diff --git a/src/data/keyword.cpp b/src/data/keyword.cpp
index 352b4adc..4ea72a78 100644
--- a/src/data/keyword.cpp
+++ b/src/data/keyword.cpp
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ void read_compat(Reader& tag, Keyword* k) {
 	if (start != String::npos && end != String::npos) {
 		k->match += separator.substr(start + 1, end - start - 1);
 	}
+	if (parameter == _("no parameter")) {
+		parameter.clear(); // was used for magic to indicate absence of parameter
+	}
 	if (!parameter.empty()) {
 		k->match += _("<atom-param>") + parameter + _("</atom-param>");
 	}
diff --git a/src/gui/control/package_list.cpp b/src/gui/control/package_list.cpp
index ae5aeab2..42b3aedd 100644
--- a/src/gui/control/package_list.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/control/package_list.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ void PackageList::showData(const String& pattern) {
 	while (!f.empty()) {
 		// try to open the package
 //		try {
-			PackagedP package = ::packages.openAny(f);
+			PackagedP package = ::packages.openAny(f, true);
 			// open image
 			InputStreamP stream = package->openIconFile();
 			Image img;
diff --git a/src/gui/control/package_list.hpp b/src/gui/control/package_list.hpp
index 73169c23..94a99eab 100644
--- a/src/gui/control/package_list.hpp
+++ b/src/gui/control/package_list.hpp
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ class PackageList : public GalleryList {
 	shared_ptr<T> getSelection() const {
 		shared_ptr<T> ret = dynamic_pointer_cast<T>(packages.at(selection).package);
 		if (!ret) throw InternalError(_("PackageList: Selected package has the wrong type"));
+		ret->loadFully();
 		return ret;
 	}
 	
diff --git a/src/gui/update_checker.cpp b/src/gui/update_checker.cpp
index 255a8619..dca481a3 100644
--- a/src/gui/update_checker.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/update_checker.cpp
@@ -8,22 +8,38 @@
 
 #include <gui/update_checker.hpp>
 #include <data/settings.hpp>
+#include <util/io/package_manager.hpp>
 #include <util/version.hpp>
 #include <script/value.hpp> // for some strange reason the profile build needs this :(
 #include <wx/dialup.h>
 #include <wx/url.h>
 #include <wx/html/htmlwin.h>
 
+DECLARE_POINTER_TYPE(PackageVersionData);
 DECLARE_POINTER_TYPE(VersionData);
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Update data
 
+/// Information on available packages
+class PackageVersionData {
+  public:
+	PackageVersionData() : is_installer(true) {}
+	
+	String  name;						///< Name of the package
+	String  description;				///< html description
+	String  url;						///< Where can the package be downloaded?
+	bool    is_installer;				///< Download url refers to a .mse-installer
+	Version version;					///< Version number of the download
+	vector<PackageDependencyP> depends;	///< Packages this depends on
+};
+
 /// Information on the latest availible version
 class VersionData {
   public:
-	Version version;				///< Latest version number
-	String  description;			///< html description
+	Version version;				///< Latest version number of MSE
+	String  description;			///< html description of the latest MSE release
 	String  new_updates_url;		///< updates url has moved?
+	vector<PackageVersionDataP> packages;	///< Available packages
 	
 	DECLARE_REFLECTION();
 };
diff --git a/src/util/io/package.cpp b/src/util/io/package.cpp
index a77848e0..b3e5d7b9 100644
--- a/src/util/io/package.cpp
+++ b/src/util/io/package.cpp
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@
 #include <util/io/package.hpp>
 #include <util/io/package_manager.hpp>
 #include <util/error.hpp>
+#include <script/to_value.hpp> // for reflection
 #include <wx/wfstream.h>
 #include <wx/zipstrm.h>
 #include <wx/dir.h>
 #include <boost/scoped_ptr.hpp>
 
 DECLARE_TYPEOF(Package::FileInfos);
+DECLARE_TYPEOF_COLLECTION(PackageDependencyP);
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Package : outside
 
@@ -400,15 +402,23 @@ String Package::toStandardName(const String& name) {
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Packaged
 
