SDL_Surface *load_image( std::string filename ) 
{
    //The image that's loaded
    SDL_Surface* loadedImage = NULL;
    
    //The optimized surface that will be used
    SDL_Surface* optimizedImage = NULL;
    
    //Load the image
    loadedImage = IMG_Load( filename.c_str() );
    
    //If the image loaded
    if( loadedImage != NULL )
    {
        //Create an optimized surface
        optimizedImage = SDL_DisplayFormat( loadedImage );
        
        //Free the old surface
        SDL_FreeSurface( loadedImage );
        
        //If the surface was optimized
        if( optimizedImage != NULL )
        {
            //Color key surface
            SDL_SetColorKey( optimizedImage, SDL_SRCCOLORKEY, SDL_MapRGB( optimizedImage->format, 0, 0xFF, 0xFF ) );
        }
    }
    
    //Return the optimized surface
    return optimizedImage;