diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scenes/GameScene.unity b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scenes/GameScene.unity
index 486551b..1caf66b 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scenes/GameScene.unity
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scenes/GameScene.unity
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ Transform:
   m_PrefabAsset: {fileID: 0}
   m_GameObject: {fileID: 133964670}
   serializedVersion: 2
-  m_LocalRotation: {x: 0, y: 0, z: 0, w: 1}
+  m_LocalRotation: {x: -0, y: -0, z: -0, w: 1}
   m_LocalPosition: {x: 0, y: 0, z: 0}
   m_LocalScale: {x: 1, y: 1, z: 1}
   m_ConstrainProportionsScale: 0
@@ -459,6 +459,8 @@ MonoBehaviour:
   m_Script: {fileID: 11500000, guid: 0cfc0b50e9003a0468ebdc186439c53b, type: 3}
   m_Name: 
   m_EditorClassIdentifier: 
+  state: 0
+  uiGameObject: {fileID: 133964670}
 --- !u!4 &1204483826
 Transform:
   m_ObjectHideFlags: 0
@@ -480,6 +482,6 @@ SceneRoots:
   m_Roots:
   - {fileID: 963194228}
   - {fileID: 705507995}
-  - {fileID: 133964672}
   - {fileID: 447905427}
+  - {fileID: 133964672}
   - {fileID: 1204483826}
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs
index 977f0ff..5b94677 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/AccountUI.cs
@@ -78,11 +78,20 @@ public class AccountUI : MonoBehaviour
     /// </summary>
     private Button _usernameUpdateButton;
 
-    public void Start()
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     start function to initialise the account view
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <exception cref="Exception"></exception>
+    private void Start()
     {
+        TransitionStateTo(State.NotSignedIn);
         if (state == State.UnassociatedState) throw new Exception("unreachable state");
-
-        // GameManager.Instance.Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(OnSignInCallback);
+        GameManager.Instance.Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(OnSignInCallback);
+        GameManager.Instance.RegisterOnLocalPlayerDataUpdate(data =>
+        {
+            Debug.Log("local player data update callback, populating AccountView fields");
+            PopulateFields(data.LastKnownUsername, data.LastKnownEmail);
+        });
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -114,15 +123,11 @@ public void OnEnable()
 
         _secondaryActionButton = ui.Q<Button>("SecondaryActionButton");
         _secondaryActionButton.clicked += OnSecondaryActionButtonClick;
-
-        TransitionStateTo(State.NotSignedIn);
-        GameManager.Instance.Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(OnSignInCallback);
     }
 
     private void OnSignInCallback(FirebaseUser user)
     {
-        Debug.Log("sign in account ui callback");
-
+        Debug.Log("post-auth callback, updating account view text");
         var username = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUsername();
         _usernameField.value = username;
         _emailField.value = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUser().Email;
@@ -216,12 +221,12 @@ private void TransitionStateTo(State newState, bool keepAccompanyingText = false
         state = newState;
     }
 
-    private void ValidateUsername()
+    private void ValidateUsername(TextField usernameField)
     {
         // just has to be min. 5 characters
-        _usernameField.style.color = _defaultInputFieldValueTextColour;
-        if (_usernameField.value.Length >= 5) return;
-        _usernameField.style.color = _errorInputFieldValueTextColour;
+        usernameField.style.color = _defaultInputFieldValueTextColour;
+        if (usernameField.value.Length >= 5) return;
+        usernameField.style.color = _errorInputFieldValueTextColour;
         throw new Exception("Username must be at least 5 characters long.");
     }
 
@@ -279,18 +284,18 @@ private void ValidateFields(TextField emailField, TextField passwordField)
 
         try
         {
-            ValidateEmailField(_emailField);
+            ValidateEmailField(emailField);
         }
-        catch (Exception _)
+        catch (Exception)
         {
             invalidEmail = true;
         }
 
         try
         {
-            ValidatePasswordField(_passwordField);
+            ValidatePasswordField(passwordField);
         }
-        catch (Exception _)
+        catch (Exception)
         {
             invalidPassword = true;
         }
@@ -321,27 +326,27 @@ private void ValidateFields(TextField emailField, TextField passwordField, TextF
 
         try
         {
-            ValidateEmailField(_emailField);
+            ValidateEmailField(emailField);
         }
-        catch (Exception _)
+        catch (Exception)
         {
             invalidEmail = true;
         }
 
