Popspiracy: The Origin of Poptropica

(This is a guest post by Happy Lobster, Shaky Skunk, and Tall Cactus, PHB readers here to share some Poptropica thoughts. Keep in mind that what they present is only theory, not to be taken as fact. If you have a Popspiracy, see below for details on guest posting! Enjoy! –SlantedFish)

What’s popping, Poptropicans? Happy Lobster, Shaky Skunk and Tall Cactus here, and today we’re going to be sharing our mega theories about the origins of Poptropica. HL and Shaky were writing separate theories for the PHB, but since they were both similar, they decided to combine the posts together. Then Tall Cactus wanted to help, since she’s basically the queen of theories. Well, that being said, let’s get started!

The Realms Theory

Hey there, it’s HL here with an immense Popspiracy that I’m surprised no-one has brought up before. You may know me from Discord, the Forums, the comments of PHB posts and the blogs I work on, which includes my blog, HLPB, and the others I work on: PSB, ECC and Clawtropica. Usually, I’d save things like this just for the blogs I actually work on, but as I said before, it’s immense. Mind-blowing. Tremendous. Everyone should know about it. So, let’s get started! Just make sure that you ain’t feeling sleepy right now, because this Popspiracy has about 900 words.

To begin with, my Popspiracy is about… Poptropica. And not a particular concept in the game, but the concept of itself. It delves deeper and deeper into the roots of Poptropica, revealing its greatest secret. The true origin of Poptropica, whereas Shaky will describe each possible aspect of the beginning. This does follow the amazing theories of Poptropica by both Koi and Purple Claw. So just to sum things up, Koi’s theory was about the fact that Poptropicans are possibly descended from aliens, and Purple Claw’s theory was about the fact that Poptropica could possibly be one of the bubble-like orbs we see when we visit the realm of… well, Realms. Feel free to probe deeper into these theories via the links if you want to see the exact foundations of these theories.

So with that out of the way, my question is: Why, when a new Poptropican is born, is it that they enter a world that is exactly the equivalent of all other Poptropicans’ worlds, with the same characters, landscapes, and quests, and yet Poptropicans never encounter each other (apart from Multiverses) in the same world?

The answer isn’t simple. But let’s walk the road that’ll lead to the ultimate answer. Firstly, as PC says, the general world of Poptropica is a Realm. Poptropica isn’t endless, like the other Realms, but it is ever-expanding, and it’s probably as large – if not even larger – than the space in each Realm we’ve bothered to explore.

So what if – there are multiple, individual Realms of Poptropica? Read on to hear our ideas!

A few of you may scoff or roll your eyes. But it’s not entirely impossible, even if it does seem substantially unlikely. The truth is, if you ever create two Realms which share the same biome, they are pretty similar, if not exact. And multiple Realms can simply be created in a matter of seconds – so why can’t new Realms of Poptropica be so easily and quickly woven together into one big world that can be expanded over and over again?

There would be myriads of Poptropica Realms that have been erected, and many would have been abandoned. But even in one massive, ever-enlarging clump, all these Realms could be parallel to each other. It would explain the orderly sequence in which islands appear at the same time for everyone. Everyone does have their ‘twins’ in all worlds, with each NPC in all Realms having many, all with the same appearances, dispositions, names (only known in the case for major characters in each island) and said statements. And all these Realms must overlap together at multiple points, which we now know as Multiverses and common rooms.

But yet, all these Realms cannot be unerringly parallel – because every single action does not occur at the same time and place with every single Realm. That depends on the protagonist of each Realm – us.

So, back to what I was saying in the penultimate paragraph before this, all other Poptropicans are identical to their alternate versions in other Realms. But we, the protagonists, don’t quite seem to be the twins of other protagonists. Yet, we can only be the twins to each other in the Realms, for there aren’t any other Poptropicans we can twin ourselves too. There isn’t anyone else available in Poptropica to be our alternate versions. We protagonists say the same things and do the same certain actions during quests. But that’s just about where our similarities end. We have different appearances, names, experiences, and sometimes genders.

So how is that startling fact explained?

This is probably where Koi’s theory starts to kick in. So, what I think probably happened, long story short: once upon a time, there was a place called Poptropica. All of its inhabitants were happy. Then aliens came along. They invaded Poptropica. Each of these aliens decided to settle down in one of the Poptropica Realms. The end.

So, as Koi said, we are descended from aliens. So if the aliens never annexed the Realms of Poptropica, we wouldn’t be here today. So were we ever meant to be in Poptropica?

And there’s even more evidence that aliens did invade other Realms. Explore into a few Realms, and you’ll eventually find some unusual hybrid creature. Ignoring the fact that most of them are on their fours, you’ll see that they have the general head, body and limbs of a Poptropican. Just look at all the Realms creature ASGs if you do want to see them properly upright.

