diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectButton.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectButton.py
index 32d95957c5..2866b04527 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectButton.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectButton.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class DirectButton(DirectFrame):
     DirectButton(parent) - Create a DirectGuiWidget which responds
     to mouse clicks and execute a callback function if defined
     """
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         # A Direct Frame can have:
         # - A background texture (pass in path to image, or Texture Card)
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectCheckButton.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectCheckButton.py
index 818930e016..dd9f3718b8 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectCheckButton.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectCheckButton.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class DirectCheckButton(DirectButton):
     to mouse clicks by setting a state of on or off and execute a callback
     function (passing that state through) if defined
     """
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectButton
         # A Direct Frame can have:
         # - A background texture (pass in path to image, or Texture Card)
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectDialog.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectDialog.py
index 1cbfe5b91e..e0ae38c9ab 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectDialog.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectDialog.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class DirectDialog(DirectFrame):
     AllDialogs = {}
     PanelIndex = 0
 
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         """
         DirectDialog(kw)
 
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ class DirectDialog(DirectFrame):
         DirectFrame.destroy(self)
 
 class OkDialog(DirectDialog):
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         optiondefs = (
             # Define type of DirectGuiWidget
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ class OkDialog(DirectDialog):
         self.initialiseoptions(OkDialog)
 
 class OkCancelDialog(DirectDialog):
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         optiondefs = (
             # Define type of DirectGuiWidget
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ class OkCancelDialog(DirectDialog):
         self.initialiseoptions(OkCancelDialog)
 
 class YesNoDialog(DirectDialog):
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         optiondefs = (
             # Define type of DirectGuiWidget
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ class YesNoDialog(DirectDialog):
         self.initialiseoptions(YesNoDialog)
 
 class YesNoCancelDialog(DirectDialog):
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         optiondefs = (
             # Define type of DirectGuiWidget
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ class YesNoCancelDialog(DirectDialog):
         self.initialiseoptions(YesNoCancelDialog)
 
 class RetryCancelDialog(DirectDialog):
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         optiondefs = (
             # Define type of DirectGuiWidget
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectEntry.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectEntry.py
index df015b8d60..1223e44229 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectEntry.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectEntry.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class DirectEntry(DirectFrame):
     DirectEntry(parent) - Create a DirectGuiWidget which responds
     to keyboard buttons
     """
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         # A Direct Frame can have:
         # - A background texture (pass in path to image, or Texture Card)
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py
index 527028d691..5e503015ee 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from DirectGuiBase import *
 
 class DirectFrame(DirectGuiWidget):
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectGuiWidget
         # A Direct Frame can have:
         # - A background texture (pass in path to image, or Texture Card)
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectGui.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectGui.py
index 23e5b63cbb..20713845ce 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectGui.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectGui.py
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@ from OnscreenText import *
 from OnscreenGeom import *
 from OnscreenImage import *
 
+# MPG DirectStart should call this?
 # Set up default font
-defaultFont = getDefaultFont()
-if defaultFont:
-    PGItem.getTextNode().setFont(defaultFont)
+#defaultFont = getDefaultFont()
+#if defaultFont:
+#    PGItem.getTextNode().setFont(defaultFont)
 
 # Direct Gui Classes
 from DirectFrame import *
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py
index a99d76ed6f..40cfaf2668 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py
@@ -652,7 +652,8 @@ class DirectGuiWidget(DirectGuiBase, NodePath):
     # Determine the default initial state for inactive (or
     # unclickable) components.  If we are in edit mode, these are
     # actually clickable by default.
-    guiEdit = base.config.GetBool('direct-gui-edit', 0)
+    #guiEdit = base.config.GetBool('direct-gui-edit', 0)
+    guiEdit = config.GetBool('direct-gui-edit', 0)
     if guiEdit:
         inactiveInitState = NORMAL
     else:
@@ -660,7 +661,7 @@ class DirectGuiWidget(DirectGuiBase, NodePath):
 
