diff --git a/src/components/gui/gui.jsx b/src/components/gui/gui.jsx
index 06ac902e6..95996e139 100644
--- a/src/components/gui/gui.jsx
+++ b/src/components/gui/gui.jsx
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ const GUIComponent = props => {
         children,
         costumeLibraryVisible,
         costumesTabVisible,
+        doStoreProject,
         enableCommunity,
         importInfoVisible,
         intl,
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ const GUIComponent = props => {
         onExtensionButtonClick,
         onRequestCloseBackdropLibrary,
         onRequestCloseCostumeLibrary,
-        onRequestNewProject,
+        // onRequestNewProject,
         onSeeCommunity,
         onShare,
         previewInfoVisible,
@@ -166,6 +167,7 @@ const GUIComponent = props => {
                 ) : null}
                 <MenuBar
                     accountNavOpen={accountNavOpen}
+                    doStoreProject={doStoreProject}
                     enableCommunity={enableCommunity}
                     renderLogin={renderLogin}
                     userOwnsProject={userOwnsProject}
@@ -173,7 +175,7 @@ const GUIComponent = props => {
                     onCloseAccountNav={onCloseAccountNav}
                     onLogOut={onLogOut}
                     onOpenRegistration={onOpenRegistration}
-                    onRequestNewProject={onRequestNewProject}
+                    // onRequestNewProject={onRequestNewProject}
                     onSeeCommunity={onSeeCommunity}
                     onShare={onShare}
                     onToggleLoginOpen={onToggleLoginOpen}
@@ -312,6 +314,7 @@ GUIComponent.propTypes = {
     children: PropTypes.node,
     costumeLibraryVisible: PropTypes.bool,
     costumesTabVisible: PropTypes.bool,
+    doStoreProject: PropTypes.func,
     enableCommunity: PropTypes.bool,
     importInfoVisible: PropTypes.bool,
     intl: intlShape.isRequired,
@@ -328,7 +331,7 @@ GUIComponent.propTypes = {
     onOpenRegistration: PropTypes.func,
     onRequestCloseBackdropLibrary: PropTypes.func,
     onRequestCloseCostumeLibrary: PropTypes.func,
-    onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
+    // onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
     onSeeCommunity: PropTypes.func,
     onShare: PropTypes.func,
     onTabSelect: PropTypes.func,
diff --git a/src/components/menu-bar/menu-bar.jsx b/src/components/menu-bar/menu-bar.jsx
index dda83cd37..87af589dd 100644
--- a/src/components/menu-bar/menu-bar.jsx
+++ b/src/components/menu-bar/menu-bar.jsx
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ class MenuBar extends React.Component {
         super(props);
         bindAll(this, [
             'handleLanguageMouseUp',
+            'handleNewProject',
             'handleRestoreOption',
             'handleProjectLoadFinished',
             'handleCloseFileMenuAndThen',
@@ -320,7 +321,9 @@ class MenuBar extends React.Component {
                                     {/* )}
                                 </ProjectSaver> */}
                                 <MenuSection>
-                                    <ProjectSaver>{(downloadProject, updateProject) => (
+                                    <ProjectSaver
+                                        doStoreProject={this.props.doStoreProject}
+                                        >{(downloadProject, updateProject) => (
                                         this.props.canUpdateProject && this.props.userOwnsProject ? (
                                             <MenuItem onClick={this.handleUpdateProject(updateProject)}>
                                                 {saveNowMessage}
@@ -638,6 +641,7 @@ class MenuBar extends React.Component {
 MenuBar.propTypes = {
     accountMenuOpen: PropTypes.bool,
     canUpdateProject: PropTypes.bool,
+    doStoreProject: PropTypes.func,
     editMenuOpen: PropTypes.bool,
     enableCommunity: PropTypes.bool,
     fileMenuOpen: PropTypes.bool,
@@ -660,7 +664,7 @@ MenuBar.propTypes = {
     onRequestCloseFile: PropTypes.func,
     onRequestCloseLanguage: PropTypes.func,
     onRequestCloseLogin: PropTypes.func,
-    onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
+    // onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
     onSeeCommunity: PropTypes.func,
     onToggleLoginOpen: PropTypes.func,
     onUpdateProjectTitle: PropTypes.func,
diff --git a/src/containers/gui.jsx b/src/containers/gui.jsx
index b13ae7d0b..8eefddd0d 100644
--- a/src/containers/gui.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/gui.jsx
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ import vmManagerHOC from '../lib/vm-manager-hoc.jsx';
 import GUIComponent from '../components/gui/gui.jsx';
 
