diff --git a/buildsettings.h b/buildsettings.h
index 8ef8edd..3d3b2a2 100644
--- a/buildsettings.h
+++ b/buildsettings.h
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 #define DEBUG_RENDERING
 // #define DEBUG_WORLD
 // #define UNLOCK_ALL
+#define TIME_BETWEEN_WORLD_SAVE 1.0f
 #define INFINITE_RESOURCES
 // #define DEBUG_TOOLS
 // #define FAT_THRUSTERS
-// #define NO_GRAVITY
+#define NO_GRAVITY
 // #define NO_SUNS
 
 #else
diff --git a/gamestate.c b/gamestate.c
index bc53206..2591908 100644
--- a/gamestate.c
+++ b/gamestate.c
@@ -1052,8 +1052,17 @@ SerMaybeFailure ser_data(SerState *ser, char *data, size_t data_len, const char
   {
     if (ser->write_varnames)
     {
+      // the name
       memcpy(ser->bytes + ser->cursor, var_name, var_name_len);
       ser->cursor += var_name_len;
+      SER_ASSERT(ser->cursor < ser->max_size);
+
+      // the size, compressed to a short
+      SER_ASSERT(data_len < 65535); // uh oh stinky!
+      uint16_t size_to_write = (uint16_t)data_len;
+      memcpy(ser->bytes + ser->cursor, &size_to_write, sizeof(size_to_write));
+      ser->cursor += sizeof(size_to_write);
+      SER_ASSERT(ser->cursor < ser->max_size);
     }
     for (int b = 0; b < data_len; b++)
     {
@@ -1096,6 +1105,19 @@ SerMaybeFailure ser_data(SerState *ser, char *data, size_t data_len, const char
 
       // now compare!
       SER_ASSERT(strcmp(read_name, name) == 0);
+
+
+      // deserialize and check the size too!
+      SER_ASSERT(data_len < 65535); // uh oh stinky!
+      uint16_t expected_size = (uint16_t)data_len;
+      uint16_t got_size = 0;
+      for (int b = 0; b < sizeof(got_size); b++)
+      {
+        ((char*)&got_size)[b] = ser->bytes[ser->cursor];
+        ser->cursor += 1;
+        SER_ASSERT(ser->cursor <= ser->max_size);
+      }
+      SER_ASSERT(got_size == expected_size);
     }
     for (int b = 0; b < data_len; b++)
     {
@@ -1549,7 +1571,7 @@ SerMaybeFailure ser_server_to_client(SerState *ser, ServerToClient *s)
                 EntityID cur_id = get_id(gs, cur_box);
                 SER_ASSERT(cur_id.index < gs->max_entities);
                 SER_VAR(&entities_done);
-                size_t the_index = (size_t)cur_id.index; // super critical. Type of &i is size_t. @BeforePatreon add debug info in serialization for what size the expected type is, maybe string nameof the type
+                size_t the_index = (size_t)cur_id.index; // super critical. Type of &i is size_t. Checked when write varnames is true though!
                 SER_VAR_NAME(&the_index, "&i");
                 SER_MAYBE_RETURN(ser_entity(ser, gs, cur_box));
               }
diff --git a/types.h b/types.h
index c5a3158..9f19f1c 100644
--- a/types.h
+++ b/types.h
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@
 #define EXPLOSION_DAMAGE_PER_SEC 10.0f
 #define EXPLOSION_DAMAGE_THRESHOLD 0.2f // how much damage until it explodes
 #define GOLD_UNLOCK_RADIUS 1.0f
+#ifndef TIME_BETWEEN_WORLD_SAVE 
 #define TIME_BETWEEN_WORLD_SAVE 30.0f
+#endif
 
 #define MISSILE_EXPLOSION_PUSH 2.5f
 #define MISSILE_EXPLOSION_RADIUS 0.4f