diff --git a/constants.h b/constants.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d6d85f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/constants.h
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#define SCREEN_WIDTH 960
+#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 640
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/level.c b/level.c
index f699b9f..d8805aa 100644
--- a/level.c
+++ b/level.c
@@ -1,9 +1,21 @@
-#include <stdbool.h>
-#include <SDL2/SDL.h>
 #include "level.h"
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <SDL2/SDL.h>
+#include "constants.h"
+
 //prepares the level to be in a playable state
-void level_init(Level* level) {}
+void level_init(Level* level) {
+    // initialize ball
+    level->ball.pos.x = SCREEN_WIDTH / 2;
+    level->ball.pos.y = SCREEN_HEIGHT / 2;
+    level->ball.radius = 1;
+
+    // initialize bouncer
+    level->bouncer.pos.x = SCREEN_HEIGHT / 2;
+    level->bouncer.pos.y = 5;
+    level->bouncer.width = 20;
+}
 
 //updates the level
 void level_update(Level* level, bool* keys) {}
diff --git a/level.h b/level.h
index 2246b3d..abf2d93 100644
--- a/level.h
+++ b/level.h
@@ -8,8 +8,15 @@ typedef struct {
 } Position;
 
 typedef struct {
-    Position ball_pos;
-    Position bouncer_pos;
+    struct {
+        unsigned radius;
+        Position pos;
+    } ball;
+
+    struct {
+        unsigned width;
+        Position pos;
+    } bouncer;
 } Level;
 
 
diff --git a/renderer.c b/renderer.c
index f778c19..1a8f213 100644
--- a/renderer.c
+++ b/renderer.c
@@ -2,12 +2,9 @@
 
 #include <SDL2/SDL.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
-
 #include "error_codes.h"
 #include "level.h"
-
-#define SCREEN_WIDTH 960
-#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 640
+#include "constants.h"
 
 // initializes the window and renderer
 int renderer_init(SDL_Window** window, SDL_Renderer** renderer) {
@@ -37,14 +34,15 @@ int renderer_init(SDL_Window** window, SDL_Renderer** renderer) {
 
 // renders the screen
 void renderer_update(RenderData* render_data) {
-    int success = 0x0;
-    success | SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(render_data->renderer, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xFF);
-    success | SDL_RenderClear(render_data->renderer);
-    SDL_RenderPresent(render_data->renderer);
+    // render background
+    (void)SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(render_data->renderer, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xFF);
+    (void)SDL_RenderClear(render_data->renderer);
 
-    if (success != 0) {
-        printf("something went wrong during the render update! -> %d", success);
-    }
+    //TODO: render ball as a circle at render_data->level->ball.pos
+    //TODO: render bouncer as a bar at render_data->level->bouncer.pos
+
+    // present the result to the renderer
+    SDL_RenderPresent(render_data->renderer);
 }
 
 void renderer_destroy(SDL_Window* window, SDL_Renderer* renderer) {