 class GUI extends React.Component {
-    // constructor (props) {
-    //     super(props);
-    // }
+    constructor (props) {
+        super(props);
+    }
     componentDidMount () {
         if (this.props.projectTitle) {
             this.props.onUpdateReduxProjectTitle(this.props.projectTitle);
@@ -50,15 +50,15 @@ class GUI extends React.Component {
             assetHost,
             errorMessage,
             hideIntro,
+            loadingError,
             onUpdateReduxProjectTitle,
-            projectData,
+            // projectData,
             projectHost,
             projectTitle,
             /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
             children,
             fetchingProject,
             isLoading,
-            loadingError,
             loadingStateVisible,
             ...componentProps
         } = this.props;
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ GUI.propTypes = {
     onUpdateProjectTitle: PropTypes.func,
     onUpdateReduxProjectTitle: PropTypes.func,
     previewInfoVisible: PropTypes.bool,
-    projectData: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.object, PropTypes.string]),
+    // projectData: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.object, PropTypes.string]),
     projectHost: PropTypes.string,
     projectTitle: PropTypes.string
 };
diff --git a/src/containers/project-loader.jsx b/src/containers/project-loader.jsx
index ff8377030..1e8efb6fc 100644
--- a/src/containers/project-loader.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/project-loader.jsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {defineMessages, injectIntl, intlShape} from 'react-intl';
 import analytics from '../lib/analytics';
 import log from '../lib/log';
 import {setProjectTitle} from '../reducers/project-title';
-import {startLoadingFileUpload, doneLoadingFileUpload} from '../reducers/project-id';
+import {startFetchingFileUpload, doneLoadingFileUpload} from '../reducers/project-id';
 
 import {
     openLoadingProject,
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
     onSetReduxProjectTitle: title => dispatch(setProjectTitle(title)),
     openLoadingState: () => {
         dispatch(openLoadingProject());
-        dispatch(startLoadingFileUpload());
+        dispatch(startFetchingFileUpload());
     }
 });
 
diff --git a/src/containers/project-saver.jsx b/src/containers/project-saver.jsx
index f49647383..f67137018 100644
--- a/src/containers/project-saver.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/project-saver.jsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {connect} from 'react-redux';
 // import storage from '../lib/storage';
 import {projectTitleInitialState} from '../reducers/project-title';
 import {ProjectState} from '../reducers/project-id';
-import {doStoreProject} from '../reducers/vm';
+// import {doStoreProject} from '../reducers/vm';
 
 
 /**
@@ -73,13 +73,13 @@ class ProjectSaver extends React.Component {
     // }
     createProject () {
         if (this.props.isShowingWithId) {
-            return doStoreProject(null, this.props.onSaveFinished);
+            return this.props.doStoreProject(null, this.props.onSaveFinished);
         }
         return Promise.reject();
     }
     updateProject () {
         if (this.props.isShowingWithId) {
-            return doStoreProject(this.props.projectId, this.props.onSaveFinished);
+            return this.props.doStoreProject(this.props.projectId, this.props.onSaveFinished);
         }
         return Promise.reject();
     }
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ const getProjectFilename = (curTitle, defaultTitle) => {
 
 ProjectSaver.propTypes = {
     children: PropTypes.func,
+    doStoreProject: PropTypes.func,
     isShowingWithId: PropTypes.bool,
     onSaveFinished: PropTypes.func,
     projectFilename: PropTypes.string,
diff --git a/src/lib/hash-parser-hoc.jsx b/src/lib/hash-parser-hoc.jsx
index 7768e2d81..ad02e8c03 100644
--- a/src/lib/hash-parser-hoc.jsx
+++ b/src/lib/hash-parser-hoc.jsx
@@ -7,15 +7,14 @@ import {ProjectState, defaultProjectId, setHashProjectId} from '../reducers/proj
 
