Bumper Stars
Encyclopedia
Bumper Stars is an online, social
, arcade game published on select social networking sites. Developed by Large Animal Games, Bumper Stars was released on April 24, 2007 on the social networking website Facebook
. The game was later released on Bebo
and MySpace
. Stand-alone versions of Bumper Stars are also available on Candystand
and Shockwave. Since its release, over 20 million games have been played.
Bumper Stars was featured as a top ten addictive game on Facebook
by industry insiders on May 6, 2009.
Bumper Stars was a showcased finalist at the 2008 Electronic Entertainment Expo as part of IndieCade '08.
and arcade
games. While the aiming process is similar to billiards
, the resulting character action mimics pinball
. The player clicks the Star, drags the mouse to aim, and then releases the Star. The object of the game is for a player’s "Star" (character) to consume as much available food product as possible within three shots, while hitting the "bumpers"(large, round, stationary items on the screen) to earn additional points. Special bumpers add a multiplier to the player’s score when hit. Players looking to maximize scores will try to hit as many special bumpers in a single shot as possible. Bonus points are earned when all special bumpers disappear and when the player clears a level in a single or two shots.
Special bumpers add a multiplier
to the player’s score when hit. Players attempting to maximize scores will try to hit as many special bumpers in a single shot as possible. Bonus points are earned when all special bumpers disappear and when the player clears a level in a single or two shots.
Players will earn credits in solo games each time they play (once a day for starting the game) and for achieving a new high score. In challenge games the winner receives credits based on the number of challenge participants.
Social gaming
Social gaming commonly refers to playing games as a way of social interaction, as opposed to playing games in solitude, like some card games and the single-player mode of many video games...
, arcade game published on select social networking sites. Developed by Large Animal Games, Bumper Stars was released on April 24, 2007 on the social networking website Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. The game was later released on Bebo
Bebo
Bebo is a social networking website launched in July 2005. It is currently owned and operated by Criterion Capital Partners after taking over from AOL in June 2010....
and MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. Stand-alone versions of Bumper Stars are also available on Candystand
Candystand
Candystand.com is a casual game portal owned by Funtank LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Publishers Clearing House and based in New York City, NY. Launched in 1997 by Nabisco, Inc., it was the first major advergame portal available on the World Wide Web. The site was created for Nabisco by...
and Shockwave. Since its release, over 20 million games have been played.
Bumper Stars was featured as a top ten addictive game on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
by industry insiders on May 6, 2009.
Bumper Stars was a showcased finalist at the 2008 Electronic Entertainment Expo as part of IndieCade '08.
Gameplay
Bumper Stars is described as a hybrid of poolBilliards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
and arcade
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
games. While the aiming process is similar to billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
, the resulting character action mimics pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
. The player clicks the Star, drags the mouse to aim, and then releases the Star. The object of the game is for a player’s "Star" (character) to consume as much available food product as possible within three shots, while hitting the "bumpers"(large, round, stationary items on the screen) to earn additional points. Special bumpers add a multiplier to the player’s score when hit. Players looking to maximize scores will try to hit as many special bumpers in a single shot as possible. Bonus points are earned when all special bumpers disappear and when the player clears a level in a single or two shots.
Special bumpers add a multiplier
Multiplier
The term multiplier may refer to:In electrical engineering:* Binary multiplier, a digital circuit to perform rapid multiplication of two numbers in binary representation* Analog multiplier, a device that multiplies two analog signals...
to the player’s score when hit. Players attempting to maximize scores will try to hit as many special bumpers in a single shot as possible. Bonus points are earned when all special bumpers disappear and when the player clears a level in a single or two shots.
Players will earn credits in solo games each time they play (once a day for starting the game) and for achieving a new high score. In challenge games the winner receives credits based on the number of challenge participants.
The Store
Each new player begins with default items, including a green arena, basic bumpers, fruit, and the character Bumpy Beaver. Players may add items through purchase in the game’s Store. The Store contains characters, background settings (also referred to as ‘arenas’) bumpers, and food products for use in game. Each player may purchase items with either credits (earned by playing games and winning challenges) or Benjees (a game currency developed by Large Animal Games requiring purchase through a third party).Achievements
Players are awarded achievements for outstanding game play such as earning a high score or playing challenges. Players are rewarded with credits for earning achievements. Achievements are located in the My Stuff tab or the player information box and are visible to other players once earned.Leaderboards
Bumper Stars features extensive score keeping between friends and the rest of Bumper Stars players across all social networks the game is published on. Scores are kept based on average score, best score, # of game friends, and credits earned.Multiplayer
Players have the option of solo play, or issuing challenges to anyone with the application. Challenges can be completed across platforms (i.e. if a player is on Facebook, he or she may challenge other players on MySpace or Bebo).External links
- Bumper Stars on Facebook (requires registration)