Slanted Fish

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

Hi! I’m Silver Shell, and this is my first post on the PHB. I’m going to show you my MPIP, My Place in Poptropica.

The Great Discovery

The year was… actually, I don’t know when the year was. I must’ve forgotten. Huh. Sorry if any of you wanted the year.

It was the middle of summer. I had nothing else to do, so I was on my computer, playing a bunch of uncool math games on Cool Math Games. I was scrolling, and I saw a picture of some lady with aviator’s goggles, a hat, and a jacket. She looked kind of like Amelia Earhart, actually — just missing some key ingredients like, I don’t know, a nose and ears. Since I was fascinated by aviation back then, I thought the game looked cool.

The Flying Ace Race — scene from Monkey Wrench Island

Then there was the name. Poptropica. How do you pronounce it? I had no idea. For a few days, I walked around calling it “pop-TROPE-ee-kay”.

Anyway, I Googled the game to see if search engines thought it was any good. Fun? Okay. Communicating safely? Why not? Educational…Oh. No. That ain’t gonna work. See, I was kind of sick of games where they’re all like “What’s 5 times 5? Good job! You’ve unlocked a pet!” and stuff like that. Regardless of that, I was curious, so I clicked.

And behold, the beginning of an era.

Playing the Game

I was welcomed by some pink rabbit with goggles standing on a floating island (little did I know I would see stranger things than that!) with a bunch of stuff flying around in the background. After spending maybe twenty minutes just staring at the screen to see what would fly around in the background, I finally clicked “new player.”

After creating my avatar to look as much like me as possible, and talking to the girl in the goggles and jacket (who was actually named Amelia, after the aviator!), I went on my first quest, to a creepy-looking, kind of run-down island called 24 Carrot.

I’ll admit, back then I didn’t quite understand how the islands worked. I thought if I refused the quest, there would have to be something else to do. I thought I was really on a time limit.

*I thought hiding behind flowers would conceal me from Dr. Hare*.

After winning, I received something I would never forget. It was such an important symbol of my achievement and duty as a Poptropican…

My first medallion. *cue the hallelujah chorus*

The Old New Poptropica

I played Poptropica almost every day for a long time, but after a while, I realized that things weren’t changing. I wished for something new every day. I was coming to a scary suspicion that the creators were giving up on their own game. I checked the Pop Creators’ Blog nonstop, but nothing. I stopped playing for a while. I had to focus on school, anyway.

That all changed one day in 2020, when I decided to check the Creators’ Blog again for the first time in months, and I saw something amazing, something mysterious, something I had never seen before, and it was titled: Classic Islands are Baaaaaacccckkkk!

I immediately bought a membership, sailed through islands I had never before seen, met characters, defeated villains, saved innocents, and my medallions were piling up. I never felt happier!

Then I read the post again. They were here until the end of Flash. What? The end of Flash? Poptropica’s life force is shutting down?!

I Googled it to see if it was true. Sure enough, Flash was going away, but Poptropica’s here to stay! I played the old islands for as long as I could, as many times as I could, and tried to make the best of it while I had it. I was sad when the old islands left, but I was proud of myself for bringing peace to so many islands.

The Beginning of the End

At first, I thought it wasn’t too bad. Flash had just been taken away, and Poptropica wasn’t too different. In fact, some improvements even came out! I liked how NPCs walked across Home Island. The removal of the movie theater wasn’t a big deal. I thought it would be fine!

Later, a mini-quest of one of my favorite islands came out: the Zomberry Hero Special Event! For a while, there was peace in Poptropica.

And that became a problem. Sure, there was the occasional mini-quest, but without new islands, there wasn’t much left to do. Little did I know I would be wishing for things to stay the same in the future.

Home Island before (top pic) it was remodeled in 2021 (bottom pic)

It all kind of collapsed for me when Home Island was remade for Haxe. I loved it the way it was, but now too much is changing. Every single part of Poptropica I loved was either taken away or changed. The changes were always glitchy and annoying in my opinion. The characters became bouncy and peppy and unnatural. No matter how much I petitioned, the creators wouldn’t bring back what I had come to love: Old Poptropica. I couldn’t rely on anything.

