diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6765b8119cf..e7b7efc268c 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ assets/*
 !assets/definitions/
 !assets/definitions/*.xml
 # maybe add these in later
-#!assets/gui/layouts/*.layout
+!assets/gui/layouts/*.layout
 
 # Website directory
 
diff --git a/assets/gui/layouts/Console.layout b/assets/gui/layouts/Console.layout
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..dc036634746
--- /dev/null
+++ b/assets/gui/layouts/Console.layout
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+
+<GUILayout version="4" >
+    <Window type="Thrive/FrameWindow" name="ConsoleWindow" >
+        <Property name="Position" value="{{0.05,0},{0.1,0}}" />
+        <Property name="Size" value="{{0.9,0},{0.3,0}}" />
+        <Property name="MousePassThroughEnabled" value="True" />
+        <Property name="AlwaysOnTop" value="True" />
+        <Property name="Visible" value="False" />
+        <Property name="Disabled" value="True" />
+        <Window type="Thrive/Label" name="History" >
+            <Property name="Position" value="{{0.05,0},{0,0}}" />
+            <Property name="Size" value="{{1,0},{0.9,0}}" />
+            <Property name="MaxSize" value="{{1,0},{1,0}}" />
+            <Property name="Text" value="" />
+            <Property name="Font" value="Thrive-13" />
+            <Property name="NormalTextColour" value="FF002200" />
+            <Property name="MousePassThroughEnabled" value="True" />
+            <Property name="HorzFormatting" value="LeftAligned" />
+            <Property name="VertFormatting" value="BottomAligned" />
+        </Window>
+        <Window type="Thrive/Textbox" name="TextEntry">
+            <Property name="Position" value="{{0,0},{0.9,0}}" />
+            <Property name="MaxSize" value="{{1,0},{1,0}}" />
+            <Property name="Size" value="{{1,0},{0.12,0}}" />
+            <Property name="TooltipText" value="Enter Lua commands" />
+        </Window>
+	</Window>
+</GUILayout>
diff --git a/scripts/console.lua b/scripts/console.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5fc0e5ca7cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/console.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,358 @@
+-- In-game console, derived with heavy modification from Steve Donovan's ilua.lua
+-- I do hope we're allowed to use it though. If not I'll just rewrite the copied sections.
+-- Original header:
+----------------------
+-- ilua.lua
+-- A more friendly Lua interactive prompt
+-- doesn't need '='
+-- will try to print out tables recursively, subject to the pretty_print_limit value.
+-- Steve Donovan, 2007
+----------------------
+
+class "ConsoleHud"
+class "Interpreter"
+
+require "string"
+
+function ConsoleHud:__init(interpreter)
+    self.active = false
+    self.interpreter = interpreter
+    self.inputHistory = {}
+    self.inputHistoryIndex = 0
+end
+
+function ConsoleHud:update()
+    local gameState = Engine:currentGameState()
+    local root = gameState:rootGUIWindow()
+    local consoleWindow = root:getChild("ConsoleWindow")
+    local inputArea = consoleWindow:getChild("TextEntry")
+    if Engine.keyboard:wasKeyPressed(Keyboard.KC_GRAVE) then
+        self.active = not self.active
+        if self.active then
+            consoleWindow:show()
+            consoleWindow:enable()
+            inputArea:setFocus()
+        else
+             -- inputArea captures ` before deactivation, we don't want that.
+            text, _ = string.gsub(inputArea:getText(), "`", "")
+            inputArea:setText(text)
+            consoleWindow:disable()
+            consoleWindow:hide()
+        end
+    elseif self.active then
+        if Engine.keyboard:wasKeyPressed(Keyboard.KC_RETURN) then
+            -- push line to interpreter
+            local outputArea = consoleWindow:getChild("History")
+            local line = inputArea:getText()
+            self.interpreter:eval_lua(line)
+            inputArea:setText("")
+            outputArea:setText(self.interpreter.history)
+            self.inputHistoryIndex = #self.inputHistory
+            self.inputHistory[self.inputHistoryIndex + 1] = line
+            self.inputHistoryIndex = self.inputHistoryIndex + 1
+        elseif Engine.keyboard:wasKeyPressed(Keyboard.KC_UP) and self.inputHistoryIndex > 0 then
+            self.inputHistoryIndex = self.inputHistoryIndex - 1
+            inputArea:setText(self.inputHistory[self.inputHistoryIndex + 1])
