diff --git a/game/state/commands.cpp b/game/state/commands.cpp
index 7f59d18..ea21632 100644
--- a/game/state/commands.cpp
+++ b/game/state/commands.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,33 @@ namespace game {
         }
     }
 
+    void DeveloperCommand::apply(Player *player, State *state) const
+    {
+        if (!state->developerMode()) {
+            std::cout<<"ignoring dev command while not in developer mode: '"
+                << m_payload << "'" << std::endl;
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // TODO: give developer mode to game
+        // TODO: forward to application in some way
+
+        std::cout << "got developer command: '" << m_payload << "'" << std::endl;
+
+        if (m_payload == "reload shader") {
+            // TODO: really do that ;)
+        } else if (m_payload == "reload models") {
+        }
+    }
+
+    void SetDeveloperModeCommand::apply(Player *player, State *state) const
+    {
+        // TODO: check if player is admin
+
+        state->setDeveloperMode(m_enable);
+    }
+
 #if 0
     bool TakeOverPlayerCommand::ready(const Player *player, const State *state) const
     {
diff --git a/game/state/commands.hpp b/game/state/commands.hpp
index dd88c0c..ddd9358 100644
--- a/game/state/commands.hpp
+++ b/game/state/commands.hpp
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ namespace game {
         }
 
         std::string name() const { return "<change name>"; }
-
         void apply(Player *player, State *state) const;
 
     private:
@@ -96,7 +95,6 @@ namespace game {
         }
 
         std::string name() const { return "<clear traces>"; }
-
         void apply(Player *player, State *state) const;
     };
 
@@ -110,13 +108,40 @@ namespace game {
         }
 
         std::string name() const { return "<set speed>"; }
-
         void apply(Player *player, State *state) const;
 
     private:
         float m_speed;
     };
 
+    /**
+     * Developer command.
+     */
+    class DeveloperCommand : public Command {
+    public:
+        DeveloperCommand(const std::string &payload) : m_payload(payload)
+        {
+        }
+
+        std::string name() const { return "<dev command>"; }
+        void apply(Player *player, State *state) const;
+
+    private:
+        std::string m_payload;
+    };
+
+    class SetDeveloperModeCommand : public Command {
+        public: SetDeveloperModeCommand(bool enable) : m_enable(enable)
+        {
+        }
+
+        std::string name() const { return "<set dev. mode>"; }
+        void apply(Player *player, State *state) const;
+
+    private:
+        bool m_enable;
+    };
+
 #if 0
     /**
      * Take over a session for a player that left.
diff --git a/game/state/state.cpp b/game/state/state.cpp
index 42864ad..74df578 100644
--- a/game/state/state.cpp
+++ b/game/state/state.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #include "util.hpp"
 
 namespace game {
-    void State::init()
+    void State::init(bool devMode)
     {
         m_nextId             = 0;
         m_time               = 0.0;
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ namespace game {
         m_playerRespawnTime  = 2.0;
         m_defaultEnergy      = 10.0;
         m_maxNumTraces       = 10;
+        m_developerMode      = devMode;
 
         bool planetsOnCircle = false;
 
diff --git a/game/state/state.hpp b/game/state/state.hpp
index eef029e..50e84e0 100644
--- a/game/state/state.hpp
+++ b/game/state/state.hpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace game {
 
         // called to setup the state (randomize planets, kill
         // traces/missiles/ships etc.)
-        void init();
+        void init(bool devMode=false);
 
         // main method to advance the simulation by the given timestamp in
         // seconds.
@@ -80,6 +80,17 @@ namespace game {
         // get the current time
         float timestamp() const { return m_time; }
 
+        // check if game is in dev. mode.
+        // custom commands will then work etc.
+        bool developerMode() const { return m_developerMode; }
+
+        // change the mode.
+        void setDeveloperMode(bool on)
+        {
+            std::cout<<"[state] developer mode is: " << (on ? "on" : "off") << std::endl;
+            m_developerMode = on;
+        }
+
         /*************************************************************************/
         /* Rendering */
         /*************************************************************************/
@@ -122,5 +133,6 @@ namespace game {
         int   m_nextId;
         int   m_maxNumTraces;
         float m_time;
+        bool  m_developerMode;
     };
 };