheme->playSound("scrollSound");
+
+	if(mScrollSound)
+		mScrollSound->play();
 }
 
 //list management stuff
 template <typename T>
 void TextListComponent<T>::add(const std::string& name, const T& obj, unsigned int color)
 {
-	if(color >= THEME_COLOR_ID_COUNT)
-	{
-		LOG(LogError) << "Invalid row color Id (" << color << ")";
-		color = 0;
-	}
+	assert(color < COLOR_ID_COUNT);
 
 	ListRow row = {name, obj, color};
 	mRowVector.push_back(row);
@@ -392,14 +405,4 @@ void TextListComponent<T>::onCursorChanged(CursorState state)
 		mCursorChangedCallback(state);
 }
 
-template <typename T>
-void TextListComponent<T>::setTheme(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme)
-{
-	mTheme = theme;
-
-	// invalidate text caches in case font changed
-	for(auto it = mRowVector.begin(); it != mRowVector.end(); it++)
-		it->textCache.reset();
-}
-
 #endif
diff --git a/src/views/SystemView.cpp b/src/views/SystemView.cpp
index e1501d140..a215ad59b 100644
--- a/src/views/SystemView.cpp
+++ b/src/views/SystemView.cpp
@@ -35,19 +35,23 @@ SystemView::SystemView(Window* window, SystemData* system) : GuiComponent(window
 
 void SystemView::updateData()
 {
+	using namespace ThemeFlags;
+
+	mHeaderImage.setImage("");
+	mSystem->getTheme()->applyToImage("common", "header", &mHeaderImage, PATH);
+
 	// header
-	if(mSystem->getTheme()->getImage("headerImage").path.empty())
+	if(mHeaderImage.hasImage())
 	{
+		// use image
+		mHeaderText.setText("");
+	}else{
 		// use text
 		mHeaderImage.setImage("");
 		mHeaderText.setText(mSystem->getFullName());
-	}else{
-		// use image
-		mHeaderText.setText("");
-		mHeaderImage.setImage(mSystem->getTheme()->getImage("headerImage").getTexture());
 	}
 
-	mImage.setImage(mSystem->getTheme()->getImage("systemImage").getTexture());
+	mSystem->getTheme()->applyToImage("common", "system", &mImage, PATH);
 }
 
 bool SystemView::input(InputConfig* config, Input input)
diff --git a/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.cpp b/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.cpp
index b1663ff55..7f165c5b7 100644
--- a/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.cpp
+++ b/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ BasicGameListView::BasicGameListView(Window* window, FileData* root)
 void BasicGameListView::onThemeChanged(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme)
 {
 	ISimpleGameListView::onThemeChanged(theme);
-	mList.setTheme(theme);
+	using namespace ThemeFlags;
+	theme->applyToTextList(getName(), "gamelist", &mList, POSITION | ThemeFlags::SIZE | COLOR | SOUND);
 }
 
 void BasicGameListView::onFileChanged(FileData* file, FileChangeType change)
diff --git a/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.h b/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.h
index 347934629..d88135e8f 100644
--- a/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.h
+++ b/src/views/gamelist/BasicGameListView.h
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ public:
 	virtual FileData* getCursor() override;
 	virtual void setCursor(FileData* file) override;
 
+	virtual const char* getName() const override { return "basic"; }
+
 protected:
 	virtual void populateList(const std::vector<FileData*>& files) override;
 	virtual void launch(FileData* game) override;
diff --git a/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.cpp b/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.cpp
index 06bf730d5..aff14d0bd 100644
--- a/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.cpp
+++ b/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.cpp
@@ -5,19 +5,10 @@
 DetailedGameListView::DetailedGameListView(Window* window, FileData* root) : 
 	BasicGameListView(window, root), 
 	mDescContainer(window), mDescription(window), 
-	mImage(window), mInfoBackground(window), mDivider(window)
+	mImage(window)
 {
 	mHeaderImage.setPosition(mSize.x() * 0.25f, 0);
 