         try
         {
-            ValidatePasswordField(_passwordField);
+            ValidatePasswordField(passwordField);
         }
-        catch (Exception _)
+        catch (Exception)
         {
             invalidPassword = true;
         }
 
         try
         {
-            ValidateUsername();
+            ValidateUsername(usernameField);
         }
-        catch (Exception _)
+        catch (Exception)
         {
             invalidUsername = true;
         }
@@ -369,7 +374,7 @@ private void OnUsernameUpdateButtonClick()
     {
         try
         {
-            ValidateUsername();
+            ValidateUsername(_usernameField);
         }
         catch (Exception e)
         {
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs
index 0354950..fa7034c 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Backend.cs
@@ -57,16 +57,6 @@ public enum UserAccountDetailTargetEnum
         Password
     }
 
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     callback functions to be invoked when the user signs in
-    /// </summary>
-    private readonly List<Action<FirebaseUser>> _onSignInCallback = new();
-
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     callback functions to be invoked when the user signs out
-    /// </summary>
-    private readonly List<Action<FirebaseUser>> _onSignOutCallback = new();
-
     /// <summary>
     ///     the firebase authentication object
     /// </summary>
@@ -77,6 +67,16 @@ public enum UserAccountDetailTargetEnum
     /// </summary>
     private DatabaseReference _db;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     callback functions to be invoked when the user signs in
+    /// </summary>
+    private readonly List<Action<FirebaseUser>> _onSignInCallbacks = new();
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     callback functions to be invoked when the user signs out
+    /// </summary>
+    private readonly List<Action<FirebaseUser>> _onSignOutCallbacks = new();
+
     /// <summary>
     ///     the current user object, if authenticated
     /// </summary>
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ public enum UserAccountDetailTargetEnum
     /// <summary>
     ///     variable initialisation function
     /// </summary>
-    public void Initialise()
+    public void Initialise(Action<FirebaseConnectionStatus> callback)
     {
-        FirebaseApp.CheckAndFixDependenciesAsync().ContinueWith(task =>
+        FirebaseApp.CheckAndFixDependenciesAsync().ContinueWithOnMainThread(task =>
         {
             // cher is this robust enough
             switch (task.Result)
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ public void Initialise()
                     _auth.StateChanged += AuthStateChanged;
                     _db = FirebaseDatabase.DefaultInstance.RootReference;
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.Connected;
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableDisabled:
@@ -114,21 +115,25 @@ public void Initialise()
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavilableMissing:
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailablePermission:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.ExternalError;
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableUpdating:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.Updating;
-                    RetryInitialiseAfterDelay();
+                    callback(Status);
+                    RetryInitialiseAfterDelay(callback);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableUpdaterequired:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.UpdateRequired;
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
 
                 case DependencyStatus.UnavailableOther:
                 default:
                     Status = FirebaseConnectionStatus.InternalError;
                     Debug.LogError("firebase ??? blew up or something," + task.Result);
+                    callback(Status);
                     break;
             }
 
@@ -139,10 +144,10 @@ public void Initialise()
     /// <summary>
     ///     async function to retry initialisation after a delay
     /// </summary>
-    private async void RetryInitialiseAfterDelay()
+    private async void RetryInitialiseAfterDelay(Action<FirebaseConnectionStatus> callback)
     {
         await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
-        Initialise();
+        Initialise(callback);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -172,7 +177,7 @@ private void AuthStateChanged(object sender, EventArgs eventArgs)
         if (!signedIn && _user != null)
         {
             Debug.Log($"signed out successfully as {_user.UserId}");
-            foreach (var callback in _onSignOutCallback)
+            foreach (var callback in _onSignOutCallbacks)
                 callback(_user);
         }
 
