diff --git a/server/client_events/client_chat_event.py b/server/client_events/client_chat_event.py
index ac59014..31885d6 100644
--- a/server/client_events/client_chat_event.py
+++ b/server/client_events/client_chat_event.py
@@ -1,5 +1,20 @@
 import json
+from simulation.init_simulation import simulation as sim
 from server.server_events import server_chat_event
-
-def handle(data, source_user):
-    server_chat_event.fire("{1}: {0}".format(data, source_user))
+def handle(data, user):
+    server_chat_event.fire("{1}: {0}".format(data, user.username))
+    ip = user.websocket.remote_address[0]
+    if ip == "127.0.0.1" and data[0] == "/":
+        parse_command(data[1:])
+    
+def change_pause(value):
+    sim.running = value
+    if sim.running:
+        server_chat_event.fire("Simulation unpaused.")
+    else:
+        server_chat_event.fire("Simulation paused.")
+    
+def parse_command(cmd):
+    match cmd:
+        case "pause":
+            change_pause(not sim.running)
diff --git a/server/init_server.py b/server/init_server.py
index 01abce1..2b7e558 100644
--- a/server/init_server.py
+++ b/server/init_server.py
@@ -140,9 +140,10 @@ def init_server(websocket):
                 case packets.ClientPackets.SYNCHRONIZE: #allows the client to request some extra stuff
                     server_player_position_parameters_update_event.fire_initial(token_object.token)
                     server_meter_parameters_update_event.fire_initial(token_object.token)
+                    server_chat_event.fire_initial(token_object)
 
                 case packets.ClientPackets.CHAT:
-                    client_chat_event.handle(packet_data, token_object.username)
+                    client_chat_event.handle(packet_data, token_object)
 
                 case packets.ClientPackets.VOIP:
                     client_voip_event.handle(packet_data, token_object.username)
diff --git a/server/server_events/server_chat_event.py b/server/server_events/server_chat_event.py
index 1d40a4a..b91bc4a 100644
--- a/server/server_events/server_chat_event.py
+++ b/server/server_events/server_chat_event.py
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 from server.helpers import packet_helper
 from server.connection_manager import manager
 from server.constants import packets
+from simulation.init_simulation import simulation as sim
 import json
 
 def fire(message):
     manager.broadcast_packet(packet_helper.build(packets.ServerPackets.CHAT, message))
 
 def fire_initial(token_object):
-    manager.send_user_packet(packet_helper.build(packets.ServerPackets.CHAT, "Connected"), token_object.token)
+    if token_object.websocket.remote_address[0] == "127.0.0.1":
+        manager.send_user_packet(packet_helper.build(packets.ServerPackets.CHAT, "Connected (commands are available)"), token_object.token)
+    else:
+        manager.send_user_packet(packet_helper.build(packets.ServerPackets.CHAT, "Connected"), token_object.token)
+
+    if not sim.running:
+        manager.send_user_packet(packet_helper.build(packets.ServerPackets.CHAT, "Simulation paused."), token_object.token)
+    
     pass
diff --git a/simulation/init_simulation.py b/simulation/init_simulation.py
index 08b7f4d..a5bf674 100644
--- a/simulation/init_simulation.py
+++ b/simulation/init_simulation.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 
 class Simulation:
     def __init__(self):
+        self.running = False
+        
         self.timestep = 0.1 # time between model steps
         self.default_timestep = 0.1 # what is 1x speed
         self.minimum_speedup_drop = 2 # skip sending packets if we exceed this many times 1x speed
@@ -32,7 +34,8 @@ def __init__(self):
     def timer(self):
         while True:
             start = time.perf_counter()
-            model.model_run(self.prev_delta)
+            if self.running:
+                model.model_run(self.prev_delta)
             drop = 0
             if (self.default_timestep/self.timestep) >= self.minimum_speedup_drop:
                 drop = self.timesteps % math.floor((self.default_timestep/self.timestep)/self.minimum_speedup_drop)
@@ -54,7 +57,8 @@ def timer(self):
     def timer_fast(self):
         while True:
             start = time.perf_counter()
-            model.model_run_fast(self.fast_prev_delta)
+            if self.running:
+                model.model_run_fast(self.fast_prev_delta)
             end = time.perf_counter()
             delta = end - start