diff --git a/common/include/PS2Edefs.h b/common/include/PS2Edefs.h
index 4455b7ccba..6dc9e62059 100644
--- a/common/include/PS2Edefs.h
+++ b/common/include/PS2Edefs.h
@@ -511,6 +511,7 @@ typedef char*(CALLBACK* _PS2EgetLibName)(void);
 // NOTE: GSreadFIFOX/GSwriteCSR functions CANNOT use XMM/MMX regs
 // If you want to use them, need to save and restore current ones
 typedef s32  (CALLBACK* _GSopen)(void *pDsp, char *Title, int multithread);
+typedef s32  (CALLBACK* _GSopen2)( void *pDsp, u32 forceSoftware );
 typedef void (CALLBACK* _GSvsync)(int field);
 typedef void (CALLBACK* _GSgifTransfer1)(u32 *pMem, u32 addr);
 typedef void (CALLBACK* _GSgifTransfer2)(u32 *pMem, u32 size);
@@ -662,6 +663,7 @@ typedef void (CALLBACK* _FWirqCallback)(void (*callback)());
 
 // GS
 extern _GSopen            GSopen;
+extern _GSopen2           GSopen2;
 extern _GSvsync           GSvsync;
 extern _GSgifTransfer1    GSgifTransfer1;
 extern _GSgifTransfer2    GSgifTransfer2;
diff --git a/common/include/Utilities/HashMap.h b/common/include/Utilities/HashMap.h
index d808369e1f..982239e7d5 100644
--- a/common/include/Utilities/HashMap.h
+++ b/common/include/Utilities/HashMap.h
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ public:
 
 	using _parent::operator[];
 	using _parent::end;
-	typedef typename __super::const_iterator const_iterator;
+	typedef typename _parent::const_iterator const_iterator;
 
 	virtual ~HashMap() {}
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
index 9a0dc887c2..fb7ea20adc 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
@@ -377,8 +377,7 @@ void cdvdReadKey(u8 arg0, u16 arg1, u32 arg2, u8* key) {
 	{
 		ElfCRC = loadElfCRC( str );
 		ElfApplyPatches();
-		if( GSsetGameCRC != NULL )
-			GSsetGameCRC( ElfCRC, 0 );
+		GSsetGameCRC( ElfCRC, 0 );
 	}
 }
 
@@ -511,8 +510,7 @@ void cdvdDetectDisk()
 	{
 		ElfCRC = loadElfCRC( str.ToAscii().data() );
 		ElfApplyPatches();
-		if( GSsetGameCRC != NULL )
-			GSsetGameCRC( ElfCRC, 0 );
+		GSsetGameCRC( ElfCRC, 0 );
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp b/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp
index 86194a130f..e91c131a59 100644
--- a/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/MTGS.cpp
@@ -588,8 +588,14 @@ sptr mtgsThreadObject::ExecuteTask()
 	GSsetBaseMem( m_gsMem );
 	GSirqCallback( dummyIrqCallback );
 
-	Console::WriteLn( (wxString)L"\t\tForced software switch: " + (renderswitch ? L"Enabled" : L"Disabled") );
-	m_returncode = GSopen( (void*)&pDsp, "PCSX2", renderswitch ? 2 : 1 );
+	if( renderswitch )
+		Console::WriteLn( "\t\tForced software switch enabled." );
+	
+	if( GSopen2 != NULL )
+		m_returncode = GSopen2( (void*)&pDsp, !!renderswitch );
+	else
+		m_returncode = GSopen( (void*)&pDsp, "PCSX2", renderswitch ? 2 : 1 );
+
 	DevCon::WriteLn( "MTGS: GSopen Finished, return code: 0x%x", m_returncode );
 
 	GSCSRr = 0x551B4000; // 0x55190000
diff --git a/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp b/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp
index 74693e5e39..afabf938da 100644
--- a/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ static s32  CALLBACK fallback_test() { return 0; }
 