@@ -183,26 +188,29 @@ private void AuthStateChanged(object sender, EventArgs eventArgs)
         Debug.Log($"signed in successfully as {_user.UserId}");
         RetrieveUsernameWithCallback((_, _) =>
         {
-            foreach (var callback in _onSignInCallback) callback(_user);
+            Debug.Log($"retrieved username post-authentication, calling {_onSignInCallbacks.Count} callbacks");
+            foreach (var callback in _onSignInCallbacks) callback(_user);
         });
     }
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     function to register a callback for when the user signs in
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a FirebaseUser argument</param>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>FirebaseUser</c> object</param>
     public void RegisterOnSignInCallback(Action<FirebaseUser> callback)
     {
-        _onSignInCallback.Add(callback);
+        _onSignInCallbacks.Add(callback);
+        Debug.Log($"registering on sign in callback, there are now {_onSignInCallbacks.Count} callbacks");
     }
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     function to register a callback for when the user signs out
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a FirebaseUser argument</param>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>FirebaseUser</c> object</param>
     public void RegisterOnSignOutCallback(Action<FirebaseUser> callback)
     {
-        _onSignOutCallback.Add(callback);
+        Debug.Log($"registering on sign out callback, there are now {_onSignOutCallbacks.Count} callbacks");
+        _onSignOutCallbacks.Add(callback);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -364,21 +372,18 @@ private void RetrieveUsernameWithCallback(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, stri
 
         _db.Child("users").Child(_user.UserId).Child("username").GetValueAsync().ContinueWithOnMainThread(task =>
         {
-            DatabaseTransactionResult result;
             if (task.IsCompletedSuccessfully)
             {
-                result = DatabaseTransactionResult.Ok;
                 _username = task.Result.Value.ToString();
                 Debug.Log($"our username is {_username}");
+                callback(DatabaseTransactionResult.Ok, _username);
             }
             else
             {
-                result = DatabaseTransactionResult.Error;
                 _username = "Unknown";
                 Debug.LogError("failed to get username");
+                callback(DatabaseTransactionResult.Error, _username);
             }
-
-            callback(result, _username);
         });
     }
 
@@ -429,8 +434,8 @@ public void ForgotPassword(string email, Action<bool> callback)
     ///     abstraction function to get the user's recent scores from the database
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="callback">
-    ///     callback function that takes in a DatabaseTransactionResult and List of LocalPlayerData.Score
-    ///     argument
+    ///     callback function that takes in a <c>DatabaseTransactionResult</c> enum
+    ///     and a <c>List&lt;LocalPlayerData.Score&gt;</c>argument
     /// </param>
     public void GetRecentScores(Action<DatabaseTransactionResult, List<LocalPlayerData.Score>> callback)
     {
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Colorimetry.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Colorimetry.cs
index 72c98b6..bf5ce52 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Colorimetry.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/Colorimetry.cs
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ public static RGB gamut_clip_preserve_chroma(RGB rgb)
     ///     a and b must be normalized so a^2 + b^2 == 1
     /// </summary>
     // https://bottosson.github.io/posts/gamutclipping/ (MIT)
+    // ReSharper disable once MemberCanBePrivate.Global
     public static float find_gamut_intersection(
         float a,
         float b,
@@ -164,6 +165,7 @@ public static RGB gamut_clip_preserve_chroma(RGB rgb)
     ///     a and b must be normalized so a^2 + b^2 == 1
     /// </summary>
     // https://bottosson.github.io/posts/gamutclipping/ (MIT)
+    // ReSharper disable once MemberCanBePrivate.Global
     public static LC find_cusp(float a, float b)
     {
         // First, find the maximum saturation (saturation S = C/L)
@@ -178,7 +180,7 @@ public static LC find_cusp(float a, float b)
     }
 
     // https://bottosson.github.io/posts/oklab/#converting-from-linear-srgb-to-oklab (public domain)
-
+    // ReSharper disable once MemberCanBePrivate.Global
     public static Lab linear_srgb_to_oklab(RGB c)
     {
         var l = 0.4122214708f * c.r + 0.5363325363f * c.g + 0.0514459929f * c.b;
@@ -220,6 +222,7 @@ public static RGB oklab_to_linear_srgb(Lab c)
     ///     a and b must be normalized so a^2 + b^2 == 1
     /// </summary>
     // https://bottosson.github.io/posts/gamutclipping/ (MIT)
+    // ReSharper disable once MemberCanBePrivate.Global
     public static float compute_max_saturation(float a, float b)
     {
         // Max saturation will be when one of r, g or b goes below zero.
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs
index 56709b1..a504299 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using UnityEngine;
-using UnityEngine.Serialization;
 using UnityEngine.UIElements;
 
