Aside from all of the particle controls, Outburst also ships with four new map types. The Outburst Color Map uses a gradient to define color variation based on several parameters such as particle age or particle trail length. The Outburst Opacity Map is similar to the color map, except it uses a greyscale gradient to define particle opacity based on similar parameters. It also has controls for shape as well. Rounding out the group is Outburst Color Expression and Outburst Opacity Expression that as you may guess are expression-based versions of the color and opacity maps.
Outburst gives effects animators a nice toolset to create particle effects animation.
There are a few limitations though. One of the most talked about is the inability for external video post filters and environment effects to key off of Outburst particles. This has been remedied with version 1.5. The other is motion blur since Outburst doesn t support image or object motion blur. Part of this is due to the way the plugin is implemented in MAX, not as a particle system but as a procedural object.