     guiDict = {}
 
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Direct gui widgets are node paths
         # Direct gui widgets have:
         # -  stateNodePaths (to hold visible representation of widget)
@@ -712,6 +713,8 @@ class DirectGuiWidget(DirectGuiBase, NodePath):
             self.guiItem.setId(self['guiId'])
         self.guiId = self.guiItem.getId()
         # Attach button to parent and make that self
+        if (parent == None):
+            parent = aspect2d
         self.assign(parent.attachNewNode( self.guiItem, self['sortOrder'] ) )
         # Update pose to initial values
         if self['pos']:
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectLabel.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectLabel.py
index 6f1b2bac99..bbc08c95cf 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectLabel.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectLabel.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ class DirectLabel(DirectFrame):
     DirectLabel(parent) - Create a DirectGuiWidget which has multiple
     states.  User explicitly chooses a state to display
     """
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         # A Direct Frame can have:
         # - A background texture (pass in path to image, or Texture Card)
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectOptionMenu.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectOptionMenu.py
index b70b736c50..1798ad2e80 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectOptionMenu.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectOptionMenu.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ class DirectOptionMenu(DirectButton):
     To cancel the popup menu click anywhere on the screen outside of the
     popup menu.  No command is executed in this case.
     """
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectButton
         optiondefs = (
             # List of items to display on the popup menu
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectScrolledList.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectScrolledList.py
index bdc8873a06..4420fed9cc 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectScrolledList.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectScrolledList.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import Task
 import types
 
 class DirectScrolledList(DirectFrame):
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
 
         self.index = 0
         self.forceHeight = None
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py
index 866b45656f..d9cf20200a 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ class DirectWaitBar(DirectFrame):
     DirectEntry(parent) - Create a DirectGuiWidget which responds
     to keyboard buttons
     """
-    def __init__(self, parent = aspect2d, **kw):
+    def __init__(self, parent = None, **kw):
         # Inherits from DirectFrame
         # A Direct Frame can have:
         # - A background texture (pass in path to image, or Texture Card)
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
index 3d0d60d649..9286702afa 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
-
 # This module redefines the builtin import function with one
 # that prints out every import it does in a hierarchical form
 # Annoying and very noisy, but sometimes useful
 #import VerboseImport
 
 from PandaModules import *
+
+# This needs to be available early for DirectGUI imports
+__builtins__["config"] = ConfigConfigureGetConfigConfigShowbase
+
 from DirectNotifyGlobal import *
 from MessengerGlobal import *
 from TaskManagerGlobal import *
@@ -41,7 +44,8 @@ class ShowBase(DirectObject.DirectObject):
 
     def __init__(self):
         # Get the dconfig object
-        self.config = ConfigConfigureGetConfigConfigShowbase
+        #self.config = ConfigConfigureGetConfigConfigShowbase
+        self.config = config
         # Setup wantVerifyPdb as soon as reasonable:
         Verify.wantVerifyPdb = self.config.GetBool('want-verify-pdb', 0)
         
@@ -240,7 +244,8 @@ class ShowBase(DirectObject.DirectObject):
         __builtins__["taskMgr"] = self.taskMgr
         __builtins__["eventMgr"] = self.eventMgr
         __builtins__["messenger"] = self.messenger
-        __builtins__["config"] = self.config
+        # Config needs to be defined before ShowBase is constructed
+        #__builtins__["config"] = self.config
         __builtins__["run"] = self.run
         __builtins__["ostream"] = Notify.out()
         __builtins__["directNotify"] = directNotify
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBaseGlobal.py b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBaseGlobal.py
index de1740d92f..2b1e6be1fb 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBaseGlobal.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBaseGlobal.py
@@ -5,7 +5,10 @@ from ShowBase import *
 CollisionHandlerRayStart = 10.0 # This is a hack, it may be better to use a line instead of a ray.
 
 # Create the showbase instance
-ShowBase()
+# This should be created by the game specific "start" file
+#ShowBase()
+# Instead of creating a show base, assert that one has already been created
+assert(base)
 
 # Set direct notify categories now that we have config
 directNotify.setDconfigLevels()