Purple Paw

Hey Poptropicans, Purple here! (It’s been an embarrassingly long while…). While the PHB’s Tribal Tournament wrapped up at the end of August, alongside some sobering news regarding Poptropica’s future, it’s never too late to revisit one of the old game’s classic features: the Tribes, and their respective common rooms!

Back in Pop’s glory days, joining any of the eight Poptropolis Tribes granted access to a special themed common room open only to fellow Tribe members. The common rooms served as a fun way to boost tribal spirit and meet like-minded players. Today, I’ll be ranking each Tribe’s common room based on aesthetic, creativity, and how well it represents its Tribe! (Note: these rankings are just my personal opinions, and have nothing to do with the Tribes themselves!)

8: Flying Squid

Diving right in, the Flying Squid common room doesn’t make a big enough splash to swim (fly?) past 8th place. Honestly, it was difficult ranking this room at the bottom. The interactive tub of squid ink and the captured sea monster (a sweet reference to Cryptids Island!) are nice touches, but the rest feels somewhat bland to me. The poster warning “beware the Flying Squid” is the only element referencing the ‘Flying’ half of this Tribe’s name. I think it’d be interesting to see more of that incorporated into their room alongside the underwater theme. 🦑

7: Yellowjackets

Buzzing into 7th place, we’ve got the secret hive of the Yellowjackets! I’m giving this common room a bonus point for having a very cool concept. A mechanical beehive with a wasp-themed helicopter? That’s an awesome hangout spot! Unfortunately, while the idea is recognizable, I feel it could’ve been executed better. The blue-and-white skyline background doesn’t seem to fit the rest of the mood, and other than honeycomb shapes, the interior doesn’t really lean into the beehive vibe. If only it came together a little better, it could climb a little higher…🐝

6: Nanobots

Coming in at 6th, the robotic fortress of the Nanobots may just take the cake for coolest interactive feature! That huge beatmaker machine, complete with options to change volume, tempo, and add various percussion sounds, definitely makes the Nanobots room a place to spend a lot of time messing around in. The silhouetted robotic arms and instruments make for a nice background as well. Who knew the Nanobots were such a musically-inclined Tribe! I would’ve given this common room a higher ranking, but other than the awesome beatmaker, there’s not too much else to explore. 🤖

5: Pathfinders

With their elegant, stately hideout, the Pathfinders common room finds its way to 5th place! I adore the amount of details put into every floor in this room: glass shelves of skulls, spyglasses, and microscopes, wall maps, an enormous spinning diamond. There’s always more to see! It’s also a very accurate representation of its Tribe’s aesthetic. All the maps, compasses and paraphernalia nicely reflect the Pathfinders’ title as adventurers of the Islands. While it isn’t as flashy as others in terms of interactivity, in my opinion, it makes up for that with its amazing design! 🧭

4: Wildfire

Marking the halfway point, it’s the red-hot boiler room of the Wildfire! This common room screams tribal pride. The symbol of the Wildfire flag, leaping orange flames, decorates a burning furnace connected to branching pipes. I quite enjoy the mechanical steampunk vibe going on in here. The various steam-powered birds, especially the center one with wings spread, are reminiscent of the Mother Phoenix and her chicks from Astro-Knights Island! The hazy orange gradient scheme works well, and the exit, a ladder leading up through the floor rather than doors, is a creative way to match the mood. 🔥

3: Nightcrawlers

Now, I promise I’m not biased by worming the underground den of my own Tribe, the Nightcrawlers, into the 3rd place slot. Although it may have a tendency to freak out arachnophobics, it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing common rooms around! The progression of light to dark purple throughout the three floors, the softly glowing crystals, the hanging jars of fireflies. Even the spiderweb and egg sacs don’t detract from the magical aura this room gives off. I’d be enchanted to work at that charming little desk, or drift off in one of those cozy wall-crevice beds. Just don’t provoke the creepy crawlers! 🪱

2: Black Flags

Just shy of the top spot is the glorious treasure trove of the Black Flags! The Black Flags common room (is it a room, or a ship?) may just be the most creative design-wise. It captures the Tribe’s dark pirate aesthetic perfectly, with its ship deck floors, teetering crow’s nest, and piles of plundered gold. And instead of being boxed in by walls, it lets its flags fly free in the open stormy sky over rough seas! The smaller details of the mermaid statue, caged bird skeleton, and multiple cannons add the icing to the cake…err, the figurehead to the prow. All in all, a mighty meeting place for these fine sea-goers! ☠️ Which leaves…

1: Seraphim

…in 1st place, the angelic abode of the Seraphim! This common room is absolutely breathtaking, and personally, I can’t find anything to dislike about it. The center piece, a hooded Poptropican seraph floating in a stained glass window, is hauntingly beautiful and sets the tone for the rest of the room. The lowest floor’s flickering fireplace gives just enough light so as not to overshadow the stars visible through the crumbling walls in the night sky, and the telescope, candlelight, and distantly floating turrets all beautifully represent the celestial Seraphim name. This common room is well deserving of its number one spot! 🪽

And with that, the ranking is complete! Do you agree with each common room’s placement? Let me know how you’d rank them in the comments down below! Pop on,

~💜

Pop Places IRL: Twisted Thicket 🌳

July 5, 2023July 6, 2023 Purple Paw

Hey there, everyone! Welcome to my first participation in Pop Places IRL. Bid adieu to sunlight, because today we’ll be exploring the deep, dark jungles of Twisted Thicket–and its counterparts in real life (IRL). Let’s get started!

