function generateLevel(roomCount)
	local dirs = {north = "south", south = "north", east = "west", west = "east"}
	local rooms = { { } }
	for r = 1, roomCount do
		-- pick a random exit in a random room
		local room, exit = nil, nil
		while exit == nil do
			local exits = {}
			room = rooms[math.random(table.maxn(rooms))]
			for dir, opp in pairs(dirs) do
				if room[dir] == nil then table.insert(exits, dir) end
			end
			if table.maxn(exits) > 0 then
				exit = exits[math.random(table.maxn(exits))]
			end
		end
		-- attach a new room to that exit
		room[exit] = { [dirs[exit]] = room }
		table.insert(rooms, room[exit])
	end
	return rooms
end