diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyConfig.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyConfig.java
index f2763eee5..99c6a2491 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyConfig.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyConfig.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: LobbyConfig.java,v 1.1 2001/10/09 00:48:34 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: LobbyConfig.java,v 1.2 2001/10/09 20:22:51 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.micasa.lobby;
 
@@ -7,8 +7,13 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.DataInputStream;
 import java.io.DataOutputStream;
 
+import java.util.Properties;
+import com.samskivert.util.StringUtil;
+
 import com.threerings.cocktail.party.data.PlaceConfig;
 
+import com.threerings.parlor.data.GameConfig;
+
 public class LobbyConfig extends PlaceConfig
 {
     // documentation inherited
@@ -23,11 +28,36 @@ public class LobbyConfig extends PlaceConfig
         return "com.threerings.micasa.lobby.LobbyManager";
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Instantiates and returns a game config instance using the game
+     * config classname provided by the lobby configuration parameters.
+     *
+     * @exception Exception thrown if a problem occurs loading or
+     * instantiating the class.
+     */
+    public GameConfig getGameConfig ()
+        throws Exception
+    {
+        return (GameConfig)Class.forName(_gameConfigClass).newInstance();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Initializes this lobby config object with the properties that are
+     * used to configure the lobby. This is called on the server when the
+     * lobby is loaded.
+     */
+    public void init (Properties config)
+        throws Exception
+    {
+        _gameConfigClass = getConfigValue(config, "game_config");
+    }
+
     // documentation inherited
     public void writeTo (DataOutputStream out)
         throws IOException
     {
         super.writeTo(out);
+        out.writeUTF(_gameConfigClass);
     }
 
     // documentation inherited
@@ -35,11 +65,30 @@ public class LobbyConfig extends PlaceConfig
         throws IOException
     {
         super.readFrom(in);
+        _gameConfigClass = in.readUTF();
     }
 
     // documentation inherited
     protected void toString (StringBuffer buf)
     {
         super.toString(buf);
+        buf.append(", game_config=").append(_gameConfigClass);
     }
+
+    /** Looks up a configuration property in the supplied properties
+     * object and throws an exception if it's not found. */
+    protected String getConfigValue (Properties config, String key)
+        throws Exception
+    {
+        String value = config.getProperty(key);
+        if (StringUtil.blank(value)) {
+            throw new Exception("Missing '" + key + "' definition in " +
+                                "lobby configuration.");
+        }
+        return value;
+    }
+
+    /** The name of the game config class that represents the type of game
+     * we are matchmaking for in this lobby. */
+    protected String _gameConfigClass;
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java
index 05a0ef1d4..ce784b1d7 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java
@@ -1,26 +1,34 @@
 //
-// $Id: LobbyController.java,v 1.3 2001/10/09 18:20:08 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: LobbyController.java,v 1.4 2001/10/09 20:22:51 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.micasa.lobby;
 
 import com.threerings.cocktail.party.data.PlaceConfig;
+import com.threerings.cocktail.party.data.PlaceObject;
 import com.threerings.cocktail.party.client.PlaceController;
 import com.threerings.cocktail.party.client.PlaceView;
 import com.threerings.cocktail.party.util.PartyContext;
 
+import com.threerings.parlor.client.*;
+import com.threerings.parlor.data.GameConfig;
+
 import com.threerings.micasa.Log;
 import com.threerings.micasa.util.MiCasaContext;
 
-public class LobbyController extends PlaceController
+public class LobbyController
+    extends PlaceController
+    implements InvitationHandler, InvitationResponseObserver
 {
     public void init (PartyContext ctx, PlaceConfig config)
     {
         // cast our context reference
         _ctx = (MiCasaContext)ctx;
+        _config = (LobbyConfig)config;
 
         super.init(ctx, config);
 
-        Log.info("Lobby controller created [config=" + config + "].");
+        // register ourselves as the invitation handler
+        _ctx.getParlorDirector().setInvitationHandler(this);
     }
 
     protected PlaceView createPlaceView ()
@@ -28,5 +36,58 @@ public class LobbyController extends PlaceController
         return new LobbyPanel(_ctx);
     }
 
+    // documentation inherited
+    public void willEnterPlace (PlaceObject plobj)
+    {
+        super.willEnterPlace(plobj);
+
+        // if we're testing and a system property has been specified
+        // requesting that we invite another player, do so now
+        String invitee = System.getProperty("invitee");
+        if (invitee != null) {
+            // create a game config object
+            try {
+                GameConfig config = _config.getGameConfig();
+                _ctx.getParlorDirector().invite(invitee, config, this);
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                Log.warning("Error instantiating game config.");
+                Log.logStackTrace(e);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void invitationReceived (int inviteId, String inviter,
+                                    GameConfig config)
+    {
+        Log.info("Invitation received [inviteId=" + inviteId +
+                 ", inviter=" + inviter + ", config=" + config + "].");
+
+        // accept the invitation. we're game...
+        _ctx.getParlorDirector().accept(inviteId);
+    }
+
+    public void invitationCancelled (int inviteId)
+    {
+        Log.info("Invitation cancelled [inviteId=" + inviteId + "].");
+    }
+
+    public void invitationAccepted (int inviteId)
+    {
+        Log.info("Invitation accepted [inviteId=" + inviteId + "].");
+    }
+
+    public void invitationRefused (int inviteId, String message)
+    {
+        Log.info("Invitation refused [inviteId=" + inviteId +
+                 ", message=" + message + "].");
+    }
+
+    public void invitationCountered (int inviteId, GameConfig config)
+    {
+        Log.info("Invitation countered [inviteId=" + inviteId +
+                 ", config=" + config + "].");
+    }
+
     protected MiCasaContext _ctx;
+    protected LobbyConfig _config;
 }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyRegistry.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyRegistry.java
index c2b715ac6..ea87a97a5 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyRegistry.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyRegistry.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: LobbyRegistry.java,v 1.4 2001/10/09 19:24:11 mdb Exp $
+// $Id: LobbyRegistry.java,v 1.5 2001/10/09 20:22:51 mdb Exp $
 
 package com.threerings.micasa.lobby;
 
@@ -120,15 +120,16 @@ public class LobbyRegistry implements LobbyCodes
                                     "lobby configuration.");
             }
 
-            // instantiate the manager class and create the lobby
+            // create and initialize the lobby config object
             LobbyConfig config = (LobbyConfig)
                 Class.forName(cfgClass).newInstance();
+            config.init(props);
+
+            // create and initialize the lobby manager. it will call
+            // lobbyReady() when it has obtained a reference to its lobby
+            // object and is ready to roll
             LobbyManager lobmgr = (LobbyManager)
                 MiCasaServer.plreg.createPlace(config);
-
-            // initialize the lobby manager. it will call lobbyReady()
-            // when it has obtained a reference to its lobby object and is
-            // ready to roll
             lobmgr.init(this, props);
 
         } catch (Exception e) {