diff --git a/engine/client/vid_common.h b/engine/client/vid_common.h
index eaf473c6..6cc4802a 100644
--- a/engine/client/vid_common.h
+++ b/engine/client/vid_common.h
@@ -2,9 +2,6 @@
 #ifndef VID_COMMON
 #define VID_COMMON
 
-#define FCONTEXT_CORE_PROFILE		BIT( 0 )
-#define FCONTEXT_DEBUG_ARB		BIT( 1 )
-
 typedef struct vidmode_s
 {
 	const char	*desc;
diff --git a/engine/common/mod_local.h b/engine/common/mod_local.h
index 4056d0ec..521e9686 100644
--- a/engine/common/mod_local.h
+++ b/engine/common/mod_local.h
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ typedef struct world_static_s
 	vec3_t		size;
 } world_static_t;
 
+#ifndef REF_DLL
 extern world_static_t	world;
 extern byte		*com_studiocache;
 extern model_t		*loadmodel;
@@ -189,6 +190,6 @@ void Mod_ClearStudioCache( void );
 //
 void Mod_LoadSpriteModel( model_t *mod, const void *buffer, qboolean *loaded, uint texFlags );
 void Mod_UnloadSpriteModel( model_t *mod );
-
+#endif
 
 #endif//MOD_LOCAL_H
diff --git a/engine/ref_api.h b/engine/ref_api.h
index 0654628a..0ed30257 100644
--- a/engine/ref_api.h
+++ b/engine/ref_api.h
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ GNU General Public License for more details.
 #include "com_model.h"
 #include "studio.h"
 #include "r_efx.h"
-#include "cvar.h"
 #include "com_image.h"
 
 #define REF_API_VERSION 1
@@ -37,6 +36,11 @@ GNU General Public License for more details.
 #define TF_IMAGE		(TF_NOMIPMAP|TF_CLAMP)
 #define TF_DECAL		(TF_CLAMP)
 
+#define FCONTEXT_CORE_PROFILE		BIT( 0 )
+#define FCONTEXT_DEBUG_ARB		BIT( 1 )
+
+#define FCVAR_RENDERINFO		(1<<16)	// save to a seperate config called video.cfg
+#define FCVAR_READ_ONLY		(1<<17)	// cannot be set by user at all, and can't be requested by CvarGetPointer from game dlls
 
 // screenshot types
 #define VID_SCREENSHOT	0
@@ -246,13 +250,13 @@ typedef struct ref_api_s
 	qboolean (*Host_IsLocalGame)( void );
 
 	// cvar handlers
-	convar_t   *(*Cvar_Get)( const char *szName, const char *szValue, int flags, const char *description );
-	convar_t   *(*pfnGetCvarPointer)( const char *name, int ignore_flags );
+	cvar_t   *(*Cvar_Get)( const char *szName, const char *szValue, int flags, const char *description );
+	cvar_t   *(*pfnGetCvarPointer)( const char *name, int ignore_flags );
 	float       (*pfnGetCvarFloat)( const char *szName );
 	const char *(*pfnGetCvarString)( const char *szName );
 	void        (*Cvar_SetValue)( const char *name, float value );
 	void        (*Cvar_Set)( const char *name, const char *value );
-	void (*Cvar_RegisterVariable)( convar_t *var );
+	void (*Cvar_RegisterVariable)( cvar_t *var );
 	void (*Cvar_FullSet)( const char *var_name, const char *value, int flags );
 
 	// command handlers
diff --git a/ref_gl/gl_local.h b/ref_gl/gl_local.h
index 3a740049..2a6cc27d 100644
--- a/ref_gl/gl_local.h
+++ b/ref_gl/gl_local.h
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ GNU General Public License for more details.
 #include "enginefeatures.h"
 #include "com_strings.h"
 #include "pm_movevars.h"
-#include "cvar.h"
+//#include "cvar.h"
+
 #define offsetof(s,m)       (size_t)&(((s *)0)->m)
 
 #define ASSERT(x) if(!( x )) gEngfuncs.Host_Error( "assert failed at %s:%i\n", __FILE__, __LINE__ )
@@ -40,8 +41,8 @@ GNU General Public License for more details.
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 
-#define CVAR_DEFINE( cv, cvname, cvstr, cvflags, cvdesc )	convar_t cv = { cvname, cvstr, cvflags, 0.0f, (void *)CVAR_SENTINEL, cvdesc }
-#define CVAR_DEFINE_AUTO( cv, cvstr, cvflags, cvdesc )	convar_t cv = { #cv, cvstr, cvflags, 0.0f, (void *)CVAR_SENTINEL, cvdesc }
+#define CVAR_DEFINE( cv, cvname, cvstr, cvflags, cvdesc )	cvar_t cv = { cvname, cvstr, cvflags, 0.0f, (void *)CVAR_SENTINEL, cvdesc }
+#define CVAR_DEFINE_AUTO( cv, cvstr, cvflags, cvdesc )	cvar_t cv = { #cv, cvstr, cvflags, 0.0f, (void *)CVAR_SENTINEL, cvdesc }
 #define CVAR_TO_BOOL( x )		((x) && ((x)->value != 0.0f) ? true : false )
 
