diff --git a/Themes/default/Graphics/LifeMeterBattery lives/_lives 1x10.png b/Themes/default/Graphics/LifeMeterBattery lives/_lives 1x10.png
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..53e6a0ace5
Binary files /dev/null and b/Themes/default/Graphics/LifeMeterBattery lives/_lives 1x10.png differ
diff --git a/Themes/default/Graphics/LifeMeterBattery lives/default.lua b/Themes/default/Graphics/LifeMeterBattery lives/default.lua
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 8a5f507f38..16cd3a5963
--- a/Themes/default/Graphics/LifeMeterBattery lives/default.lua	
+++ b/Themes/default/Graphics/LifeMeterBattery lives/default.lua	
@@ -1,24 +1,47 @@
 local player = Var "Player"
 local blinkTime = 1.2
+local barWidth = 256;
+local barHeight = 32;
 
 local t = Def.ActorFrame{
+	Def.Quad{
+		InitCommand=cmd(diffuse,color("#666666");zoomto,barWidth,barHeight);
+	};
+	Def.Quad{
+		InitCommand=cmd(diffuse,color("#000000");zoomto,barWidth,barHeight;fadetop,1);
+	};
 	LoadActor("_lives")..{
-		-- xxx: assumes course is 4lives (or more)
-		InitCommand=cmd(pause;setstate,3);
+		InitCommand=cmd(pause;horizalign,left;x,-(barWidth/2));
+		BeginCommand=function(self,param)
+			local screen = SCREENMAN:GetTopScreen();
+			local glifemeter = screen:GetLifeMeter(player);
+				self:setstate(glifemeter:GetTotalLives()-1);
+				
+				if glifemeter:GetTotalLives() <= 4 then
+					self:zoomx(barWidth/(4*64));
+				else
+					self:zoomx(barWidth/((glifemeter:GetTotalLives())*64));
+				end
+				self:cropright((640-(((glifemeter:GetTotalLives())*64)))/640);
+		end;
 		LifeChangedMessageCommand=function(self,param)
 			if param.Player == player then
 				if param.LivesLeft == 0 then
 					self:visible(false)
-				elseif param.LivesLeft <= 4 then
-					self:setstate( math.max(param.LivesLeft-1,0) )
-					self:visible(true)
 				else
-					self:setstate(3)
+					self:setstate( math.max(param.LivesLeft-1,0) )
 					self:visible(true)
 				end
 			end
 		end;
+		StartCommand=function(self,param)
+			if param.Player == player then
+				self:setstate( math.max(param.LivesLeft-1,0) );			
+			end			
+		end;
+		FinishCommand=cmd(playcommand,"Start");
 	};
+	
 };
 
 return t;
\ No newline at end of file