diff --git a/src/badguy/dispenser.cpp b/src/badguy/dispenser.cpp
index 71efb37dc0a..a21ede580bc 100644
--- a/src/badguy/dispenser.cpp
+++ b/src/badguy/dispenser.cpp
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ Dispenser::active_update(float dt_sec)
     auto player = get_nearest_player();
     if (player)
     {
-      if(player->is_dying() || player->is_dead())
+      if(!player->is_alive())
       {
         return;
       }
diff --git a/src/object/camera.cpp b/src/object/camera.cpp
index 65ed00eb89d..13dabd4276a 100644
--- a/src/object/camera.cpp
+++ b/src/object/camera.cpp
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ Camera::update_scroll_normal_multiplayer(float dt_sec)
 
   for (const auto* p : Sector::get().get_players())
   {
-    if (p->is_dead() || p->is_dying())
+    if (!p->is_alive())
       continue;
 
     float lft = p->get_bbox().get_left() - HORIZONTAL_MARGIN;
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ Camera::update_scroll_normal_multiplayer(float dt_sec)
 void
 Camera::update_scroll_autoscroll(float dt_sec)
 {
-  if (!get_parent()->get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p) { return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying(); }))
+  if (!get_parent()->get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p) { return p.is_alive(); }))
     return;
 
   get_walker()->update(dt_sec);
diff --git a/src/object/level_time.cpp b/src/object/level_time.cpp
index ea7449ad649..51a0f7a46e9 100644
--- a/src/object/level_time.cpp
+++ b/src/object/level_time.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ LevelTime::update(float dt_sec)
   if (!running) return;
 
   int players_alive = Sector::current() ? Sector::current()->get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p) {
-    return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying() && !p.is_winning();
+    return p.is_active();
   }) : 0;
 
   if (!players_alive)
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ LevelTime::update(float dt_sec)
     {
       for (auto& p : Sector::get().get_players())
       {
-        if (p->is_dead() || p->is_dying() || p->is_winning())
+        if (!p->is_active())
           continue;
 
         p->add_coins(-1);
diff --git a/src/object/player.cpp b/src/object/player.cpp
index b3f503ed1d2..168a2a35244 100644
--- a/src/object/player.cpp
+++ b/src/object/player.cpp
@@ -413,10 +413,10 @@ Player::update(float dt_sec)
   }
 
   // Skip if in multiplayer respawn
-  if (is_dead() && m_target && Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([this](const Player& p) { return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying() && !p.is_winning() && &p != this; }))
+  if (is_dead() && m_target && Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([this](const Player& p) { return p.is_active() && &p != this; }))
   {
     auto* target = Sector::get().get_object_by_uid<Player>(*m_target);
-    if (!target || target->is_dying() || target->is_dead() || target->is_winning())
+    if (!target || !target->is_active())
     {
       next_target();
     }
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ Player::update(float dt_sec)
     set_bonus(NO_BONUS, true);
     m_dead = true;
 
-    if (!Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p) { return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying(); }))
+    if (!Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p) { return p.is_alive(); }))
     {
       Sector::get().stop_looping_sounds();
     }
@@ -1992,7 +1992,7 @@ Player::draw(DrawingContext& context)
   if(Editor::is_active())
     return;
 
-  if (is_dead() && m_target && Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([this](const Player& p){ return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying() && !p.is_winning() && &p != this; }))
+  if (is_dead() && m_target && Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([this](const Player& p){ return p.is_active() && &p != this; }))
   {
     auto* target = Sector::get().get_object_by_uid<Player>(*m_target);
     if (target)
@@ -2463,7 +2463,7 @@ Player::kill(bool completely)
     m_dying_timer.start(3.0);
     set_group(COLGROUP_DISABLED);
 
-    auto alive_players = Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p){ return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying(); });
+    auto alive_players = Sector::get().get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p){ return p.is_alive(); });
 
