@Override
	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent act) {

		// if the user presses exit game in the in-game menu
		if (act.getActionCommand().equals("menuExitGameBtn")) {
			exitGame();
		}

		// if the user presses help in the in-game menu
		if (act.getActionCommand().equals("menuHelpBtn")) {
			JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(
					this,
					"Steal as much as you can before the time runs out. Take stolen items to the van to cash them in. Drag items around to interact with them. Right click them to get a description.",
					"Help ", JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE);

		}

		// if the user presses resume in the in-game menu
		if (act.getActionCommand().equals("menuResumeBtn")) {
			closeIngameMenu();
		}

		// if the user presses exit to menu it ends the current game and returns to the main menu
		if (act.getActionCommand().equals("menuExitToMenuBtn")) {

			endGame();
			enterMainMenu();
		}
		// if the user presses exit to menu it ends the current game and returns to the main menu
		if (act.getActionCommand().equals("sendMessage")) {

			closeChat();
			player.sendChatMessage(chatPanel.getText());
			this.requestFocus();
		}
	}