+IMPLEMENT_REFLECTION(PackageDependency) {
+	REFLECT(package);
+	REFLECT(version);
+}
+
 // note: reflection must be declared before it is used
 IMPLEMENT_REFLECTION(Packaged) {
 	REFLECT(short_name);
 	REFLECT(full_name);
 	REFLECT_N("icon", icon_filename);
+	REFLECT(version);
+	REFLECT_N("depends ons", dependencies); // hack for singular_form
 }
 
-Packaged::Packaged() {
-}
+Packaged::Packaged()
+	: fully_loaded(true)
+{}
 
 InputStreamP Packaged::openIconFile() {
 	if (!icon_filename.empty()) {
@@ -417,8 +427,36 @@ InputStreamP Packaged::openIconFile() {
 		return InputStreamP();
 	}
 }
-void Packaged::open(const String& package) {
+
+// proxy object, that reads just WITHOUT using the overloaded behaviour
+struct JustAsPackageProxy {
+	JustAsPackageProxy(Packaged* that) : that(that) {}
+	Packaged* that;
+};
+template <> void Reader::handle(JustAsPackageProxy& object) {
+	object.that->Packaged::reflect_impl(*this);
+}
+
+void Packaged::open(const String& package, bool just_header) {
 	Package::open(package);
+	fully_loaded = false;
+	if (just_header) {
+		// Read just the header (the part common to all Packageds)
+		Reader reader(openIn(typeName()), absoluteFilename() + _("/") + typeName(), true);
+		try {
+			JustAsPackageProxy proxy(this);
+			reader.handle_greedy(proxy);
+			Packaged::validate(reader.file_app_version);
+		} catch (const ParseError& err) {
+			throw FileParseError(err.what(), absoluteFilename() + _("/") + typeName()); // more detailed message
+		}
+	} else {
+		loadFully();
+	}
+}
+void Packaged::loadFully() {
+	if (fully_loaded) return;
+	fully_loaded = true;
 	Reader reader(openIn(typeName()), absoluteFilename() + _("/") + typeName());
 	try {
 		reader.handle_greedy(*this);
@@ -427,6 +465,7 @@ void Packaged::open(const String& package) {
 		throw FileParseError(err.what(), absoluteFilename() + _("/") + typeName()); // more detailed message
 	}
 }
+
 void Packaged::save() {
 	WITH_DYNAMIC_ARG(writing_package, this);
 	writeFile(typeName(), *this);
@@ -443,4 +482,8 @@ void Packaged::saveAs(const String& package) {
 void Packaged::validate(Version) {
 	// a default for the short name
 	if (short_name.empty()) short_name = name();
+	// check dependencies
+	FOR_EACH(dep, dependencies) {
+		packages.checkDependency(*dep, true);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/util/io/package.hpp b/src/util/io/package.hpp
index 92edb0eb..5f0dd98d 100644
--- a/src/util/io/package.hpp
+++ b/src/util/io/package.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Package;
 class wxFileInputStream;
 class wxZipInputStream;
 class wxZipEntry;
+DECLARE_POINTER_TYPE(PackageDependency);
 
 /// The package that is currently being written to
 DECLARE_DYNAMIC_ARG(Package*, writing_package);
@@ -175,6 +176,15 @@ class Package {
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Packaged
 
+/// Dependencies of a package
+class PackageDependency {
+  public:
+	String  package;	///< Name of the package someone depends on
+	Version version;	///< Minimal required version of that package
+	
+	DECLARE_REFLECTION();
+};
+
 /// Utility class for data types that are always stored in a package.
 /** When the package is opened/saved a file describing the data object is read/written
  */
@@ -183,15 +193,21 @@ class Packaged : public Package {
 	Packaged();
 	virtual ~Packaged() {}
 	
+	Version version;		///< Version number of this package
 	String short_name;		///< Short name of this package
 	String full_name;		///< Name of this package, for menus etc.
 	String icon_filename;	///< Filename of icon to use in package lists
+	vector<PackageDependencyP> dependencies;	///< Dependencies of this package
 	
