The History Of InnerstarU- Why Was It Shutdown?

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
  • Who remembers InnerstarU? This was an online multiplayer world game from American Girl that acted as a companion to the My American Girl Line. The game got shutdown in 2015, and though it made way for the truly me rebrand, we never got a formal explanation as to why the game got shutdown.
    Throughout this video, we will go over how the game started, people's memories, the shutdown, why it ended and the revival of the game that is currently in progress!
    Links mentioned in the video
    Blog post: delightfulworldofdolls.com/i-...
    Discord: / discord
    Big thank you to Wander.AG for some in-game screenshots, Scara Solos on discord for helping me source information and everyone who shared their memories with me on Instagram!
    Timestamps:
    Intro: 0:00
    Overview: 0:23
    The Beginning: 1:57
    My Memories: 3:37
    Your Memories: 6:51
    The End: 8:23
    Why Was It Shutdown: 10:12
    The Revival: 12:18
    Conclusion: 13:06
    FAQ:
    Q: What camera do you use?
    A: Canon T6
    Q: How many American Girl’s do you have?
    A: 25
    Q: When did you start your channel?
    A: 2016
    Links:
    / allycatlovesag
    www.etsy.com/ca/shop/PacificD...
    / pacificdollco
    Intro made by me
    End slate by AGJitters
    ♪ Butter (Prod. by Lukrembo)
    Link : • lukrembo - butter (roy...
    ♪ Bake a pie (Prod. by Lukrembo)
    Link : • lukrembo - bake a pie ...
    ♪ Sunset (Prod. by Lukrembo)
    Link : • (no copyright music) j...
    ♪ Night (Prod. by Lukrembo)
    Link : • lukrembo - night (roya...
    ♪ Affogato (Prod. by Lukrembo)
    Link : • lukrembo - affogato (r...
    ♪ Storybook (Prod. by Lukrembo)
    Link : • lukrembo - storybook (...
    ♪ Biscuit (Prod. by Lukrembo)
    Link : • (no copyright music) l...
  • Розваги

КОМЕНТАРІ • 126

  • @AllycatlovesAG
    @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +33

    Did you play InnerstarU? Share your memories below!

    • @poisenroot
      @poisenroot Рік тому +4

      YES! I WAS A MASTER AT THE SNACK CART GAME

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +6

      I wanted the campus snack cart SO BADLY as a child and I lived my dream through the game

    • @agglittterstudios
      @agglittterstudios Рік тому +4

      Yeah I did!! It was amazing!!! I am so sad they don’t have it anymore ☹️

    • @nyeelahbrown2892
      @nyeelahbrown2892 Рік тому +3

      ABSOLUTELY YESSSSS!!!!! After school I would rush to the computer and play Innerstar U

    • @mariasalgado3799
      @mariasalgado3799 Рік тому

      @@AllycatlovesAG inner star University is very good for Josefina because Josefina is getting older

  • @vampirepunk9479
    @vampirepunk9479 Рік тому +79

    in my head, this was the peak of AG. it’s probably nostalgia speaking, but i miss it.

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +14

      I can think of several factors showing that this was the peak and its not just nostalgia. Remember when ag had dolls that actually could look like their owners and didnt all have eyelashes?

    • @lisbetsoda4874
      @lisbetsoda4874 Рік тому +2

      @@AllycatlovesAG and multi coloured hair, sigh!

    • @morganashleypeterson3713
      @morganashleypeterson3713 Рік тому

      Yes! 2010's was my era of AG when I started collecting. Golden. Besides the fact that often, the shoes didn't match the outfits.

    • @Victoria-_
      @Victoria-_ Рік тому

      FR!

