diff --git a/BBGE/CMakeLists.txt b/BBGE/CMakeLists.txt
index 8eaa5af..ac7acb3 100644
--- a/BBGE/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/BBGE/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -70,8 +70,12 @@ set(BBGE_SRCS
     ReadXML.h
     Rect.h
     Refcounted.h
+    RenderAPI.cpp
+    RenderAPI.h
     RenderBase.cpp
     RenderBase.h
+    RenderHigh.cpp
+    RenderHigh.h
     RenderObject.cpp
     RenderObject.h
     RenderObject_inline.h
diff --git a/BBGE/RenderAPI.cpp b/BBGE/RenderAPI.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18ae6a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/BBGE/RenderAPI.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+#include "RenderAPI.h"
+#include "Base.h"
+
+#include "RenderBase.h"
+
+namespace RenderAPI {
+
+void BufferBase::destroy()
+{
+    deleteBuffer(&_bufid);
+}
+
+void BufferBase::upload(Hint usage)
+{
+    updateBuffer(&_bufid, _data, _bytes, usage);
+}
+
+
+// ----- GL backend starts here -----
+// TODO: move backend to separate file once finalized
+
+struct BlendParams
+{
+	GLenum src, dst;
+};
+static const BlendParams s_blendParams[] =
+{
+	{ GL_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA },
+	{ GL_SRC_ALPHA, GL_ONE },
+	{ GL_ZERO, GL_SRC_ALPHA },
+	{ GL_ZERO, GL_SRC_COLOR },
+};
+
+static const GLenum s_primTypes[] =
+{
+	GL_POINTS,
+	GL_LINES,
+	GL_LINE_STRIP,
+	GL_QUADS,
+	GL_QUAD_STRIP
+};
+
+
+static void renderNonIndexed(const ObjectData& d)
+{
+	switch(d.layout)
+	{
+		case RAPI_LAYOUT_2D:
+		{
+			::glColor4fv(&d.color.r);
+			const size_t n = d.verts->bytes() / sizeof(float);
+			const float *p = (const float*)d.verts->data();
+			const float * const end = p + n;
+			for( ; p < end; p += 4) // Vertex2D
+			{
+				::glTexCoord2f(p[0], p[1]);
+				::glVertex2f(p[2], p[3]);
+			}
+		}
+		break;
+
+		case RAPI_LAYOUT_2D_COLOR:
+		{
+			const size_t n = d.verts->bytes() / sizeof(float);
+			const float *p = (const float*)d.verts->data();
+			const float * const end = p + n;
+			for( ; p < end; p += 8) // Vertex2DColor
+			{
+				::glColor4fv(&p[4]);
+				::glTexCoord2f(p[0], p[1]);
+				::glVertex2f(p[2], p[3]);
+			}
+		}
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+static void renderIndexed(const ObjectData& d)
+{
+	switch(d.layout)
+	{
+		case RAPI_LAYOUT_2D:
+		{
+			::glColor4fv(&d.color.r);
+			const size_t n = d.indices->bytes() / sizeof(unsigned short);
+			const unsigned short *idx = (const unsigned short*)d.indices->data();
+			const float * const pbase = (const float*)d.verts->data();
+			const unsigned short * const end = idx + n;
+			for( ; idx < end; ++idx)
+			{
+				const float *p = pbase + *idx;
+				::glTexCoord2f(p[0], p[1]);
+				::glVertex2f(p[2], p[3]);
+			}
+		}
+		break;
+
+		case RAPI_LAYOUT_2D_COLOR:
+		{
+			const size_t n = d.indices->bytes() / sizeof(unsigned short);
+			const unsigned short *idx = (const unsigned short*)d.indices->data();
+			const float * const pbase = (const float*)d.verts->data();
+			const unsigned short * const end = idx + n;
+			for( ; idx < end; ++idx)
+			{
+				const float *p = pbase + *idx;
+				::glColor4fv(&p[4]);
+				::glTexCoord2f(p[0], p[1]);
+				::glVertex2f(p[2], p[3]);
+			}
+		}
+		break;
+	}
+}
+
+void render(const ObjectData* objs, size_t n)
+{
+	::glPushMatrix();
+    char lastblend = BLEND_DISABLED - 1; // always fail the first check
+	unsigned lasttex = unsigned(-1);
+    const ObjectData* const end = objs + n;
+    for( ; objs < end; ++objs)
+    {
+        const ObjectData& d = *objs;
+        if(lastblend != d.blend)
+        {
+			lastblend = d.blend;
+            unsigned ublend = unsigned(int(d.blend)); // this underflows if BLEND_DISABLED
+            if (ublend < Countof(s_blendParams))
+			{
+				::glEnable(GL_BLEND);
+				const BlendParams& bp = s_blendParams[ublend];
+				::glBlendFunc(bp.src, bp.dst);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				::glDisable(GL_BLEND);
