An award-winning title
Façade is a game that blends drama and artificial intelligence to create a unique player experience. When you play Façade, you visit a married couple, Trip and Grace, as an old friend. Their relationship changes dramatically during your visit, influenced by how you interact with them. The game's standout feature is AI, which changes the story based on what you say and do.
Gameplay and story of Facade
In Façade, players communicate with Trip and Grace by typing messages. You can say almost anything, and your words influence the story's direction. The game includes advanced AI technologies that make the characters’ responses realistic. For example, the characters move and react based on a system known as the Behavioral Language engine. Additionally, a drama manager adjusts the storyline in response to your actions, which can increase tension or resolve conflicts.
The game starts with you arriving at Trip and Grace's apartment, where you immediately hear them arguing. Once inside, you can interact with various objects and discuss a range of topics from personal life to philosophical issues. Your choices directly affect how Trip and Grace react and the evening's outcome. The game challenges you to manage being a supportive friend while getting involved in their personal issues, which can either help repair their relationship or cause further damage.
An award-winning title
Michael Mateas and Andrew Stern developed Façade and released it in 2005. It quickly stood out because of its new way of telling stories and using AI. The game won important prizes, including:
- The Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Independent Games Festival in 2006.
- It was a finalist at the Independent Game Festival in 2004. Even though the graphics are outdated, people still appreciate Façade for its unique approach to game design and AI.
Is Facade free to play?
Yes, Façade is free to play. This allows players to delve into a narrative full of complexity and emotional depth without any cost, making it accessible to a wide audience interested in exploring an innovative blend of storytelling and technology.
Why can't you say melon in the Facade?
In Façade, saying the word "melon" to Trip can lead to an abrupt end to your visit. The game's AI interprets "melon" as a slang term derogatory, leading Trip to think you're making an inappropriate or offensive comment.
