diff --git a/src/achievements/achievement_info.cpp b/src/achievements/achievement_info.cpp
index eda7b4c73..6000205a1 100644
--- a/src/achievements/achievement_info.cpp
+++ b/src/achievements/achievement_info.cpp
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 
 #include "utils/log.hpp"
 #include "utils/translation.hpp"
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
-
 
 #include <sstream>
 #include <stdlib.h>
diff --git a/src/achievements/achievements_manager.cpp b/src/achievements/achievements_manager.cpp
index db24f23dc..661c31a98 100644
--- a/src/achievements/achievements_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/achievements/achievements_manager.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
 #include "utils/log.hpp"
 #include "utils/translation.hpp"
 #include "io/file_manager.hpp"
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
 #include "config/player.hpp"
 #include "config/user_config.hpp"
 #include "online/current_user.hpp"
diff --git a/src/achievements/achievements_slot.cpp b/src/achievements/achievements_slot.cpp
index 931c4164c..ec36d8771 100644
--- a/src/achievements/achievements_slot.cpp
+++ b/src/achievements/achievements_slot.cpp
@@ -24,12 +24,13 @@
 #include "utils/log.hpp"
 #include "utils/ptr_vector.hpp"
 #include "utils/translation.hpp"
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
 #include "online/current_user.hpp"
 
 #include <sstream>
+#include <fstream>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <assert.h>
+
 // ============================================================================
 AchievementsSlot::AchievementsSlot(const XMLNode * input)
 {
diff --git a/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp b/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp
index 247b627a0..47099068e 100644
--- a/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp
@@ -27,11 +27,10 @@
 #include "achievements/achievements_manager.hpp"
 #include "audio/sfx_base.hpp"
 #include "audio/sfx_manager.hpp"
+#include "challenges/challenge_data.hpp"
 #include "config/player.hpp"
 #include "config/user_config.hpp"
-#include "challenges/challenge_data.hpp"
 #include "io/file_manager.hpp"
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
 #include "karts/kart_properties_manager.hpp"
 #include "race/race_manager.hpp"
 #include "tracks/track_manager.hpp"
diff --git a/src/config/user_config.cpp b/src/config/user_config.cpp
index 9f36ee033..c37edfc77 100644
--- a/src/config/user_config.cpp
+++ b/src/config/user_config.cpp
@@ -18,34 +18,33 @@
 //  Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
 
 
-#include <iostream>
-#include <string>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <fstream>
-#include <vector>
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
-#include "utils/ptr_vector.hpp"
-
-class UserConfigParam;
-static PtrVector<UserConfigParam, REF> all_params;
-
-
 // X-macros
 #define PARAM_PREFIX
 #define PARAM_DEFAULT(X) = X
 #include "config/user_config.hpp"
 
-#include "config/saved_grand_prix.hpp"
 #include "config/player.hpp"
+#include "config/saved_grand_prix.hpp"
 #include "config/stk_config.hpp"
 #include "guiengine/engine.hpp"
 #include "io/file_manager.hpp"
+#include "io/utf_writer.hpp"
 #include "io/xml_node.hpp"
 #include "race/race_manager.hpp"
 #include "utils/ptr_vector.hpp"
 #include "utils/string_utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/translation.hpp"
 
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+class UserConfigParam;
+static PtrVector<UserConfigParam, REF> all_params;
+
+
 const int UserConfig::m_current_config_version = 8;
 
 
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ UserConfigParam::~UserConfigParam()
  *  \param stream the xml writer.
  *  \param level determines indentation level.
  */
-void UserConfigParam::writeInner(XMLWriter& stream, int level) const
+void UserConfigParam::writeInner(UTFWriter& stream, int level) const
 {
     std::string tab(level * 4,' ');
     stream << L"    " << tab.c_str() << m_param_name.c_str() << L"=\""
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ GroupUserConfigParam::GroupUserConfigParam(const char* group_name,
 }   // GroupUserConfigParam
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void GroupUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void GroupUserConfigParam::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     const int attr_amount = m_attributes.size();
 
@@ -117,7 +116,7 @@ void GroupUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
 }   // write
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void GroupUserConfigParam::writeInner(XMLWriter& stream, int level) const
+void GroupUserConfigParam::writeInner(UTFWriter& stream, int level) const
 {
     std::string tab(level * 4,' ');
     for(int i = 0; i < level; i++) tab =+ "    ";
@@ -244,7 +243,7 @@ ListUserConfigParam<T, U>::ListUserConfigParam(const char* param_name,
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 template<typename T, typename U>
-void ListUserConfigParam<T, U>::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void ListUserConfigParam<T, U>::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     const int elts_amount = m_elements.size();
 