 /// <summary>
@@ -12,24 +13,45 @@ public class GameManager : MonoBehaviour
     /// </summary>
     public enum DisplayState
     {
+        UnassociatedState, // initial state, then we transition to Nothing to initialise the ui
         Nothing,
-        PlayView,
+        GameView,
         LeaderboardView,
-        AccountView,
+        AccountView
     }
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     singleton pattern: define instance field for accessing the singleton elsewhere
     /// </summary>
     public static GameManager Instance;
-    
+
     /// <summary>
     ///     the current display state of the game
     /// </summary>
-    [SerializeField] private DisplayState state = DisplayState.Nothing;
+    [SerializeField] private DisplayState state = DisplayState.UnassociatedState;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     the visual element object for game ui (hud/prompts/tooltips)
+    ///     the game object for the ui
+    /// </summary>
+    [SerializeField] private GameObject uiGameObject;
+
+    // /// <summary>
+    // ///     callback functions to be invoked when the display state changes
+    // /// </summary>
+    // private readonly List<Action<DisplayState>> _onDisplayStateChange = new();
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     callback functions to be invoked when the local player data is updated
+    /// </summary>
+    private readonly List<Action<LocalPlayerData>> _onLocalPlayerDataUpdateCallbacks = new();
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     the local player data object for storing player data
+    /// </summary>
+    private LocalPlayerData _data;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     the visual element for the ui
     /// </summary>
     private VisualElement _ui;
 
@@ -37,11 +59,6 @@ public enum DisplayState
     ///     backend object for handling communication with the firebase backend
     /// </summary>
     public Backend Backend;
-    
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     the local player data object for storing player data
-    /// </summary>
-    private LocalPlayerData _localPlayerData;
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     enforces singleton behaviour; sets doesn't destroy on load and checks for multiple instances
@@ -61,30 +78,65 @@ private void Awake()
             Debug.Log("awake as non-singleton instance, destroying self");
             Destroy(gameObject);
         }
-    }
 
-    private void Start()
-    {
-        SetDisplayState(DisplayState.PlayView);
-        
-        // load the local player data and refresh the ui
-        _localPlayerData = new LocalPlayerData();
-        _localPlayerData.LoadFromTheWorld();
-        
-        // register a callback to refresh the ui when the player signs in
-        Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(_ =>
-        {
-            _localPlayerData.LoadFromTheWorld();
-        });
+        if (uiGameObject == null)
+            throw new NullReferenceException("a reference UI GameObject is not set in the inspector");
+
+        _ui = uiGameObject.GetComponent<UIDocument>()?.rootVisualElement;
+        if (_ui == null)
+            throw new NullReferenceException("could not grab the UIDocument in the reference UI GameObject");
     }
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     called when the game object is enabled
+    ///     called before the first frame update
     /// </summary>
-    private void OnEnable()
+    private void Start()
     {
+        // transition to the initial state
+        SetDisplayState(DisplayState.Nothing);
+
+        // initialise the backend
         Backend = new Backend();
-        Backend.Initialise();
+        Backend.Initialise(status =>
+        {
+            Debug.Log("initialised backend, setting connection status text");
+
+            _ui.Q<Label>("ConnectionStatusText").text = status switch
+            {
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.Connected => "Status: Connected",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.Updating => "Status: Updating... (Retrying in a bit!)",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.NotConnected => "Status: Disconnected",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.UpdateRequired =>
+                    "Status: Disconnected (Device Component Update Required)",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.ExternalError => "Status: Disconnected (External/Device Error)",
+                Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.InternalError => "Status: Disconnected (Internal Error)",
+                _ => "Status: Disconnected (unknown fcs state, this is unreachable and a bug)"
+            };
+
+            if (status == Backend.FirebaseConnectionStatus.Connected) return;
+
+            // if we're not connected, hide any online 'features'
+            _ui.Q<Button>("LeaderboardButton").style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+            _ui.Q<Button>("AccountButton").style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+        });
+
+        // load the local player data and refresh the ui
+        _data = new LocalPlayerData();
+        _data.LoadFromTheWorld(data =>
+        {
+            foreach (var callback in _onLocalPlayerDataUpdateCallbacks) callback(data);
+        });
+
+        // register a callback to refresh the ui when the player signs in
+        Backend.RegisterOnSignInCallback(_ =>
+        {
+            Debug.Log("post-auth callback, refreshing player data from the world");
+            _data.LoadFromTheWorld(data =>
+            {
+                Debug.Log("firing lpdata update callbacks");
+                foreach (var callback in _onLocalPlayerDataUpdateCallbacks) callback(data);
+            });
+        });
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -95,6 +147,26 @@ private void OnDestroy()
         Backend.Cleanup();
     }
 
