Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans!

For all you voracious readers waiting to get your hands on the Poptropica graphic novels, it’s your lucky day: books 3 and 4 are currently on sale on the digital marketplace Amazon, at 45% off and 25% off respectively.

popbookdeals

Book 3, The Secret Society, is currently on sale on Amazon at 45% off from its usual US$9.95 list price, making it US$5.47. Now would be a great time to pick up the book! If you’re unsure, check out our book review for The Secret Society.

Book 4, The End of Time, is still in pre-order and will be shipping next Tuesday, September 12. It’s currently 25% off from its usual list price and is being sold for US$7.54. We’re not sure when either of these discounts will end, so snag this deal while you can! It’s going to be the last book in the series.

Thanks to Mitch Krpata, the books’ author, for tweeting about the deals! If you’d like to hear more from Mitch, check out this interview we did with him earlier this year!

Love that new-book smell. Poptropica 4: The End of Time is on sale 09/12/17! https://t.co/EFQ7cohSER pic.twitter.com/v1iq7F92rf

— Mitch Krpata (@mkrpata) August 29, 2017

In other news…

Over the past week or so, there have been some sightings of a possible makeover for the Poptropica home screen. Some players have reported seeing this new screen (pictured below), which promotes Poptropica Original at the front and makes you click through another button if you want to get to Worlds. Since the release of Worlds, it’s been the other way around.

I personally like this newer one better, as Poptropica Original – 9 years in the making – is a much more fruitful offering than Pop Worlds is thus far, with its few months of existing. Though Worlds has some neat things to offer, it’s got a lot to catch up on when it comes to content, and that, to me, makes the original game worthier of representing what “Poptropica” is able to offer over the newer game. Or should the home screen be evenly divided between the two?

pop homescreen

However, not everyone has been seeing this newer screen, so perhaps this is just something they are testing out. For others, clicking to go to Poptropica Original on the original Worlds-promoting home screen brings up the login screen as expected. But recently, it’s acquired a noticeably bigger spot on the side for animated ads.

In my own opinion, it feels like another sign that the Creators are investing less into the original game, by giving up a part of an otherwise cohesive aesthetic that they had held onto for so long before. At the same time, I do empathize with Poptropica’s need to finance itself, and ads are a way of doing that. Fortunately, it’s only there until you log in.

pop

Anyway, that’s all that’s new for now! What do you think of the home screen changes? Have you preordered The End of Time yet, and will you take advantage of the almost half-off deal on The Secret Society too? Share your thoughts in the comments!

<・)))><<

Guest Posts, Pop 5

Pop 5: MiniGame Collections

August 28, 2017August 26, 2017 Slanted Fish

This post originally appeared on Poptropica Fun Zone and is being shared on the PHB courtesy of the author, Hyper Gamer. See the bottom of this post for how you, too, can write for the PHB!

pop5 minigames

Hi everyone. Today, I will be talking about the best mini-games you can play, categorized by island. These mini-games require getting to a certain part of the island before you can play them, and many of them are collections with lots of games in one island. Plus, you can play them even after you have completed the island.

This was originally published as a “Pop 6” list, but in keeping with PHB tradition, this is post will give the “Pop 5,” with the full list on the original. Now, onto the list!

#6: Wimpy Boardwalk

There are a lot of mini-games you can play on Wimpy Boardwalk: Himalayan Hurl, Fastball Fury, Circus Soaker, Space Fling, and Pirate Panic. These mini-games are fun and somewhat of a challenge, but they really aren’t that hard.

In order to access these games, you have to be a member, since non-members can only play a demo of the island. Also, you need to obtain a certain item in order to win Himalayan Hurl. You’ll also need to accrue tokens, found around the island, to play these games.

#5: Wild West

There are a lot of mini-games you can play on Wild West: Slap-Jack, Shooting Contest, Spit-N-Time, and Slots. They can be found on various parts of the island.

In most of these games, you get to play against other characters, except Slots where you play against the machine. This makes for more of a challenge as you have someone to compete with, even if they are computer-controlled.

#4: Wimpy Wonderland

There are two mini-games you can play on Wimpy Wonderland: Twisted Wizard and Bingo. Bingo is only available for members. Twisted Wizard is available for anybody that has completed Wimpy Wonderland.

Personally, I think Twisted Wizard is a really fun game that you can play on any non-SUI island once you unlock it. You can find the CD in your games or island inventory.

Bingo, found in Leisure Towers, is also a fun game, but takes some concentration. I’d say Twisted Wizard is more fun, though.

#3: Game Show

There are a lot of mini-games you can play on Game Show Island: Mr. Yoshi’s Super Terrific Challenge, Kerplunk, Spin for Riches, Scardy Pants, and Brainiacs.