+				::glDisable(GL_ALPHA_TEST);
+			}
+        }
+
+
+		::glLoadMatrixf(d.pmat);
+
+
+		const unsigned prim = d.prim;
+		switch(prim)
+		{
+			case RAPI_PRIM_POINTS:
+				::glPointSize(d.u.linewidth);
+				break;
+			case RAPI_PRIM_LINES:
+			case RAPI_PRIM_LINE_STRIP:
+				::glLineWidth(d.u.linewidth);
+				break;
+
+			default:
+				if(d.u.texid != lasttex)
+				{
+					lasttex = d.u.texid;
+					::glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, d.u.texid);
+				}
+		}
+
+		::glBegin(s_primTypes[prim]);
+		if(!d.indices)
+			renderNonIndexed(d);
+		else
+			renderIndexed(d);
+		::glEnd();
+    }
+	::glPopMatrix();
+}
+
+void updateBuffer(unsigned* pbufid, const void* data, size_t bytes, RenderAPI::BufferBase::Hint usage)
+{
+}
+
+void deleteBuffer(unsigned* pbufid)
+{
+}
+
+}
diff --git a/BBGE/RenderAPI.h b/BBGE/RenderAPI.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1912f71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/BBGE/RenderAPI.h
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#ifndef BBGE_RENDER_API_H
+#define BBGE_RENDER_API_H
+
+#include "EngineEnums.h"
+
+enum RenderAPIConstants
+{
+    //-- primitives to draw
+    RAPI_PRIM_POINTS = 0,
+    RAPI_PRIM_LINES = 1,
+    RAPI_PRIM_LINE_STRIP = 2,
+    RAPI_PRIM_QUADS = 3,
+    RAPI_PRIM_QUAD_STRIP = 4,
+
+    //-- per-vertex layout
+    RAPI_LAYOUT_2D = 0,           // (u,v,x,y)          aka Vertex2D
+    RAPI_LAYOUT_2D_COLOR = 1      // (u,v,x,y,r,g,b,a)  aka Vertex2DColor
+};
+
+namespace RenderAPI {
+
+struct Vertex2D
+{
+    float u, v, x, y;
+};
+struct Vertex2DColor : public Vertex2D
+{
+    float  r, g, b, a;
+};
+
+
+class BufferBase
+{
+public:
+    enum Hint
+    {
+        BUFFER_STATIC,
+        BUFFER_DYNAMIC
+    };
+
+    unsigned bufid() const { return _bufid; }
+    const void *data() const { return _data; }
+    size_t bytes() const { return _bytes; }
+    void destroy();
+    void upload(Hint usage);
+
+protected:
+
+    unsigned _bufid;
+    void *_data; // pointer to data
+    size_t _bytes;
+};
+
+// real POD struct
+struct ObjectData
+{
+    const float *pmat; // pointer to float[16]
+    struct
+    {
+        float r, g, b, a; // used only when no per-vertex colors are used
+    } color;
+    const BufferBase *verts;
+    const BufferBase *indices; // always uint16 if present
+    union
+    {
+        unsigned texid;  // if tris/quads
+        float linewidth; // if lines/points: point size or line width
+    } u;
+    char blend;
+    unsigned char prim;
+    unsigned char layout;
+};
+
+
+void render(const ObjectData *objs, size_t n);
+void updateBuffer(unsigned *pbufid, const void *data, size_t bytes, BufferBase::Hint usage);
+void deleteBuffer(unsigned *pbufid);
+
+}
+
+#endif // BBGE_RENDER_API_H
diff --git a/BBGE/RenderHigh.cpp b/BBGE/RenderHigh.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a118960
--- /dev/null
+++ b/BBGE/RenderHigh.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#include "RenderHigh.h"
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+ObjectList::ObjectList(size_t minsize)
+    : _ptr(NULL), _size(0), _cap(0), _minsize(minsize)
+{
+}
+
+ObjectList::~ObjectList()
+{
+    this->clear();
+}
+
+RenderAPI::ObjectData* ObjectList::reserve(size_t n)
+{
+    return _ensure(n) + _size;
+}
+
+void ObjectList::commit(size_t n)
+{
+    _size += n;
+    assert(_size <= _cap);
+}
+
+RenderAPI::ObjectData& ObjectList::push(const RenderAPI::ObjectData& a)
+{
+    size_t cursize = _size;
+    size_t newsize = _size + 1;
+    _size = newsize;
+    return (_ensure(newsize)[cursize] = a);
+}
+
+void ObjectList::reset()
+{
+    _size = 0;
+}
+
+void ObjectList::clear()
+{
+    free(_ptr);
+    _ptr = NULL;
+    _size = 0;
+    _cap = 0;
+}
+
+RenderAPI::ObjectData* ObjectList::_ensure(size_t n)
+{
+    if(n < _cap)
+        return _ptr;
+
+    size_t newsize = 2 * _cap;
+    if(newsize < n)
+        newsize += n;
+    if(newsize < _minsize)