+        elseif Engine.keyboard:wasKeyPressed(Keyboard.KC_DOWN) and self.inputHistoryIndex < #self.inputHistory - 1 then
+            self.inputHistoryIndex = self.inputHistoryIndex + 1
+            inputArea:setText(self.inputHistory[self.inputHistoryIndex + 1])
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+function Interpreter:__init()
+    self.pretty_print_limit = 20
+    self.max_depth = 7
+    self.table_clever = true
+    self.prompt = '> '
+    self.verbose = false
+    self.strict = false
+    -- suppress strict warnings
+    _ = true
+
+    -- imported global functions
+    self.sub = string.sub
+    self.match = string.match
+    self.find = string.find
+    self.push = table.insert
+    self.pop = table.remove
+    self.append = table.insert
+    self.concat = table.concat
+    self.floor = math.floor
+    self.write = io.write 
+    self.read = io.read 
+
+    self.savef = nil
+    self.collisions = {}
+    self.G_LIB = {}
+    self.declared = {}
+    self.line_handler_fn = nil
+    self.global_handler_fn = nil
+    self.print_handlers = {}
+
+    self.ilua = {}
+    self.num_prec = nil
+    self.num_all = nil
+
+    self.jstack = {}
+
+    self.history = ""
+
+    -- functions available in scripts
+    function self.ilua.precision(len,prec,all)
+        if not len then num_prec = nil
+        else
+            num_prec = '%'..len..'.'..prec..'f'
+        end
+        num_all = all
+    end 
+
+    function self.ilua.table_options(t)
+        if t.limit then self.pretty_print_limit = t.limit end
+        if t.depth then self.max_depth = t.depth end
+        if t.clever ~= nil then self.table_clever = t.clever end
+    end
+
+    -- inject @tbl into the global namespace
+    function self.ilua.import(tbl,dont_complain,lib)
+        lib = lib or '<unknown>'
+        if type(tbl) == 'table' then
+            for k,v in pairs(tbl) do
+                local key = rawget(_G,k)
+                -- NB to keep track of collisions!
+                if key and k ~= '_M' and k ~= '_NAME' and k ~= '_PACKAGE' and k ~= '_VERSION' then
+                    append(collisions,{k,lib,G_LIB[k]})
+                end
+                _G[k] = v
+                G_LIB[k] = lib
+            end
+        end
+        if not dont_complain and  #self.collisions > 0  then
+            for i, coll in ipairs(self.collisions) do
+                local name,lib,oldlib = coll[1],coll[2],coll[3]
+                write('warning: ',lib,'.',name,' overwrites ')
+                if oldlib then
+                    self.write(oldlib,'.',name,'\n')
+                else
+                    self.write('global ',name,'\n')
+                end
+            end
+        end
+    end
+
+    function self.ilua.print_handler(name,handler)
+        self.print_handlers[name] = handler
+    end
+
+    function self.ilua.line_handler(handler)
+        self.line_handler_fn = handler
+    end
+
+    function self.ilua.global_handler(handler)
+        self.global_handler_fn = handler
+    end
+
+    function self.ilua.print_variables()
+        for name,v in pairs(self.declared) do
+            print(name,type(_G[name]))
+        end
+    end
+
+    -- any import complaints?
+    self.ilua.import()
+    
+    -- enable 'not declared' error
+    if self.strict then 
+        self:set_strict()
+    end
+
+end
+
+function Interpreter:oprint(...)
+    if self.savef then
+        self.savef:write(table.concat({...},' '),'\n')
+    end
+    self.history = self.history .. table.concat({...}, ' ') .. "\n"
+end
+
+function Interpreter:join(tbl,delim,limit,depth)
+    if not limit then limit = self.pretty_print_limit end
+    if not depth then depth = self.max_depth end
+    local n = #tbl
+    local res = ''
+    local k = 0
+    -- very important to avoid disgracing ourselves with circular references...
+    if #self.jstack > depth then
+        return "..."
+    end
+    for i,t in ipairs(self.jstack) do
+        if tbl == t then
+            return "<self>"
+        end
+    end
+    push(self.jstack,tbl)
+    -- this is a hack to work out if a table is 'list-like' or 'map-like'
+    -- you can switch it off with ilua.table_options {clever = false}
+    local is_list
+    if self.table_clever then
+        local index1 = n > 0 and tbl[1]
+        local index2 = n > 1 and tbl[2]
+        is_list = index1 and index2
+    end
+    if is_list then
+        for i,v in ipairs(tbl) do
+            res = res..delim..self:val2str(v)
+            k = k + 1
+            if k > limit then