Although its country is never stated, Twisted Thicket takes place in the European region of Scandinavia, encompassing Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Not only is this shown through the various Scandinavian mythological creatures introduced, but in the quaint seaside town we land in. The colorful, narrow architecture accurately resembles Scandinavian villages IRL. As for the names of the buildings, a smorgasbord is a traditional Swedish buffet, and the Fjording is actually a real shop at Epcot in Florida that offers authentic Norwegian souvenirs.

Scandinavia’s rich with dense, fantastical forests, similar to this island’s main event. Just the kind of place you’d expect to find fairies flitting about…

…but unfortunately, the swarm of dryads we meet aren’t friendly. Poptropica definitely took some liberties portraying these little forest fairies, but they’re very common in multiple mythologies. Dryads are often visualized closer to the appearance of the Elf Queen, as humanoid women rather than firefly-size stingers.

The elves and trolls are also notable creatures in Norse mythology–enough to elicit three whole realms for themselves, known as Alfheim, Svartalfheim, and Jotunheim, respectively.

Next up in our woodland-traversing trials is the Nøkken in the Bioluminescent Bog. This may be the creature that differs most from its mythological counterpart, being shown as a distinctly wolf-like animal rather than a shapeshifter, and having its original powers of alluring song swapped for invisibility. Its glowing eyes and malicious intent, however, remain the same.

As for the Nøkken’s naturally lit home, bioluminescent plants and especially fungi aren’t uncommon in dark, marshy places.

Bioluminescent mushrooms (thoughtco.com)

After outrunning the goblins–who stay true to their roots as tiny, cap-wearing creatures–we’ll land in front of an enormous tree whose branches aren’t visible. This tree parallels Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life and heart of the Nine Worlds in Norse cosmology.

The five runes needed to enter this tree in-game are named after relevant terms in Scandinavian languages, such as nackrosor meaning “night rose” or “water lily” and dokkalfar (“dark elf”).

After absorbing the powers of our newfound forest friends, Burt Diamond and his ruthless construction crew are defeated. This deforestation, unfortunately, is a very prevalent issue IRL as well. Let’s save the real woodland dwellers next!

And with that, we’ve come to the end of today’s tour. It’s worth noting this isn’t the only time Norse mythology’s been referenced in Pop: it serves as the basis of Realms as well! Were you already familiar with Scandinavia and its mythology? Better yet, have you been there before? Let me know down in the comments below!

Don’t let the Nøkken pounce,

~💜

Baron's Airship, Fairy Tale Island, Home Island

Red Queen looking for a Green Fiend 😈

October 7, 2022October 8, 2022 Purple Paw

Red October is upon us! Board the Baron’s airship ~~unless you want the Queen of Fairytale Island herself on your case~~ — ahem, if you’d like to partake in some Halloween shopping. You know, casual.

That’s right. The infamous Red Queen, the very one mentioned time and again throughout this Fairytale Island extended story, has arrived at last, guarded by dark knights and cats. And she’s on a mission!

Things aren’t looking too good for the green weasel in question. Rumpelstiltskin escaped the airship before the Queen arrived — possibly taking the Baron and her faithful monkey Ack with him, but neither of their whereabouts are known. No Baron’s Crusade this time!

There’s also an interesting bit of dialogue from the Queen that mentions Astro Knights. Could this beloved lost island be reentering the plot?

In response to our question, “Where are you returning from?”

With these new revelations, we’re left with more questions than before. What are the 7 systems the Red Queen speaks of conquering? How exactly does she plan to defeat Rumpel with that hammer (and do we want to know)? Where’s Rumpel hiding? Is the Queen planning to save her daughter the Baron, or is she after Rumpel for personal gain alone?

It also makes us wonder if Rumpel may not have been Fairytale’s true villain all along. With the introduction of the Red Queen, he’s no longer a menacing shapeshifter but a victim on the run. Will we as the player end up helping him? Whose side are we on?

On a lighter note, the Baron’s absence isn’t hindering her shop’s success: as announced, six new fan-made costumes (one designed by yours truly) are now available in-game for free! Personally, I’m pleased with how my “Jellyfish” was interpreted. The other five look fabulous as well!