@@ -350,7 +349,7 @@ IntUserConfigParam::IntUserConfigParam(int default_value,
 }   // IntUserConfigParam
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void IntUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void IntUserConfigParam::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     if(m_comment.size() > 0) stream << L"    <!-- " << m_comment.c_str()
                                     << L" -->\n";
@@ -412,7 +411,7 @@ TimeUserConfigParam::TimeUserConfigParam(StkTime::TimeType default_value,
 }   // TimeUserConfigParam
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void TimeUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void TimeUserConfigParam::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     if(m_comment.size() > 0) stream << L"    <!-- " << m_comment.c_str()
                                     << L" -->\n";
@@ -483,7 +482,7 @@ StringUserConfigParam::StringUserConfigParam(const char* default_value,
 }   // StringUserConfigParam
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void StringUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void StringUserConfigParam::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     if(m_comment.size() > 0) stream << L"    <!-- " << m_comment.c_str()
                                     << L" -->\n";
@@ -535,7 +534,7 @@ WStringUserConfigParam::WStringUserConfigParam(const core::stringw& default_valu
 }   // WStringUserConfigParam
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void WStringUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void WStringUserConfigParam::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     if(m_comment.size() > 0) stream << L"    <!-- " << m_comment.c_str()
                                     << L" -->\n";
@@ -586,7 +585,7 @@ BoolUserConfigParam::BoolUserConfigParam(bool default_value,
 
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void BoolUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void BoolUserConfigParam::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     if(m_comment.size() > 0) stream << L"    <!-- " << m_comment.c_str()
                                     << L" -->\n";
@@ -673,7 +672,7 @@ FloatUserConfigParam::FloatUserConfigParam(float default_value,
 }   // FloatUserConfigParam
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void FloatUserConfigParam::write(XMLWriter& stream) const
+void FloatUserConfigParam::write(UTFWriter& stream) const
 {
     if(m_comment.size() > 0) stream << L"    <!-- " << m_comment.c_str()
                                     << L" -->\n";
@@ -878,7 +877,7 @@ void UserConfig::saveConfig()
 
     try
     {
-        XMLWriter configfile(filename.c_str());
+        UTFWriter configfile(filename.c_str());
 
         configfile << L"<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n";
         configfile << L"<stkconfig version=\"" << m_current_config_version
diff --git a/src/config/user_config.hpp b/src/config/user_config.hpp
index 34fb11666..c01ce58df 100644
--- a/src/config/user_config.hpp
+++ b/src/config/user_config.hpp
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@
 using irr::core::stringc;
 using irr::core::stringw;
 
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
 #include "utils/constants.hpp"
 #include "utils/no_copy.hpp"
 #include "utils/ptr_vector.hpp"
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@ using irr::core::stringw;
 class PlayerProfile;
 class SavedGrandPrix;
 class XMLNode;
-class XMLWriter;
+class UTFWriter;
 
 /**
  *  The base of a set of small utilities to enable quickly adding/removing
@@ -69,8 +68,8 @@ protected:
     std::string m_comment;
 public:
     virtual     ~UserConfigParam();
-    virtual void write(XMLWriter& stream) const = 0;
-    virtual void writeInner(XMLWriter& stream, int level = 0) const;
+    virtual void write(UTFWriter& stream) const = 0;
+    virtual void writeInner(UTFWriter& stream, int level = 0) const;
     virtual void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node) = 0;
     virtual void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node) = 0;
     virtual irr::core::stringw toString() const = 0;
@@ -86,8 +85,8 @@ public:
     GroupUserConfigParam(const char* param_name,
                        GroupUserConfigParam* group,
                        const char* comment = NULL);
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
-    void writeInner(XMLWriter& stream, int level = 0) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
+    void writeInner(UTFWriter& stream, int level = 0) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ public:
                          int nb_elts,
                          ...);
 
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ public:
                        GroupUserConfigParam* group,
                        const char* comment = NULL);
 
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
@@ -178,7 +177,7 @@ public:
     TimeUserConfigParam(StkTime::TimeType default_value, const char* param_name,
                         GroupUserConfigParam* group, const char* comment=NULL);
 
