UIDefaults defaults = UIManager.getDefaults (); defaults.put ("OptionPane.yesButtonText", "Computer plays first"); defaults.put ("OptionPane.noButtonText", "Human plays first"); defaults.put ("OptionPane.cancelButtonText", "Not now dear, I have a headache"); int x = JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog (null, null, null, JOptionPane.YES_NO_CANCEL_OPTION); switch (x) { case JOptionPane.YES_OPTION: System.out.println("Computer first"); break; case JOptionPane.NO_OPTION: System.out.println("Human first"); break; case JOptionPane.CANCEL_OPTION: System.out.println("Not now, dear"); break; }