Slanted Fish

Baron's Airship, Fan Art Features, Mini Quests, Monthly Costume Contests, Store

Has Grapple-Pap Got the Baron? 👹🎁

December 21, 2022December 21, 2022 Slanted Fish

Happy Grapple-Pap, Poptropicans! 🎄💝☃️

We may be well into December by now, but the Pop winter tradition is officially on for the third year in a row. All players can find the old man on Home Island to play the Grapple-Gift Side Quest! Here’s our guide.

Just like before, you’ll be asked to deliver a gift to the shut-in, Clareta, in a short journey across a cold cliff. At the end, you’ll win a Grapple-Pop treat that can turn people sickly green! 🤢 Check out our review of The Grapple-Gift here. Cheers — we wouldn’t want ol’ GP to get us for a year!

You may have seen the winter wonderland of Home Island topped with Christmas garlands, but there’s another arrival on the homebase as well: the Baron’s airship! Except, well, the Baron’s still missing…

…and taking the throne inside the Cabin of Curiosities is her nemesis Amelia! Though maybe frenemy is a better word for their curious relationship, as the storekeeper comes with a peace offering of Grapple-Pops for her absent archrival, as she apparently does every year.

Also in the cabin, you can pick up a plethora of gifts, including half a year’s worth of the monthly player-designed costumes for free! The returning outfits were determined by popular vote last month, bringing us the Rockette, Jester, Spa Day (with slippers), The Hair, De-Man, and Boxing Barb (with shoes and gloves).

To the right, you can also purchase Grapple-Pap goodies: a tri-color lamp, totem pole, Christmas garland, gargoyle, and villager outfit.

But back to the case of the disappearing sky pirate. Talk to the detective Amelia, and she’ll share that the Baron’s ship just drifted in on its own.

She’ll also tie in worry for the Baron with the legend of Grapple-Pap, which states that if you don’t spread cheer, the fearsome monster (who shares a name with the holiday) “will get you for one whole year.”

We know the Baron is notoriously un-cheery, so does that mean they’ve encountered Grapple-Pap… whatever that means? Will we not see them for an entire year? Or is Rumpelstiltskin in on this too?

While the plot is only getting thicker up in the skies, down at Adventure Outfitters, Amelia is back to her smiley self with new gear for the holidays. In addition to the wintry wonders on the shop floor introduced earlier, don’t miss the fine fits for players and pets, including the Polar Bear, Slice of Pie, and Ornament costumes for the latter littles!

Last but certainly not least, enjoy these fan art features Poptropica shared on their Instagram stories last week! Feeling inspired? Share something “Grapple-Pap” for our Community Creations this month! ✨

Have a merry holiday season, however you celebrate. Come back before the end of the year for our annual rewind and let’s put a bow on 2022! 💝

~🐠

Guest Posts, My Place in Poptropica

My Place in Poptropica: Blue Moon

December 15, 2022December 13, 2022 Slanted Fish

This is a guest post from Blue Moon sharing her My Place in Poptropica story, which is all about one’s Poptropica journey. Enjoy!

Hey there fellow Poptropicans! This is Blue Moon, and this is my first post on the blog. Today it’s all about my tale in Poptropica. Enjoy!

I am kind of an amateur in Pop, and I only lived in the Haxe version. I never got to experience the Flash version—the old islands, everything… it’s only a dream to my friends and I, when it’s at least a memory to everyone else. This post is especially for all the new players—those who’ve heard of but never experienced Poptropica’s golden ages.

Spotlight: One time you may not want to be center stage.

2019: Finding Pop, then leaving

I was in grade three when I first encountered Poptropica, and it was during the Covid pandemic. My mom used to restrict me from screen-time except for academic reasons, and I was dying to get my hands on some free games. One day, when I was over at my friend Icy Fire’s house, she presented me with this free, wonderful game, called Poptropica.

Sadly, at the time I was too stupid to figure out the complicated and confusing islands all by myself. Added with a stir of frustration at the extraordinary members-only products, I left the game before I even finished an island. I didn’t know at the time that I was actually in the Flash version of the game, until, alas, it was too late. Oh well 😐

Up and Away: It helps to be full of hot air.

2022: Revisiting

It was during the lockdown in Shanghai, China, where I live, that I picked up interest in Pop again. One day, I decided to get in touch with my friend Icy Fire, who’d gone to boarding school. In no time, she was asking me about Pop. Not wanting to disappoint my lost-and-found friend, I quickly sat up an account on Pop, and then managed to start a pathetic discussion. At least I found an interest in Pop… which is still going.

With Poptropica’s current state, I completed every single island in a month’s time during the Shanghai lockdown. Of course, Icy Fire and I always stuck together on every single quest and challenge. To me, she was my light in Poptropica. For a short time, I left Pop because of pure boredom, and went off to play other games instead.

However, as I became more experienced in other games, I realized that none of them are actually as good as Poptropica. With a jolt, I returned to Pop in September, and made an internal vow never to leave it again. It was at that time that I finally realized that actually, Pop had already taken a place in my heart that no other game would replace, even though some players feel that the game has entered its “downfall.” Since September, I’ve been an active player once again.

I know that players enjoyed Poptropica when it was on Flash. But there are players now that never even got to play the old islands, and now their number is increasing. I’ve read the guides for the old islands time and time again, trying to absorb in the gameplay, but I still can’t really “be in” the quest. Please, Pop Creators, think about how it feels to new players who’ve never experienced the wonders of Poptropica’s past. I want to let them also have a chance to “be in” Poptropica’s golden ages. This is not only for me, it’s for every new player.

