public boolean commandProcessing(String userInput)
    /* processes user commands */
    {
       boolean successfulMove = false;

       if(userInput.startsWith("clear"))
       {
           clear();
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("go"))
       {
           successfulMove = go(userInput);
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("help"))
       {
           printHelp();
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("look"))
       {
           look();
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("open"))
       {
           open(userInput);
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("stats"))
       {
           stats();
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("inventory"))
       {
           inventory();
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("spawn"))
       {
           encounter();
       }
       else if(userInput.startsWith("quit"))
       {
           System.out.printf("Quitting.\n");
           System.exit(0);
       }
       else
       { 
           System.out.printf("Default case.\n");
       }

       return successfulMove;
    }