Bunk: Perhaps you, too, will love the 90s.

Or so I thought.

Meeting the Community

I was searching “Poptropica Help” one day just because I was bored and I wanted to see what came up. A Poptropica Help Blog?! This was just what I needed to keep myself distracted!

Life Jackets On: The lucky few who made it to the lifeboats.

I found a huge blog with thousands of readers who love Poptropica as much as I do, a place that keeps me informed about new stuff, one where people all around the world can share their ideas.

That led me to even more fansites: the Poptropica Wiki, We-Love-Poptropica on DeviantArt, and so much more. I finally found a part of Poptropica I could rely on: the community! This was what I could trust!

Media Bias: Don’t trust what the robots say.

(You can guess how heartbroken I was when the PHB changed their entire blog as a prank on April Fool’s Day!)

Now, I’m a part of the community, and guest-writing here on this blog, too. So there you go! My Place in Poptropica!

I think all of you deserve a medallion for reading this entire thing. It’s pretty long. Thanks for reading!

Don’t stop popping,
Silver Shell

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! 📰✨

Advertisements, Clubhouse, Store

Store styles up for grabs, other surprises Under Wraps 🎁🕺

September 14, 2021 Slanted Fish

What’s popping, Poptropicans? We’ve got flannel flair, mummy madness, and sidebar snippets to see. Let’s pop right in!

A new week brings another refresh to Adventure Outfitters, and this time, Amelia’s brought out a new Flannel Tank (200 credits) for the fall vibes. We also have the return of the classic Fairy Queen costume (350 credits, members only). See the full stock on the Creators’ Blog »

But wait, there’s more! *inhale* The clubhouse store is also stocking some new gear, and don’t blink, ’cause we got pink.

New decor includes the Daisy Printed Tapestry (100 credits), Rocking Gamer Chair (150), Square Storage Ottoman (75), Pink School Backpack (75), Inhale & Exhale Wall Prints (100), and a College-Style Electric Scooter (100). Whatchu think? *exhale*

On the subject of store stuff, don’t forget that today’s the deadline for the Baron’s Red October costume design contest! You have until Tuesday, September 14th at 8pm PST/11 pm EST to submit your creation(s) for a chance to get your design in the game. Good luck!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Official Poptropica (@poptropicacreators)

In other news, there’s a new video ad with prizes from Disney Channel’s new movie, Under Wraps! To watch it, click on its icon on the map or hop on over to 24 Carrot Island. After the viewing, you’ll get an I’m A Mummy costume and the Dancing Mummy Follower!

Pressing the spacebar makes two different things happen. Wearing the costume allows you to dance, and using the follower allows Harold the mummy to dance. Use both prizes simultaneously for best results. 🕺🕺

Speaking of video, over on the Pop Creators’ Blog, there’s a new sidebar section dedicated to Poptropica videos! Like the video at the bottom corner of the game screen, this little area loops short clips of scenes from the game that you might also find on their YouTube channel.

It’s certainly an interesting addition, and one that makes more sense being placed here than on the game screen, where there’s already plenty of movement going on. What with TikTok virality and now this, it looks like Poptropica’s popping off with the vids!

One last thing to note: the Creators’ Blog has been dropping some hints about birthday celebrations coming up, including something that involves us, the players. What might it be? We’ll have to see…

Keep an eye out for upcoming news about special events celebrating Poptropica’s 14^th birthday and most importantly, YOU!
Poptropica Creators’ Blog

That’s a wrap for this post. What do you think of the store stuff, birthday surprises, and more? Share your thoughts in the comments, and see you next time, Poptropicans!

~🐠

Guest Posts, Popspiracy Theories

Popspiracy: The Magic Girl 🦄☔️

September 12, 2021September 8, 2021 Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, this is a guest post by Incredible Fire. Enjoy!