 _GSvsync           GSvsync;
 _GSopen            GSopen;
+_GSopen2           GSopen2;
 _GSgifTransfer1    GSgifTransfer1;
 _GSgifTransfer2    GSgifTransfer2;
 _GSgifTransfer3    GSgifTransfer3;
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ _GSreset		   GSreset;
 _GSwriteCSR		   GSwriteCSR;
 
 static void CALLBACK GS_makeSnapshot(const char *path) {}
+static void CALLBACK GS_setGameCRC(u32 crc, int gameopts) {}
 static void CALLBACK GS_irqCallback(void (*callback)()) {}
 static void CALLBACK GS_printf(int timeout, char *fmt, ...)
 {
@@ -276,14 +278,15 @@ static const LegacyApi_ReqMethod s_MethMessReq_GS[] =
 	{	"GSprintf",			(vMeth**)&GSprintf,			(vMeth*)GS_printf },
 	{	"GSsetBaseMem",		(vMeth**)&GSsetBaseMem,		NULL	},
 	{	"GSwriteCSR",		(vMeth**)&GSwriteCSR,		NULL	},
+	{	"GSsetGameCRC",		(vMeth**)&GSsetGameCRC,		(vMeth*)GS_setGameCRC },
 	{ NULL }
 };
 
 static const LegacyApi_OptMethod s_MethMessOpt_GS[] =
 {
+	{	"GSopen2",			(vMeth**)&GSopen2			},
 	{	"GSreset",			(vMeth**)&GSreset			},
 	{	"GSsetupRecording",	(vMeth**)&GSsetupRecording	},
-	{	"GSsetGameCRC",		(vMeth**)&GSsetGameCRC		},
 	{	"GSsetFrameSkip",	(vMeth**)&GSsetFrameSkip	},
 	{	"GSsetFrameLimit",	(vMeth**)&GSsetFrameLimit	},
 	{	"GSchangeSaveState",(vMeth**)&GSchangeSaveState	},
@@ -734,7 +737,7 @@ PluginManager::PluginManager( const wxString (&folders)[PluginId_Count] )
 	g_plugins = this;
 }
 
-PluginManager::~PluginManager()
+PluginManager::~PluginManager() throw()
 {
 	try
 	{
@@ -834,8 +837,8 @@ static bool OpenPlugin_CDVD()
 static bool OpenPlugin_GS()
 {
 	if( mtgsThread != NULL ) return true;
-
 	mtgsOpen();	// mtgsOpen raises its own exception on error
+	GSsetGameCRC( ElfCRC, 0 );
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/Plugins.h b/pcsx2/Plugins.h
index d07682d1f4..fc791fd16d 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Plugins.h
+++ b/pcsx2/Plugins.h
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ public:		// hack until we unsuck plugins...
 	PluginStatus_t			m_info[PluginId_Count];
 
 public:
-	virtual ~PluginManager();
+	virtual ~PluginManager() throw();
 
 	void Init();
 	void Shutdown();
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/App.h b/pcsx2/gui/App.h
index 1862fe2221..ca9e799702 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/App.h
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/App.h
@@ -22,13 +22,15 @@
 
 #include <wx/apptrait.h>
 
+class IniInterface;
+class MainEmuFrame;
+class GSFrame;
+
 #include "AppConfig.h"
 #include "System.h"
 #include "ConsoleLogger.h"
 #include "ps2/CoreEmuThread.h"
 
-class IniInterface;
-
 
 BEGIN_DECLARE_EVENT_TYPES()
 	DECLARE_EVENT_TYPE( pxEVT_SemaphorePing, -1 )
@@ -245,6 +247,7 @@ protected:
 	// Note: Pointers to frames should not be scoped because wxWidgets handles deletion
 	// of these objects internally.
 	MainEmuFrame*		m_MainFrame;
+	GSFrame*			m_gsFrame;
 	ConsoleLogFrame*	m_ProgramLogBox;
 
