View source for Innerstar University (lost "My American Girl" flash-based MMO; 2010-2015)

{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>Innerstar University</center>
|image=InnerstarU Homepage 2012.png
|imagecaption=The homepage of InnerstarU.com.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
'''''Innerstar University,''''' often abbreviated to '''''Innerstar U''','' was a toys-to-life virtual world game released by American Girl in July 2010<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/aug/22/discover-virtual-worlds-revolution The Guardian article on kids' virtual worlds.] Retrieved 6 Feb '24</ref> as a tie-in with the ''My American Girl'' line of dolls. The Flash-based MMO game could be accessed with a code included with the purchase of a ''My American Girl'' doll. On May 21, 2015, it was announced that the game would close on November 5, 2015.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151104215221/http://web.innerstaru.com/blog.php Archive of Innerstar University blog post announcing the game's closure.] Retrieved 8 Feb '24.</ref> Upon its closure, the game became inaccessible and no playable version exists.

== Gameplay ==
Membership was free, but required a sign-up code. A "doll code" was included with the purchase of a ''My American Girl'' doll and would allow users permanent access to the game. In addition, a "star code" was included with each of the Innerstar University tie-in books which would give users 2 weeks of access. The avatar of users who signed up with a "doll code" was a 3D version of the ''My American Girl'' doll that the code came with, while users with a "star code" could choose between all the dolls for their avatar. To create a username, users were prompted to pick their doll's name from a dropdown menu. This would generate a username consisting of the doll's name followed by a string of numbers (e.g. Emily123).
[[File:Innerstar U Map.jpg|thumb|The in-game map of Innerstar University's campus.]]
The game's map had 13 separate areas, including dorms, a student center, sports center, and shopping area. Each area had 1-3 minigames (excluding the shopping area, where instead users could buy room decor and fashion items for the user's avatar based on real outfits available for ''My American Girl'' dolls at the time). Users could talk with one another in the campus areas and play the minigames together. Eight of the areas had an "Innerstar Guide", an NPC that provided information about the area. In addition to social activities and minigames, users could "check out" a selection of American Girl books and read them in-game.

== Availability ==
On May 21, 2015, American Girl announced through the Innerstar University blog that the game would close on November 5, 2015. No archive of any part of Innerstar University is available. An Innerstar University Rewritten project was begun by a group of Discord users in 2021; however, it does not appear that they recruited any programmers and the project became dormant early on.<ref>[https://twitter.com/InnerStarU Innerstar University Rewritten Twitter page]. Retrieved 8 Feb '24.</ref> 

There were sixteen choose-your-own adventure Innerstar University tie-in books featuring the Innerstar University guides. Each of these books had online-exclusive endings that are no longer accessible following the closure of the game.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Innerstar U Pom-Pom Power.png|Screenshot showing the description of the Pom-Pom Power game, featuring the area's guide, Riley.
File:Innestar U shopping area.png|Screenshot of the in-game shopping area, Shopping Square, showing the area's guide, Isabel.
File:Innerstar U enrolment.jpg|Screenshot of "enrolment" (sign-up) in Innerstar University showing drop-down name choices.
File:Innerstar U closet.jpg|Screenshot of avatar closet.
File:Innerstar U dorm.png|Screenshot of customizable player dorm bedroom.
File:Innerstar U closure.jpg|Image from [https://www.facebook.com/americangirl/ American Girl Facebook page] upon announcement of the game's closure. Features the 8 in-game guides.
File:Innerstar U Real Spirit Center.jpg|Screenshot from the Real Spirit Center area.
</gallery>

== External Links ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120401000000*/innerstaru.com Archive of Innerstar University website, January 2012]. Retrieved 8 Feb '24.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100724095433/http://www.shineonnow.com/#explore-the-campus Archive of advertisement for Innerstar University on American Girl charity website shineonnow.com]. Retrieved 8 Feb '24.
* [https://toysandcollectiblesmuseum.org/myag0710 Scanned version of American Girl catalogue introducing ''My American Girl'' and Innerstar U, July 2010]. Retrieved 8 Feb '24.
* [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/44485-new-line-from-american-girl.html Publishers Weekly article on the Innerstar University books.] Retrieved 8 Feb '24.
* [https://lvlystore.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/personalizationcs_12_09.pdf Internal American Girl document detailing the creative direction of ''My American Girl'', including information about the integration of Innerstar University.] Retrieved 8 Feb '24.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Lost internet media]]
[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Completely lost media]]