+    // /// <summary>
+    // ///     function to register a callback for when the display state changes
+    // /// </summary>
+    // /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>DisplayState</c> enum</param>
+    // public void RegisterOnDisplayStateChange(Action<DisplayState> callback)
+    // {
+    //     _onDisplayStateChange.Add(callback);
+    // }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     function to register a callback for when the local player data is updated
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="callback">callback function that takes in a <c>LocalPlayerData</c> object</param>
+    public void RegisterOnLocalPlayerDataUpdate(Action<LocalPlayerData> callback)
+    {
+        _onLocalPlayerDataUpdateCallbacks.Add(callback);
+        Debug.Log(
+            $"registering on lpdata update callback, there are now {_onLocalPlayerDataUpdateCallbacks.Count} callbacks");
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     ///     function to show a menu based on the enum passed,
     ///     and any other necessary actions
@@ -102,7 +174,50 @@ private void OnDestroy()
     /// <param name="newDisplayState">the game menu to show</param>
     public void SetDisplayState(DisplayState newDisplayState)
     {
-        var currentDisplayState = St;
+        var currentDisplayState = state;
+
+        // if the new state is the same as the current state, do nothing
+        if (currentDisplayState == newDisplayState)
+        {
+            Debug.Log($"staying at {currentDisplayState} (illogical transition)");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Debug.Log($"switching from {currentDisplayState} to {newDisplayState}");
+
+        var gameView = _ui.Q<VisualElement>("GameView");
+        var leaderboardView = _ui.Q<VisualElement>("LeaderboardView");
+        var accountView = _ui.Q<VisualElement>("AccountView");
+
         switch (newDisplayState)
+        {
+            case DisplayState.Nothing:
+                gameView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                leaderboardView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                accountView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                break;
+
+            case DisplayState.GameView:
+                gameView.style.display = DisplayStyle.Flex;
+                leaderboardView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                accountView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                break;
+
+            case DisplayState.LeaderboardView:
+                gameView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                leaderboardView.style.display = DisplayStyle.Flex;
+                accountView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                break;
+
+            case DisplayState.AccountView:
+                gameView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                leaderboardView.style.display = DisplayStyle.None;
+                accountView.style.display = DisplayStyle.Flex;
+                break;
+
+            case DisplayState.UnassociatedState:
+            default:
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(newDisplayState), newDisplayState, null);
+        }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta
index 100b3aa..04fbdcd 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/GameManager.cs.meta
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ MonoImporter:
   externalObjects: {}
   serializedVersion: 2
   defaultReferences: []
-  executionOrder: 0
+  executionOrder: -10
   icon: {instanceID: 0}
   userData: 
   assetBundleName: 
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs
index dc6a8e7..0e260de 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/LocalPlayerData.cs
@@ -1,42 +1,44 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Globalization;
+using Unity.VisualScripting;
 using UnityEngine;
 
 public class LocalPlayerData
 {
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     last known email used
-    /// </summary>
-    public string LastKnownEmail = "";
-    
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     last known username used
-    /// </summary>
-    public string LastKnownUsername = "Guest";
-    
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     queue of the 10 most recent local scores
-    /// </summary>
-    public Queue<Score> RecentLocalScores = new(10);
-    
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     queue of the 10 most recent online scores,
-    ///     used in user rating calculation and accuracy display stats
-    /// </summary>
-    public Queue<Score> RecentOnlineScores = new(10);
-    
     /// <summary>
     ///     queue of the best online scores,
     ///     used in user rating calculation and accuracy display stats
     /// </summary>
     public Queue<Score> BestOnlineScores = new(30);
 