 	/// Get an input stream for the package icon, if there is any
 	InputStreamP openIconFile();
 	
 	/// Open a package, and read the data
-	void open(const String& package);
+	/** if just_header is true, then the package is not fully parsed.
+	 */
+	void open(const String& package, bool just_header = false);
+	/// Ensure the package is fully loaded.
+	void loadFully();
 	void save();
 	void saveAs(const String& package);
 	
@@ -202,6 +218,10 @@ class Packaged : public Package {
 	virtual void validate(Version file_app_version);
 	
 	DECLARE_REFLECTION_VIRTUAL();
+	
+  private:
+	bool   fully_loaded;	///< Is the package fully loaded?
+	friend struct JustAsPackageProxy;
 };
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : EOF
diff --git a/src/util/io/package_manager.cpp b/src/util/io/package_manager.cpp
index 83c62dbb..f857180a 100644
--- a/src/util/io/package_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/util/io/package_manager.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ void PackageManager::init() {
 	data_directory += _("/data");
 }
 
-PackagedP PackageManager::openAny(const String& name) {
+PackagedP PackageManager::openAny(const String& name, bool just_header) {
 	wxFileName fn(
 		(wxFileName(name).IsRelative() ? data_directory + _("/") : wxString(wxEmptyString))
 		+ name);
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ PackagedP PackageManager::openAny(const String& name) {
 		else {
 			throw PackageError(_("Unrecognized package type: '") + fn.GetExt() + _("'\nwhile trying to open: ") + name);
 		}
-		p->open(filename);
+		p->open(filename, just_header);
 		return p;
 	}
 }
@@ -101,6 +101,20 @@ InputStreamP PackageManager::openFileFromPackage(const String& name) {
 	return p->openIn(n.substr(pos+1));
 }
 
+bool PackageManager::checkDependency(const PackageDependency& dep, bool report_errors) {
+	String name = data_directory + _("/") + dep.package;
+	if (!wxFileExists(name) && !wxDirExists(name)) {
+		handle_warning(_ERROR_1_("package not found", dep.package),false);
+		return false;
+	}
+	PackagedP package = openAny(dep.package, true);
+	if (package->version < dep.version) {
+		handle_warning(_ERROR_3_("package out of date", dep.package, package->version.toString(), dep.version.toString()),false);
+		return false;
+	}
+	return true;
+}
+
 void PackageManager::destroy() {
 	loaded_packages.clear();
 }
diff --git a/src/util/io/package_manager.hpp b/src/util/io/package_manager.hpp
index f2b93a78..4cd82d10 100644
--- a/src/util/io/package_manager.hpp
+++ b/src/util/io/package_manager.hpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <wx/filename.h>
 
 DECLARE_POINTER_TYPE(Packaged);
+class PackageDependency;
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : PackageManager
 
@@ -40,9 +41,10 @@ class PackageManager {
 		PackagedP& p = loaded_packages[filename];
 		shared_ptr<T> typedP = dynamic_pointer_cast<T>(p);
 		if (typedP) {
+			typedP->loadFully();
 			return typedP;
 		} else {
-			// not loaded, or loaded with wrong type
+			// not loaded, or loaded with wrong type (i.e. with just_header)
 			p = typedP = new_shared<T>();
 			typedP->open(filename);
 			return typedP;
@@ -50,7 +52,9 @@ class PackageManager {
 	}
 	
 	/// Open a package with the specified name, the type of package is determined by its extension!
-	PackagedP openAny(const String& name);
+	/** @param if just_header is true, then the package is not fully parsed.
+	 */
+	PackagedP openAny(const String& name, bool just_header = false);
 	
 	/// Find a package whos name matches a pattern
 	/** Find more using wxFindNextFile().
@@ -58,9 +62,12 @@ class PackageManager {
 	 */
 	String findFirst(const String& pattern);
 	