+        newsize = _minsize;
+
+    RenderAPI::ObjectData *p = (RenderAPI::ObjectData*)realloc(_ptr, sizeof(RenderAPI::ObjectData) * newsize);
+    if(!p)
+        return NULL;
+
+    _ptr = p;
+    _cap = newsize;
+    return p;
+}
+
+DynamicBuffer::DynamicBuffer()
+    : usage(BUFFER_DYNAMIC)
+{
+    _bufid = 0;
+    _data = NULL;
+    _bytes = 0;
+}
+
+DynamicBuffer::~DynamicBuffer()
+{
+    free(_data);
+}
+
+void* DynamicBuffer::resizeBytes(size_t bytes)
+{
+    _bytes = bytes;
+    return realloc(_data, bytes);
+}
+
+void* DynamicBuffer::_ensureBytes(size_t bytes)
+{
+    if(bytes < _bytes)
+        return _data;
+
+    size_t newsize = 2 * _bytes;
+    if(newsize < bytes)
+        newsize += bytes;
+
+    return resizeBytes(newsize);
+}
diff --git a/BBGE/RenderHigh.h b/BBGE/RenderHigh.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ce424e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/BBGE/RenderHigh.h
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+#ifndef BBGE_RENDER_HIGH_H
+#define BBGE_RENDER_HIGH_H
+
+// High-level API for the renderer
+
+#include "RenderAPI.h"
+#include "Base.h"
+#include <assert.h>
+
+// Stores data for later submission to the renderer.
+// Workflow:
+// Either: reserve() some, then commit()
+// Or: add() some
+// Finally: pass (data(), size()) to the renderer
+class ObjectList
+{
+public:
+    ObjectList(size_t minsize);
+    ~ObjectList();
+
+    RenderAPI::ObjectData *reserve(size_t n); // reserve at least n elements and return pointer to writable area
+    void commit(size_t n); // acknowledge writing n elements to previously reserve()d
+
+    RenderAPI::ObjectData& push(const RenderAPI::ObjectData& a); // add one element
+    void reset();
+    void clear();
+
+    const RenderAPI::ObjectData *data() const { return _ptr; }
+    size_t size() const { return _size; }
+
+private:
+    RenderAPI::ObjectData *_ptr;
+    size_t _size, _cap;
+    size_t _minsize;
+
+    RenderAPI::ObjectData *_ensure(size_t n); // ensures that there's space for at least n entries in total
+};
+
+template<typename T, unsigned N>
+class StaticMesh : public RenderAPI::BufferBase
+{
+public:
+    StaticMesh()
+    {
+        this->_bufid = 0;
+        this->_data = &data[0];
+        this->_size = sizeof(data);
+    }
+    T data[N];
+
+    inline       T& operator[](size_t i)       { assert(i < Countof(data)); return data[i]; }
+    inline const T& operator[](size_t i) const { assert(i < Countof(data)); return data[i]; }
+
+    inline void upload() { this->upload(BUFFER_STATIC); }
+};
+
+class DynamicBuffer : public RenderAPI::BufferBase
+{
+public:
+    typedef RenderAPI::BufferBase Base;
+    DynamicBuffer();
+    ~DynamicBuffer();
+    Hint usage;
+    inline void upload() { Base::upload(usage); }
+    void *resizeBytes(size_t bytes); // resize to exactly this size
+protected:
+    void *_ensureBytes(size_t bytes); // ensures that there's space for at least that many bytes
+};
+
+template<typename T>
+class DynamicMesh : public DynamicBuffer
+{
+public:
+    T& push(const T& val)
+    {
+        size_t sz = _size;
+        T *p = _ensure(sz + 1);
+        _size = sz + 1
+        return (p[sz] = val);
+    }
+
+    inline T *resize(size_t n) // ptr to start
+    {
+        return (T*)this->resizeBytes(n);
+    }
+
+    inline T *reserve(size_t n) // ptr to writable region of n elems
+    {
+        return _ensure(n) + _size;
+    }
+
+    inline void commit(size_t n) // commit prev. reserve()d
+    {
+        _size += n;
+    }
+
+    inline void reset()
+    {
+        _size = 0;
+    }
+
+    inline       T& operator[](size_t i)       { assert(i < _size); return ((      T*)_data)[i]; }
+    inline const T& operator[](size_t i) const { assert(i < _size); return ((const T*)_data)[i]; }
+
+private:
+    T *_ensure(size_t n)
+    {
+        return (T*)this->_ensureBytes(n * sizeof(T));
+    }
+
+    size_t _size; // in elements
+};
+
+
+#endif // BBGE_RENDER_HIGH_H