diff --git a/entities/items/item.py b/entities/items/item.py
index 416d239..8e8d055 100644
--- a/entities/items/item.py
+++ b/entities/items/item.py
@@ -23,3 +23,7 @@ class BrSimItem():
 
   def get_item_coordinates(self):
     return self.coord_x, self.coord_y
+
+  def set_item_coordinates(self, x, y):
+    self.coord_x= x
+    self.coord_y= y
diff --git a/entities/map.py b/entities/map.py
index e361d2b..ddcc8a7 100644
--- a/entities/map.py
+++ b/entities/map.py
@@ -1,20 +1,27 @@
+import random as _random
+import copy as _copy
 from utils import logs as _logs
+
+
 class BrSimMap():
 
   def __init__(self, players= None, items= None):
     self.players= players or []
     self.items= items or []
-    self.world_width= 15 #seems a reasonable width for smartphones larger maps would go on a new line
-    self.world_height= 15
+    self.world_width= 10 #seems a reasonable width for smartphones larger maps would go on a new line
+    self.world_height= 25
     self.game_map= []
     self.field_sym= '🟩'
-    self.player_sym= '🟠'
+    self.player_male_sym= '♂️'
+    self.player_female_sym= '♀️'
+    self.player_nonbinary_sym= '⚧️'
     self.dead_player_sym= '💀'
     self.item_sym= '📦'
     self.mountain_sym = '⛰️'
+    self.init_map_matrix()
     self.init_players_coordinates()
     self.init_items_coordinates()
-    self.init_map_matrix()
+    self.populate_map()
 
   def init_map_matrix(self):
     # show a matrix representing the game's map
@@ -33,15 +40,19 @@ class BrSimMap():
       if i == 0 or i == self.world_width - 1: width.append(self.mountain_sym)
       else: width.append(self.field_sym)
     for i in range(self.world_height):
-      if i == 0 or i == self.world_width - 1: self.game_map.append(mon)
-      else: self.game_map.append(width)
+      if i == 0 or i == self.world_height - 1: self.game_map.append(mon)
+      else: self.game_map.append(_copy.deepcopy(width))
+    _logs.log_debug(f'init_map_matrix: {self.game_map}')
+
+  def populate_map(self):
     for player in self.players:
-      p_coord_x, p_coord_y= players.get_player_coordinates()
-      self.game_map[p_coord_y][p_coord_x]= self.player_sym
+      p_coord_x, p_coord_y= player.get_player_coordinates()
+      if player.player_gender_is_male(): self.game_map[p_coord_y][p_coord_x]= self.player_male_sym
+      elif player.player_gender_is_female(): self.game_map[p_coord_y][p_coord_x]= self.player_female_sym
+      else: self.game_map[p_coord_y][p_coord_x]= self.player_nonbinary_sym
     for item in self.items:
       i_coord_x, i_coord_y= item.get_item_coordinates()
       self.game_map[i_coord_y][i_coord_x]= self.item_sym
-    _logs.log_debug(f'init_map_matrix: {self.game_map}')
 
   def get_map_matrix(self):
     return self.game_map
@@ -58,9 +69,23 @@ class BrSimMap():
   def init_players_coordinates(self):
     # XXX init random player.coord_x and player.coord_y (of course not already used coords)
     # parse all self.players and define random coordinates (player.coord_x, and player.coord_y)
-    pass
+    for player in self.players:
+      x= _random.randint(1, self.world_width -2) # -2 because 1 cell is occupied by the mountain
+      y= _random.randint(1, self.world_height -2)
+      while self.get_map_matrix()[y][x] != self.field_sym:
+        print('init_players_coordinates: collision, regenerate coordinates')
+        x= _random.randint(1, self.world_width -2)
+        y= _random.randint(1, self.world_height -2)
+      player.set_player_coordinates(x, y)
 
   def init_items_coordinates(self):
     # XXX init random item.coord_x and item.coord_y (of course not already used coords)
     # parse all self.items and define random coordinates (item.coord_x, and item.coord_y)
-    pass
+    for item in self.items:
+      x= _random.randint(1, self.world_width -2) # -2 because 1 cell is occupied by the mountain
+      y= _random.randint(1, self.world_height -2)
+      while self.get_map_matrix()[y][x] != self.field_sym:
+        print('init_items_coordinates: collision, regenerate coordinates')
+        x= _random.randint(1, self.world_width -2)
+        y= _random.randint(1, self.world_height -2)
+      item.set_item_coordinates(x, y)
diff --git a/entities/player.py b/entities/player.py
index fea1dfb..b7e33b0 100644
--- a/entities/player.py
+++ b/entities/player.py
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ class BrSimPlayer():
   ### control methods
 
   def get_player_coordinates(self):
-    return self.coord_x. self.coord_y
+    return self.coord_x, self.coord_y
+
+  def set_player_coordinates(self, x, y):
+    self.coord_x= x
+    self.coord_y= y
 
   def get_name_and_stats(self):
     health= '♥️' * self.health or '☠️'