-	// Open a file from a package, with a name encoded as "package/file"
+	/// Open a file from a package, with a name encoded as "package/file"
 	InputStreamP openFileFromPackage(const String& name);
-		
+	
+	/// Check if the given dependency is currently installed
+	bool checkDependency(const PackageDependency& dep, bool report_errors = false);
+	
   private:
 	map<String, PackagedP> loaded_packages;
 	String data_directory;
diff --git a/src/util/io/reader.cpp b/src/util/io/reader.cpp
index 3c559fdf..9eda7a7c 100644
--- a/src/util/io/reader.cpp
+++ b/src/util/io/reader.cpp
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Reader
 
-Reader::Reader(const InputStreamP& input, const String& filename)
+Reader::Reader(const InputStreamP& input, const String& filename, bool ignore_invalid)
 	: indent(0), expected_indent(0), just_opened(false)
 	, filename(filename), line_number(0)
+	, ignore_invalid(ignore_invalid)
 	, input(input), stream(*input)
 {
 	moveNext();
@@ -125,6 +126,13 @@ void Reader::readLine() {
 }
 
 void Reader::unknownKey() {
+	// ignore?
+	if (ignore_invalid) {
+		do {
+			moveNext();
+		} while (indent > expected_indent);
+		return;
+	}
 	// aliasses?
 	map<String,Alias>::const_iterator it = aliasses.find(key);
 	if (it != aliasses.end()) {
diff --git a/src/util/io/reader.hpp b/src/util/io/reader.hpp
index 4e98294e..b442b280 100644
--- a/src/util/io/reader.hpp
+++ b/src/util/io/reader.hpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class Reader {
 	/// Construct a reader that reads from the given input stream
 	/** filename is used only for error messages
 	 */
-	Reader(const InputStreamP& input, const String& filename = wxEmptyString);
+	Reader(const InputStreamP& input, const String& filename = wxEmptyString, bool ignore_invalid = false);
 	
 	/// Construct a reader that reads a file in a package
 	/** Used for "include file" keys. */
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ class Reader {
 	};
 	/// Aliasses for compatability
 	map<String, Alias> aliasses;
+	/// Should all invalid keys be ignored?
+	bool ignore_invalid;
 	
 	/// Filename for error messages
 	String filename;
diff --git a/src/util/version.cpp b/src/util/version.cpp
index 29506f05..bbb6d4be 100644
--- a/src/util/version.cpp
+++ b/src/util/version.cpp
@@ -14,15 +14,24 @@
 UInt Version::toNumber() const { return version; }
 
 String Version::toString() const {
-	return String() <<
-		          ((version / 10000) % 100) <<
-		_(".") << ((version / 100)   % 100) <<
-		_(".") << ((version / 1)     % 100);
+	if (version > 20000000) {
+		// major > 2000, the version is a date, use ISO notation
+		return String::Format(_("%04d-%02d-%02d"),
+					(version / 10000)      ,
+					(version / 100)   % 100,
+					(version / 1)     % 100);
+	} else {
+		return String::Format(_("%d.%d.%d"),
+					(version / 10000)      ,
+					(version / 100)   % 100,
+					(version / 1)     % 100);
+	}
 }
 
 Version Version::fromString(const String& version) {
 	UInt major = 0, minor = 0, build = 0;
-	wxSscanf(version, _("%u.%u.%u"), &major, &minor, &build);
+	if (wxSscanf(version, _("%u.%u.%u"), &major, &minor, &build)<=1)  // a.b.c style
+	    wxSscanf(version, _("%u-%u-%u"), &major, &minor, &build);  // date style
 	return Version(major * 10000 + minor * 100 + build);
 }
 
@@ -40,7 +49,7 @@ template <> void GetDefaultMember::handle(const Version& v) {
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Versions
 
 // NOTE: Don't use leading zeroes, they mean octal
-const Version app_version  = 301; // 0.3.1
+const Version app_version  = 302; // 0.3.2
 const Char* version_suffix = _(" (beta)");
 
 /*  Changes:
@@ -50,5 +59,6 @@ const Char* version_suffix = _(" (beta)");
  *     0.2.7 : new tag system, different style of close tags
  *     0.3.0 : port of code to C++
  *     0.3.1 : new keyword system, some new style options
+ *     0.3.2 : package dependencies
  */
-const Version file_version = 301; // 0.3.1
+const Version file_version = 302; // 0.3.2