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
@@ -205,7 +204,7 @@ public:
                           GroupUserConfigParam* group,
                           const char* comment = NULL);
 
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
@@ -240,7 +239,7 @@ public:
                            GroupUserConfigParam* group,
                            const char* comment = NULL);
 
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
@@ -267,7 +266,7 @@ public:
     BoolUserConfigParam(bool default_value, const char* param_name,
                         GroupUserConfigParam* group,
                         const char* comment = NULL);
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
@@ -293,7 +292,7 @@ public:
                          GroupUserConfigParam* group,
                          const char* comment = NULL);
 
-    void write(XMLWriter& stream) const;
+    void write(UTFWriter& stream) const;
     void findYourDataInAChildOf(const XMLNode* node);
     void findYourDataInAnAttributeOf(const XMLNode* node);
 
diff --git a/src/io/xml_writer.cpp b/src/io/utf_writer.cpp
similarity index 52%
rename from src/io/xml_writer.cpp
rename to src/io/utf_writer.cpp
index bc9443414..aab7dbbc6 100644
--- a/src/io/xml_writer.cpp
+++ b/src/io/utf_writer.cpp
@@ -16,90 +16,53 @@
 //  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 //  Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
 
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
+#include "io/utf_writer.hpp"
+
 #include <wchar.h>
 #include <string>
 #include <stdexcept>
 using namespace irr;
 
-#if IRRLICHT_VERSION_MAJOR > 1 || (IRRLICHT_VERSION_MAJOR == 1 && IRRLICHT_VERSION_MINOR >= 8)
-
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-XMLWriter::XMLWriter(const char* dest) : m_base(dest, std::ios::out | std::ios::binary)
+UTFWriter::UTFWriter(const char* dest) 
+         : m_base(dest, std::ios::out | std::ios::binary)
 {
     if (!m_base.is_open())
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Failed to open file for writing : " + std::string(dest));
+        throw std::runtime_error("Failed to open file for writing : " + 
+                                  std::string(dest));
     }
 
     // FIXME: make sure to properly handle endianness
-    wchar_t BOM = 0xFEFF; // UTF-16 BOM is 0xFEFF; UTF-32 BOM is 0x0000FEFF. So this works in either case
+    // UTF-16 BOM is 0xFEFF; UTF-32 BOM is 0x0000FEFF. So this works in either case
+    wchar_t BOM = 0xFEFF;
 
     m_base.write((char *) &BOM, sizeof(wchar_t));
-}
+}   // UTFWriter
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-XMLWriter& XMLWriter::operator<< (const irr::core::stringw& txt)
+UTFWriter& UTFWriter::operator<< (const irr::core::stringw& txt)
 {
     m_base.write((char *) txt.c_str(), txt.size() * sizeof(wchar_t));
     return *this;
-}
+}   // operator<< (stringw)
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-XMLWriter& XMLWriter::operator<< (const wchar_t*txt)
+UTFWriter& UTFWriter::operator<< (const wchar_t*txt)
 {
     m_base.write((char *) txt, wcslen(txt) * sizeof(wchar_t));
     return *this;
-}
+}   // operator<< (wchar_t)
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-void XMLWriter::close()
+void UTFWriter::close()
 {
     m_base.close();
-}
-
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-#else // Non-unicode version for irrlicht 1.7 and before
-
-XMLWriter::XMLWriter(const char* dest) : m_base(dest, std::ios::out | std::ios::binary)
-{
-    if (!m_base.is_open())
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Failed to open file for writing : " + std::string(dest));
-    }
-}
+}   // close
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-XMLWriter& XMLWriter::operator<< (const irr::core::stringw& txt)
-{
-    core::stringc s( txt.c_str() );
-    m_base.write((char *) s.c_str(), s.size());
-    return *this;
-}
-
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-XMLWriter& XMLWriter::operator<< (const wchar_t*txt)
-{
-    core::stringc s( txt );
-    m_base.write((char *) s.c_str(), s.size());
-    return *this;
-}
-
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-void XMLWriter::close()
-{
-    m_base.close();
-}
-
-// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-#endif
diff --git a/src/io/xml_writer.hpp b/src/io/utf_writer.hpp
similarity index 85%
rename from src/io/xml_writer.hpp
rename to src/io/utf_writer.hpp
index 3fcb9132b..25d447cd0 100644
--- a/src/io/xml_writer.hpp
+++ b/src/io/utf_writer.hpp
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
 //  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 //  Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
 