 /* Higher Order Component to get the project id from location.hash
  * @param {React.Component} WrappedComponent component to receive projectData prop
- * @returns {React.Component} component with project loading behavior
+ * @returns {React.Component} component with project fetching behavior
  */
 const HashParserHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
     class HashParserComponent extends React.Component {
         constructor (props) {
             super(props);
             bindAll(this, [
-                'handleHashChange',
-                'handleRequestNewProject'
+                'handleHashChange'
             ]);
         }
         componentDidMount () {
@@ -23,8 +22,8 @@ const HashParserHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
             this.handleHashChange();
         }
         componentWillReceiveProps (nextProps) {
-            // if we are newly loading a non-hash project...
-            if (nextProps.isLoadingNonHashProject && !this.props.isLoadingNonHashProject) {
+            // if we are newly fetching a non-hash project...
+            if (nextProps.isFetchingNonHashProject && !this.props.isFetchingNonHashProject) {
                 // ...clear the hash from the url
                 history.pushState('new-project', 'new-project',
                     window.location.pathname + window.location.search);
@@ -50,32 +49,41 @@ const HashParserHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         //     });
         // }
         render () {
+            const {
+                /* eslint-disable no-unused-vars */
+                isFetchingNonHashProject,
+                reduxProjectId,
+                setHashProjectId: setHashProjectIdProp,
+                /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
+                ...componentProps
+            } = this.props;
             return (
                 <WrappedComponent
                     hideIntro={this.state.projectId && this.state.projectId !== 0}
                     // projectId={this.state.projectId}
-                    onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
-                    {...this.props}
+                    // onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
+                    {...componentProps}
                 />
             );
         }
     }
     HashParserComponent.propTypes = {
-        isLoadingNonHashProject: PropTypes.bool,
+        isFetchingNonHashProject: PropTypes.bool,
         reduxProjectId: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.number]),
         setHashProjectId: PropTypes.func
     };
     const mapStateToProps = state => {
         const projectState = state.scratchGui.projectId.projectState;
         return {
-            isLoadingNonHashProject: projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD ||
-                projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT,
+            isFetchingNonHashProject: projectState === ProjectState.FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD ||
+                projectState === ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT,
             reduxProjectId: state.scratchGui.projectId.projectId
         };
     };
     const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
         setHashProjectId: projectId => dispatch(setHashProjectId(projectId))
     });
+    // return HashParserComponent;
     return connect(
         mapStateToProps,
         mapDispatchToProps
diff --git a/src/lib/project-loader-hoc.jsx b/src/lib/project-loader-hoc.jsx
index f1350ad07..31d0ce208 100644
--- a/src/lib/project-loader-hoc.jsx
+++ b/src/lib/project-loader-hoc.jsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import {intlShape, injectIntl} from 'react-intl';
 import bindAll from 'lodash.bindall';
 import {connect} from 'react-redux';
 
-import {ProjectState, defaultProjectId, setInitialProjectId} from '../reducers/project-id';
+import {ProjectState, defaultProjectId, fetchedProjectData, setInitialProjectId} from '../reducers/project-id';
 
