diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/PlaceController.java b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/PlaceController.java
index 3c88552b4..5fa167bf8 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/PlaceController.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/crowd/client/PlaceController.java
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public abstract class PlaceController extends Controller
         _config = config;
 
         // create our user interface
-        _view = createPlaceView();
+        _view = createPlaceView(_ctx);
 
         // initialize our delegates
         applyToDelegates(new DelegateOp() {
@@ -101,8 +101,25 @@ public abstract class PlaceController extends Controller
      * Creates the user interface that will be used to display this place.
      * The view instance returned will later be configured with the place
      * object, once it becomes available.
+     *
+     * @param ctx a reference to the {@link CrowdContext} associated with
+     * this controller.
      */
-    protected abstract PlaceView createPlaceView ();
+    protected PlaceView createPlaceView (CrowdContext ctx)
+    {
+        return createPlaceView();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Obsolete but retained for runtime compatibility with the old and
+     * busted.
+     *
+     * @deprecated Use {@link #createPlaceView(CrowdContext)}.
+     */
+    protected PlaceView createPlaceView ()
+    {
+        return null;
+    }
 
     /**
      * This is called by the location director once the place object has
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java
index b3eec3833..f73b2011f 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/micasa/lobby/LobbyController.java
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public class LobbyController extends PlaceController
         _ctx.getParlorDirector().setInvitationHandler(this);
     }
 
-    protected PlaceView createPlaceView ()
+    protected PlaceView createPlaceView (CrowdContext ctx)
     {
         return new LobbyPanel(_ctx, _config);
     }
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/stage/client/StageSceneController.java b/src/java/com/threerings/stage/client/StageSceneController.java
index 06e459507..4e405b378 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/stage/client/StageSceneController.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/stage/client/StageSceneController.java
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package com.threerings.stage.client;
 
 import com.threerings.crowd.client.PlaceView;
+import com.threerings.crowd.util.CrowdContext;
 
 import com.threerings.whirled.data.SceneUpdate;
 import com.threerings.whirled.spot.client.SpotSceneController;
@@ -17,9 +18,9 @@ import com.threerings.stage.util.StageContext;
 public class StageSceneController extends SpotSceneController
 {
     // documentation inherited
-    protected PlaceView createPlaceView ()
+    protected PlaceView createPlaceView (CrowdContext ctx)
     {
-        return new StageScenePanel((StageContext)_ctx, this);
+        return new StageScenePanel((StageContext)ctx, this);
     }
 
     // documentation inherited
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/TestController.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/TestController.java
index 764d5fcf7..255688268 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/TestController.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/TestController.java
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@
 package com.threerings.parlor;
 
 import com.threerings.crowd.client.PlaceView;
+import com.threerings.crowd.util.CrowdContext;
 import com.threerings.parlor.game.client.GameController;
 
 public class TestController extends GameController
 {
-    public PlaceView createPlaceView ()
+    public PlaceView createPlaceView (CrowdContext ctx)
     {
         // nothing doing
         return null;
diff --git a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/TestController.java b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/TestController.java
index f0341e983..4734620bb 100644
--- a/tests/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/TestController.java
+++ b/tests/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/TestController.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: TestController.java,v 1.4 2004/08/27 02:21:05 mdb Exp $
+// $Id$
 //
 // Narya library - tools for developing networked games
 // Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Three Rings Design, Inc., All Rights Reserved
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@
 package com.threerings.whirled;
 
 import com.threerings.crowd.client.*;
+import com.threerings.crowd.util.CrowdContext;
 
 public class TestController extends PlaceController
 {
-    protected PlaceView createPlaceView ()
+    protected PlaceView createPlaceView (CrowdContext ctx)
     {
         // nothing doing
         return null;