These games are a mix of games based on skill in doing challenges and games that use knowledge. The knowledge-based games tend to repeat questions, but the skill-based games have challenges that you can play over and over.

#2: PoptropiCon Ep. 2, Spoiler Alert

pop5 pcon

The Mighty Action Force card game is the biggest game talked about in PoptropiCon. The MAF card game is super fun. It is a game I keep going back to play. You even have the option to change your deck with the cards you found so you can make it better.

There are two people you can choose from to battle on the island. The game is simple and very easy to access from the end of the episode.

Want to find out what #1 is? See the original post over on Poptropica Fun Zone!

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Hyper Gamer! If you did, be sure to check out his blog, Poptropica Fun Zone.

The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. You can find some tips and guidelines on our Write for the PHB page. We also encourage sharing blog posts on the PHC.

If you have an idea for a PHB post, send it in!

My Place in Poptropica

My Place in Poptropica: Wild Wing

August 26, 2017April 15, 2018 Slanted Fish

This is the My Place in Poptropica story of Wild Wing, a player from Spain who has improved her English through Poptropica, and also blogs at Poptropica All. See below to send in your MPIP!

Hey all! I’m just a person in the world who likes Poptropica and writing on blogs (about Poptropica). I thought I’d share my Poptropica story with you, so enjoy!

The Start of All

It all started one year, I don’t remember when exactly. Anyway, I’m from Spain, but my father wanted me to learn English so that I could get a good job in the future. He sent me an e-mail with directions to a game site that was in English. That site was FunBrain.

I got really addicted to that site, and then I found an ad on the Math Arcade. I just clicked on it and a few moments later, I had registered for my first Poptropica account! I don’t remember my first account, but I do remember my Poptropican on Shark Tooth Island, standing on the top of a coconut.

More Homework, Less Poptropica

As I got older, I had more homework to do, and the free time I did have, I spent with my friends. So I started to forget about Poptropica and its magical world.

I started playing other games, and Poptropica was at the end of my list. My friends told me about some other games, and I talked a little about the things I remembered about Poptropica. However, I think that they didn’t like it too much, and I agreed with them at that time.

Re-discovering Poptropica, and Membership

About two years later, I remembered Poptropica. At the time, I didn’t have too much homework, so I started playing it more. That’s when my current character, Wild Wing, was created.

I completed almost all of the islands, but I couldn’t finish Virus Hunter or Steamworks. Later, on my other accounts, I think I finished Steamworks, but since it took so long to complete, I didn’t play it again on my main account.

My parents let me have a one month membership. When I became a member, I said to myself that it would be as cool as in the ads. But I was a little bit disappointed. I bought all the cards from the store and did all the things members could in that time. But there wasn’t much for members back then: there weren’t any early access islands or the seven (now six) members-only islands. So, I didn’t like membership too much.

Discovering More: The Social Aspect

This part is when I discovered the social part of Poptropica. Videos on YouTube, the Poptropica Help Blog, other interesting fan sites… the more I found, the more addicted I became to reading about Poptropica and playing the game.

I just love reading all the funny and interesting blog posts out there, and discovering new Poptropica blogs. I love knowing and thinking about all the different points of view.

Less Pop Original, More Worlds, and a Blog

When Pop Worlds was released, for some reason, I couldn’t enter Poptropica Original anymore. I checked Flash and all that stuff, but nothing worked. So I have to play Poptropica Original on my father’s computer. He’s usually on it, so I can’t go on Pop Original most of time. Right now, when I do play, I can only really play the few things that are available on Poptropica Worlds.

With the release of Poptropica Worlds, and of all the new features, I decided I wanted to create my own Pop blog, called Poptropica All. Check it out!

Anyway, I don’t know what will happen in a year or more. But I do know I would like to continue with Poptropica. In addition to being fun, Poptropica has also helped me with learning English, and that’s been pretty useful to me!

If you want to add me on Poptropica, my username is magicandmagic (don’t ask me why). Well, thanks for reading!

¡THAT’S ALL!

Hope you enjoyed this “My Place in Poptropica” story!

If you haven’t already, we invite you to send in your own. Please include your username and a minimum of 550 words, typed with good spelling and grammar, and divided into labeled sections. If you send in your story, we will continue to post new community MPIPs!

~the Poptropica Help Blog

Guest Posts, Tribes

Pop Petition: Bring Tribes to Worlds!

August 25, 2017August 23, 2017 Slanted Fish

(Hey Poptropicans! This is a guest post written by Poptropica community member MT, wherein the idea of bringing Poptropica Tribes to Worlds is discussed. Enjoy!)

Pop Petition Header

Hello, fellow Poptropicans! I am honored to speak to all of you today. Let me introduce myself. Call me MT: short for Moody Tuna, and I’m not this MT.