 import analytics from './analytics';
 import log from './log';
@@ -15,16 +15,16 @@ import storage from './storage';
  * @param {React.Component} WrappedComponent component to receive projectData prop
  * @returns {React.Component} component with project loading behavior
  */
+// NOTE: rename to project fetcher ?
 const ProjectLoaderHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
     class ProjectLoaderComponent extends React.Component {
         constructor (props) {
             super(props);
             bindAll(this, [
-                'handleRequestNewProject',
-                'updateProject'
+                'fetchProject'
             ]);
             this.state = {
-                projectData: null,
+                // projectData: null,
                 fetchingProject: false
             };
             storage.setProjectHost(props.projectHost);
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ const ProjectLoaderHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
             if (this.props.assetHost !== nextProps.assetHost) {
                 storage.setAssetHost(nextProps.assetHost);
             }
-            if (nextProps.isLoadingProjectWithId && !this.props.isLoadingProjectWithId) {
-                this.updateProject(nextProps.reduxProjectId);
+            if (nextProps.isFetchingProjectWithId && !this.props.isFetchingProjectWithId) {
+                this.fetchProject(nextProps.reduxProjectId);
             }
             // if (this.props.projectId !== nextProps.projectId) {
             //     this.setState({fetchingProject: true}, () => {
@@ -75,14 +75,16 @@ const ProjectLoaderHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         // }
         // NOTE: should we instesad have updateProject return a promise, and resolve those
         // in the functions that call updatePromise to improve the execution sequence?
-        updateProject (projectId) {
+        fetchProject (projectId) {
             return storage
                 .load(storage.AssetType.Project, projectId, storage.DataFormat.JSON)
                 .then(projectAsset => {
                     if (projectAsset) {
                         this.setState({
-                            projectData: projectAsset.data,
+                            // projectData: projectAsset.data,
                             fetchingProject: false
+                        }, () => {
+                            this.props.fetchedProjectData(projectAsset.data);
                         });
                     }
                 })
@@ -103,18 +105,22 @@ const ProjectLoaderHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
             const {
                 /* eslint-disable no-unused-vars */
                 assetHost,
-                onRequestNewProject,
+                fetchedProjectData: fetchedProjectDataProp,
+                intl,
+                isFetchingProjectWithId,
+                // onRequestNewProject,
                 projectHost,
                 projectId,
+                reduxProjectId,
+                setInitialProjectId: setInitialProjectIdProp,
                 /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
                 ...componentProps
             } = this.props;
-            if (!this.state.projectData) return null;
             return (
                 <WrappedComponent
                     fetchingProject={this.state.fetchingProject}
-                    projectData={this.state.projectData}
-                    onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
+                    // projectData={this.state.projectData}
+                    // onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
                     {...componentProps}
                 />
             );
@@ -122,9 +128,10 @@ const ProjectLoaderHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
     }
     ProjectLoaderComponent.propTypes = {
         assetHost: PropTypes.string,
+        fetchedProjectData: PropTypes.func,
         intl: intlShape.isRequired,
-        isLoadingProjectWithId: PropTypes.bool,
-        onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
+        isFetchingProjectWithId: PropTypes.bool,
+        // onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
         projectHost: PropTypes.string,
         projectId: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.number]),
         reduxProjectId: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.number]),
@@ -141,12 +148,14 @@ const ProjectLoaderHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
     const mapStateToProps = state => {
         const projectState = state.scratchGui.projectId.projectState;
         return {
-            isLoadingProjectWithId: projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_WITH_ID ||
-                projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT,
+            isFetchingProjectWithId: projectState === ProjectState.FETCHING_WITH_ID ||
+                projectState === ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT,
             reduxProjectId: state.scratchGui.projectId.projectId
         };
     };
     const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
+        // NOTE: should I rename props like this so there's no name conflict? Like 'handle...'
+        fetchedProjectData: data => dispatch(fetchedProjectData(data)),
         setInitialProjectId: projectId => dispatch(setInitialProjectId(projectId))
     });
     return injectIntl(connect(
diff --git a/src/lib/project-metadata-hoc.jsx b/src/lib/project-metadata-hoc.jsx
index 4216eb53b..17b215eba 100644
--- a/src/lib/project-metadata-hoc.jsx
+++ b/src/lib/project-metadata-hoc.jsx
@@ -45,13 +45,12 @@ const ProjectMetaDataHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         constructor (props) {
             super(props);
             bindAll(this, [
-                'handleRequestNewProject',
                 'updateProjectMetaData'
             ]);
             this.updateProjectMetaData(props.projectId);
         }
         componentWillReceiveProps (nextProps) {
-            if (nextProps.isLoadingProjectWithId && !this.props.isLoadingProjectWithId) {
+            if (nextProps.isFetchingProjectWithId && !this.props.isFetchingProjectWithId) {
                 this.updateProjectMetaData(nextProps.projectId);
             }
             // // if projectId has changed, and not just from one default value to
@@ -96,13 +95,16 @@ const ProjectMetaDataHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         }
         render () {
             const {
-                // don't pass down parent's onRequestNewProject
-                onRequestNewProject, // eslint-disable-line no-unused-vars
+                /* eslint-disable no-unused-vars */
+                intl,
+                isFetchingProjectWithId,
+                projectId,
+                /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
                 ...componentProps
             } = this.props;
             return (
                 <WrappedComponent
-                    onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
+                    // onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
                     {...componentProps}
                 />
             );
@@ -111,8 +113,7 @@ const ProjectMetaDataHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
 
     ProjectMetaDataComponent.propTypes = {
         intl: intlShape.isRequired,
-        isLoadingProjectWithId: PropTypes.bool,
-        onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
+        isFetchingProjectWithId: PropTypes.bool,
         onUpdateProjectTitle: PropTypes.func,
         projectId: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.number, PropTypes.string])
         // token: PropTypes.string
@@ -121,8 +122,8 @@ const ProjectMetaDataHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
     const mapStateToProps = state => {
         const projectState = state.scratchGui.projectId.projectState;
         return {
-            isLoadingProjectWithId: projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_WITH_ID ||
-                projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT,
+            isFetchingProjectWithId: projectState === ProjectState.FETCHING_WITH_ID ||
+                projectState === ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT,
             projectId: state.scratchGui.projectId.projectId
             // token: state.session.session && state.session.session.user && state.session.session.user.token
         };
diff --git a/src/lib/project-saver-hoc.jsx b/src/lib/project-saver-hoc.jsx
index 50f9707d9..9fbcca748 100644
--- a/src/lib/project-saver-hoc.jsx
+++ b/src/lib/project-saver-hoc.jsx
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@ import React from 'react';
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
 import bindAll from 'lodash.bindall';
 import {connect} from 'react-redux';
+import VM from 'scratch-vm';
 
