Smart Bubbles

It’s official: Poptropica.com now automatically redirects to Coolmath Games (CMG), as announced earlier this year following a shutdown scare in December. The Poptropica website is no more, but the game will live on through CMG, which hosts a vast library of ex-Flash games.

Coolmath Games will be the platform to access Poptropica going forward, although as previously mentioned on their blog, there are currently no plans to restore the old islands (RIP to best island Astro-Knights 🚀). Like Poptropica, CMG is also under Sandbox & Co, so the ownership remains the same — only the web hosting has switched.

CMG’s announcement of the move on social media (Twitter/X and Instagram) was short and sweet, stating that you can still access your account and to contact them for any questions.

Curiously, CMG liked a comment from a fan account on their Instagram post which said that Poptropica was going to close until CMG stepped in to save the day. This matches the narrative in CMG’s earlier blog post, though it’s interesting that Poptropica never said so themselves.

CMG liked a comment about how they saved the game, but didn’t elaborate further

At the end of the day, Poptropica is still alive and doesn’t seem to be shutting down anytime soon, so that’s worth celebrating. 🙌

However, as their blog states, there are no plans for more content new or old, so what we have now — mostly several short islands and episodes — may be all we get for the foreseeable future. It may not be much, but there are a couple of improvements to CMG’s Pop: mobile playability straight from your web browser, and full screen mode!

If you want to replay the old islands, you can still do so through Flashpoint, the unofficial preservation project. Another option is Poptropica’s paid Steam bundle, but Flashpoint has more content. Whether you play on Coolmath Games, Flashpoint, or Steam, don’t forget to visit our Island Guides for tips along your adventures! 🥳

~ Ad astra per aspera ~

-Smart Bubbles

p.s. Read more about the Poptropica-to-Coolmath Games migration here.

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“The Villain Saga” – (FINALE) Episode 10, Part 2

December 4, 2023December 6, 2023 Smart Bubbles

(Table of contents) (See previous)

INT. MOREAU AND D.’S OFFICE – AFTERNOON

CUT TO MOREAU and DIRECTOR D., practically wasting away in their office. They’re surrounded by a mess of papers and folders neither have bothered to clean up.

DIRECTOR D.

You’d think Jupiter would at least send in other prisoners for us to talk to while we’re still here.

MOREAU

He knows we aren’t psychologists. Besides, I don’t think he cares about the rest.

DIRECTOR D.

Yup. Did you see another volunteer come in today?

MOREAU

Hah! Another piece of canon fodder for him because the coward won’t do it himself.

DIRECTOR D.

Be a little more optimistic, Moreau. If he loses too many people he may ask us to go next.

The building suddenly shakes. Both jump from their seats.

DIRECTOR D.

Earthquakes now??

Continue reading →

Uncategorized

“The Villain Saga” – (FINALE) Episode 10, Part 1

November 21, 2023December 6, 2023 Smart Bubbles

(Table of contents) (See previous)

INT. EREWHON PRISON, JUPITER’S LAB – EVENING

FADE IN.

We open this episode where we left off, with DIRECTOR D. and MOREAU watching the completion of the beginning of JUPITER’S experiment. All four prisoners are in their places now, hung in suspended animation in a sleep-like state, with JUPITER looking proudly on.

MOREAU

…So…what will happen to them?

JUPITER

(Pacing)

Ideally, I will have removed all their evil temptations and desires, and I will be able to prove them as good, law-abiding members of society.

(Con’t)

But reality is often not ideal. I doubt this will change them at all–at best, the chance for these things to go wrong is quite high.

(Con’t)

But we must all make sacrifices for our goals…I’m sure you would understand.

DIRECTOR D. and MOREAU don’t respond. They likely don’t have any moral opposition to this sort of experimentation, but they’re still very stunned and confused.

JUPITER

Now, if you’ll leave us be—

A lab assistant walks up to the bottom platform, sitting in a chair under the devices. A helmet slowly attaches to his head, and the entire machine lights up, nearly blinding all in the room.

Once the lights are gone, so is the assistant, with the helmet and chair empty as though nothing had happened at all.

JUPITER

–I’ll let my assistants get started on exploring their minds.

(Con’t)

Let Stage 1 of the Dream Machine Project begin!

Continue reading →

Fanfiction, PHB Series, The Villain Saga, Uncategorized

“The Villain Saga” – Episode 9, Part 2

October 17, 2023November 25, 2023 Smart Bubbles

(Table of contents) (See previous)

CUT TO inside the interview room. DR. HARE is alone at his side of the table, with DIRECTOR D and MOREAU facing him. They are talking about anything but therapy.

HARE

Ok, the plan was Crawfish would go down where the other prisoners are and make a huge ruckus.

Yes, I know it’s super simple and…bad, but it was really the best idea we could come up with. We’re short on time—I think Jupiter’s already taking him to wherever he put the others.

Continue reading →

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Join us for the #Poptober2023 Art Challenge

October 1, 2023October 2, 2023 Smart Bubbles

Hello Poptropicans! Once again I nearly missed making this for October, but here it is right on the dot at the start of the new month. 🍂

Like past Poptober events, the “rules” are simple: draw something according to these Pop-related prompts. For you ambitious artists out there, you can opt for the full challenge of drawing each prompt every day. But otherwise, feel free to pick and choose or do an alternate version of the challenge, such as every other day or every week. 🧑‍🎨

Poptober takes inspiration from creativity challenges like Inktober or Mermay, and there are no particular rules on art mediums or how to interpret the prompts. Just keep it Poptropica-themed!

We’d love to see your creations, and there are plenty of ways to share them with us. ✨ You can comment on this post with link(s) to your art, post on Instagram with the hashtag #Poptober2023, or share on the #pop-art channel of the PHC, our Discord server.

Have fun creating, and I’ll hop on here again later!

Castori honorem ~ Smart Bubbles 🫧