 #define WORLD (gEngfuncs.GetWorld())
@@ -509,7 +510,7 @@ void VGUI_DrawQuad( const vpoint_t *ul, const vpoint_t *lr );
 void VGUI_GetTextureSizes( int *width, int *height );
 int VGUI_GenerateTexture( void );
 
-#include "vid_common.h"
+//#include "vid_common.h"
 
 //
 // renderer exports
@@ -691,7 +692,7 @@ typedef struct
 	qboolean		in2DMode;
 } glstate_t;
 
-/*
+
 typedef struct
 {
 	void*	context; // handle to GL rendering context
@@ -704,71 +705,70 @@ typedef struct
 	qboolean		initialized;	// OpenGL subsystem started
 	qboolean		extended;		// extended context allows to GL_Debug
 } glwstate_t;
-*/
 
 extern glconfig_t		glConfig;
 extern glstate_t		glState;
 // move to engine
-//extern glwstate_t		glw_state;
+extern glwstate_t		glw_state;
 extern ref_api_t      gEngfuncs;
 extern ref_globals_t *gpGlobals;
 
 //
 // renderer cvars
 //
-extern convar_t	*gl_texture_anisotropy;
-extern convar_t	*gl_extensions;
-extern convar_t	*gl_check_errors;
-extern convar_t	*gl_texture_lodbias;
-extern convar_t	*gl_texture_nearest;
-extern convar_t	*gl_lightmap_nearest;
-extern convar_t	*gl_keeptjunctions;
-extern convar_t	*gl_emboss_scale;
-extern convar_t	*gl_round_down;
-extern convar_t	*gl_detailscale;
-extern convar_t	*gl_wireframe;
-extern convar_t	*gl_polyoffset;
-extern convar_t	*gl_finish;
-extern convar_t	*gl_nosort;
-extern convar_t	*gl_clear;
-extern convar_t	*gl_test;		// cvar to testify new effects
-extern convar_t	*gl_msaa;
-extern convar_t *gl_stencilbits;
-
-extern convar_t	*r_speeds;
-extern convar_t	*r_fullbright;
-extern convar_t	*r_norefresh;
-extern convar_t	*r_showtree;	// build graph of visible hull
-extern convar_t	*r_lighting_extended;
-extern convar_t	*r_lighting_modulate;
-extern convar_t	*r_lighting_ambient;
-extern convar_t	*r_studio_lambert;
-extern convar_t	*r_detailtextures;
-extern convar_t	*r_drawentities;
-extern convar_t	*r_decals;
-extern convar_t	*r_novis;
-extern convar_t	*r_nocull;
-extern convar_t	*r_lockpvs;
-extern convar_t	*r_lockfrustum;
-extern convar_t	*r_traceglow;
-extern convar_t	*r_dynamic;
-extern convar_t	*r_lightmap;
-extern convar_t *r_vbo;
-extern convar_t *r_vbo_dlightmode;
-
-extern convar_t	*vid_brightness;
-extern convar_t	*vid_gamma;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_texture_anisotropy;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_extensions;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_check_errors;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_texture_lodbias;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_texture_nearest;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_lightmap_nearest;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_keeptjunctions;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_emboss_scale;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_round_down;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_detailscale;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_wireframe;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_polyoffset;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_finish;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_nosort;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_clear;
+extern cvar_t	*gl_test;		// cvar to testify new effects
+extern cvar_t	*gl_msaa;
+extern cvar_t *gl_stencilbits;
+
+extern cvar_t	*r_speeds;
+extern cvar_t	*r_fullbright;
+extern cvar_t	*r_norefresh;
+extern cvar_t	*r_showtree;	// build graph of visible hull
+extern cvar_t	*r_lighting_extended;
+extern cvar_t	*r_lighting_modulate;
+extern cvar_t	*r_lighting_ambient;
+extern cvar_t	*r_studio_lambert;
+extern cvar_t	*r_detailtextures;
+extern cvar_t	*r_drawentities;
+extern cvar_t	*r_decals;
+extern cvar_t	*r_novis;
+extern cvar_t	*r_nocull;
+extern cvar_t	*r_lockpvs;
+extern cvar_t	*r_lockfrustum;
+extern cvar_t	*r_traceglow;
+extern cvar_t	*r_dynamic;
+extern cvar_t	*r_lightmap;
+extern cvar_t *r_vbo;
+extern cvar_t *r_vbo_dlightmode;
+
+extern cvar_t	*vid_brightness;
+extern cvar_t	*vid_gamma;
 