+import storage from '../lib/storage';
 import {ProjectState, doneSavingWithId} from '../reducers/project-id';
-import {doStoreProject} from '../reducers/vm';
+// import {doStoreProject} from '../reducers/vm';
 // import storage from './storage';
 
 /* Higher Order Component to provide behavior for saving projects.
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ const ProjectSaverHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         constructor (props) {
             super(props);
             bindAll(this, [
+                'doStoreProject'
             ]);
             this.state = {
             };
@@ -23,18 +26,45 @@ const ProjectSaverHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         componentWillReceiveProps (nextProps) {
             if (nextProps.isSavingWithId && !this.props.isSavingWithId) {
                 this.doStoreProject(nextProps.reduxProjectId).then(() => {
-                    this.doneSavingWithId();
+                    this.props.doneSavingWithId();
                 });
             }
         }
+        doStoreProject (id, onSaveFinished) {
+            // NOTE: temporarily just pretend saving worked
+            if (1===1) {
+                return Promise.resolve();
+            }
+            return this.props.vm.saveProjectSb3()
+                .then(content => {
+                    if (onSaveFinished) {
+                        onSaveFinished();
+                    }
+                    const assetType = storage.AssetType.Project;
+                    const dataFormat = storage.DataFormat.SB3;
+                    const body = new FormData();
+                    body.append('sb3_file', content, 'sb3_file');
+                    return storage.store(
+                        assetType,
+                        dataFormat,
+                        body,
+                        id
+                    );
+                });
+        }
         render () {
             const {
                 /* eslint-disable no-unused-vars */
+                // doStoreProject: doStoreProjectProp,
+                doneSavingWithId: doneSavingWithIdProp,
+                isSavingWithId,
+                reduxProjectId,
                 /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
                 ...componentProps
             } = this.props;
             return (
                 <WrappedComponent
+                    doStoreProject={this.doStoreProject}
                     {...componentProps}
                 />
             );
@@ -44,19 +74,20 @@ const ProjectSaverHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         doStoreProject: PropTypes.func,
         doneSavingWithId: PropTypes.func,
         isSavingWithId: PropTypes.bool,
-        reduxProjectId: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.number])
+        reduxProjectId: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.number]),
+        vm: PropTypes.instanceOf(VM).isRequired
     };
-
     const mapStateToProps = state => {
         const projectState = state.scratchGui.projectId.projectState;
         return {
             isSavingWithId: projectState === ProjectState.SAVING_WITH_ID ||
                 projectState === ProjectState.SAVING_WITH_ID_BEFORE_NEW,
-            reduxProjectId: state.scratchGui.projectId.projectId
+            reduxProjectId: state.scratchGui.projectId.projectId,
+            vm: state.scratchGui.vm
         };
     };
     const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
-        doStoreProject: projectId => dispatch(doStoreProject(projectId)),
+        // doStoreProject: projectId => doStoreProject(projectId),
         doneSavingWithId: projectId => dispatch(doneSavingWithId(projectId))
     });
     return connect(
diff --git a/src/lib/titled-hoc.jsx b/src/lib/titled-hoc.jsx
index e3d78262e..53b545a72 100644
--- a/src/lib/titled-hoc.jsx
+++ b/src/lib/titled-hoc.jsx
@@ -19,14 +19,22 @@ const TitledHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
             };
         }
         handleUpdateProjectTitle (newTitle) {
+            // NOTE: this seems to be called twice each time you change the title, resulting from
+            // two handleKeyPress calls in BufferedInput. Might want to investigate why.
             this.setState({projectTitle: newTitle});
         }
         render () {
+            const {
+                /* eslint-disable no-unused-vars */
+                intl,
+                /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
+                ...componentProps
+            } = this.props;
             return (
                 <WrappedComponent
                     projectTitle={this.state.projectTitle}
                     onUpdateProjectTitle={this.handleUpdateProjectTitle}
-                    {...this.props}
+                    {...componentProps}
                 />
             );
         }
diff --git a/src/lib/vm-listener-hoc.jsx b/src/lib/vm-listener-hoc.jsx
index 6b8d17777..6ca0bb018 100644
--- a/src/lib/vm-listener-hoc.jsx
+++ b/src/lib/vm-listener-hoc.jsx
@@ -101,9 +101,9 @@ const vmListenerHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
                 onTurboModeOn,
                 onShowAlert,
                 /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
-                ...props
+                ...componentProps
             } = this.props;
-            return <WrappedComponent {...props} />;
+            return <WrappedComponent {...componentProps} />;
         }
     }
     VMListener.propTypes = {
diff --git a/src/lib/vm-manager-hoc.jsx b/src/lib/vm-manager-hoc.jsx
index 197badcec..cbe9d97fe 100644
--- a/src/lib/vm-manager-hoc.jsx
+++ b/src/lib/vm-manager-hoc.jsx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {connect} from 'react-redux';
 import VM from 'scratch-vm';
 import AudioEngine from 'scratch-audio';
 