Hello everyone! Over the pandemic, I’ve gotten really into gaming theorists, so while I was scouring the latest mini quest for a potential “Is Amelia a Villain?” theory, I stumbled onto something… interesting. It may just possibly change the way we think about Poptropica forever. So what is this game-changing theory?

In the top corner of Amelia’s house, we see that she’s been studying Rumplestiltskin. The lipstick flashes purple when you interact with it — and it’s the same purple flashes with white sparks seen in Fairy Tale Island when Rumplestiltskin uses magic.

Also in Amelia’s house, we can see photos of her with her friends. Most noticeably, the girl from the statue on Home Island. We can gather from her statue that she’s studious, and from the picture, can apparently do magic. And what color is her magic? Purple with white sparks.

And that’s not all, folks! If you look at the king in Fairy Tale Island, he doesn’t really resemble his son. That could be for any number of reasons, but guess who he does resemble? Our magic girl. They have the same skin tone and similar bouncy hair.

Perhaps Purple Girl is actually Rumplestiltskin in disguise, or vice-versa. It’s not too far-fetched for our shapeshifting trickster. That would explain her absence from the game and why Amelia is so intent on finding her.

But then again, maybe not. Rumplestiltskin presents as a male, and seems older than the girl in the image. It seems more likely that he’s an older relative. Or perhaps the girl is related to the king, and Rumplestiltskin is a mentor?

And what role does Amelia play in this? Who are the other people in the picture? What about Xavier and Red Baroness?

If I’m actually right, what does this mean for Poptropica? Is Poptropica actually building an extensive lore around the newer islands of the game? Are they being subtle and letting us pick up on the clues for ourselves? Are we getting a part 2 to Fairy Tale Island? And most importantly, is Poptropica gonna be able to pull it off? I don’t actually think I’m right, but I’m excited to find out!

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Incredible Fire. If you did, you might also enjoy other posts from her, such as her My Place in Poptropica story.

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! 📰✨

Contests, Creators' Blog Guest Posts, Fan Art Features, YouTubers

Riding high on a Perfect Sky 🌤

September 11, 2021September 14, 2021 Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans! The forecast for this post seems to be showing a perfect sky—oh, but wait, it’s looking spooky later on—and with a side of something sticky? Hmm… let’s just pop in and see what’s up!

Some Poptropicans may know Perfect Sky — a Poptropica fan movie creator on YouTube who later became a PHB staff writer. She’s no longer active in the fandom, but her legacy recently resurfaced on the Pop Creators’ Blog in a guest post from Invisible Ring.

As Ring mentions, Perfect Sky made all sorts of Poptropica TV shows and movies, while the Pop Creators themselves could only dream of it (thanks for the shout-out to the PHB’s interviews with the CEO and the PHC!). You can read more from Ring here and browse Perfect Sky’s YouTube channel here. And just for a taste, here’s a trailer for one of her movies released in 2016, “The Archives of Cypress Cove Press.” 🎥✨

All this Poptropica video conviviality is just perfect timing with the backdrop of Poptropica Month, the month-long fan-run event of creating videos inspired by the game. We’re a little under halfway through September and the Pop Month 2021 playlist already has tons of videos to enjoy. Take some time this weekend to check ’em out and maybe even make your own. The sky’s the limit!

While we’re looking up at the skies, don’t forget the Red Baron is looking around for entries to her Red October Halloween costume design contest! To get your spooky senses flowing, the Creators’ Blog featured several enchanting entries they’ve received so far:

Remember, the deadline for this month’s contest is the coming Tuesday, Sept 14 at 8 pm PST, and there will be not one, but SIX winners who’ll get their costumes in the game! Be sure to read all the details on the official blog and submit your creation(s) through Pop’s submissions portal. Poptropicans, dare to dream! 💭✏️

There’s more art to be inspired by over on Instagram! Poptropica’s latest stories include chaotic villain doodles, an infographic from a podcast about Hong Kong life (shoutout to my hometown!), and even a new TikTok about computer lab days (with a nostalgic Black Eyed Peas beat).

