private void Start()
    {
        // initialize the colors
        playerColors.Add("Red", Color.red);
        playerColors.Add("Yellow", Color.yellow);
        playerColors.Add("Blue", Color.blue);
        playerColors.Add("Grey", Color.grey);
        playerColors.Add("Green", Color.green);
        playerColors.Add("Cyan", Color.cyan);
        playerColors.Add("Magenta", Color.magenta);

        // set the initial player info input panel
        numPlayers = numPlayersDropDown.value + 2;
        for (int i = 0; i < numPlayers; i++)
        {
            playerInfoPanels[i].gameObject.SetActive(true);
        }

        // initialize the color selection  drop down
        foreach (Transform playerInfo in playerInfoPanels)
        {
            PlayerInfoPanel pip  = playerInfo.GetComponent <PlayerInfoPanel>();
            List <string>   keys = new List <string>();
            foreach (string key in playerColors.Keys)
            {
                keys.Add(key);
            }
            pip.SetColorDropDown(keys);
        }
    }