-import {ProjectState} from '../reducers/project-id';
+import {ProjectState, doneLoading} from '../reducers/project-id';
 
 /*
  * Higher Order Component to manage events emitted by the VM
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ const vmManagerHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         constructor (props) {
             super(props);
             bindAll(this, [
-                'handleRequestNewProject',
                 'loadProject'
             ]);
             this.state = {
@@ -31,13 +30,10 @@ const vmManagerHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
             if (this.props.vm.initialized) return;
             this.audioEngine = new AudioEngine();
             this.props.vm.attachAudioEngine(this.audioEngine);
-            this.loadProject(true).then(() => {
-                this.props.vm.initialized = true;
-            });
         }
         componentWillReceiveProps (nextProps) {
             if (nextProps.isLoadingProjectWithId && !this.props.isLoadingProjectWithId) {
-                this.loadProject(false);
+                this.loadProject(nextProps.projectData);
             }
             // if (this.props.projectData !== nextProps.projectData) {
             //     this.setState({isLoading: true}, () => {
@@ -47,14 +43,22 @@ const vmManagerHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         }
         // NOTE: keep working here. problem is that we ONLY want to load the project
         // here when the old project id was also default... otherwise, we load twice!!!
-        loadProject (isInitial) {
-            return this.props.vm.loadProject(this.props.projectData)
+        loadProject (projectData) {
+            return this.props.vm.loadProject(projectData)
                 .then(() => {
                     this.setState({isLoading: false}, () => {
-                        if (isInitial) {
+                        if (!this.props.vm.initialized) {
                             this.props.vm.setCompatibilityMode(true);
                             this.props.vm.start();
+                            // NOTE: this logic is slightly different from previous
+                            // https://github.com/LLK/scratch-gui/blob/develop/src/containers/gui.jsx
+                            // Here, we wait until this point to set initialized to true;
+                            // previously, we set it to true immediately on initiating vm.loadProject,
+                            // and we relied on an explicit initial call in componentDidMount
+                            // to setCompatibilityMode and start().
+                            this.props.vm.initialized = true;
                         }
+                        this.props.doneLoading();
                     });
                 })
                 .catch(e => {
@@ -77,19 +81,24 @@ const vmManagerHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
         render () {
             const {
                 /* eslint-disable no-unused-vars */
+                doneLoading,
+                isLoadingProjectWithId,
                 projectData,
-                onRequestNewProject, // must remove parent's onRequestNewProject to use our own
+                projectId,
+                // onRequestNewProject, // must remove parent's onRequestNewProject to use our own
                 /* eslint-enable no-unused-vars */
                 vm,
                 ...componentProps
             } = this.props;
+            // don't display anything until we have data loaded
+            if (!this.props.projectData) return null;
             return (
                 <WrappedComponent
                     errorMessage={this.state.errorMessage}
                     isLoading={this.state.isLoading}
                     loadingError={this.state.loadingError}
                     vm={vm}
-                    onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
+                    // onRequestNewProject={this.handleRequestNewProject}
                     {...componentProps}
                 />
             );
@@ -97,8 +106,8 @@ const vmManagerHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
     }
 
     VMManager.propTypes = {
+        doneLoading: PropTypes.func,
         isLoadingProjectWithId: PropTypes.bool,
-        onRequestNewProject: PropTypes.func,
         projectData: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.object, PropTypes.string]),
         projectId: PropTypes.oneOfType([PropTypes.string, PropTypes.number]),
         vm: PropTypes.instanceOf(VM).isRequired
@@ -107,14 +116,17 @@ const vmManagerHOC = function (WrappedComponent) {
     const mapStateToProps = state => {
         const projectState = state.scratchGui.projectId.projectState;
         return {
-            isLoadingProjectWithId: projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_WITH_ID ||
-                projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT,
+            isLoadingProjectWithId: projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_VM_WITH_ID ||
+                projectState === ProjectState.LOADING_VM_NEW_DEFAULT,
+            projectData: state.scratchGui.projectId.projectData,
             projectId: state.scratchGui.projectId.projectId,
             vm: state.scratchGui.vm
         };
     };
 