 //
 // engine shared convars
 //
-extern convar_t *gl_showtextures;
-extern convar_t	*tracerred;
-extern convar_t	*tracergreen;
-extern convar_t	*tracerblue;
-extern convar_t	*traceralpha;
-extern convar_t	*cl_lightstyle_lerping;
-
+extern cvar_t *gl_showtextures;
+extern cvar_t	*tracerred;
+extern cvar_t	*tracergreen;
+extern cvar_t	*tracerblue;
+extern cvar_t	*traceralpha;
+extern cvar_t	*cl_lightstyle_lerping;
+extern cvar_t	*r_showhull;
 
 //
 // engine callbacks
diff --git a/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c b/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c
index 615dabb5..ac1a6b01 100644
--- a/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c
+++ b/ref_gl/gl_opengl.c
@@ -1,55 +1,55 @@
 
 #include "gl_local.h"
 
-convar_t	*gl_extensions;
-convar_t	*gl_texture_anisotropy;
-convar_t	*gl_texture_lodbias;
-convar_t	*gl_texture_nearest;
-convar_t	*gl_lightmap_nearest;
-convar_t	*gl_keeptjunctions;
-convar_t	*gl_emboss_scale;
-convar_t	*gl_detailscale;
-convar_t	*gl_check_errors;
-convar_t	*gl_polyoffset;
-convar_t	*gl_wireframe;
-convar_t	*gl_finish;
-convar_t	*gl_nosort;
-convar_t	*gl_vsync;
-convar_t	*gl_clear;
-convar_t	*gl_test;
-convar_t	*gl_msaa;
-convar_t	*gl_stencilbits;
-convar_t	*r_speeds;
-convar_t	*r_fullbright;
-convar_t	*r_norefresh;
-convar_t	*r_showtree;
-convar_t	*r_lighting_extended;
-convar_t	*r_lighting_modulate;
-convar_t	*r_lighting_ambient;
-convar_t	*r_detailtextures;
-convar_t	*r_drawentities;
-convar_t	*r_adjust_fov;
-convar_t	*r_decals;
-convar_t	*r_novis;
-convar_t	*r_nocull;
-convar_t	*r_lockpvs;
-convar_t	*r_lockfrustum;
-convar_t	*r_traceglow;
-convar_t	*r_dynamic;
-convar_t	*r_lightmap;
-convar_t	*r_showhull;
-convar_t	*gl_round_down;
-convar_t	*r_vbo;
-convar_t	*r_vbo_dlightmode;
-convar_t	*gl_showtextures;
-convar_t	*cl_lightstyle_lerping;
-
-convar_t	*vid_brightness;
-convar_t	*vid_gamma;
-convar_t	*tracerred;
-convar_t	*tracergreen;
-convar_t	*tracerblue;
-convar_t	*traceralpha;
+cvar_t	*gl_extensions;
+cvar_t	*gl_texture_anisotropy;
+cvar_t	*gl_texture_lodbias;
+cvar_t	*gl_texture_nearest;
+cvar_t	*gl_lightmap_nearest;
+cvar_t	*gl_keeptjunctions;
+cvar_t	*gl_emboss_scale;
+cvar_t	*gl_detailscale;
+cvar_t	*gl_check_errors;
+cvar_t	*gl_polyoffset;
+cvar_t	*gl_wireframe;
+cvar_t	*gl_finish;
+cvar_t	*gl_nosort;
+cvar_t	*gl_vsync;
+cvar_t	*gl_clear;
+cvar_t	*gl_test;
+cvar_t	*gl_msaa;
+cvar_t	*gl_stencilbits;
+cvar_t	*r_speeds;
+cvar_t	*r_fullbright;
+cvar_t	*r_norefresh;
+cvar_t	*r_showtree;
+cvar_t	*r_lighting_extended;
+cvar_t	*r_lighting_modulate;
+cvar_t	*r_lighting_ambient;
+cvar_t	*r_detailtextures;
+cvar_t	*r_drawentities;
+cvar_t	*r_adjust_fov;
+cvar_t	*r_decals;
+cvar_t	*r_novis;
+cvar_t	*r_nocull;
+cvar_t	*r_lockpvs;
+cvar_t	*r_lockfrustum;
+cvar_t	*r_traceglow;
+cvar_t	*r_dynamic;
+cvar_t	*r_lightmap;
+cvar_t	*r_showhull;
+cvar_t	*gl_round_down;
+cvar_t	*r_vbo;
+cvar_t	*r_vbo_dlightmode;
+cvar_t	*gl_showtextures;
+cvar_t	*cl_lightstyle_lerping;
+
+cvar_t	*vid_brightness;
+cvar_t	*vid_gamma;
+cvar_t	*tracerred;
+cvar_t	*tracergreen;
+cvar_t	*tracerblue;
+cvar_t	*traceralpha;
 
 byte		*r_temppool;
 