+                res = res.." ... "
+                break
+            end
+        end
+    else
+        for key,v in pairs(tbl) do
+            if type(key) == 'number' then
+                key = '['..tostring(key)..']'
+            else
+                key = tostring(key)
+            end
+            res = res..delim..key..'='..self:val2str(v)
+            k = k + 1
+            if k > limit then
+                res = res.." ... "
+                break
+            end            
+        end
+    end
+    pop(self.jstack)
+    return sub(res,2)
+end
+
+function Interpreter:val2str(val)
+    local tp = type(val)
+    if self.print_handlers[tp] then
+        local s = self.print_handlers[tp](val)
+        return s or '?'
+    end
+    if tp == 'function' then
+        return tostring(val)
+    elseif tp == 'table' then
+        if val.__tostring  then
+            return tostring(val)
+        else
+            return '{'..join(val,',')..'}'
+        end
+    elseif tp == 'string' then
+        return "'"..val.."'"
+    elseif tp == 'number' then
+        -- we try only to apply floating-point precision for numbers deemed to be floating-point,
+        -- unless the 3rd arg to precision() is true.
+        if self.num_prec and (self.num_all or floor(val) ~= val) then
+            return self.num_prec:format(val)
+        else
+            return tostring(val)
+        end
+    else
+        return tostring(val)
+    end
+end
+
+function Interpreter:_pretty_print(...)
+    for i,val in ipairs({...}) do
+        self:oprint(self:val2str(val))
+    end
+    _G['_'] = ({...})[1]
+end
+
+function Interpreter:compile(line)
+    if self.verbose then self:oprint(line) end
+    local f,err = load(line)
+    return err,f
+end
+
+function Interpreter:evaluate(chunk)
+    local ok,res = pcall(chunk)
+    if not ok then
+        return res
+    end
+    return nil -- meaning, fine!
+end
+
+function Interpreter:eval_lua(line)
+    if self.savef then
+        self.savef:write(prompt,line,'\n')
+    end
+    -- is the line handler interested?
+    if self.line_handler_fn then
+        line = self.line_handler_fn(line)
+        -- returning nil here means that the handler doesn't want
+        -- Lua to see the string
+        if not line then return end
+    end
+    -- is it an expression?
+    local err,chunk = self:compile('interpreter:_pretty_print('..line..')')
+    if err then
+        -- otherwise, a statement?
+        err,chunk = self:compile(line)
+    end
+    -- if compiled ok, then evaluate the chunk
+    if not err then
+        err = self:evaluate(chunk)
+    end
+    -- if there was any error, print it out
+    if err then
+        self:oprint(err)
+    end
+end
+
+function Interpreter:quit(code,msg)
+    io.stderr:write(msg,'\n')
+    -- os.exit(code)
+end
+
+--
+-- strict.lua
+-- checks uses of undeclared global variables
+-- All global variables must be 'declared' through a regular assignment
+-- (even assigning nil will do) in a main chunk before being used
+-- anywhere.
+--
+function Interpreter:set_strict()
+    local mt = getmetatable(_G)
+    if mt == nil then
+        mt = {}
+        setmetatable(_G, mt)
+    end
+
+    local function what ()
+        local d = debug.getinfo(3, "S")
+        return d and d.what or "C"
+    end
+
+    mt.__newindex = function (t, n, v)
+        self.declared[n] = true
+        rawset(t, n, v)
+    end
+      
+    mt.__index = function (t, n)
+        if not self.declared[n] and what() ~= "C" then
+            local lookup = self.global_handler_fn and self.global_handler_fn(n)
+            if not lookup then
+                error("variable '"..n.."' is not declared", 2)
+            else
+                return lookup
+            end
+        end
+        return rawget(t, n)
+    end
+
+end
+
+interpreter = Interpreter()
+
+function oprint(...)
+    interpreter:oprint(...)
+end
+print = oprint
+
+console = ConsoleHud(interpreter)
+Engine:registerConsoleObject(console)
diff --git a/scripts/manifest.txt b/scripts/manifest.txt
index 30fbb0541f9..3475e3108af 100644
--- a/scripts/manifest.txt
+++ b/scripts/manifest.txt
@@ -7,3 +7,6 @@ main_menu
 microbe_stage
 microbe_editor
 //sandbox
+
+console.lua
+
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.cpp b/src/engine/engine.cpp
index 6e1c019d4fd..36322fc927c 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/engine.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@
 // Microbe
 #include "microbe_stage/compound.h"
 