-    const mapDispatchToProps = () => ({});
+    const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
+        doneLoading: () => dispatch(doneLoading())
+    });
 
     return connect(
         mapStateToProps,
diff --git a/src/playground/render-gui.jsx b/src/playground/render-gui.jsx
index 3dc3a52f7..1bb4ead50 100644
--- a/src/playground/render-gui.jsx
+++ b/src/playground/render-gui.jsx
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import ProjectMetaDataHOC from '../lib/project-metadata-hoc.jsx';
 export default appTarget => {
     GUI.setAppElement(appTarget);
     const WrappedGui = compose(
-        HashParserHOC,
         AppStateHOC,
+        HashParserHOC, // NOTE: IMPORTANT: ok that i've reordered this?
         TitledHOC,
         ProjectMetaDataHOC
     )(GUI);
diff --git a/src/reducers/project-id.js b/src/reducers/project-id.js
index 7aaab7761..e62dcd74a 100644
--- a/src/reducers/project-id.js
+++ b/src/reducers/project-id.js
@@ -8,9 +8,13 @@ const defaultProjectId = 0; // hardcoded id of default project
 const ProjectState = keyMirror({
     NOT_LOADED: null,
     ERROR: null,
-    LOADING_WITH_ID: null,
-    LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD: null,
-    LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT: null,
+    ANY: null,
+    FETCHING_WITH_ID: null,
+    FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD: null,
+    FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT: null,
+    LOADING_VM_WITH_ID: null,
+    LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD: null,
+    LOADING_VM_NEW_DEFAULT: null,
     SHOWING_WITH_ID: null,
     SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD: null,
     SHOWING_NEW_DEFAULT: null,
@@ -19,6 +23,7 @@ const ProjectState = keyMirror({
 });
 
 const initialState = {
+    projectData: null,
     projectId: null,
     projectState: ProjectState.NOT_LOADED
 };
@@ -33,26 +38,45 @@ const reducer = function (state, action) {
     case TRANSITION_STATE:
         // "from" state must be either an array that includes current project state,
         // or null/undefined
-        if (state.projectState in action.transitions) {
-            const resultState = action.transitions[state.projectState];
-            switch (resultState) {
-            case ProjectState.LOADING_WITH_ID:
+        if (state.projectState in action.transitions || ProjectState.ANY in action.transitions) {
+//            const resultState = action.transitions[state.projectState];
+            switch (action.transitions[state.projectState] ?
+                action.transitions[state.projectState] : action.transitions[ProjectState.ANY]) {
+            case ProjectState.FETCHING_WITH_ID:
                 return Object.assign({}, state, {
                     projectId: action.id,
-                    projectState: resultState
+                    projectState: ProjectState.FETCHING_WITH_ID
                 });
-            case ProjectState.LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD:
+            case ProjectState.FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD:
+                // goes straight to LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD
                 return Object.assign({}, state, {
                     projectId: null,
-                    projectState: resultState
+                    projectState: ProjectState.LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD
                 });
-            case ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT:
+            case ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT:
                 return Object.assign({}, state, {
                     projectId: defaultProjectId,
-                    projectState: resultState
+                    projectState: ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT
+                });
+            case ProjectState.LOADING_VM_WITH_ID:
+                return Object.assign({}, state, {
+                    projectData: action.data,
+                    projectState: ProjectState.LOADING_VM_WITH_ID
+                });
+            case ProjectState.LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD:
+                // goes straight to LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD
+                return Object.assign({}, state, {
+                    projectData: action.data,
+                    projectState: ProjectState.LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD
+                });
+            case ProjectState.LOADING_VM_NEW_DEFAULT:
+                return Object.assign({}, state, {
+                    projectData: action.data,
+                    projectState: ProjectState.LOADING_VM_NEW_DEFAULT
                 });
             default:
-                return Object.assign({}, state, {projectState: resultState});
+                return Object.assign({}, state, {projectState: (action.transitions[state.projectState] ?
+                    action.transitions[state.projectState] : action.transitions[ProjectState.ANY])});
             }
         }
         // default to requiring transitions to successfully match current state
@@ -78,7 +102,7 @@ const setProjectId = function (id) {
 const setInitialProjectId = id => ({
     type: TRANSITION_STATE,
     transitions: {
-        [ProjectState.NOT_LOADED]: ProjectState.LOADING_WITH_ID
+        [ProjectState.NOT_LOADED]: ProjectState.FETCHING_WITH_ID
     },
     id: id
 });
@@ -90,7 +114,9 @@ const setHashProjectId = id => {
         return {
             type: TRANSITION_STATE,
             transitions: {
-                [ProjectState.NOT_LOADED]: ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT
+                // NOTE: add other states like show -> loading_new, check that they work and
+                // hash reaction to new or upload doesn't cause this to fire
+                [ProjectState.NOT_LOADED]: ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT
             },
             require: false
         };
@@ -98,26 +124,46 @@ const setHashProjectId = id => {
     return {
         type: TRANSITION_STATE,
         transitions: {
-            [ProjectState.NOT_LOADED]: ProjectState.LOADING_WITH_ID
+            [ProjectState.ANY]: ProjectState.FETCHING_WITH_ID
         },
         id: id
     };
 };
 