To end on a happier note…

Fun (and sometimes embarrassing) facts about Blue Moon the Poptropican:

My first finished island is Fairytale Island, and I got stuck in a plant while helping Red.
I took one whole month and four separate restarts to break out of Pelican Rock.
Even for now, I still can’t beat the “unbeatable” girl in PoptropiCon 2.
My best friend on Pop is Super Star (username piziyu)
My username is Aristah (friend me!)

Still Poppin’ On~

-Blue Moon 🌚

Hope you enjoyed this “My Place in Poptropica” story! If you did, you’ll probably enjoy our other MPIP stories here on the PHB.

If you haven’t already shared your story, we invite you to send in your own. Interested in writing for the PHB under a different Pop-topic? Take a look at our Write for the PHB page for ideas, guidelines, and more!

Clubhouse, Guest Posts

Party Clubhouse Tour: Dizzy Feather 🍿

December 14, 2022December 13, 2022 Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, this is a guest post by Dizzy Feather. Enjoy!

Hello everyone, Dizzy Feather here, with a tour of my party clubhouse. (You can also check out my other clubhouse tours here and here for my castle room.) Let’s get started!

Now this clubhouse is designed as a movie theater and museum. Like many movie theaters, there are concessions, popcorn, soda, and six flavors of ice cream: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint, fudge swirl, and bubblegum. I’ll just get a chocolate ice cream and a purple soda.

While we wait for the movie to start, we can sit by the fire over on the left — sorry there isn’t room for all of us. Not to worry though, the rest of use can wait in one of the two rooms on the second level.

Up on the left, we have a trampoline. You can jump on it, if you would like. However, you should probably wait till after the movie if you have already eaten your snacks. Anyway, over to the right, there’s a water cooler with two comfy cushions to sit on.

Oh, the movie is about to start. Don’t worry, I chose the Mighty Action Force movie. It’s rated PG and is entertaining.

*yawn* That was a good movie, don’t you agree?

Anyway, let’s start the tour of the museum. First up on the left is a wooden chest, salvaged from the library on Astro-Knights Island. Next to it is yet another chest from the Fairytale Island treasury. The last thing in this room is the ancient charcoal holder, donated by the Museum of Really Old Things on Goofball Island.

Over here, there are a few artifacts from various islands. The model fishes are from Mission Atlantis, the bags of candy are from Great Pumpkin, and the phoenix sculpture is from Back Lot.

Up here, there is a stuffed model of a camel, also donated by the Museum of Really Old Things. Then there’s a crystal skull resembling the one in the old Pathfinders common room, plus a wooden barrel mug salvaged from a shipwreck on Skullduggery.

But what about that thing over there, with a yellow balloon on it? Let’s see here, it says “Remembering Balloon Boy, may he safely return to the ground.” I think the balloon should be green, just saying.

Over here, we have some vintage toys, a tennis racket and ball, a stuffed toy vampire bat, a case full of figurines of villains, and a skateboard locked in place.

Finally, we have a golden statue from the Fairytale Island treasury, which used to be a statue of the king, but now, well… I imagine you can guess. We have a sandstone bust of a cat and a sarcophagus to hold a mummy, both also donated by the Museum of Really Old Things. Finally, there is a bust of Goofball Island’s founder, Emperor Thirsty Flame III.

That’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed the tour! I’ll be back again soon!

-Dizzy Feather

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Dizzy Feather. If you did, you might also enjoy other clubhouse tours we’ve featured. Consider sharing yours, too!

The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. Interested in writing for the PHB? We’d love to hear from you!

Member Gifts

Nifty Gifts if you Thrift a Membership 🎁☕️

December 13, 2022December 13, 2022 Slanted Fish

Here comes the final batch of the 12 Days of Member Gifts! 💝 (In case you missed them, check out previous gifts here, here, and here.)

As seen on Poptropica’s Instagram, Day 9 kissed the inventories of members with the Mistletoe Hair and Plaid Scarf by Barefoot Skull, Day 10 drifted in with the Thrift Gift by Serious Star, Day 11 gave sight to a White Christmas by Pink Panda, and Day 12 fluttered in a Snowflake Princess by Neat Crown. Check out the original designs below! 🧣❄️

To get these items, you’ll need to be a member at any point this December and check your inventory. If you aren’t one, try your luck in the PHB’s Free Membership Giveaways! Or, if your design from the Holly Jolly Holiday Design Contest was chosen, you’ll win your item regardless.

That’s a wrap for all 12 member gifts this month! Will the remaining days of the year bring more holiday cheer? That remains unclear…

~🐠

Fan Art Features, Member Gifts

Just Chillin’ with Member Gifts 🍬🧝🥶

December 8, 2022 Slanted Fish

On we go with the 12 Days of Member Gifts! 🎁 Picking off from Days 1 through 5, let’s see what the next few days have brought the privileged.

As shared on the Pop Creators’ Blog, Day 6 gave us the Elf by Purple Noodle, Day 7 swept in with Just Chillin’ by Magic Kid, and Day 8 marched through with the Candy Cane Soldier by Cuddly Panda.

To get these items, you’ll need to be a member and check your inventory. If you aren’t one, you can try your luck in the PHB’s Free Membership Giveaways. Or, if your design from the Holly Jolly Holiday Design Contest gets chosen, you’ll win your item regardless.

Only four more gifts to go! Meanwhile, we’re still waiting to see if the Grapple-Pap side quest will return this year. 🎄🙏 At the least, we’re expecting a return of the Baron’s airship — what drama will unfold, we’re not sure — though it should be bringing back one of this year’s free winning costumes as voted on by players! ✨

Anyway, here are the latest fan art features from Poptropica’s Instagram stories this week! As always, you can click into the artists’ names to see more visual and informational details. Enjoy! 💫