-#ifndef HEADER_XML_WRITER_HPP
-#define HEADER_XML_WRITER_HPP
+#ifndef HEADER_UTF_WRITER_HPP
+#define HEADER_UTF_WRITER_HPP
 
 #include <fstream>
 #include <irrString.h>
@@ -28,18 +28,18 @@
  *       we only want to accept arrays of wchar_t to make sure we get reasonable files out
  * \ingroup io
  */
-class XMLWriter
+class UTFWriter
 {
     std::ofstream m_base;
 public:
 
-    XMLWriter(const char* dest);
+    UTFWriter(const char* dest);
 
-    XMLWriter& operator<< (const irr::core::stringw& txt);
-    XMLWriter& operator<< (const wchar_t* txt);
+    UTFWriter& operator<< (const irr::core::stringw& txt);
+    UTFWriter& operator<< (const wchar_t* txt);
 
     template<typename T>
-    XMLWriter& operator<< (const T t)
+    UTFWriter& operator<< (const T t)
     {
         irr::core::stringw tmp;
         tmp += t;
diff --git a/src/race/highscore_manager.cpp b/src/race/highscore_manager.cpp
index 58a4d38b4..d65d7162e 100644
--- a/src/race/highscore_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/race/highscore_manager.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 #include "config/user_config.hpp"
 #include "io/file_manager.hpp"
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
+#include "io/utf_writer.hpp"
 #include "race/race_manager.hpp"
 #include "utils/constants.hpp"
 #include "utils/string_utils.hpp"
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ void HighscoreManager::saveHighscores()
 
     try
     {
-        XMLWriter highscore_file(m_filename.c_str());
+        UTFWriter highscore_file(m_filename.c_str());
         highscore_file << L"<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n";
         highscore_file << L"<highscores version=\"" << CURRENT_HSCORE_FILE_VERSION << "\">\n";
 
diff --git a/src/race/highscores.cpp b/src/race/highscores.cpp
index 034ca8a87..f00fd036a 100644
--- a/src/race/highscores.cpp
+++ b/src/race/highscores.cpp
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@
 
 #include "race/highscores.hpp"
 
+#include "io/utf_writer.hpp"
+#include "io/xml_node.hpp"
+#include "race/race_manager.hpp"
+
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <fstream>
 
-#include "io/xml_node.hpp"
-#include "io/xml_writer.hpp"
-#include "race/race_manager.hpp"
-
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Highscores::Highscores(const HighscoreType highscore_type,
                        int num_karts,
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ void Highscores::readEntry(const XMLNode &node)
  *  resulting in empty entries here.
  *  \param writer The file stream to write the data to.
  */
-void Highscores::writeEntry(XMLWriter &writer)
+void Highscores::writeEntry(UTFWriter &writer)
 {
     // Only
     bool one_is_set = false;
diff --git a/src/race/highscores.hpp b/src/race/highscores.hpp
index b713bc7f0..a321f9d9e 100644
--- a/src/race/highscores.hpp
+++ b/src/race/highscores.hpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #include <irrString.h>
 
 class XMLNode;
-class XMLWriter;
+class UTFWriter;
 
 /**
  *  Represents one highscore entry, i.e. the (atm up to three) highscores
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public:
     Highscores (const XMLNode &node);
 
     void readEntry (const XMLNode &node);
-    void writeEntry(XMLWriter &writer);
+    void writeEntry(UTFWriter &writer);
     int  matches   (HighscoreType highscore_type, int num_karts,
                     const RaceManager::Difficulty difficulty,
                     const std::string track, const int number_of_laps,
diff --git a/tools/find_unused.sh b/tools/find_unused.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..fd9385edc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/find_unused.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+echo "Searching for unused stkgui files"
+echo "---------------------------------"
+cd data/gui
+l=""
+for i in $(find . -iname "*.stkgui"); do 
+    s=$(basename $i)
+    x=$(find ../../src/states_screens -exec grep -H $s \{} \; | wc -l)
+    echo -n "."
+    if [ $x == "0" ]; then
+        l="$l $i"
+    fi
+done
+echo
+
+for i in $l; do
+    echo "$i appears to be not used."
+done
+
+echo "done"
+
+
+