diff --git a/stepmania/src/BGAnimationLayer.cpp b/stepmania/src/BGAnimationLayer.cpp
index b9a42aa2ed..809617d70b 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/BGAnimationLayer.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/BGAnimationLayer.cpp
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@ void BGAnimationLayer::Draw()
 			0, 
 			RageColor(0.6f,0.6f,0.6f,1), 
 			RageColor(0.9f,0.9f,0.9f,1),
-			RageColor(0,0,0,1),
+			RageColor(0.1f,0.1f,0.1f,1),
 			RageVector3(0, 0, 1) );
 	}
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp b/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp
index 5e0ebafca4..10eddf74b3 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/BannerCache.cpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ struct BannerTexture: public RageTexture
 		ASSERT( DISPLAY->SupportsTextureFormat(pf) );
 
 		ASSERT(img);
-		m_uTexHandle = DISPLAY->CreateTexture( pf, img );
+		m_uTexHandle = DISPLAY->CreateTexture( pf, img, false );
 
 		CreateFrameRects();
 	}
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ModelTypes.cpp b/stepmania/src/ModelTypes.cpp
index f72d4a5124..9b10547da3 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ModelTypes.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ModelTypes.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ void AnimatedTexture::Load( CString sTexOrIniPath )
 				ID.filename = Dirname(sTexOrIniPath) + sFileName;
 				ID.bStretch = true;
 				ID.bHotPinkColorKey = true;
+				ID.bMipMaps = true;	// use mipmaps in Models
 				AnimatedTextureState state = { 
 					TEXTUREMAN->LoadTexture( ID ),
 					fDelay
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ void AnimatedTexture::Load( CString sTexOrIniPath )
 		ID.filename = sTexOrIniPath;
 		ID.bHotPinkColorKey = true;
 		ID.bStretch = true;
+		ID.bMipMaps = true;	// use mipmaps in Models
 		AnimatedTextureState state = { 
 			TEXTUREMAN->LoadTexture( ID ),
 			10
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageBitmapTexture.cpp b/stepmania/src/RageBitmapTexture.cpp
index fc6fbd90a3..6728c43db8 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageBitmapTexture.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageBitmapTexture.cpp
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ apply_color_key:
 	ConvertSDLSurface(img, m_iTextureWidth, m_iTextureHeight,
 		pfd->bpp, pfd->masks[0], pfd->masks[1], pfd->masks[2], pfd->masks[3]);
 	
-	m_uTexHandle = DISPLAY->CreateTexture( pixfmt, img );
+	m_uTexHandle = DISPLAY->CreateTexture( pixfmt, img, actualID.bMipMaps );
 
 	CreateFrameRects();
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay.h b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay.h
index cd09fd5ada..0a97c8670b 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay.h
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@ public:
 	 * (unsigned in OpenGL, texture pointer in D3D) */
 	virtual unsigned CreateTexture( 
 		PixelFormat pixfmt,			// format of img and of texture in video mem
-		SDL_Surface* img 		// must be in pixfmt
+		SDL_Surface* img, 		// must be in pixfmt
+		bool bGenerateMipMaps
 		) = 0;
 	virtual void UpdateTexture( 
 		unsigned uTexHandle, 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp
index 4a74cce05a..1f2a010d45 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.cpp
@@ -1053,7 +1053,8 @@ void RageDisplay_D3D::DeleteTexture( unsigned uTexHandle )
 
 unsigned RageDisplay_D3D::CreateTexture( 
 	PixelFormat pixfmt,
-	SDL_Surface* img )
+	SDL_Surface* img,
+	bool bGenerateMipMaps )
 {
 	// texture must be power of two
 	ASSERT( img->w == power_of_two(img->w) );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.h b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.h
index 85a8803cd9..98e18f7507 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_D3D.h
@@ -32,7 +32,10 @@ public:
 	VideoModeParams GetVideoModeParams() const;
 	void SetBlendMode( BlendMode mode );
 	bool SupportsTextureFormat( PixelFormat pixfmt, bool realtime=false );
-	unsigned CreateTexture( PixelFormat pixfmt, SDL_Surface* img );
+	unsigned CreateTexture( 
+		PixelFormat pixfmt, 
+		SDL_Surface* img, 
+		bool bGenerateMipMaps );
 	void UpdateTexture( 
 		unsigned uTexHandle, 
 		SDL_Surface* img,
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp
index 2950b1c63b..ad01c39292 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ namespace GLExt {
 
 #ifdef WIN32
 #pragma comment(lib, "opengl32.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "glu32.lib")
 #endif
 