-	mInfoBackground.setPosition(0, mSize.y() * 0.5f);
-	mInfoBackground.setOrigin(0, 0.5f);
-	mInfoBackground.setResize(mSize.x() * 0.5f, mSize.y(), true);
-	addChild(&mInfoBackground);
-
-	mDivider.setPosition(mSize.x() * 0.5f, mSize.y() * 0.5f);
-	mDivider.setOrigin(0.5f, 0.5f);
-	addChild(&mDivider);
-
 	const float padding = 0.01f;
 
 	mList.setPosition(mSize.x() * (0.50f + padding), mList.getPosition().y());
@@ -49,13 +40,8 @@ void DetailedGameListView::onThemeChanged(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& them
 	if(mHeaderImage.getPosition().y() + mHeaderImage.getSize().y() > mImage.getPosition().y())
 		mHeaderImage.setResize(0, mSize.y() * 0.185f, true);
 
-	mDescription.setFont(theme->getFont("descriptionFont"));
-	mDescription.setColor(theme->getColor("descriptionColor"));
-	mInfoBackground.setImage(theme->getImage("infoBackgroundImage").getTexture());
-	mInfoBackground.setTiling(theme->getImage("infoBackgroundImage").tile);
-
-	mDivider.setImage(theme->getImage("verticalDividerImage").getTexture());
-	mDivider.setResize((float)mDivider.getTextureSize().x(), mSize.y(), true);
+	using namespace ThemeFlags;
+	theme->applyToText("detailed", "description", &mDescription, POSITION | FONT_PATH | FONT_SIZE);
 }
 
 void DetailedGameListView::updateInfoPanel()
diff --git a/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.h b/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.h
index 7e6405244..a2c08901c 100644
--- a/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.h
+++ b/src/views/gamelist/DetailedGameListView.h
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void onThemeChanged(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme) override;
 
+	virtual const char* getName() const override { return "detailed"; }
+
 protected:
 	virtual void launch(FileData* game) override;
 
@@ -17,9 +19,7 @@ private:
 	void updateInfoPanel();
 
 	ImageComponent mImage;
-	ImageComponent mInfoBackground;
-	ImageComponent mDivider;
-
+	
 	ScrollableContainer mDescContainer;
 	TextComponent mDescription;
 };
diff --git a/src/views/gamelist/GridGameListView.h b/src/views/gamelist/GridGameListView.h
index 42db55ede..df9771b83 100644
--- a/src/views/gamelist/GridGameListView.h
+++ b/src/views/gamelist/GridGameListView.h
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ public:
 
 	virtual bool input(InputConfig* config, Input input) override;
 
+	virtual const char* getName() const override { return "grid"; }
+
 protected:
 	virtual void populateList(const std::vector<FileData*>& files) override;
 	virtual void launch(FileData* game) override;
diff --git a/src/views/gamelist/IGameListView.h b/src/views/gamelist/IGameListView.h
index 14abab01d..a2ec8b5ab 100644
--- a/src/views/gamelist/IGameListView.h
+++ b/src/views/gamelist/IGameListView.h
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ public:
 
 	virtual bool input(InputConfig* config, Input input) override;
 
+	virtual const char* getName() const = 0;
 protected:
 	FileData* mRoot;
 	std::shared_ptr<ThemeData> mTheme;
diff --git a/src/views/gamelist/ISimpleGameListView.cpp b/src/views/gamelist/ISimpleGameListView.cpp
index 1f986644a..fb678d1ee 100644
--- a/src/views/gamelist/ISimpleGameListView.cpp
+++ b/src/views/gamelist/ISimpleGameListView.cpp
@@ -23,14 +23,10 @@ ISimpleGameListView::ISimpleGameListView(Window* window, FileData* root) : IGame
 
 void ISimpleGameListView::onThemeChanged(const std::shared_ptr<ThemeData>& theme)
 {
-	const ImageDef& bg = theme->getImage("backgroundImage");
-	mBackground.setTiling(bg.tile);
-	mBackground.setImage(bg.getTexture());
-	
-	const ImageDef& hdr = theme->getImage("headerImage");
-	mHeaderImage.setTiling(hdr.tile);
-	mHeaderImage.setImage(hdr.getTexture());
-	
+	using namespace ThemeFlags;
+	theme->applyToImage("common", "background", &mBackground, PATH | TILING);
+	theme->applyToImage("common", "header", &mHeaderImage, PATH);
+
 	if(mHeaderImage.hasImage())
 	{
 		removeChild(&mHeaderText);