As you may or may not know, Poptropica is a map made by the “Creators”, a group of ~~psychiatrists~~ ~~psychologists~~ ~~physiatrists~~ ~~physiologists~~ psychics that can tell the future (because they create it). They created the past to ensure the future, and they succeeded. But as the Poptropica graphic novels will show you, Octavian has been messing with the timeline for the sake of saving his loved one. But there’s another mystery about the Poptropica timeline: when did the tribes form?

Tribes came to Poptropica for the ancient Poptropolis Games, but tribes had already been existing for a time. The tribal system has also separated Poptropicans and given us awesome common rooms. So, it was pretty awesome in Poptropica Original, and I’d love to see the concept continue in the newer Poptropica Worlds, especially with more expansions on story. Of course, having tribes will require jerseys and running shorts, and that, of course, will show those hideous knees. *shudder*

Still, choosing a tribe would be a great way for Poptropicans to show a bit of personality to their friends, and unite Poptropicans in some friendly competition.

poptropolisgames3 — Spear me the details.

As we know, islands on Worlds each get their own museum, and now I’m wondering out loud what the museum would display if there was one for a remastered Poptropolis Games. Of course, it should talk about the ancient warrior in the members’ bonus quest, as well as the sinking and resurfacing of the island.

And what about the common rooms? We have yet to see an actual common room in Worlds, even though the Creators have talked about bringing multi-player features to Worlds. One of the original picture previews for Worlds even says “Challenge your friends!” Well, I think it’d be cool if we had a common room on our Home Island that corresponded to the tribe we were in. But what do you think?

I have to go, so… BAM!! *a golden robot looms closer, red eyes gleaming with delight* “Mwahahahaha!!”

The end?!?!?

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by MT!

If you have an idea for a PHB post, send it in!

Poptropica Worlds

My dearest Balloon Boy, it’s a Poptropica Worlds trailer!

August 23, 2017August 23, 2017 Slanted Fish

So, my dearest Poptropicans,

Today was a weird day. Not like talking cats weird… more like meeting a chipper little boy who takes selfies with immortal gods and hangs out with identical spies kind of weird. These bizarre antics and more are captured in this new Poptropica Worlds trailer:

Well, this video is certainly… interesting. Clearly, one of the aspects that stands out most here, for better or worse, is the running dialogue narrated by an excitable young child named Manfred who’s writing to Balloon Boy about his adventures on Poptropica Worlds. Since Poptropica has never been one to use voice acting, this change has definitely perked some ears.

From the sound of the kid’s voice, the video sets a very clear vibe of being something that hopes to appeal to children. And while Poptropica is a game targeted to kids, there is also an older player base around, many of whom grew up with the game from when they were children, for whom the attempt to appeal is lost in the childlike voice acting.

A commenter on the video, Messy Wolf (WonderfulFilms), writes that “the voice acting was a little bit overdone and catering to a much younger demographic.”

However, another commenter, Kenzie Backlin, had a different opinion, suggesting that “they should do voice acting for all characters.”

Whatever your thoughts on the kid’s narration, we’ve also got the rest of the video to look at. Something that’s more of an unequivocal observation among Poptropicans is that the animation continues to impress, in keeping with the Poptropica style with perhaps more detail than before, especially with the Worlds-style avatars. Good stuff!

dr hare shock — gif by naps (astroknightsisland) on tumblr

Another element that’s important to take note of is the actual content being displayed in the trailer: namely, the islands. We see the boy, Manfred, writing his letter on his desk in his house on Home Island, where he also spins the daily wheel and decks out his place, which he calls his “clubhouse.”

Anyway, could this letter-writing business be a sign that the currently unreleased “Inbox” feature on Worlds is soon to arrive? And that we get to send messages to Balloon Boy, who’s up in the stratosphere? It’s nice to see his presence continued in Worlds, at least.

We also see Manfred run through the other islands currently on Worlds, Crisis Caverns and 24 Carrot. However, he also meets Zeus on Mythology Island, which exists on Poptropica Original but not Worlds – could Mythology be the next island? And perhaps more curiously, how did he get the irritable Zeus to smile for a selfie?!

zeus selfie — gif by naps (astroknightsisland) on tumblr

Beyond that, there are a couple more that are not so familiar: in one scene, a “phantom” colored in pitch black jumps out at him from what appears to be a stage. In another, a horde of spies appears, then disappears in the next moment. The background is that of Zomberry Island with a side of a soundstage from Back Lot, but these characters don’t appear anywhere in the original game, suggesting that these will be brand new islands.

Anyway, what do you think of the new Poptropica Worlds trailer video? What islands are you looking forward to next on Worlds? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

–🐠

Author: Slanted Fish

Discounts for Poptropica Books, from Screen to Home!