-const startLoadingFileUpload = () => ({
+const fetchedProjectData = data => ({
     type: TRANSITION_STATE,
     transitions: {
-        [ProjectState.NOT_LOADED]: ProjectState.LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD,
-        [ProjectState.SHOWING_WITH_ID]: ProjectState.LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD,
-        [ProjectState.SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD,
-        [ProjectState.SHOWING_NEW_DEFAULT]: ProjectState.LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD
+        [ProjectState.FETCHING_WITH_ID]: ProjectState.LOADING_VM_WITH_ID,
+        [ProjectState.FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD,
+        [ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT]: ProjectState.LOADING_VM_NEW_DEFAULT
+    },
+    data: data
+});
+
+
+const startFetchingFileUpload = () => ({
+    type: TRANSITION_STATE,
+    transitions: {
+        [ProjectState.NOT_LOADED]: ProjectState.FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD,
+        [ProjectState.SHOWING_WITH_ID]: ProjectState.FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD,
+        [ProjectState.SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD,
+        [ProjectState.SHOWING_NEW_DEFAULT]: ProjectState.FETCHING_FILE_UPLOAD
     }
 });
 
 const doneLoadingFileUpload = () => ({
     type: TRANSITION_STATE,
     transitions: {
-        [ProjectState.LOADING_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD
+        [ProjectState.LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD
+    }
+});
+
+const doneLoading = () => ({
+    type: TRANSITION_STATE,
+    transitions: {
+        [ProjectState.LOADING_VM_WITH_ID]: ProjectState.SHOWING_WITH_ID,
+        [ProjectState.LOADING_VM_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD,
+        [ProjectState.LOADING_VM_NEW_DEFAULT]: ProjectState.SHOWING_NEW_DEFAULT
     }
 });
 
@@ -125,8 +171,8 @@ const stepTowardsNewProject = () => ({
     type: TRANSITION_STATE,
     transitions: {
         [ProjectState.SHOWING_WITH_ID]: ProjectState.SAVING_WITH_ID_BEFORE_NEW,
-        [ProjectState.SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT,
-        [ProjectState.SHOWING_NEW_DEFAULT]: ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT
+        [ProjectState.SHOWING_FILE_UPLOAD]: ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT,
+        [ProjectState.SHOWING_NEW_DEFAULT]: ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT
     }
 });
 
@@ -134,7 +180,7 @@ const doneSavingWithId = () => ({
     type: TRANSITION_STATE,
     transitions: {
         [ProjectState.SAVING_WITH_ID]: ProjectState.SHOWING_WITH_ID,
-        [ProjectState.SAVING_WITH_ID_BEFORE_NEW]: ProjectState.LOADING_NEW_DEFAULT
+        [ProjectState.SAVING_WITH_ID_BEFORE_NEW]: ProjectState.FETCHING_NEW_DEFAULT
     }
 });
 
@@ -143,11 +189,13 @@ export {
     initialState as projectIdInitialState,
     ProjectState,
     defaultProjectId,
+    fetchedProjectData,
+    doneLoading,
     doneLoadingFileUpload,
     doneSavingWithId,
     setHashProjectId,
     setInitialProjectId,
     setProjectId,
-    startLoadingFileUpload,
+    startFetchingFileUpload,
     stepTowardsNewProject
 };
diff --git a/src/reducers/vm.js b/src/reducers/vm.js
index 6132f0e0d..0ed085444 100644
--- a/src/reducers/vm.js
+++ b/src/reducers/vm.js
@@ -22,29 +22,8 @@ const setVM = function (vm) {
     };
 };
 
-const doStoreProject = (id, onSaveFinished) => (
-    reducer.saveProjectSb3()
-        .then(content => {
-            if (onSaveFinished) {
-                onSaveFinished();
-            }
-            const assetType = storage.AssetType.Project;
-            const dataFormat = storage.DataFormat.SB3;
-            const body = new FormData();
-            body.append('sb3_file', content, 'sb3_file');
-            return storage.store(
-                assetType,
-                dataFormat,
-                body,
-                id
-            );
-        })
-);
-
-
 export {
     reducer as default,
     initialState as vmInitialState,
-    doStoreProject,
     setVM
 };