    • @agdollguy
      @agdollguy 11 місяців тому

      Oh my gosh same

  • @a.bigailmarie
    @a.bigailmarie Рік тому +80

    I used to play it all the time… I honestly was really sad when they removed it. I feel like it was a lot more personal and connective. You could see your personal doll come to life. Idk may just be but I’d play it if they brought it back 😂

  • @asmridolxx4853
    @asmridolxx4853 Рік тому +28

    My craziest innerstaru memory is when I was young I wanted the full account but I didn’t have a doll yet so I tried imputing fake passwords and usernames. I guessed my first name as the user and password and it gave me access to someone’s account. I felt bad but tbh I kept playing on her account. I feel bad for the random victim 😂 I felt like a criminal mastermind back then

  • @kittykatnip8857
    @kittykatnip8857 Рік тому +11

    oh my gosh, it feels soo refreshing to finally find someone talking about this game.. i really thought i hallucinated this game as a kid 😭 thank you so much for this informational video! it was very interesting to learn about the games history, i always wondered what happened to it!

  • @fusetunes
    @fusetunes Рік тому +21

    I saved up to get an AG doll around this time, but I don't think I ever played the game that much, and I kind of regret it now. Online games like this are a big interest of mine because they're usually very laid back and customizable, and at some point, they'll all end up becoming lost media that has to be preserved by the community. I still have the papers with my doll's avatar on them at least!

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +1

      There are a lot of clips on UA-cam which is good but I’m sure obscure aspects of the game have become lost media

  • @4everbratz
    @4everbratz Рік тому +16

    I remember playing on Innerstar U, but I played as a guest since I never owned an AG doll at this time. It always reminded me of fellow doll-to-virtual worlds like BarbieGirls, Ty Girlz, and Be-Bratz.
    I wonder if there’s going to be a rewritten version made in the future.

  • @kylacollects
    @kylacollects Рік тому +32

    Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into this! Seeing as this was during my doll hiatus I never got to experience this but I loved online games like this! This was a really awesome video!

  • @haloo_haybay
    @haloo_haybay 9 місяців тому +3

    This game was a huge part of my childhood and I was really sad to see it go. I loved playing the yoga, baking, and horse games.

  • @Lots2See
    @Lots2See Рік тому +10

    Never got to play, but I love the idea behind it 😊 kinda wish it was still around. I’m kind of disappointed by how they shut it down, can you imagine finally getting a doll and having an account mere months before it all stops 😢

  • @bejeweledbat13
    @bejeweledbat13 Рік тому +12

    I was never able to play as a non-guest because I didn''t have a doll as a kid, I really feel like I missed out on a lot, and I really hope the rewrite comes eventually :(

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +1

      The rewrite will definitely be free though

    • @bejeweledbat13
      @bejeweledbat13 Рік тому

      @@AllycatlovesAG yea, which i. appreciate. that's normally how it is

    • @therobotdevil2284
      @therobotdevil2284 Рік тому +2

      They launched the rebrand RIGHT after I got my Just Like You doll, so I didn't get the full experience either. It was so disappointing!

  • @RoyaleAG77
    @RoyaleAG77 Рік тому +16

    I never got to play innerstarU, but I really enjoyed hearing about it! Amazing work on the vid Ally!

  • @autumnmontoya
    @autumnmontoya Рік тому +2

    this was my favorite thing! i remember when it first came out and being addicted to it. i played every single game possible! ❤️❤️ i miss it for sure

  • @agglittterstudios
    @agglittterstudios Рік тому +6

    I loved playing this GaMe!!! I miss old American girl ❤️

  • @aglucky13studios
    @aglucky13studios Рік тому +2

    I know you’re thrilled this video is out! As someone who never got into Innerstar U, I really appreciated this deep dive! I really missed out!!

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому

      I prioritized this over studying for a midterm… but I think the midterm went well

  • @Crayondoodle939
    @Crayondoodle939 9 місяців тому

    This is so cool! I played this and witnessed the shutdown and was SO confused when I couldnt see it on the AG website 😭

  • @laneyyyyyyyyy
    @laneyyyyyyyyy Рік тому +1

    I JUST REMEMBERED THIS GAME AND HOW OBSESSED WITH IT I WAS AS A KID OMG. it was one of the few computer games my strict parents would allow and only after a lot of convincing! and i wasn’t allowed to friend anyone except my sister lol.
    BUT i adored the game and one of my fondest memories was when i saved up to buy the deluxe hot air balloon themed dorm room decor🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

  • @tinmanlover1994
    @tinmanlover1994 Рік тому +3

    I think in 2012 my sister got her 2nd AG doll for Christmas and she was a my AG Truly Me just like you she didn't know what it was she was too little at the time so i used the code and played on the website it was a lot of fun until it closed down

  • @colfer4life
    @colfer4life Рік тому

    fascinating look at an era of AG i had no idea about, thanks!

