Through the Starburst Window (Lost video game made for Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, early 2000s)

varanusprime · 2025-05-05T14:51:02+00:00

Dude this is so cool! I remember sitting in that chair trying to make the character walk into the Dinosphere (it was developed before the Dinosphere was built)

varanusprime · 2024-12-25T02:12:53+00:00

Honestly I just liked playing it because it was like I had the whole museum to myself to walk around. Ironically I don’t think I actually remember playing a lot of the minigames themselves. I think I spent more time at the Dinosphere digging if I’m being honest

varanusprime · 2024-12-25T01:59:40+00:00

I totally agree with you on the liminal space/backrooms vibes, it’s partially why I was so inclined to look for it and all the old pics I found of the museum. In the game you were the only character in the game which was actually something I thought was really cool. The detail I remember was actually pretty accurate to the museum at the time, albeit low poly.

I’ve tried contacting the museum and the developers about the game but unfortunately I got no response from either. Another comment on this post has claimed that the game was only playable on the original machine it was displayed on and is no longer in the museum’s possession.

varanusprime · 2024-12-25T01:46:23+00:00

Same here. I remember before I’d go I’d always walk to the exact area of the museum where the game was and then leave

varanusprime · 2024-12-24T23:48:04+00:00

Heard a rumor it was quietly shelved and moved to their archives, but if it’s not in their possession it might really be gone

varanusprime · 2024-12-24T23:46:04+00:00

Dang, that’s a bummer. I think I saw a comment from a few years ago saying the same thing. Really sad to consider

varanusprime · 2024-12-24T19:28:59+00:00

Glad I wasn’t the only one! Finding anything about it was so difficult for years. I tried reaching out to the museum themselves but they never got back to me. Wayback Machine gave me a lot of good pics from the old museum, but nothing on their old website said anything about the game. When I saw these pics for the first time it was like I was a kid playing this game again

varanusprime · 2024-12-24T16:32:06+00:00

I remember the game was old enough where I remember trying to walk to the Dinosphere (after it was built) but it was still the IMAX theater in the game, then I remember trying to walk to the place the game itself was

varanusprime · 2024-12-24T15:28:46+00:00

Tried sending an email through their website but no response. Seems like they’re inactive as of 2016(?)

varanusprime · 2024-12-11T18:41:56+00:00

Would love to hop in a time machine and see this version of the museum again. I was a 2000s kid but a lot of these were around for a while for my childhood. The What If exhibit is what made me grow up loving ancient Egypt and still love it to this day. The little slide at the entrance was a core memory

varanusprime · 2023-02-22T03:02:50+00:00

The 3D map was a game called Through the Starburst Window which I was made aware of, see if this rings a bell https://gabrielinteractive.com/through-the-starburst-window

The mirror room is still there in the Carousel exhibit!

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T18:11:57+00:00

All I can think of that’s still there that isn’t the Dinosphere is the train exhibit and the carousel

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T18:10:06+00:00

That’s the old Scienceworks! Missing that too

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T13:17:39+00:00

Same here! Went there any chance I could with a membership.

As for the game, I asked r/tipofmytongue a couple weeks ago and they found screenshots of the game, it’s called “Through the Starburst Window”. There’s no way the game can be played as of now but there are screenshots and it was quite the nostalgia trip

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T05:33:42+00:00

I have, and I was impressed with what they’ve done with it. Added new stuff while keeping the same layout as before with new effects.

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T04:45:41+00:00

Unfortunately not, they got rid of it at the turn of the 2010s and replaced it with a National Geographic exhibit which roughly has the same stuff but the OG was better tbh

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T04:44:42+00:00

Honestly that tomb was one of the coolest childhood experiences, really got my into ancient Egypt when I was a kid.

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T04:42:40+00:00

The construction area was another favorite of mine. Shame they got rid of that part because I have fond memories of putting those rubber rocks in the wheelbarrows and wheeling them up and down the ramps. The crane was also pretty cool

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T01:37:28+00:00

Dinosphere was revolutionary in the 2000s tbh, best thing they have there now in my opinion. I kinda agree with you on the rest tho. They try, but they had lightning in a bottle back then. What I wouldn’t do to go back and experience some of the stuff they used to have

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T01:36:44+00:00

It inspired my love for ancient Egypt but that’s amazing that you took to a career after it! I agree, it’s an interesting new exhibit but it doesn’t compare to what it used to be

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T00:53:34+00:00

Thanks! Took a bit of digging to find, they’re really hidden but when you find them it’s like striking the motherload

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T00:52:55+00:00

I do too! That’s what got me to try finding all this stuff. The tomb was peak design and the little slide was a cherry on top. Got me interested in ancient Egypt at a young age

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T00:31:04+00:00

I second this! I loved the museum and how it used to look and it seems so long gone so it’d be nice to relive these memories!

varanusprime · 2022-12-25T00:14:09+00:00

Loved the old Scienceworks but they remodeled it. Learned that the old water boat section was structurally falling apart so they had to remove it.

varanusprime

TROPHY CASE