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     last known email used
+    /// </summary>
+    public string LastKnownEmail = "";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     last known username used
+    /// </summary>
+    public string LastKnownUsername = "Guest";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     queue of the 10 most recent local scores
+    /// </summary>
+    public Queue<Score> RecentLocalScores = new(10);
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     queue of the 10 most recent online scores,
+    ///     used in user rating calculation and accuracy display stats
+    /// </summary>
+    public Queue<Score> RecentOnlineScores = new(10);
+
     /// <summary>
     ///     loads player data from player prefs and database
     /// </summary>
-    public void LoadFromTheWorld()
+    public void LoadFromTheWorld(Action<LocalPlayerData> callback)
     {
+        
         // load user data, possibly from the backend
         var possibleUser = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUser();
         var currentKnownEmail = string.Empty;
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ public void LoadFromTheWorld()
             currentKnownEmail = possibleUser.Email;
             currentKnownUsername = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUsername();
         }
+
         var lastStoredEmail = PlayerPrefs.GetString("LastKnownEmail", "");
         var lastStoredUsername = PlayerPrefs.GetString("LastKnownUsername", "Guest");
         LastKnownEmail = string.IsNullOrEmpty(currentKnownEmail) ? lastStoredEmail : currentKnownEmail;
@@ -75,30 +78,24 @@ public void LoadFromTheWorld()
 
             // if any of the values are invalid, don't add the score
             if (noOfRounds < 0 || l < 0 || c < 0 || h < 0) continue;
-
-            RegisterLocalScore(new Score(timestamp, noOfRounds, l, c, h));
+            RecentLocalScores.Enqueue(new Score(timestamp, noOfRounds, l, c, h));
         }
-        
+
         // load online scores
         RecentOnlineScores.Clear();
-        GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetRecentScores((dtr, recentOnlineScores) =>
+        GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetRecentScores((_, recentOnlineScores) =>
         {
             foreach (var onlineScore in recentOnlineScores)
             {
                 if (RecentOnlineScores.Count > 10) RecentOnlineScores.Dequeue();
                 RecentOnlineScores.Enqueue(onlineScore);
             }
-        });
-    }
 
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     registers a score to the player's local data
-    /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="score">the score to register</param>
-    public void RegisterLocalScore(Score score)
-    {
-        if (RecentLocalScores.Count > 10) RecentLocalScores.Dequeue();
-        RecentLocalScores.Enqueue(score);
+            Debug.Log("firing late post-load lpdata callback");
+            callback(this);
+        });
+        
+        Debug.Log("loaded player data from the world");
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -120,10 +117,22 @@ public void SaveToTheWorld()
             PlayerPrefs.SetFloat($"RecentLocalScores_{idx}_AvgHueAccuracy", score.AvgHueAccuracy);
             idx++;
         }
+        
+        Debug.Log("saved player data to the world");
 
         // online scores are already saved in the backend
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     registers a score to the player's local data
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="score">the score to register</param>
+    public void RegisterLocalScore(Score score)
+    {
+        if (RecentLocalScores.Count > 10) RecentLocalScores.Dequeue();
+        RecentLocalScores.Enqueue(score);
+    }
+
     public struct Score
     {
         /// <summary>
@@ -169,4 +178,12 @@ public struct Score
             AvgHueAccuracy = h;
         }
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     function to save the player data when the application quits
+    /// </summary>
+    private void OnApplicationQuit()
+    {
+        SaveToTheWorld();
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs
index 5e27f07..092135f 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/Scripts/SideViewUI.cs
@@ -7,45 +7,55 @@
 public class SideViewUI : MonoBehaviour
 {
     /// <summary>
-    ///     settings button for showing the settings menu
+    ///     button to change to transition to the account view
     /// </summary>
     private Button _accountButton;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     settings button for showing the settings menu
+    ///     text that displays the users stable chroma accuracy
     /// </summary>
     private Label _chromaAccuracyText;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     settings button for showing the settings menu
+    ///     text that displays the connection status to the backend
+    /// </summary>
+    private Label _connectionStatusText;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     text that displays the users stable hue accuracy
     /// </summary>
     private Label _hueAccuracyText;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     leaderboard button for showing the leaderboard
+    ///     button to transition to the leaderboard view
     /// </summary>
     private Button _leaderboardButton;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     settings button for showing the settings menu
+    ///     text that displays the users stable lightness accuracy
     /// </summary>
     private Label _lightnessAccuracyText;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     play button for starting the game
+    ///     button to transition to the game view
     /// </summary>
     private Button _playButton;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     settings button for showing the settings menu
+    ///     text that displays the username
     /// </summary>
     private Label _playerNameText;
 
     /// <summary>
-    ///     settings button for showing the settings menu
+    ///     text that displays the users' rating
     /// </summary>
     private Label _playerRatingText;
 
