def get_player
      if !self.player
        # retrieve player object
        player = Player.new
        player.init()
        self.player = player
      end
      self.player
    end
def get_player
      if !self.player
        # retrieve player object
        player = Player.new
        player.init()
        self.player = player
      end
      self.player
    end
Looks up the player record using the players.xml file for the player in this appearance