| Outernauts | |
|---|---|
 Outernauts Facebook cover image | |
| Developer(s) | Insomniac Games |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts |
| Platform(s) | Adobe Flash,iOS (February 2014) |
| Release | July 2012 (open beta) |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing,social network game |
Outernauts was anAdobe Flashsocialrole-playingvideo game forFacebook. Developed byInsomniac Games, it is the developer's first social video game, as well as their first game for a non-Sony platform. The game is published byElectronic Arts and was released as anopen beta in July 2012.[1][2] It was announced by Insomniac Games that the game would no longer be available on Facebook from January 31, 2014, and would be ported to iOS. The game was shut down on February 1, 2016.
As Outernauts, players must explore alien planets to capture and nurture creatures with which to do battle, in gameplay similar to thePokémon series. Player actions are limited by "energy", an in-game resource that accumulates over time, but which can also bepurchased with real-world currency.[3]
Critics praised the game's presentation, withEurogamer noting its "classy cartoon visuals, slick orchestral soundtrack and finely-tuned UI."Eurogamer commented on the size of the game's world, describing how even with a week of play, most of the galaxy map had yet to be unlocked.[3]GamesTM too, praised the game world as "interesting to explore", the characters "providing a sense of unknown that continues to entice".[4]
Inside Social Games compared the depth ofOuternauts' gameplay favorably to other social games, but warned that the social viral mechanics, such as "nag screens" and "pay to win" mechanics would ward off thecore gamers it set to attract.[2]GamesTM likewise, found the energy system to be the game's biggest hindrance, and one which could frustrate by interrupting gameplay. Despite this,GamesTM concluded thatOuternauts was "a step up on most Facebook games".[4]
On December 14, 2015, Insomniac announced that all the microtransactions options were removed, and that the game is shut down permanently on February 1, 2016. Insomniac explained that the current player base was too small,[a] and that the overall game became unprofitable.[5]
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