  • @milesmemory
    @milesmemory Рік тому +1

    Duuuuude thank you so much for making this video I feel like innerstar u is so overlooked in like defunct online games like this!! I have so many fun memories from the game but one that sticks out is how my friend and I found a way to cheat on the dog training game (I think if you just clicked instead of tracing like you were supposed to they just gave you the points) so we’d huddle around my computer and grind and get a bunch of money to go spend on outfits for my doll LOL I miss those days!!

  • @tamidolls
    @tamidolls Рік тому +2

    Omg omg i loved innerstaru soooo much!!! i loved the room, the yoga game, collecting the charms and more!!

  • @marcellnovak9801
    @marcellnovak9801 Рік тому +2

    I remember using it as a guest first but then I got my doll and I was so excited. My mom's laptop couldn't handle it. I played as much as I was able to be patient with it and then just went back to my doll. I did enjoy a bit of it. The loading screen was annoying me as well hehe. I also remember that I was a bit dumb and I couldn't figure out how to make money or enough money to buy things. I loved that my online doll can have the same outfit as my real one. I also love the pets in the game. But yeah due to the long loading and confusion I didn't play as much as I would have liked to.

    • @CCClarinet12
      @CCClarinet12 Рік тому +1

      I hated that loading screen 😂

  • @dollsforever
    @dollsforever Рік тому +1

    My cousin Gabby and I played this all the time together, along with Webkinz of course. My favorite game was the cheerleading one, my least favorite was yoga. I loved InnerstarU!!! My cousin and I became so much closer do to this game, we both frequented the shopping plaza lol. I was so sad to see it end. I will always be grateful to InnerstarU for my close relationship with my cousin/best friend💜

  • @marielsea2292
    @marielsea2292 Рік тому

    I only recently got into American Girl so I never played InnerstarU but it looked interesting. Thanks for sharing!

  • @rachelnelson3765
    @rachelnelson3765 Рік тому

    the codes in the innerstaru branded books did get you a free trial of the full game! i think it was a week or two. for most of my childhood my family was relatively low income and until i was like 10 and my gramma gifted me a PM samantha (who i still have and cherish) all i had was a springfield collection emma to quench my american girl obsession. that single innerstaru book i got at some point during my time was my only access into the actual game. memories.
    also, as a small heart attack for anyone who collects PM dolls, i went and got that samanthas ears pierced at american girl MOA when i was 11 or 12. its chill because im never going to resell her and have a kind of 'fuck it, we ball' attitude towards customizing and altering my dolls of all kinds.

  • @michelleshouseofminiatures
    @michelleshouseofminiatures Рік тому

    Thank you so much for sharing this video! I had no idea what InnerstarU was. I’ve seen several people talk about it and I was clueless, now I know! It’s really interesting all the different eras of AG. I was a kid in the 90s so I grew up with the American Girl of Today collection. I stopped collecting in the early 2000s and started back last Fall. So there’s about 20 years of AG that I don’t know much about haha!

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +1

      The 2010’s are the nostalgic ag for me haha

  • @agbeachgirls3
    @agbeachgirls3 Рік тому +2

    I miss it soooooo much!!!! 😭😭

  • @BrightlightAG
    @BrightlightAG Рік тому +1

    I was so excited when this video came out although I never played innerstar u i’ve always wanted to and my sister got her first American girl Dearing inner star you amazing video
    - Elena

  • @glampanda7880
    @glampanda7880 Рік тому +1

    tbh while everyone was losing it over one direction breaking up, i was mourning innerstar u.

