Galatea is completely text based and has the story change and react based on unseen measures that the code keeps track of. Then, when certain conditions are met it triggers a story section that removes all player control until the end. This system allows for the system to give an appropriate reaction to how the player is playing. Since there is no defined purpose for what you’re supposed to do in Galatea, the user is free to do whatever they please, for better or for worse. (Click HERE to see how coding is implemented in order to form emotional experiences in Entre Ville by JR Carpenter.)

    This strings together an interesting narrative, since the player can do whatever they want, just within constraints. The end is defined by whenever the code is told it’s time to end, not by an actual goal. As Short explains on her blog, “I've said it over and over: I don't want people playing to particular endings. I want them to play the game and get whatever result comes naturally, because that is what the game is built for. It's a dispenser of stories, customized to the individual who is playing at the moment.” The player is given freedom of choice.

    This is what makes it so impactful, is that it feels like an actual conversation. In conversation, there is no goal aside from learning about a person and their experiences, or just being entertained. People stumble on what to say, get bizarre reactions as people remember other experiences, and there is no definitive goal. What makes you want to empathize with Galatea is that it feels like you’re talking with a stranger over text and don’t always know the right things to say, but also getting a better feeling of getting to know someone once you find the key words from what they’ve already said.