Audio-visual games and game computer programs embodying interactive speech recognition and methods related thereto

A method for a initiating a dialog between a non-player character of a game and a game player, said dialoging method comprising the steps of:

• displaying one or more text messages from the non-player character for the game player and displaying one or more possible responses of the game player to the one or more text messages;
• the game player selecting a response from the one or more possible responses;
• the game player providing an auditory reply that corresponds to the selected response;
• and
• creating a game program output corresponding to the selected response of the game player.

A method for a game that uses speech recognition function to convert auditory input from a game player to an action in the play of the game;

• said game method comprising the step(s) of:
• initiating a learn protocol of the speech recognition function at one or more times during the play of the game,
• prompting the game player at each of the one or more times using language and expression consistent with the game and for the specific time the learning protocol is being initiated, and
• requesting the game player to recite a predetermined phrase, word or passage, the predetermined phrase, word or passage being selected so as to be consistent with the game of play at the specific time the learning protocol is being initiated.