You might find these pieces useful for your entry in the PHB’s Halloween costume contest, which is open till October 29. Besides the Red Queen and green fiend, don’t forget to pop in a bit of blue as well. Good luck!

Besides the costumes, you can also pick up two styles of jack-o-lanterns for 50 credits each, and a Rumpel-ized Baron Plushie for 200.

By the way, while Ack is nowhere to be seen, you can still earn credits by playing the Clear the Skies mini-game on the airship, which has been refreshed with a new skin to match the Red October mood!

Meanwhile, Amelia is no longer dangling under the clutches of Baronstiltskin, but back down on Home Island operating an autumnal sale of her own. She makes no mention of what she went through, but you can pop by Adventure Outfitters for hoodies and Halloween decor!

Whew! It’s certainly been an eventful day. There are many different directions the story of the royal family could take, all of them equally intriguing. I’d love to read your thoughts and theories — drop ’em in the comments below! Happy Red October, everyone. 🎃

*The Queen’s Batman-like cats are watching…*

~💜

Thanks to Dizzy Feather for contributing to this post.

Creators' Blog Guest Posts

Interview with Purple Paw from the Poptropica Creators 🎤💜

September 24, 2022September 24, 2022 Purple Paw

Hello! Welcome to the next part of our series with the Pop Creators interviewing members of the PHB team. As you may have seen on Poptropica’s blog, this turn goes to Purple Paw. Let’s get started!

1. How were you first introduced to Poptropica?

Surprise surprise, Funbrain! I’d been playing through our long lost friend, the Arcade, and had seen an ad for Pop on the side of the screen. My sister already knew a bit about it, and we set up a shared account. We continued playing together for a few years after that.

2. Who do you think is the most underrated character? Overrated?

It’s near impossible to talk about overrated characters without mentioning Dr. Hare — 24 Carrot was but the beginning of his career. Personally, I also think Amelia gets a little more attention than she’s worth.

As for most underrated, I’d have to go with Captain Ziggs from Steamworks Island. He’s already gone by the start of the island, but we later learn that he raised the drawbridge to keep the plant monsters at bay before presumably being cornered in his apartment. It’s largely thanks to him the citizens of Steamworks made it to their cryotubes in time. Quite the unsung hero!

3. What are your favorite scenes, aesthetically and to play through?

It’s definitely difficult to choose, but in my eyes nothing beats Binary Bard’s dream from Super Villain Island. That galaxy artwork is spectacular, and the whole concept of the dream itself is so inventive! The Sacred Tree Hollow from Twisted Thicket, with its mystical forest aesthetic, ranks high on the list for me as well.

4. From your perspective, how have you seen the Poptropica Help Blog (PHB) and community change over time?

It’s always shifting and changing alongside Pop itself. People will come and go often according to those changes; the end of Flash in 2020 brought both a resurgence of new fans excited for the future of the game, as well as those who became less active in the community after the loss of the classic islands. It’s amazing to see how long the PHB’s lasted and how many different people have come here over the years, whether they plant roots or just stop by briefly.

5. How has your PHB career surprised you?

I’d say I’m most surprised by the sheer amount of ideas, endeavors, and incredible creations that have graced the PHB, during my time as a staff writer and before! Artwork, fanfic, crossovers, animations, fan islands, even fan-made games—there’s so much creativity in the Pop fandom and the PHB holds a good chunk of it.

I didn’t quite know what to expect when joining the staff team, but it’s been a great experience thus far. The support and interactivity that can come from posting my own ideas is really gratifying. I’m thankful to be a part of it!

6. What inspires you?

As an artist myself, I’ve always been inspired first and foremost by other people’s artwork. I love viewing all the unique styles and methods of creating art and learning about how they’ve evolved throughout history. Getting outside and enjoying nature—whether by hiking, gardening, or finding a nice place to sit and enjoy the view—is a source of peace and inspiration for me as well.

7. What does the Pop community mean to you?

A lot. It’s become a significant part of my life—alongside meeting a fair amount of my good online friends here, the community’s become an outlet through which to channel my creativity and to view other peoples’ creations as well. Poptropica’s highly nostalgic for me, and it’s really nice to know and interact with other people who relate to that.

8. How have your experiences with the community and Poptropica influenced you IRL?

Plenty of writings, ideas, and pieces of art from my earlier childhood and the present have been heavily inspired by Pop. I remember writing stories based on the events of Astro-Knights and Twisted Thicket, and I even attempted to write a whole play revolving around Night Watch (attempted being the keyword there… ahem). Its myriad of characters even helped me overcome my avoidance of drawing people!

Even now, I still find joy and comfort in the many amazing islands of Pop. It remains special to me, and I can say with certainty it’s made a huge impact on my life.

