diff --git a/server/playerdb/accessor.go b/server/playerdb/accessor.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf04d69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/playerdb/accessor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package playerdb
+
+type Player struct {
+	X    int    `json:"x"`
+	Y    int    `json:"y"`
+	Z    int    `json:"z"`
+	Name string `json:"name"`
+	HP   int    `json:"hp"`
+	//TODO: stamina, skin, etc
+}
+
+type DBAccessor interface {
+	GetActivePlayers() ([]*Player, error)
+}
diff --git a/server/playerdb/backend_file.go b/server/playerdb/backend_file.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..699ec3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/playerdb/backend_file.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package playerdb
+
+import (
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"time"
+)
+
+//https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46746862/list-files-in-a-directory-sorted-by-creation-time
+
+type FilePlayerDB struct{}
+
+func (this *FilePlayerDB) GetActivePlayers() ([]*Player, error) {
+	files, err := ioutil.ReadDir("Players")
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	now := time.Now().Unix()
+	activeTime := now - 5
+	result := make([]*Player, 0)
+
+	for _, file := range files {
+		if file.ModTime().Unix() > activeTime {
+			p := Player{}
+
+			//TODO: parse
+
+			result = append(result, &p)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return result, nil
+}
diff --git a/server/playerdb/create.go b/server/playerdb/create.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3e4d83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/playerdb/create.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package playerdb
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"mapserver/worldconfig"
+)
+
+func Create(cfg *worldconfig.WorldConfig) (DBAccessor, error) {
+	switch cfg.PlayerBackend {
+	case worldconfig.BACKEND_FILES:
+		return &FilePlayerDB{}, nil
+	default:
+		return nil, errors.New("player backend not supported: " + worldconfig.BACKEND_FILES)
+	}
+}