The History Of InnerstarU- Why Was It Shutdown?

Ойын-сауық

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-wish-you-farewell/
Discord: discord.gg/gW2vq75mY5
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/PacificDollCo?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
pacificdollco
Intro made by me
End slate by AGJitters
♪ Butter (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : kzread.info/dash/bejne/h5Vrs8icYdvbaZM.html
♪ Bake a pie (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z5173K-pYLuzgpc.html
♪ Sunset (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : kzread.info/dash/bejne/maprysWRc9HQf9o.html
♪ Night (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z5mHtbWsoNuthdI.html
♪ Affogato (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : kzread.info/dash/bejne/i4iJqJOoabbMY6g.html
♪ Storybook (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : kzread.info/dash/bejne/pmt3p4-lebiraLg.html
♪ Biscuit (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Link : kzread.info/dash/bejne/d6iOlM9ritCZprw.html

Пікірлер: 126

  • @AllycatlovesAG
    @AllycatlovesAG Жыл бұрын

    Did you play InnerstarU? Share your memories below!

  • @poisenroot

    @poisenroot

    Жыл бұрын

    YES! I WAS A MASTER AT THE SNACK CART GAME

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @agglittterstudios

    @agglittterstudios

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @nyeelahbrown2892

    @nyeelahbrown2892

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @mariasalgado3799

    @mariasalgado3799

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @vampirepunk9479
    @vampirepunk9479 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

    @@AllycatlovesAG and multi coloured hair, sigh!

  • @morganashleypeterson3713

    @morganashleypeterson3713

    Жыл бұрын

    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-_

    Жыл бұрын

    FR!

  • @agdollguy

    @agdollguy

    11 ай бұрын

    Oh my gosh same

  • @a.bigailmarie
    @a.bigailmarie Жыл бұрын

    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 😂

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    Me too!

  • @asmridolxx4853
    @asmridolxx4853 Жыл бұрын

    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 Жыл бұрын

    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 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @kylacollects
    @kylacollects Жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    You missed so much! This was my childhood

  • @4everbratz
    @4everbratz Жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    It’s been in progress for a while

  • @bejeweledbat13
    @bejeweledbat13 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

    The rewrite will definitely be free though

  • @bejeweledbat13

    @bejeweledbat13

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @therobotdevil2284

    @therobotdevil2284

    Жыл бұрын

    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!

  • @haloo_haybay
    @haloo_haybay10 ай бұрын

    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 Жыл бұрын

    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 😢

  • @RoyaleAG77
    @RoyaleAG77 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @autumnmontoya
    @autumnmontoya Жыл бұрын

    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

  • @aglucky13studios
    @aglucky13studios Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @agglittterstudios
    @agglittterstudios Жыл бұрын

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

  • @Crayondoodle939
    @Crayondoodle9399 ай бұрын

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

  • @tinmanlover1994
    @tinmanlover1994 Жыл бұрын

    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

  • @milesmemory
    @milesmemory Жыл бұрын

    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!!

  • @laneyyyyyyyyy
    @laneyyyyyyyyy Жыл бұрын

    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🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

  • @marcellnovak9801
    @marcellnovak9801 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

    I hated that loading screen 😂

  • @colfer4life
    @colfer4life Жыл бұрын

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

  • @tamidolls
    @tamidolls Жыл бұрын

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

  • @michelleshouseofminiatures
    @michelleshouseofminiatures Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

    The 2010’s are the nostalgic ag for me haha

  • @oliviaruiz51
    @oliviaruiz51 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @MadameButterfly11419
    @MadameButterfly11419 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @marielsea2292
    @marielsea2292 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @rachelnelson3765
    @rachelnelson3765 Жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @dollsforever
    @dollsforever Жыл бұрын

    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💜

  • @BrightlightAG
    @BrightlightAG Жыл бұрын

    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

  • @agbeachgirls3
    @agbeachgirls3 Жыл бұрын

    I miss it soooooo much!!!! 😭😭

  • @scoutypandabear
    @scoutypandabear9 ай бұрын

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

  • @cassiefriedman1446
    @cassiefriedman1446 Жыл бұрын

    I REMEMBER THIS ITS 100% CHILDHOOD

  • @CCClarinet12
    @CCClarinet12 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

    @@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
    @mollymayes962710 ай бұрын

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO OHMYGOD

  • @glampanda7880
    @glampanda7880 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @ITDudeNinja
    @ITDudeNinja Жыл бұрын

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

  • @alexagilbert7881
    @alexagilbert7881 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @poisenroot
    @poisenroot Жыл бұрын

    Very excited :)

  • @delilahandaria6198
    @delilahandaria619811 ай бұрын

    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.

  • @ofgenuineinterest639
    @ofgenuineinterest639 Жыл бұрын

    I’ve been waiting on this one😩

  • @graceputman1854
    @graceputman1854 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @Astrid_2016
    @Astrid_2016 Жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @AGBob_DollPants
    @AGBob_DollPants Жыл бұрын

    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?

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    Probably…

  • @ag_photographs2929
    @ag_photographs2929 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @CCClarinet12

    @CCClarinet12

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @Meganpossible07
    @Meganpossible07 Жыл бұрын

    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

  • @steph585
    @steph585 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @bunnybubblebath
    @bunnybubblebath9 ай бұрын

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

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    9 ай бұрын

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

  • @agbeachgirls3
    @agbeachgirls3 Жыл бұрын

    So iconic!!

  • @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384
    @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384

    @caroline_catbridges_kitty5384

    Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    @@caroline_catbridges_kitty5384 Really? I thought it still existed

  • @agdollguy
    @agdollguy11 ай бұрын

    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

  • @fountainoceanus
    @fountainoceanus5 ай бұрын

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

  • @ashlynalingh
    @ashlynalingh Жыл бұрын

    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.

  • @Robloxblossombloom
    @Robloxblossombloom8 ай бұрын

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

  • @skychirp
    @skychirp Жыл бұрын

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

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @CCClarinet12

    @CCClarinet12

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @Jael_25
    @Jael_25 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @elizadurkee1463
    @elizadurkee1463 Жыл бұрын

    Can they PLEASE bring this bacm

  • @clueless_dollz
    @clueless_dollz Жыл бұрын

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

  • @fIamangoes
    @fIamangoes Жыл бұрын

    i wish i had played it more 🥺

  • @bunnysdolls77
    @bunnysdolls77 Жыл бұрын

    I played this all the time has a kid!

  • @mayav7948
    @mayav7948 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    Oh yeah!!!

  • @ITDudeNinja
    @ITDudeNinja Жыл бұрын

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

  • @LillysUnicorn
    @LillysUnicorn Жыл бұрын

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

  • @sinkground3259
    @sinkground3259 Жыл бұрын

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

  • @Freakyrott
    @Freakyrott2 ай бұрын

    Igenuinely thought I made this up holy shit

  • @marianellamartinez6402
    @marianellamartinez640210 ай бұрын

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

  • @clairep3688
    @clairep3688 Жыл бұрын

    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

    Жыл бұрын

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

  • @samuraireincarnation3853
    @samuraireincarnation3853 Жыл бұрын

    Haha 2010 I was playing kung fu panda world back then

  • @AllycatlovesAG

    @AllycatlovesAG

    Жыл бұрын

    there was a Kung fu panda game?

  • @Lainie_joy
    @Lainie_joy Жыл бұрын

    Hi Ally