 //
@@ -1238,7 +1239,8 @@ RageDisplay::PixelFormat RageDisplay_OGL::GetImgPixelFormat( SDL_Surface* &img,
 
 unsigned RageDisplay_OGL::CreateTexture( 
 	PixelFormat pixfmt,
-	SDL_Surface* img )
+	SDL_Surface* img,
+	bool bGenerateMipMaps )
 {
 	ASSERT( pixfmt < NUM_PIX_FORMATS );
 
@@ -1248,7 +1250,7 @@ unsigned RageDisplay_OGL::CreateTexture(
 	
 	glBindTexture( GL_TEXTURE_2D, uTexHandle );
 	glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);
-	glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL_LINEAR);
+	glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, bGenerateMipMaps ? GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST : GL_LINEAR);
 	SetTextureWrapping( false );
 
 	// texture must be power of two
@@ -1304,9 +1306,24 @@ unsigned RageDisplay_OGL::CreateTexture(
 
 	FlushGLErrors();
 
-	glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, glTexFormat, 
+	// YUCK!  There's no way to tell gluBuild2DMipmaps how many mip-map levels
+	// to make.  It's all or nothing, so we have to call either glTexImage2D
+	// or gluBuild2DMipmaps
+	if( bGenerateMipMaps )
+	{
+		gluBuild2DMipmaps(
+			GL_TEXTURE_2D, glTexFormat, 
+			img->w, img->h,
+			glImageFormat, glImageType, img->pixels );
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		glTexImage2D(
+			GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, glTexFormat, 
 			img->w, img->h, 0,
 			glImageFormat, glImageType, img->pixels);
+	}
+
 
 	GLenum error = glGetError();
 	if( error != GL_NO_ERROR )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.h b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.h
index 5754cd1914..fd471275b6 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageDisplay_OGL.h
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ public:
 	void SetBlendMode( BlendMode mode );
 	bool SupportsTextureFormat( PixelFormat pixfmt, bool realtime=false );
 	bool Supports4BitPalettes();
-	unsigned CreateTexture( PixelFormat pixfmt, SDL_Surface* img );
+	unsigned CreateTexture( 
+		PixelFormat pixfmt, 
+		SDL_Surface* img,
+		bool bGenerateMipMaps );
 	void UpdateTexture( 
 		unsigned uTexHandle, 
 		SDL_Surface* img,
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.cpp b/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.cpp
index e79f352097..8ac3aa5908 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.cpp
@@ -3,40 +3,14 @@
 
 void RageTextureID::Init()
 {
-	/* Maximum size of the texture, per dimension. */
 	iMaxSize = 2048;
-
-	/* Number of mipmaps. (unimplemented) */
-	iMipMaps = 4;
-
-	/* Maximum number of bits for alpha.  In 16-bit modes, lowering
-	 * this gives more bits for color values. (0, 1 or 4) */
+	bMipMaps = false;	// Most sprites (especially text) look worse with mip maps
 	iAlphaBits = 4;
-
-	/* If this is greater than -1, then the image will be loaded as a luma/alpha
-	 * map, eg. I4A4.  At most 8 bits per pixel will be used  This only actually happens
-	 * when paletted textures are supported.
-	 *
-	 * If the sum of alpha and grayscale bits is <= 4, and the system supports 4-bit
-	 * palettes, then the image will be loaded with 4bpp.
-	 *
-	 * This may be set to 0, resulting in an alpha map with all pixels white. */
 	iGrayscaleBits = -1;
-
-	/* If true and color precision is being lost, dither. (slow) */
 	bDither = false;
-	/* If true, resize the image to fill the internal texture. (slow) */
 	bStretch = false;
-
-	/* Preferred color depth of the image.  (This is overridden for
-	 * paletted images and transparencies.) */
    	iColorDepth = -1; /* default */
-
-	/* If true, enable HOT PINK color keying. (deprecated but needed for
-	 * banners) */
 	bHotPinkColorKey = false;
-
-	/* These hints will be used in addition to any in the filename. */
 	AdditionalTextureHints = "";
 }
 