  • @oliviaruiz51
    @oliviaruiz51 Рік тому +1

    this brought back memories i forgot i had. i miss the game sm

  • @scoutypandabear
    @scoutypandabear 9 місяців тому +1

    Omg, I used to love this game! I played it all the time. So many fond memories 😊

  • @cassiefriedman1446
    @cassiefriedman1446 Рік тому +2

    I REMEMBER THIS ITS 100% CHILDHOOD

  • @MadameButterfly11419
    @MadameButterfly11419 Рік тому +1

    Wow I didn't expect to see my own comment on the game but an amazing video as always Ally 😁

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +2

      (Its more content) but also fun to hear peoples memories and stories

  • @CCClarinet12
    @CCClarinet12 Рік тому +1

    INNERSTAR U WAS SOOOO FUN IT SHUT DOWN WHEN I WAS 9 BUT I STILL MISS IT AND I WISH THERE WAS AN INNERSTAR U REWRITTEN LIKE MOST OF MY OTHER CHILDHOOD ONLINE GAMES HAVE

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +1

      There is the project in the works as I mentioned in the video, but I don't know when it will actually be playable

    • @CCClarinet12
      @CCClarinet12 Рік тому

      @@AllycatlovesAG idk, another one of my childhood games, buildabearville, has a rewritten in the works but it has been on hiatus for 3 YEARS

  • @mollymayes9627
    @mollymayes9627 10 місяців тому

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO OHMYGOD

  • @poisenroot
    @poisenroot Рік тому

    Very excited :)

  • @ofgenuineinterest639
    @ofgenuineinterest639 Рік тому

    I’ve been waiting on this one😩

  • @ITDudeNinja
    @ITDudeNinja Рік тому +1

    I do! When I was little girl I used to play on Innerstar U! on my computer.

  • @delilahandaria6198
    @delilahandaria6198 10 місяців тому

    I got my only doll in 2010, so the main thing I remember was desperately hunting for a way to retroactively get a code. I did play as a guest though.

  • @alexagilbert7881
    @alexagilbert7881 Рік тому +1

    I also miss the charms you could connect for your dolls necklace

  • @Meganpossible07
    @Meganpossible07 Рік тому +1

    I have always wanted to play Innerstar U but I just HAD to get my first American girl RIGHT after innerstar U shut down lol

  • @AGBob_DollPants
    @AGBob_DollPants Рік тому +1

    I wonder if once a doll retired, would their code still work? What if someone got a number 36 used in like the beginning of 2015 and she came with her innerstar u code that hadn’t been used yet? Since the doll was retired then could you have still used the code?

  • @graceputman1854
    @graceputman1854 Рік тому

    thank you for this video!! i’ve recently seen innerstar u mentioned on tumblr and i was really curious!! random question but what doll are you using in this video she’s so cute!!

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому

      59! She’s my first doll, lookalike and the one attracted to my ISU account

  • @Astrid_2016
    @Astrid_2016 Рік тому

    I played animal jam and webkinz but I don't remember inner star U as I didn't really get into AG until Joss came out, because she interested me the most out of all the dolls at that time.

  • @agbeachgirls3
    @agbeachgirls3 Рік тому +1

    So iconic!!

  • @bunnybubblebath
    @bunnybubblebath 9 місяців тому

    where could we find the document of the branding manual / logo designs?

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  9 місяців тому

      I can’t remember exactly… try looking up innerstaru branding assets?

  • @Robloxblossombloom
    @Robloxblossombloom 8 місяців тому

    Wait you played animal jam? Samee now I play mobile but sometimes I like to log onto classic

  • @Jael_25
    @Jael_25 Рік тому +2

    This was such a great video! I really enjoyed this because I never got a chance to play. But this sounds so fun I wish they would bring it back
    The loading screen is cute hahah 😂 I problay spent more time watching it load then play was so funny. Thanks for this great vid! Your dedictaionis admirable ❤

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +1

      Thank you! No after staring at that screen and getting annoyed nothing loads you hate it

  • @steph585
    @steph585 Рік тому

    I wasn’t into AG back in the IU days but I wish I could play the game!

  • @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384
    @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 Рік тому +1

    I played Inner star U and Bearville which both have been shut down. I still have the doll I made the account with. I named her Elizabeth. She was my closest mini me at the time. I didn’t know you could play as a guest. I don’t remember what I did. I also still have the necklace with a “real” charm on it.

