diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 140b256..b9b1c43 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 I wanted a project to learn C and the SDL framework in, and settled upon this game as I thought it was a simple and approachable project for me to execute.
 
 ### TODO:
-- make a better input system (one that doesn't crash the game)
 - make beeping sound effects
 - make the game freeze when you lost instead of closing
 - fix constants in level colision detection
diff --git a/src/level.c b/src/level.c
index 381baaa..7327a84 100644
--- a/src/level.c
+++ b/src/level.c
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ void level_init(Level* level) {
 }
 
 //updates the level
-void level_update(Level* level, bool* keys) {
+void level_update(Level* level, const Uint8* keys) {
     Bouncer* bouncer = &level->bouncer;
     Ball* ball = &level->ball;
 
     // if move bouncer LEFT
-    if (keys[SDLK_a]) {
+    if (keys[SDL_SCANCODE_A] || keys[SDL_SCANCODE_LEFT]) {
         ball->moving = true;
 
         if (bouncer->pos.x < 0 == false) {
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ void level_update(Level* level, bool* keys) {
     }
 
     // if move bouncer RIGHT
-    if (keys[SDLK_d]) {
+    if (keys[SDL_SCANCODE_D] || keys[SDL_SCANCODE_RIGHT]) {
         ball->moving = true;
 
         if ((bouncer->pos.x + bouncer->width) > SCREEN_WIDTH == false) {
diff --git a/src/level.h b/src/level.h
index 67a7b20..2953b64 100644
--- a/src/level.h
+++ b/src/level.h
@@ -32,4 +32,4 @@ typedef struct {
 
 
 void level_init(Level* level);
-void level_update(Level* level, bool* keys);
+void level_update(Level* level, const Uint8* keys);
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 5e2e743..435ec11 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ static int init(SDL_Window** window, SDL_Renderer** renderer, Level* level) {
 }
 
 // called on each game update
-static bool update(Level* level, bool* keys, RenderData* render_data) {
+static bool update(Level* level, const Uint8* keys, RenderData* render_data) {
     const clock_t clock_start = clock();
 
     //update the event keys
@@ -28,13 +28,6 @@ static bool update(Level* level, bool* keys, RenderData* render_data) {
             case SDL_QUIT:
                 return false;
                 break;
-
-            case SDL_KEYDOWN:
-                keys[e.key.keysym.sym] = true;
-                break;
-            case SDL_KEYUP:
-                keys[e.key.keysym.sym] = false;
-                break;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -71,7 +64,6 @@ int main(void) {
     Level level = { 0 };            //stores the game's state
     SDL_Window* window = NULL;      //the window that is given to the OS
     SDL_Renderer* renderer = NULL;  //the renderer used to draw to the window
-    bool keys[322] = { 0 };         //stores the key states TODO: find a better method than to use 322 bytes
 
     // initialize
     {
@@ -85,7 +77,7 @@ int main(void) {
 
     // game-loop
     RenderData render_data = { window, renderer, &level }; //contains the data which is used to render the game
-    while (update(&level, keys, &render_data) && (level.stop == false));
+    while (update(&level, SDL_GetKeyboardState(NULL), &render_data) && (level.stop == false));
 
     // frees media and shuts down SDL
     close(window, renderer);