@@ -45,7 +19,7 @@ bool RageTextureID::operator<(const RageTextureID &rhs) const
 #define COMP(a) if(a<rhs.a) return true; if(a>rhs.a) return false;
 	COMP(filename);
 	COMP(iMaxSize);
-	COMP(iMipMaps);
+	COMP(bMipMaps);
 	COMP(iAlphaBits);
 	COMP(iGrayscaleBits);
 	COMP(iColorDepth);
@@ -63,7 +37,7 @@ bool RageTextureID::operator==(const RageTextureID &rhs) const
 	return 
 		EQUAL(filename) &&
 		EQUAL(iMaxSize) &&
-		EQUAL(iMipMaps) &&
+		EQUAL(bMipMaps) &&
 		EQUAL(iAlphaBits) &&
 		EQUAL(iGrayscaleBits) &&
 		EQUAL(iColorDepth) &&
diff --git a/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.h b/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.h
index a4c5f03370..c362200ac7 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/RageTextureID.h
@@ -8,14 +8,42 @@
 struct RageTextureID
 {
 	CString filename;
+	
+	/* Maximum size of the texture, per dimension. */
 	int iMaxSize;
-	int iMipMaps;
+
+	/* Generate mipmaps for this texture */
+	bool bMipMaps;
+
+	/* Maximum number of bits for alpha.  In 16-bit modes, lowering
+	 * this gives more bits for color values. (0, 1 or 4) */
 	int iAlphaBits;
+
+	/* If this is greater than -1, then the image will be loaded as a luma/alpha
+	 * map, eg. I4A4.  At most 8 bits per pixel will be used  This only actually happens
+	 * when paletted textures are supported.
+	 *
+	 * If the sum of alpha and grayscale bits is <= 4, and the system supports 4-bit
+	 * palettes, then the image will be loaded with 4bpp.
+	 *
+	 * This may be set to 0, resulting in an alpha map with all pixels white. */
 	int iGrayscaleBits;
+	
+	/* Preferred color depth of the image.  (This is overridden for
+	 * paletted images and transparencies.)  -1 for default. */
 	int iColorDepth;
+	
+	/* If true and color precision is being lost, dither. (slow) */
 	bool bDither;
+	
+	/* If true, resize the image to fill the internal texture. (slow) */
 	bool bStretch;
+	
+	/* If true, enable HOT PINK color keying. (deprecated but needed for
+	 * banners) */
 	bool bHotPinkColorKey; /* #FF00FF */
+	
+	/* These hints will be used in addition to any in the filename. */
 	CString AdditionalTextureHints;
 
 	bool operator< (const RageTextureID &rhs) const;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.cpp
index ce7ef38b2a..10bc043664 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.cpp
@@ -521,6 +521,20 @@ ScreenGameplay::ScreenGameplay( CString sName, bool bDemonstration ) : Screen("S
 		}
 	}
 
+	for( p=0; p<NUM_PLAYERS; p++ )
+	{
+		if( !GAMESTATE->IsPlayerEnabled(p) )
+			continue;	// skip
+
+		m_textStepsDescription[p].LoadFromFont( THEME->GetPathToF("ScreenGameplay StepsDescription") );
+		m_textStepsDescription[p].SetName( ssprintf("StepsDescriptionP%i",p+1) );
+		Steps* pSteps = GAMESTATE->m_pCurNotes[p];
+		ASSERT( pSteps );
+		m_textStepsDescription[p].SetText( pSteps->GetDescription() );
+		SET_XY( m_textStepsDescription[p] );
+		this->AddChild( &m_textStepsDescription[p] );
+	}
+
 	switch( GAMESTATE->m_PlayMode )
 	{
 	case PLAY_MODE_ARCADE:
@@ -2254,6 +2268,7 @@ void ScreenGameplay::TweenOnScreen()
 		ON_COMMAND( m_textCourseSongNumber[p] );
 		if( GAMESTATE->m_PlayMode == PLAY_MODE_RAVE )
 			ON_COMMAND( m_textPlayerName[p] );
+		ON_COMMAND( m_textStepsDescription[p] );
 		if( m_pPrimaryScoreDisplay[p] )
 			ON_COMMAND( *m_pPrimaryScoreDisplay[p] );
 		if( m_pSecondaryScoreDisplay[p] )
@@ -2283,6 +2298,7 @@ void ScreenGameplay::TweenOffScreen()
 		OFF_COMMAND( m_textCourseSongNumber[p] );
 		if( GAMESTATE->m_PlayMode == PLAY_MODE_RAVE )
 			OFF_COMMAND( m_textPlayerName[p] );
+		OFF_COMMAND( m_textStepsDescription[p] );
 		if( m_pPrimaryScoreDisplay[p] )
 			OFF_COMMAND( *m_pPrimaryScoreDisplay[p] );
 		if( m_pSecondaryScoreDisplay[p] )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.h
index 8a91c14a88..a888913359 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenGameplay.h
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ protected:
 	Sprite				m_sprCourseSongNumber;
 	BitmapText			m_textCourseSongNumber[NUM_PLAYERS];
 	BitmapText			m_textPlayerName[NUM_PLAYERS];
+	BitmapText			m_textStepsDescription[NUM_PLAYERS];
 
 	BPMDisplay			m_BPMDisplay;
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
index 2a3d1bae21..50518d75d3 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ Sprite::~Sprite()
 
 bool Sprite::LoadBG( RageTextureID ID )
 {
-	ID.iMipMaps = 1;
+	ID.bMipMaps = true;
+	// Don't we want to dither 16 bit textures at least?
 //	ID.bDither = true;
 	return Load(ID);
 }