Ending on that note, that concludes my theory. Now you know what Poptropica truly is. Its beginning. Its immense concept. I hope you enjoyed that Popspiracy! Now, let’s head over to Shaky. I really hope you don’t feel sleepy this time either, because her theory has a colossal one-and-a half-thousand words.

Shaky Skunk’s Theory

Hey, guys!

Shaky Skunk here. You may already know me from my blog, Discord, the forums, or that one time I made a walkthrough for the PHV. Anyway, today I’m going to share a Popspiracy theory that will literally blow your minds. What if I were to tell you what I think are the true origins and secrets of Poptropica?

“But Shaky! That doesn’t make any sense,” you blurt out. “We already know how Poptropica was created! A group of people were bored and decided to make a game together! Are you just going to write a whole post about a story we already know?”

Ha ha ha, no, random player. That would just be a waste of time! Anyway, like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted… I’m going to tell you what I think are the true origins of Poptropica. These are just my thoughts, so you don’t have to take them seriously. So, without further ado, let’s get this theory started! 😀

Nuclear Waste

“Seriously? Isn’t this just another minor detail?” you exclaim. “They’re just there to set the mood of the island!”

Ugh, no, mysterious player whose voice keeps appearing out of nowhere, let me finish my sentences! And didn’t I tell you to leave? Oh, well… Anyway, I believe that the environment and characters of Poptropica were affected by nuclear waste. Why? Well, there have been numerous islands with toxic waste barrels. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at The Pit in Early Poptropica:

Look at the size of that spider! If you couldn’t tell by its green tint, strength and webs, this spider has obviously been mutated. Plus, this thing was probably going to have bacon and webs (sorry) for dinner if you hadn’t saved the Prized Porker’s bacon! (I… I tried, okay? 😞)

Signs of nuclear waste are also seen in 24 Carrot Island and Super Power Island.

In Super Power Island, a giant, radioactive meteor hits into the prison wall, mutating the prisoners and giving them superpowers.

Notice how Hazmat Hermit (pictured right) warns your character to stand away from the meteor, since it isn’t safe? (Also, shouldn’t he be wearing some sort of protective footwear? How come the officers are standing so close to the so called dangerous meteor?)

Well, Hazmat Hermit, if that’s the case, then how can you explain THIS?

If your character can freely swim in highly contaminated water (gross) without getting some sort of disease, then how come they can’t stand on a meteor that gives you superpowers, in a super power themed islands? Maybe he didn’t want to cause some huge superhero craze… Or maybe… Poptropicans have gotten so used to radiation and toxic waste, that it doesn’t change their appearance or harm them!

Think about it: you can add all these cool effects to your character, permanently change their skin tone with a simple paint job… Heck– there’s even the gold card effect called Atom Power, that gives you a healthy green glow! 😍

Still don’t believe me? Well, how about the fact that your Poptropican, a little kid, might I add, can jump from very large heights without damage? How they can push crates that are bigger than them? This was even pointed out in Mocktropica. You may argue that most games don’t have fall damage, but for the sake of this theory, let’s just pretend Poptropica isn’t a game for now.

The nuclear waste theory can also back up a completely different theory:

The Evolution of Poptropicans

That’s right! Poptropicans have been mutated so much, that eventually the entire Poptropica race (except the Pilgrims, of course) evolved into the Poptropicans we know and love today. You’re probably thinking this is a little far-fetched, but hear me out- how could Poptropicans evolve from two dimensional, pixelated men to three dimensional, unique characters, in only a few decades? (I’ll get to that part later!)

Look at this! Our Poptropicans have shrunken by a few inches, and have even gotten a little skinnier.

Another piece of evidence that proves Poptropicans were mutated is the fact that there are characters that appear to be as old (maybe even older) than the Pilgrims, like this strange-looking Sea Captain, and they look nothing like the Pilgrims, who are supposed to be the people who discovered Poptropica.

This excerpt is from the Early Poptropica Island Tour page, which proves that the Pilgrims are indeed the oldest Poptropicans when it says, “Poptropica’s oldest inhabitants have a problem: someone’s been stealing their stuff!” One of the Pilgrims even states it himself!

If you’re still a little doubtful, here’s another thing to take notice of: the Pilgrims have been staying at the edge of the island, away from anything that can cause radiation. They haven’t been using any technology, and couldn’t even save the poor pig that was stuck in the toxic wastelands known as The Pit. Not to mention how some the Pilgrims have migrated from Early Poptropica to Shark Tooth Island, which is the most natural and technology-free islands ever.

In fact, in the background of the advertising room on Shark Tooth Island, you can actually see the same boat as the one that the medallion giving Pilgrim travels on. (Let’s all give my friend Tall Cactus a big round of applause for discovering this!)