9. Outside of Poptropica and your PHB involvement, what are you passionate about?

My ungodly amount of art and writing projects. Even though I abandon them frequently, I still care about them equally and do my best to continue them whenever life (and my overactive brain) permits.

Favorites

Island: Cryptids
Backstory/Lore: Myron Van Buren’s family tree on his cabin wall
Character: Princess Elyana
Villain: Black Widow
Costume: Daphne Dreadnaught’s steampunk design

Thanks, Poptropica, for being such a big source of inspiration for so many! Hope you all enjoyed getting to know me a little more in this Q&A, and if you like, you can check out more of my writing and art here on the PHB. You can also read this interview on the Pop Creators’ Blog. Pop on!

~💜

Uncategorized

Bonus Dream Interpretation: Zeus⚡

July 28, 2022July 28, 2022 Purple Paw

Hello again, and welcome to the final subject in my Dream Interpretation series: Zeus! (Catch up on previous posts in this series here.)

We thought the Main Four were Super Villain’s antagonists, but check again…the real mastermind behind it all is none other than the Greek god of thunder himself. What does Zeus’s dream say about him?

After his disguise is shed and his true identity revealed, Zeus is immediately thrown into one of the Main Four’s now empty cryotubes and trapped inside his own mind. Featuring an upside down Mythology Island with an inverted color palette and randomly scattered letters that, when assembled, spell out an override code, Zeus’s dream is very weird — but also might be the easiest to interpret.

Right off the bat, the inverted colors and anti-gravity effects likely mean Zeus is very shocked and disoriented at the moment; you could say he’s had his whole world turned upside down, figuratively in real life and literally in the dream. One moment he’s on the path to world domination, the next he’s fighting the player with the power of the totems behind him, and now he’s in cryostasis! The upside down world could also mean Zeus is worried his life will never be normal again.

The labyrinth sector of Zeus’s dream points generally to the same issue, but it’s slightly different. While representing confusion, labyrinths in dreams can also symbolize unending stress and complications or an unsolved problem that keeps repeating itself. Makes sense, seeing as Zeus has now been foiled by the player twice. How much more will it take to execute his villainous scheme?

Once you exit the labyrinth, you’ll find yourself on the Tree of Immortality. The tree could show Zeus recovering from his recent defeat and finding new hope; encountering a tree of life in a dreamscape might symbolize a new motivation, or it may be saying that although life is difficult, there’s always room to bounce back and continue. Good news for Zeus, but not so much for us in this case. 😬

The Tree of Immortality is also the first place in his dream where we see Zeus, and he’s not feeling too friendly towards us at the moment. He’ll attack by whizzing across the screen every time you find a letter.

Similar to the Black Widow’s dream, attacking someone could represent taking action against a threat or overcoming issues. Zeus isn’t wasting any time firing up his fighting spirit and launching back into battle!

Then there’s the matter of the scattered letters. I think it’s possible Zeus has a mind map — in other words, he stores important information throughout his brain and can easily access that info later, similar to the detective Sherlock Holmes.

After you’ve located all the letters in the Tree of Immortality, you’ll find yourself in the final location, an upside-down Mount Olympus. Mountains in dreams symbolize huge challenges and obstacles, or a growing need to prove yourself. Here, Zeus’s attacks become more frequent; he’s onto our plan, and he’s determined to ruin it.

Something else worth mentioning is Zeus’s abilities in his own dream. While we can only jump, Zeus soars across the screen like the thunder god he is. However, he’s still limited by this anti-gravitational world — he can’t hover in midair with nothing beneath him like he’s normally able to, and instead must find a rock or a branch to steady himself.

Upon picking up the last letter, you’ll be freed from Zeus’s dreamscape with the override code in hand, and everything in Erewhon Prison is set right. Except for the four escaped villains. Just a minor detail that might’ve been overlooked.

In conclusion: Zeus’s dream as a whole displays a realization process of sorts. In the beginning, he’s confused, in shock, and very unsure what to do or where to go. He then reminds himself that he’s quite literally king of the gods — no cryotube or bobble-headed avatar can stand in his path and get away with it! He must not give up. Zeus doesn’t appreciate being exposed or showing weakness, which is perhaps why he’s so quick to forge on and attack the player the moment they appear.

Unfortunately, Zeus isn’t taking much time to think here. His undying need to prove himself and live up to his reputation overpowers any sensibility he might have, and he refuses to pause and adjust to his new circumstances, which is perhaps why he’s unable to fly properly; and why his dreamscape hasn’t righted itself yet. Maybe next time, he should take everything into account before attempting to overthrow Poptropica.

…and with that, Interpreting the Main Four’s (Five’s?) Dreams has come to a close! It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve really enjoyed writing these posts, and I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading them too.

Dream on,

~💜

Author: Purple Paw

Ranking the Poptropica Tribes’ Common Rooms 🚪🌴