diff --git a/asteroids.rc b/asteroids.rc
index 74d6a0f..5153b49 100644
--- a/asteroids.rc
+++ b/asteroids.rc
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ bind space attack
 set ship_maxspeed 10 
 set ship_acceleration 10
 set ship_rotationspeed 180
+set ship_maxattackrate 10
diff --git a/asteroids/ShipEntity.cc b/asteroids/ShipEntity.cc
index aaf60a0..9a4fc88 100644
--- a/asteroids/ShipEntity.cc
+++ b/asteroids/ShipEntity.cc
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@
 
 namespace asteroids {
 
-static Engine::Variable var_ship_acceleration ("ship_acceleration", "10");
-static Engine::Variable var_ship_maxspeed ("ship_maxspeed", "10");
-static Engine::Variable var_ship_rotationspeed ("ship_rotationspeed", "180");
+Engine::Variable ShipEntity::VarAcceleration ("ship_acceleration", "10");
+Engine::Variable ShipEntity::VarMaxSpeed ("ship_maxspeed", "10");
+Engine::Variable ShipEntity::VarRotationSpeed ("ship_rotationspeed", "180");
+Engine::Variable ShipEntity::VarMaxAttackRate ("ship_maxattackrate", "10");
 
 void ShipEntity::Update (float delta_sec) {
 	if (!mPhysicState || !mControllerState)
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ void ShipEntity::Update (float delta_sec) {
 
 	// set the local velocity as the current state of the keys are
 	if (mControllerState->GetKey (EntityKeyStateForward)) {
-		local_velocity[0] += delta_sec * var_ship_acceleration.GetFloatValue();
+		local_velocity[0] += delta_sec * ShipEntity::VarAcceleration.GetFloatValue();
 		mState = Accelerating;
 	}
 
@@ -49,17 +50,21 @@ void ShipEntity::Update (float delta_sec) {
 	mPhysicState->SetVelocity(local_velocity);
 
 	if (mControllerState->GetKey (EntityKeyStateTurnLeft)) {
-		mPhysicState->mOrientation[1] += delta_sec * var_ship_rotationspeed.GetFloatValue();
+		mPhysicState->mOrientation[1] += delta_sec * ShipEntity::VarRotationSpeed.GetFloatValue();
 	}
 	if (mControllerState->GetKey (EntityKeyStateTurnRight)) {
-		mPhysicState->mOrientation[1] -= delta_sec * var_ship_rotationspeed.GetFloatValue();
+		mPhysicState->mOrientation[1] -= delta_sec * ShipEntity::VarRotationSpeed.GetFloatValue();
 	}
 
 	// Check for the maximum speed
 	float speed = mPhysicState->mVelocity.length();
-	if (speed > var_ship_maxspeed.GetFloatValue()) {
-		mPhysicState->mVelocity *= var_ship_maxspeed.GetFloatValue() / speed;
+	if (speed > ShipEntity::VarMaxSpeed.GetFloatValue()) {
+		mPhysicState->mVelocity *= ShipEntity::VarMaxSpeed.GetFloatValue() / speed;
 	}
+
+	// update the attack timer if neccessary
+	if (mAttackTimer > 0.)
+		mAttackTimer -= delta_sec;
 }
 
 bool ShipEntity::CollisionEvent (Engine::EntityBase* entity) {
@@ -99,6 +104,12 @@ void ShipEntity::Attack () {
 	if (!mAlive)
 		return;
 
+	// skip the attack if we still have to wait
+	if (mAttackTimer > 0.)
+		return;
+
+	mAttackTimer = 1. / ShipEntity::VarMaxAttackRate.GetFloatValue();
+
 	Engine::EntityPhysicState* entity_physic = Engine::GetEntityPhysicState (mId);
 	vector3d attack_dir (1., 0., 0.);
 
@@ -114,7 +125,7 @@ void ShipEntity::Attack () {
 	rocket_physics->mPosition += entity_physic->mPosition;
 	rocket_physics->mOrientation = entity_physic->mOrientation;
 	rocket_physics->mVelocity = attack_dir.normalize();
-	rocket_physics->mVelocity *= var_ship_maxspeed.GetFloatValue() + 0.1;
+	rocket_physics->mVelocity *= ShipEntity::VarMaxSpeed.GetFloatValue() + 0.1;
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/asteroids/ShipEntity.h b/asteroids/ShipEntity.h
index 02ac7ea..c00bf31 100644
--- a/asteroids/ShipEntity.h
+++ b/asteroids/ShipEntity.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ struct ShipEntity: public Engine::EntityBase {
 		mAlive = true;
 		mFadeTimer = 0.;
 		mState = Idle;
+		mAttackTimer = 0.;
 	}
 
 	virtual ~ShipEntity() {};
@@ -50,7 +51,13 @@ struct ShipEntity: public Engine::EntityBase {
 
 	bool mAlive;
 	float mFadeTimer;
+	float mAttackTimer;
 	State mState;
+	
+	static Engine::Variable VarAcceleration;
+	static Engine::Variable VarMaxSpeed;
+	static Engine::Variable VarRotationSpeed;
+	static Engine::Variable VarMaxAttackRate;
 };
 
 }