diff --git a/main.py b/game-of-life.py
similarity index 80%
rename from main.py
rename to game-of-life.py
index 31fb8a3..5728cc8 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/game-of-life.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from random import randint
 
 class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
-    def __init__(self, screen_width, screen_height):
+    def __init__(self, screen_width, screen_height, c1, c2):
         super().__init__()
 
         # build ui
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ def __init__(self, screen_width, screen_height):
 
         # create a random initial state for the universe
         initial = [[(randint(0, 10) == 9) for i in range(uv.cols)] for j in range(uv.rows)]
-        uv.initialize(initial)
+        uv.initialize(initial, c1, c2)
 
         # start the animation directly
         uv.start()
@@ -36,15 +36,25 @@ def keyPressEvent(self, QKeyEvent):
                 self.showNormal()
             else:
                 self.showFullScreen()
-        
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    c1 = 2
+    c2 = 3
+    try:
+        c1 = int(sys.argv[1])
+        c2 = int(sys.argv[2])
+    except IndexError:
+        pass
+    except ValueError:
+        print("c1 and c2 must be positive integers\ngame-of-life [c1 c2]")
+        sys.exit(0)
+
     # set up graphics
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
 
     # get screen resolution and create the main window
     screen_resolution = app.desktop().screenGeometry()
-    main = MainWindow(screen_resolution.width(), screen_resolution.height())
+    main = MainWindow(screen_resolution.width(), screen_resolution.height(), c1, c2)
 
     # draw, launch qt app
     main.show()
diff --git a/universe.py b/universe.py
index 8206a96..d6d292b 100644
--- a/universe.py
+++ b/universe.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from life import *
 
 class Universe():
-    def __init__(self, state, c1 = 2, c2 = 3):
+    def __init__(self, state, c1, c2):
         '''
         Initialize the game with the initial state (the only input to the original Game of Life)
         :param state: 2D list of booleans
diff --git a/universeview.py b/universeview.py
index fef2754..c434c30 100644
--- a/universeview.py
+++ b/universeview.py
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ def __init__(self, parent=None):
         self._CellToScreenRatio = 0.01
         self._recording = False
 
-    def initialize(self, initialState):
-        self.universe = Universe(initialState)
+    def initialize(self, initialState, c1, c2):
+        self.universe = Universe(initialState, c1, c2)
 
     def seed(self, state):
         self.universe.seed(state)