     if (!alive_players)
     {
@@ -2539,7 +2539,7 @@ Player::check_bounds()
   }
 
   // If Tux is swimming, don't allow him to go below the sector
-  if (m_swimming && !m_ghost_mode && !is_dying() && !is_dead()
+  if (m_swimming && !m_ghost_mode && is_alive()
       && m_col.m_bbox.get_bottom() > Sector::get().get_height()) {
     m_col.set_pos(Vector(m_col.m_bbox.get_left(),
                          Sector::get().get_height() - m_col.m_bbox.get_height()));
@@ -2910,7 +2910,7 @@ Player::next_target()
   bool is_next = false;
   for (auto* player : players)
   {
-    if (!player->is_dead() && !player->is_dying() && !player->is_winning())
+    if (player->is_active())
     {
       if (!first)
       {
@@ -2950,7 +2950,7 @@ Player::prev_target()
   Player* last = nullptr;
   for (auto* player : players)
   {
-    if (!player->is_dead() && !player->is_dying() && !player->is_winning())
+    if (player->is_active())
     {
       if (m_target && player->get_uid() == *m_target && last)
       {
diff --git a/src/object/player.hpp b/src/object/player.hpp
index fa78b451647..720ec781949 100644
--- a/src/object/player.hpp
+++ b/src/object/player.hpp
@@ -135,6 +135,18 @@ class Player final : public MovingObject
   bool is_invincible() const { return m_invincible_timer.started(); }
   bool is_dying() const { return m_dying; }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns true if the player is currently alive 
+   * (not dying or dead)
+   */
+  bool is_alive() const { return !is_dying() && !is_dead(); }
+  
+  /**
+   * Returns true if the player can be controlled.
+   * (alive and not currently in a win sequence)
+   */
+  bool is_active() const { return is_alive() && !is_winning(); }
+
   Direction peeking_direction_x() const { return m_peekingX; }
   Direction peeking_direction_y() const { return m_peekingY; }
 
diff --git a/src/supertux/error_handler.cpp b/src/supertux/error_handler.cpp
index 9cc7d041292..82dc03d05b7 100644
--- a/src/supertux/error_handler.cpp
+++ b/src/supertux/error_handler.cpp
@@ -301,6 +301,8 @@ ErrorHandler::error_dialog_exception(const std::string& exception)
 
   std::string msg = stream.str();
 
+  std::cerr << msg << std::endl;
+
   SDL_MessageBoxButtonData btns[] = {
 #ifdef WIN32
     {
diff --git a/src/supertux/game_session.cpp b/src/supertux/game_session.cpp
index ce9ff0d6285..3a602556e7b 100644
--- a/src/supertux/game_session.cpp
+++ b/src/supertux/game_session.cpp
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ GameSession::on_escape_press(bool force_quick_respawn)
   auto players = m_currentsector->get_players();
 
   int alive = m_currentsector->get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p) {
-    return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying();
+    return p.is_alive();
   });
 
   if ((!alive && (m_play_time > 2.0f || force_quick_respawn)) || m_end_sequence)
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ GameSession::get_fade_point(const Vector& position) const
 
       for (const auto* player : m_currentsector->get_players())
       {
-        if (!player->is_dead() && !player->is_dying())
+        if (player->is_alive())
         {
           average_position += player->get_bbox().get_middle();
           alive_players++;
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ GameSession::check_end_conditions()
 
   bool all_dead_or_winning = true;
   for (const auto* p : m_currentsector->get_players())
-    if (!(all_dead_or_winning &= (p->is_dead() || p->is_dying() || p->is_winning())))
+    if (!(all_dead_or_winning &= (!p->is_active())))
       break;
 
   /* End of level? */
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ GameSession::start_sequence(Player* caller, Sequence seq, const SequenceData* da
     caller->set_winning();
 
   int remaining_players = get_current_sector().get_object_count<Player>([](const Player& p){
-    return !p.is_dead() && !p.is_dying() && !p.is_winning();
+    return p.is_active();
   });
 
   // Abort if a sequence is already playing.
diff --git a/src/supertux/levelintro.cpp b/src/supertux/levelintro.cpp
index b21eb3fb8c3..16c4d58000b 100644
--- a/src/supertux/levelintro.cpp
+++ b/src/supertux/levelintro.cpp
@@ -234,16 +234,17 @@ LevelIntro::push_player()
   if (m_player_status.bonus[i] == FIRE_BONUS && g_config->christmas_mode)
   {
     m_player_sprite[i]->set_action("big-walk-right");
-    m_santa_sprite[i]->set_action("santa-walk-right");
+    m_santa_sprite[i]->set_action("default");
   }
   else
   {
     m_player_sprite[i]->set_action(m_player_status.get_bonus_prefix(i) + "-walk-right");
   }
+
   m_player_sprite_jump_timer[i]->start(graphicsRandom.randf(5,10));
 
   /* Set Tux powerup sprite action */
-  m_santa_sprite[i]->set_action(m_player_sprite[i]->get_action());
+  //m_santa_sprite[i]->set_action(m_player_sprite[i]->get_action());
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/supertux/sector.cpp b/src/supertux/sector.cpp
index 672d3f11f6b..62ef6224e5d 100644
--- a/src/supertux/sector.cpp
+++ b/src/supertux/sector.cpp
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ Sector::get_nearest_player (const Vector& pos) const
   for (auto player_ptr : get_objects_by_type_index(typeid(Player)))
   {
     Player& player = *static_cast<Player*>(player_ptr);
-    if (player.is_dying() || player.is_dead())
+    if (!player.is_alive())
       continue;
 
     float dist = player.get_bbox ().distance(pos);