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому

      What’s bearville? I’ve never heard of that game

    • @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384
      @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 Рік тому +1

      Bearville is Buildabears come to life in a game. There are people trying to bring it back because it has sadly been shut down

    • @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384
      @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 Рік тому +1

      People brought back club penguin, but Disney was not happy about it and made them shut it down.

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +1

      @@caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 That sucks… i always wanted a build a bear as a kid but never got one

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому

      @@caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 Really? I thought it still existed

  • @ashlynalingh
    @ashlynalingh Рік тому

    For me I always played as a guest, I did have dolls but I didn’t have any of the look alike dolls so I couldn’t play as a member weirdly. It’s probably why I didn’t play it much because even though I had 3 dolls I couldn’t play the game fully. I also wasn’t really interested in getting a truly me because to this day they haven’t released a doll that looks like me ( brown naturally curly hair with bangs and hazel eyes and light skin) I do wish it was still around and was maybe connected to both the truly me and create your own line but it was fun while it lasted.

  • @fountainoceanus
    @fountainoceanus 5 місяців тому

    i remember watching others play this game when i was like 6
    a shame i never got to actually play the game myself

  • @agdollguy
    @agdollguy 11 місяців тому

    I don’t understand why others could play as a guest but I couldn’t. That’s so confusing. Maybe it was something about the computer I was using or soemthing?? I doubt it but I really can’t find any other explanation

  • @skychirp
    @skychirp Рік тому +1

    Not sure why AG doesn’t have an app at all. And this game would be awesome to play!!

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому +1

      I think they phased out a lot of their apps. I was obsessed with the McKenna one when I was younger

    • @CCClarinet12
      @CCClarinet12 Рік тому

      @@AllycatlovesAG I had the saige one on my old iPod and I loved it

  • @ag_photographs2929
    @ag_photographs2929 Рік тому

    I never played innerstaru but I had these choose your own story books. The end of some of the stories were only on the website. When I looked it up, it was already shut down and I was so sad that I would never know what happened in some of the stories

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому

      That’s annoying! Its a good way to get people to the site but bad for future readers

    • @CCClarinet12
      @CCClarinet12 Рік тому

      I had one of those and my code didn’t work so I couldn’t see the end 😢

  • @ITDudeNinja
    @ITDudeNinja Рік тому

    is anything else new update?🤔I sure we can play other games in 2023?

  • @mayav7948
    @mayav7948 Рік тому +1

    I remember when you could have messaged the friends you made and send gifts even the clothes

  • @clueless_dollz
    @clueless_dollz Рік тому

    I definitely know about the game, but I was to young to have a doll of my own and play.

  • @elizadurkee1463
    @elizadurkee1463 Рік тому +1

    Can they PLEASE bring this bacm

  • @fIamangoes
    @fIamangoes Рік тому

    i wish i had played it more 🥺

  • @bunnysdolls77
    @bunnysdolls77 Рік тому

    I played this all the time has a kid!

  • @LillysUnicorn
    @LillysUnicorn Рік тому

    Love your videos ally! We should do a collab hehe :)

  • @sinkground3259
    @sinkground3259 Рік тому

    I played this game all the time when I was little but I found it very confusing lol

  • @marianellamartinez6402
    @marianellamartinez6402 10 місяців тому

    One thing that i never understood is that american girls were meant to be girls but they were going to university?

  • @clairep3688
    @clairep3688 Рік тому

    I kind of disagree with the New York Times article saying that it’s your doll turning into you. Maybe it’s because I used Nellie as my look alike doll and my My AG doll didn’t look like me. I thought it was fun and not like that at all. I think I got frustrated with the lagging and didn’t play it as much as other games though.

    • @AllycatlovesAG
      @AllycatlovesAG  Рік тому

      I just thought the source helped emphasize a point. I dont necessarily agree 100%

  • @Freakyrott
    @Freakyrott 2 місяці тому

    Igenuinely thought I made this up holy shit

  • @Lainie_joy
    @Lainie_joy Рік тому

    Hi Ally

  • @samuraireincarnation3853
    @samuraireincarnation3853 Рік тому

    Haha 2010 I was playing kung fu panda world back then