+    private void Start()
+    {
+        GameManager.Instance.RegisterOnLocalPlayerDataUpdate(RenderFromPlayerData);
+    }
+
     /// <summary>
     ///     function to subscribe button events to their respective functions
     /// </summary>
@@ -67,14 +77,15 @@ private void OnEnable()
         _chromaAccuracyText = ui.Q<Label>("ChromaAccuracyText");
     }
 
+
     /// <summary>
     ///     function to update the ui with the latest data
     /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="localPlayerData"></param>
+    /// <param name="localPlayerData">the local player data to render the ui from</param>
     private void RenderFromPlayerData(LocalPlayerData localPlayerData)
     {
         // calculate averages from both recent local scores and online scores
-        var totalLightessAcc = 0f;
+        var totalLightness = 0f;
         var totalChromaAcc = 0f;
         var totalHueAcc = 0f;
         var totalRounds = 0;
@@ -83,7 +94,7 @@ private void RenderFromPlayerData(LocalPlayerData localPlayerData)
 
         foreach (var localScore in localPlayerData.RecentLocalScores)
         {
-            totalLightessAcc += localScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
+            totalLightness += localScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
             totalChromaAcc += localScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
             totalHueAcc += localScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
             totalRounds += localScore.NoOfRounds;
@@ -91,26 +102,26 @@ private void RenderFromPlayerData(LocalPlayerData localPlayerData)
 