+// Console
+#include "gui/CEGUIWindow.h"
+
 #include "util/contains.h"
 #include "util/pair_hash.h"
 
@@ -107,6 +110,7 @@ struct Engine::Implementation : public Ogre::WindowEventListener {
         m_currentGameState = gameState;
         if (gameState) {
             gameState->activate();
+            m_currentGameState->rootGUIWindow().addChild(*m_consoleGUIWindow);
         }
     }
 
@@ -344,6 +348,8 @@ struct Engine::Implementation : public Ogre::WindowEventListener {
         CEGUI::ImageManager::getSingleton().loadImageset("DriveIcons.imageset");
         CEGUI::ImageManager::getSingleton().loadImageset("GameMenu.imageset");
         CEGUI::ImageManager::getSingleton().loadImageset("HUDDemo.imageset");
+
+        m_consoleGUIWindow = new CEGUIWindow("Console");
     }
 
     void
@@ -423,6 +429,8 @@ struct Engine::Implementation : public Ogre::WindowEventListener {
 
     GameState* m_currentGameState = nullptr;
 
+    CEGUIWindow* m_consoleGUIWindow = nullptr;
+
     ComponentFactory m_componentFactory;
 
     Engine& m_engine;
@@ -469,6 +477,8 @@ struct Engine::Implementation : public Ogre::WindowEventListener {
         std::string saveFile;
 
     } m_serialization;
+
+    luabind::object m_console;
 };
 
 
@@ -523,6 +533,7 @@ Engine::luaBindings() {
         .def("timedSystemShutdown", &Engine::timedSystemShutdown)
         .def("isSystemTimedShutdown", &Engine::isSystemTimedShutdown)
         .def("thriveVersion", &Engine::thriveVersion)
+        .def("registerConsoleObject", &Engine::registerConsoleObject)
         .property("componentFactory", &Engine::componentFactory)
         .property("keyboard", &Engine::keyboard)
         .property("mouse", &Engine::mouse)
@@ -615,7 +626,6 @@ Engine::init() {
     // Ogre::SceneManager has been instantiated
     m_impl->setupSoundManager();
     m_impl->m_currentGameState = previousGameState;
-
 }
 
 
@@ -819,7 +829,6 @@ Engine::transferEntityGameState(
     return newEntity;
 }
 
-
 void
 Engine::update(
     int milliseconds
@@ -841,6 +850,9 @@ Engine::update(
     }
     assert(m_impl->m_currentGameState != nullptr);
     m_impl->m_currentGameState->update(milliseconds);
+
+    luabind::call_member<void>(m_impl->m_console, "update");
+    
     // Update any timed shutdown systems
     auto itr = m_impl->m_prevShutdownSystems->begin();
     while (itr != m_impl->m_prevShutdownSystems->end()) {
@@ -880,3 +892,7 @@ Engine::thriveVersion() const {
     return m_impl->m_thriveVersion;
 }
 
+void
+Engine::registerConsoleObject(luabind::object consoleObject) {
+    m_impl->m_console = consoleObject;
+}
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.h b/src/engine/engine.h
index b1571e84619..a895e1a0a35 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.h
+++ b/src/engine/engine.h
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #include <vector>
 #include <set>
 
+#include <luabind/object.hpp>
+
 class btDiscreteDynamicsWorld;
 class lua_State;
 
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ class Engine {
     * - Engine::keyboard() (as property)
     * - Engine::mouse() (as property)
     * - Engine::thriveVersion()
+    * - Engine::registerConsoleObject()
     *
     * @return
     */
@@ -406,6 +409,12 @@ class Engine {
     Ogre::RenderWindow*
     renderWindow() const;
 
+    /**
+    * @brief Registers the console object
+    */
+    void
+    registerConsoleObject(luabind::object consoleObject);
+
 
     /**
     * @brief Gets the current version of thrive as a string.
diff --git a/src/scripting/script_initializer.cpp b/src/scripting/script_initializer.cpp
index e8d240f97d8..68c6f8d11c4 100644
--- a/src/scripting/script_initializer.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/script_initializer.cpp
@@ -17,12 +17,6 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <luabind/class_info.hpp>
 
-static void
-debug(
-    const std::string& msg
-) {
-    std::cout << msg << std::endl;
-}
 
 static int
 constructTraceback(
@@ -58,7 +52,6 @@ thrive::initializeLua(
     luabind::open(L);
     luabind::bind_class_info(L);
     luabind::module(L) [
-        luabind::def("debug", debug),
         EngineBindings::luaBindings(),
         GeneralBindings::luaBindings(),
         OgreBindings::luaBindings(),