This is most likely a bad thing, however, since the Great Booga Shark took a big bite into the ship, leading to their tragic demises. Unless they escaped. Unfortunately, there is no evidence to back this up. Perhaps they were trying to create a new civilisation of the early Poptropicans? Who knows? Anyway, I’m going to move on to the next theory:

What Time is Poptropica Really Set In?

Remember when I mentioned that there was no way that the Poptropicans could evolve, without the use of toxic waste, in only decades? Well, I’m going to be backing up this theory by figuring out what time Poptropica is really set in.

We all know that Poptropica is set at least a few years after 1982, because that’s the year the Pilgrims discovered it.

1997 is the year that Professor Hammerhead supposedly passed away (aged 77).

Wait, hold up– Tall Cactus just told me that Poptropica is set in the present day, according to the watch on Time Tangled Island. I guess there was no point in this segment.

But wait! All this talk about Time Tangled Island just reminded me of another theory. I call it…

A Time Tangled Mess!

Let’s start off by quoting the sign seen in the Possible Future in Time Tangled Island.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way!

Something happened in the past that ruined mankind’s future. Can you turn back the hands of time and make things right?

First of all, who wrote that sign, and how did your future self even get his/her hands on the time device? Assuming the Possible Future is an alternate reality (that’s 50 years into the future) where none of the important historical events ever happened, time travel, or advanced electrical devices, shouldn’t even exist! Unless the scientists from the present told him/her, or he/she was a time-traveling inventor himself/herself (which is unlikely), none of this makes sense!

Secondly, why is it that the future is ruined 50 years later? Shouldn’t it be that our Time Tangled Island can slowly be seen turning into the Possible Future? Unless the events of Time Tangled Island created an alternate dimension where the important historical events never happened, so it caused a dystopian society centuries later.

If we’ve learnt anything from Time Tangled Island, it’s to never, ever, alter anything in the past. One little mistake, and you’ve doomed the future. Well, if that’s the case, then how can the professors explain THIS?

A guard (from Ancient Greece) and a viking from Time Tangled Island can be seen in the present day. Vlad the Viking, a former author of the Creator’s Blog, can also be seen with a camera! Either they were lost in time due to the events of Time Tangled Island, or they’re secretly time travellers in disguise. (How could Vlad operate a camera?)

And it doesn’t end there. In the Pop Art Museum on Early Poptropica, you can see three of history’s most famous artists. Vincent van Gogh, Georges-Pierre Seurat, and… Leonardo da Vinci. Yes, the Leonardo da Vinci that is supposed to be on Time Tangled Island.

You may argue that he’s just a really good actor, but besides from a tan, they’re the same person! There’s only one explanation for this… cloning.

And I have proof! These two gold cards could’ve been used to clone Leonardo da Vinci. After they cloned him, they put him in the art museum, where he wouldn’t be confused.

Yes. You, a young kid, have the ability to freeze time and clone humans. Maybe this explains why Poptropicans have little differences?

Creatures and Aliens

And now, for my final theory: because of the toxic waste, animals are now related to Poptropicans, and some Poptropicans were turned into aliens!

Just look at how similar they are!

Anyway, my part of the theory is starting to get too long, so I’m gonna wrap it up now. Who knows? Maybe I’ll make another part of the theory, which will be twice as long! 😉

Tall Cactus’ Theory

‘Ello people. TC is back at it once again!

First things first, as explained in HL’s theory, Poptropica may be a set of realms with some alternate realities sprinkled in. But what if Pop isn’t the only place like this?

Let’s begin with the sponsored islands. They obviously don’t happen in Pop’s realm, so each of these sponsored islands happen in their own Realm, and similar to Pop, have alternate realities for each player. But how do you even get there? Who knows!

And then there’s…Our Discovery Island. Y’know, the orange Poptropica, a game for ESL (English as second language) students made by Pearson. Let’s just say, it’s not great. OK fine, I mean the songs (that you can find on YouTube) are the worst part, the game itself is just a tad on the boring side. Anyways, even though it’s very, very similar to Pop, it’s also very different. So…is ODI another random chain of islands in Poptropica, or is it another Realm, with alternate realities with different protagonists? Well, I’m not too sure. What do you think? Comment down below.

Lastly, I should talk about Earth, or the universe that we live in. Of course, I don’t mean this is actually real, I just mean in the franchise it could be this way. Sorry to burst your bubble, or should I say Realm, but Poptropica is not real, period.

Well, that’s the end of this massive theory, guys! I hope it made you glad, glad, glad! And if you have a brother, please get along with him. He may be sad. (+5 points if you get the reference.)

Stay popping, Poptropicans!

– Happy Lobster, Shaky Skunk and Tall Cactus

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Share your Pop conspiracies in the comments or on the PHC – we’d love to hear them. If you’d like to develop it into a full guest post like this one, contact the PHB (minimum 500 words). Stay popping!