         foreach (var onlineScore in localPlayerData.RecentOnlineScores)
         {
-            totalLightessAcc += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
+            totalLightness += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
             totalChromaAcc += onlineScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
             totalHueAcc += onlineScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
             totalRounds += onlineScore.NoOfRounds;
         }
-            
+
         foreach (var onlineScore in localPlayerData.BestOnlineScores)
         {
-            totalLightessAcc += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
+            totalLightness += onlineScore.AvgLightnessAccuracy;
             totalChromaAcc += onlineScore.AvgChromaAccuracy;
             totalHueAcc += onlineScore.AvgHueAccuracy;
             totalRounds += onlineScore.NoOfRounds;
         }
-        
+
         // finally, set the labels
         _playerNameText.text = GameManager.Instance.Backend.GetUsername();
-        _lightnessAccuracyText.text = $"{(totalLightessAcc / totalRounds):F}";
-        _hueAccuracyText.text = $"{(totalHueAcc / totalRounds):F}";
-        _chromaAccuracyText.text = $"{(totalChromaAcc / totalRounds):F}";
-        
+        _lightnessAccuracyText.text = $"{totalLightness / totalRounds:F}";
+        _hueAccuracyText.text = $"{totalHueAcc / totalRounds:F}";
+        _chromaAccuracyText.text = $"{totalChromaAcc / totalRounds:F}";
+
         // and set the player rating, but after we get it from the backend
         // (god I LOVE async (I am LYING out of my teeth))
         GameManager.Instance.Backend.CalculateUserRating((dtr, rating) =>
@@ -125,7 +136,7 @@ private void RenderFromPlayerData(LocalPlayerData localPlayerData)
     /// </summary>
     private static void OnPlayButtonClicked()
     {
-        GameManager.Instance.SetDisplayState(GameManager.DisplayState.PlayView);
+        GameManager.Instance.SetDisplayState(GameManager.DisplayState.GameView);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/UI/GameUI.uxml b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/UI/GameUI.uxml
index d080856..7152dc9 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/UI/GameUI.uxml
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/Assets/UI/GameUI.uxml
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
                 <ui:Button text="Account ↗" parse-escape-sequences="true" display-tooltip-when-elided="true"
                            name="AccountButton"/>
                 <ui:VisualElement name="AccountSection"
-                                  style="flex-grow: 0; border-top-color: rgb(208, 152, 194); margin-top: 0; border-top-width: 1px; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; border-bottom-color: rgb(208, 152, 194); border-bottom-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 12px;">
+                                  style="flex-grow: 0; border-top-color: rgb(208, 152, 194); margin-top: 0; border-top-width: 1px; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; border-bottom-color: rgb(208, 152, 194); padding-bottom: 12px;">
                     <ui:VisualElement name="PlayerDetails"
                                       style="flex-grow: 1; flex-direction: row; align-items: stretch; justify-content: space-between; font-size: 10px; align-self: stretch;">
                         <ui:VisualElement name="PlayerNameDetail" style="flex-grow: 1;">
@@ -73,6 +73,12 @@
                         </ui:VisualElement>
                     </ui:VisualElement>
                 </ui:VisualElement>
+                <ui:VisualElement name="ConnectionStatusText"
+                                  style="flex-grow: 0; border-top-color: rgb(208, 152, 194); margin-top: 0; border-top-width: 1px; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; border-bottom-color: rgb(208, 152, 194); border-bottom-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 12px;">
+                    <ui:Label tabindex="-1" text="Status: Unknown" parse-escape-sequences="true"
+                              display-tooltip-when-elided="true" name="ConnectionStatusText"
+                              style="-unity-font-style: normal; font-size: 14px; padding-bottom: 0; -unity-text-align: lower-left;"/>
+                </ui:VisualElement>
             </ui:VisualElement>
         </ui:VisualElement>
         <ui:VisualElement name="MainView"
@@ -113,16 +119,14 @@
                 </ui:VisualElement>
             </ui:VisualElement>
             <ui:VisualElement name="LeaderboardView"
-                              style="flex-grow: 1; display: none; padding-top: 0; padding-right: 0; padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; margin-top: 3.25%; margin-right: 3.25%; margin-bottom: 3.25%; margin-left: 3.25%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: space-between;">
-                <ui:VisualElement name="LeaderboardHeader" style="flex-grow: 0;">
-                    <ui:Label tabindex="-1" text="Leaderboard" parse-escape-sequences="true"
-                              display-tooltip-when-elided="true" name="RoundText"
-                              style="font-size: 58px; -unity-font-style: bold;"/>
-                </ui:VisualElement>
+                              style="flex-grow: 1; display: flex; padding-top: 0; padding-right: 0; padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; margin-top: 3.25%; margin-right: 3.25%; margin-bottom: 3.25%; margin-left: 3.25%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: space-between;">
+                <ui:Label tabindex="-1" text="Leaderboard" parse-escape-sequences="true"
+                          display-tooltip-when-elided="true" name="RoundText"
+                          style="font-size: 58px; -unity-font-style: normal;"/>
                 <ui:ListView name="LeaderboardListView"/>
             </ui:VisualElement>
             <ui:VisualElement name="AccountView"
-                              style="flex-grow: 1; display: flex; padding-top: 0; padding-right: 0; padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; margin-top: 3.25%; margin-right: 3.25%; margin-bottom: 3.25%; margin-left: 3.25%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: space-between;">
+                              style="flex-grow: 1; display: none; padding-top: 0; padding-right: 0; padding-bottom: 0; padding-left: 0; margin-top: 3.25%; margin-right: 3.25%; margin-bottom: 3.25%; margin-left: 3.25%; flex-direction: column; justify-content: space-between;">
                 <ui:Label tabindex="-1" text="You are not signed in." parse-escape-sequences="true"
                           display-tooltip-when-elided="true" name="AccountHeader"
                           style="font-size: 58px; -unity-font-style: normal;"/>
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/EditorBuildSettings.asset b/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/EditorBuildSettings.asset
index 0147887..0d29b1c 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/EditorBuildSettings.asset
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/EditorBuildSettings.asset
@@ -4,5 +4,8 @@
 EditorBuildSettings:
   m_ObjectHideFlags: 0
   serializedVersion: 2
-  m_Scenes: []
+  m_Scenes:
+  - enabled: 1
+    path: Assets/Scenes/GameScene.unity
+    guid: 9fc0d4010bbf28b4594072e72b8655ab
   m_configObjects: {}
diff --git a/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/ProjectSettings.asset b/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/ProjectSettings.asset
index 6431b87..8b135ff 100644
--- a/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/ProjectSettings.asset
+++ b/ColourMeOKGame/ProjectSettings/ProjectSettings.asset
@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ PlayerSettings:
   resetResolutionOnWindowResize: 0
   androidSupportedAspectRatio: 1
   androidMaxAspectRatio: 2.1
-  applicationIdentifier: {}
+  applicationIdentifier:
+    Standalone: com.DefaultCompany.ColourMeOKLABGame
   buildNumber:
     Standalone: 0
     VisionOS: 0