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ GL_CheckExtension
 void GL_CheckExtension( const char *name, const dllfunc_t *funcs, const char *cvarname, int r_ext )
 {
 	const dllfunc_t	*func;
-	convar_t		*parm = NULL;
+	cvar_t		*parm = NULL;
 	const char	*extensions_string;
 
 	gEngfuncs.Con_Reportf( "GL_CheckExtension: %s ", name );
diff --git a/ref_gl/gl_sprite.c b/ref_gl/gl_sprite.c
index 854ec676..014133cd 100644
--- a/ref_gl/gl_sprite.c
+++ b/ref_gl/gl_sprite.c
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ GNU General Public License for more details.
 #define MAPSPRITE_SIZE	128
 #define GLARE_FALLOFF	19000.0f
 
-convar_t		*r_sprite_lerping;
-convar_t		*r_sprite_lighting;
+cvar_t		*r_sprite_lerping;
+cvar_t		*r_sprite_lighting;
 char		sprite_name[MAX_QPATH];
 char		group_suffix[8];
 static uint	r_texFlags = 0;
diff --git a/ref_gl/gl_studio.c b/ref_gl/gl_studio.c
index adc1a06c..2cf01a48 100644
--- a/ref_gl/gl_studio.c
+++ b/ref_gl/gl_studio.c
@@ -34,8 +34,9 @@ typedef struct
 	model_t		*model;
 } player_model_t;
 
-CVAR_DEFINE_AUTO( r_glowshellfreq, "2.2", 0, "glowing shell frequency update" );
-CVAR_DEFINE_AUTO( r_shadows, "0", 0, "cast shadows from models" );
+cvar_t *r_glowshellfreq;
+
+cvar_t r_shadows = { "r_shadows", "0", 0 };
 
 static vec3_t hullcolor[8] = 
 {
@@ -115,10 +116,10 @@ typedef struct
 } studio_draw_state_t;
 
 // studio-related cvars 
-convar_t			*r_studio_sort_textures;
-convar_t			*r_drawviewmodel;
-convar_t			*cl_righthand = NULL;
-convar_t			*cl_himodels;
+cvar_t			*r_studio_sort_textures;
+cvar_t			*r_drawviewmodel;
+cvar_t			*cl_righthand = NULL;
+cvar_t			*cl_himodels;
 
 static r_studio_interface_t	*pStudioDraw;
 static studio_draw_state_t	g_studio;		// global studio state
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ void R_StudioInit( void )
 	r_drawviewmodel = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_drawviewmodel", "1", 0, "draw firstperson weapon model" );
 
 	Matrix3x4_LoadIdentity( g_studio.rotationmatrix );
-	gEngfuncs.Cvar_RegisterVariable( &r_glowshellfreq );
+	r_glowshellfreq = gEngfuncs.Cvar_Get( "r_glowshellfreq", "2.2", 0, "glowing shell frequency update" );
 
 	// g-cont. cvar disabled by Valve
 //	gEngfuncs.Cvar_RegisterVariable( &r_shadows );
@@ -1133,9 +1134,9 @@ void R_StudioBuildNormalTable( void )
 		}
 	}
 
-	g_studio.chrome_origin[0] = cos( r_glowshellfreq.value * g_studio.time ) * 4000.0f;
-	g_studio.chrome_origin[1] = sin( r_glowshellfreq.value * g_studio.time ) * 4000.0f;
-	g_studio.chrome_origin[2] = cos( r_glowshellfreq.value * g_studio.time * 0.33f ) * 4000.0f;
+	g_studio.chrome_origin[0] = cos( r_glowshellfreq->value * g_studio.time ) * 4000.0f;
+	g_studio.chrome_origin[1] = sin( r_glowshellfreq->value * g_studio.time ) * 4000.0f;
+	g_studio.chrome_origin[2] = cos( r_glowshellfreq->value * g_studio.time * 0.33f ) * 4000.0f;
 
 	if( e->curstate.rendercolor.r || e->curstate.rendercolor.g || e->curstate.rendercolor.b )
 		TriColor4ub( e->curstate.rendercolor.r, e->curstate.rendercolor.g, e->curstate.rendercolor.b, 255 );