diff --git a/matrx/api/api.py b/matrx/api/api.py
index 91a2600..6b2d395 100644
--- a/matrx/api/api.py
+++ b/matrx/api/api.py
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ def __check_states_API_request(tick=None, ids=None, ids_required=False):
             # e.g. "god"), or a list of ' f'IDs(string) for requesting states of multiple agents'}
 
         # check if the api was reset during this time
-        if len(__states) is 0:
+        if len(__states) == 0:
             return False, {'error_code': 400,
                            'error_message': f'api is reconnecting to a new world'}
 
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ def __reorder_state(state):
     # loop through all objects in the state
     for objID, obj in state.items():
 
-        if objID is not "World":
+        if objID != "World":
             # make the sense capability JSON serializable
             if "sense_capability" in obj:
                 new_state[objID]["sense_capability"] = str(obj["sense_capability"])
diff --git a/matrx/defaults.py b/matrx/defaults.py
index 198c5c0..69bbe4b 100644
--- a/matrx/defaults.py
+++ b/matrx/defaults.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 ENVOBJECT_VIS_COLOUR = "#4286f4"
 ENVOBJECT_VIS_OPACITY = 1.0
 ENVOBJECT_VIS_DEPTH = 80
+ENVOBJECT_VIS_FROM_CENTER = True
 
 ######################
 # GridWorld defaults #
diff --git a/matrx/objects/env_object.py b/matrx/objects/env_object.py
index 24c011c..6ee6786 100644
--- a/matrx/objects/env_object.py
+++ b/matrx/objects/env_object.py
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ class EnvObject:
         is used by the Visualizer to draw objects in layers.
     visualize_opacity : Integer. Optional, default obtained from defaults.py
         Opacity of the object. From 0.0 to 1.0.
+    visualize_from_center: Boolean. Optional, by default True. 
+        Whether an object should be visualized and scaled from its center point, or top left point. 
     **custom_properties : Dict. Optional
         Any other keyword arguments. All these are treated as custom attributes.
         For example the property 'heat'=2.4 of an EnvObject representing a fire.
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ class EnvObject:
     def __init__(self, location, name, class_callable, customizable_properties=None,
                  is_traversable=None, is_movable=None,
                  visualize_size=None, visualize_shape=None, visualize_colour=None, visualize_depth=None,
-                 visualize_opacity=None, **custom_properties):
+                 visualize_opacity=None, visualize_from_center=None, **custom_properties):
 
         # Set the object's name.
         self.obj_name = name
@@ -136,6 +138,8 @@ def __init__(self, location, name, class_callable, customizable_properties=None,
             visualize_depth = defaults.ENVOBJECT_VIS_DEPTH
         if is_movable is None:
             is_movable = defaults.ENVOBJECT_IS_MOVABLE
+        if visualize_from_center is None:
+            visualize_from_center = defaults.ENVOBJECT_VIS_FROM_CENTER
 
 
         # Set the mandatory properties
@@ -146,6 +150,7 @@ def __init__(self, location, name, class_callable, customizable_properties=None,
         self.visualize_size = visualize_size
         self.is_traversable = is_traversable
         self.is_movable = is_movable
+        self.visualize_from_center = visualize_from_center
 
         # Since carried_by cannot be defined beforehand (it contains the unique id's of objects that carry this object)
         # we set it to an empty list by default.
@@ -228,6 +233,8 @@ def change_property(self, property_name, property_value):
             elif property_name == "is_movable":
                 assert isinstance(property_value, bool)
                 self.is_movable = property_value
+            elif property_name == visualize_from_center:
+                self.visualize_from_center = property_value
 
         return self.properties
 
@@ -306,7 +313,8 @@ def properties(self):
             "shape": self.visualize_shape,
             "colour": self.visualize_colour,
             "depth": self.visualize_depth,
-            "opacity": self.visualize_opacity
+            "opacity": self.visualize_opacity, 
+            "visualize_from_center": self.visualize_from_center
         }
 
         return properties
diff --git a/matrx_visualizer/static/js/gen_grid.js b/matrx_visualizer/static/js/gen_grid.js
index e8c1797..19899b5 100644
--- a/matrx_visualizer/static/js/gen_grid.js
+++ b/matrx_visualizer/static/js/gen_grid.js
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ function draw(state, world_settings, new_messages, accessible_chatrooms, new_tic
             "opacity": obj['visualization']['opacity'],
             "dimension": tile_size, // width / height of the tile
             "busy": (show_busy_condition ? obj['is_blocked_by_action'] : false), // show busy if available and requested
-            "selected": (object_selected == objID ? true : false)
+            "selected": (object_selected == objID ? true : false),
+            "visualize_from_center": obj['visualization']['visualize_from_center']
         };
 
         // Check if any subtiles have been defined and include them in the ob_vis_settings if so
@@ -457,9 +458,12 @@ function gen_rectangle(obj_vis_settings, obj_element, element_type = "div") {
 
     // no subtiles defined, place the rectangle in the usual manner
     } else {
-        // coords of top left corner, such that it is centered in our tile
-        shape.style.left = ((1 - size) * 0.5 * tile_size) + "px";
-        shape.style.top = ((1 - size) * 0.5 * tile_size) + "px";
+        // there is a specific setting for rendering objects from the top left instead of center
+        if (!("visualize_from_center" in obj_vis_settings && obj_vis_settings['visualize_from_center'] == false)) {
+            // coords of top left corner, such that it is centered in our tile
+            shape.style.left = ((1 - size) * 0.5 * tile_size) + "px";
+            shape.style.top = ((1 - size) * 0.5 * tile_size) + "px";
+        }
 
         // width and height of rectangle
         shape.style.width = size * tile_size + "px";