 	bool				m_ConfigImagesAreLoaded;
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
index d2a0bf9f46..61741ee988 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
@@ -150,6 +150,21 @@ void Pcsx2App::SysExecute( CDVD_SourceType cdvdsrc )
 	LoadPluginsImmediate();
 	CDVDsys_SetFile( CDVDsrc_Iso, g_Conf->CurrentIso );
 	CDVDsys_ChangeSource( cdvdsrc );
+	
+	if( m_gsFrame == NULL && GSopen2 != NULL )
+	{
+		// Yay, we get to open and manage our OWN window!!!
+		// (work-in-progress)
+
+		m_gsFrame = new GSFrame( m_MainFrame, L"PCSX2" );
+		m_gsFrame->SetFocus();
+		pDsp = (uptr)m_gsFrame->GetHandle();
+		m_gsFrame->Show();
+		
+		// The "in the main window" quickie hack...
+		//pDsp = (uptr)m_MainFrame->m_background.GetHandle();
+	}
+
 	m_CoreThread.reset( new AppEmuThread( *m_CorePlugins ) );
 	m_CoreThread->Resume();
 }
@@ -188,7 +203,7 @@ sptr AppEmuThread::ExecuteTask()
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 	catch( Exception::FileNotFound& ex )
 	{
-		GetPluginManager().Close();
+		m_plugins.Close();
 		if( ex.StreamName == g_Conf->FullpathToBios() )
 		{
 			GetPluginManager().Close();
@@ -211,7 +226,7 @@ sptr AppEmuThread::ExecuteTask()
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 	catch( Exception::PluginError& ex )
 	{
-		GetPluginManager().Close();
+		m_plugins.Close();
 		Console::Error( ex.FormatDiagnosticMessage() );
 		Msgbox::Alert( ex.FormatDisplayMessage(), _("Plugin Open Error") );
 		
@@ -227,7 +242,7 @@ sptr AppEmuThread::ExecuteTask()
 	catch( Exception::BaseException& ex )
 	{
 		// Sent the exception back to the main gui thread?
-		GetPluginManager().Close();
+		m_plugins.Close();
 		Msgbox::Alert( ex.FormatDisplayMessage() );
 	}
 
@@ -619,7 +634,15 @@ void Pcsx2App::OnMessageBox( pxMessageBoxEvent& evt )
 
 void Pcsx2App::CleanupMess()
 {
-	m_CorePlugins.reset();
+	m_CorePlugins->Close();
+	m_CorePlugins->Shutdown();
+	
+	// Notice: deleting the plugin manager (unloading plugins) here causes Lilypad to crash,
+	// likely due to some pending message in the queue that references lilypad procs.
+	// We don't need to unload plugins anyway tho -- shutdown is plenty safe enough for 
+	// closing out all the windows.  So just leave it be and let the plugins get unloaded
+	// during the wxApp destructor. -- air
+	
 	m_ProgramLogBox = NULL;
 	m_MainFrame = NULL;
 }
@@ -681,6 +704,7 @@ int Pcsx2App::OnExit()
 
 Pcsx2App::Pcsx2App()  :
 	m_MainFrame( NULL )
+,	m_gsFrame( NULL )
 ,	m_ProgramLogBox( NULL )
 ,	m_ConfigImages( 32, 32 )
 ,	m_ConfigImagesAreLoaded( false )
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h b/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h
index db9012fe23..2d6bfab64c 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/ConsoleLogger.h
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ static const bool EnableThreadedLoggingTest = false; //true;
 
 using namespace Threading;
 
-class MainEmuFrame;
 class LogWriteEvent;
 
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/FrameForGS.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/FrameForGS.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e68928b7e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/FrameForGS.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/*  PCSX2 - PS2 Emulator for PCs
+ *  Copyright (C) 2002-2009  PCSX2 Dev Team
+ *
+ *  PCSX2 is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms
+ *  of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Found-
+ *  ation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ *  PCSX2 is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
+ *  without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ *  PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with PCSX2.
+ *  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "PrecompiledHeader.h"
+#include "MainFrame.h"
+
+
+GSFrame::GSFrame(wxWindow* parent, const wxString& title):
+	wxFrame(parent, wxID_ANY, title, wxDefaultPosition, wxSize( 640, 480 ), wxDEFAULT_FRAME_STYLE )
+{
+	//new wxStaticText( "" );
+
+	//Connect( wxEVT_CLOSE_WINDOW,	wxCloseEventHandler(GSFrame::OnCloseWindow) );
+}
+
+GSFrame::~GSFrame() throw()
+{
+}
+
+/*void GSFrame::OnCloseWindow(wxCloseEvent& evt)
+{
+	evt.Skip();
+}
+*/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.cpp
index 7229d1054b..dcb7654650 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.cpp
@@ -126,13 +126,11 @@ void MainEmuFrame::PopulatePadMenu()
 //
 void MainEmuFrame::OnCloseWindow(wxCloseEvent& evt)
 {
-	// Note Closure Vetoing would be handled here (user prompt confirmation
-	// of closing the app)
-
 	if( !wxGetApp().PrepForExit() )
-		evt.Veto( true );
+		evt.Veto( evt.CanVeto() );
 
 	evt.Skip();
+	//Destroy();
 }
 
 void MainEmuFrame::OnMoveAround( wxMoveEvent& evt )
@@ -430,13 +428,17 @@ MainEmuFrame::MainEmuFrame(wxWindow* parent, const wxString& title):
 	UpdateIsoSrcFile();
 }
 
-MainEmuFrame::~MainEmuFrame()
+MainEmuFrame::~MainEmuFrame() throw()
 {
-	if( m_RecentIsoList != NULL )
+	try
 	{
-		m_RecentIsoList->Save( *wxConfigBase::Get( false ) );
-		safe_delete( m_RecentIsoList );
+		if( m_RecentIsoList != NULL )
+		{
+			m_RecentIsoList->Save( *wxConfigBase::Get( false ) );
+			safe_delete( m_RecentIsoList );
+		}
 	}
+	DESTRUCTOR_CATCHALL
 }
 
 void MainEmuFrame::ApplySettings()
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.h b/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.h
index ae3cb77343..de5e9b5874 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.h
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/MainFrame.h
@@ -21,11 +21,20 @@
 
 #include "App.h"
 
-class MainEmuFrame: public wxFrame
+class GSFrame : public wxFrame
 {
-	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-	//     MainEmuFrame Protected Variables
-	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+protected:
+
+public:
+	GSFrame(wxWindow* parent, const wxString& title);
+	virtual ~GSFrame() throw();
+};
+
+class MainEmuFrame : public wxFrame
+{
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//     MainEmuFrame Protected Variables
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 protected:
 	wxFileHistory*	m_RecentIsoList;
@@ -49,13 +58,13 @@ protected:
 
 	wxMenuItem& m_MenuItem_Console;
 
-	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-	//     MainEmuFrame Constructors and Member Methods
-	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//     MainEmuFrame Constructors and Member Methods
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 public:
     MainEmuFrame(wxWindow* parent, const wxString& title);
-    virtual ~MainEmuFrame();
+    virtual ~MainEmuFrame() throw();
 
 	void OnLogBoxHidden();
 
@@ -101,9 +110,9 @@ protected:
 
 	bool _DoSelectIsoBrowser();
 
-	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
-	//     MainEmuFram Internal API for Populating Main Menu Contents
-	// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//     MainEmuFram Internal API for Populating Main Menu Contents
+// ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 	wxMenu* MakeStatesSubMenu( int baseid ) const;
 	wxMenu* MakeStatesMenu();
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Plugins.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Plugins.cpp
index 65da250122..db13783456 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Plugins.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Plugins.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include "PrecompiledHeader.h"
 #include "App.h"
+#include "MainFrame.h"
 
 #include <wx/dir.h>
 #include <wx/file.h>
diff --git a/pcsx2/ps2/CoreEmuThread.cpp b/pcsx2/ps2/CoreEmuThread.cpp
index 016847616e..3c9e90b0b1 100644
--- a/pcsx2/ps2/CoreEmuThread.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/ps2/CoreEmuThread.cpp
@@ -87,8 +87,7 @@ void CoreEmuThread::CpuInitializeMess()
 		}
 	}
 	
-	if( GSsetGameCRC != NULL )
-		GSsetGameCRC( ElfCRC, 0 );
+	GSsetGameCRC( ElfCRC, 0 );
 }
 
 // special macro which disables inlining on functions that require their own function stackframe.
diff --git a/pcsx2/windows/VCprojects/pcsx2_2008.vcproj b/pcsx2/windows/VCprojects/pcsx2_2008.vcproj
index d827e88b81..73dfb29cf8 100644
--- a/pcsx2/windows/VCprojects/pcsx2_2008.vcproj
+++ b/pcsx2/windows/VCprojects/pcsx2_2008.vcproj
@@ -1918,6 +1918,10 @@
 				RelativePath="..\..\gui\ConsoleLogger.cpp"
 				>
 			</File>
+			<File
+				RelativePath="..\..\gui\FrameForGS.cpp"
+				>
+			</File>
 			<File
 				RelativePath="..\..\gui\HostGui.cpp"
 				>