TikTok from the Pop Creators – watch here

Speaking of TikTok, looks like Pop’s going viral — their latest video thanks viewers for 1,500+ followers, and at the time of this writing, they’re already up to 2,800+ followers. That’s a pretty huge leap from just two days ago when they were still at 700+ followers, and perhaps the big boost is owed to their recent TikTok about changing hair on 24 Carrot Island paired with a “good soup” line from Marvel. That video, which is currently their most played, was at 200K+ plays a couple days ago, and now the clip is at almost 500K. Well played, Poptropica! 👏👏

Wrapping up this post is a quick mention for another guest post on the Creators’ Blog from yours truly — a Poptropica sticker haul! (You might’ve seen it here on the PHB, too.) Wherever you prefer to read this little merch review, I hope the Poptropica joy sticks with you. ✨💙

Thanks for popping by, and stay awesome, Poptropicans! ✌️

~🐠

Clubhouse, Guest Posts

Clubhouse Tour: Dangerous Shadow 🏡

September 6, 2021September 5, 2021 Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, this is a guest post by Dangerous Shadow. Enjoy!

Hi! The name’s Dangerous Shadow, and imma show you my Poptropica clubhouse!

Let’s do the front entrance. So first, we have a totally awesome skateboard (though I fell and hurt my knee when it tipped over). There’s my diamond skull saying ”Hello” — it’s ever so kind!(lol) And then there’s my bag and cap on that smiley-face-whatever-thing.

Hm, next we have… Oh! The two parts of the living room! There’s the fireplace, which isn’t on right now because it’s summer. Then we have a really nice looking couch. They’re really fluffy, too! And there’s a little stool with a plant cat! Man, it’s cute.

On the other side, I also have a moon chair (I mean I think it’s a moon chair, it looks like one). There’s a very comfy hammock there, and a TV. And then there’s that unicorn thing… I’m pretty sure it’s a pillow, if not, let me know in the comments down below!

Now let’s go to my pets’ room — ugh, what is happening with my eyes there? So anyway, my kitten is named Toast! You can’t see it in the pic, but it’s just a cat with grey fur and a toast head.

My puppy, which you can see there, is named Dino. Here is my dog’s little house. He loves to play with the ball in there. There is some pet food in that bowl, which the pets share, and nearby is my cat’s little home-y kinda thing (I’m not doing well at remembering the names 😦 ). And there is her yarn, which she adores.

Let’s move onto the kitchen now… :OOO Someone hid my chocolate cake behind the bread basket, and I was trying to find it — I wanted my chocolate cake! *jumps up to get it* Almost there! Lol, to tell you the truth, I just never got a table, and I don’t know why! But I do have a fridge, drink machines, and food.

Let’s move onto my bedroom. It’s my favorite part of my whole clubhouse! Okay, I couldn’t get everything into one picture, so I took two. So I have my very comfy bed, with my penguin toy animal holding my phone—hey! What are you doing with it! *penguin just stares* Oh, wait. It’s a toy. Toys don’t talk.

I have a bookshelf. I love love love love to read! I have my grumpy-looking owl lamp there, with a chest full of more books and a couple more toys. I have more books on top of the bookshelf, as well as some lanterns — at least, I think they are lanterns. On the wall I have a pink moon decoration and some pictures of my friends. And I needed those beautiful light-up trees. Okay, onto the other part!

It’s my… gaming station! There’s a gaming chair. It’s pretty comfy. I have two speakers giving off some “Keeping It Loud” vibes. There’s my gaming computer, and you can see there’s that hanging chair with that orange pillow, and of course another one of those light-up trees.

Next we have what is kinda like my chillaxing/calm room. I have my (one) window in here, my music thingy majingy and a huge rainbow beanbag, plus my basketball stuff (okay, basketball isn’t really calming — I just put it there XD). I have my phoenix here too. Say hi, Feather! Oh, he’s in a calm/chillaxing mood. Better close our eyes with him — Dino, I said, “Close your eyes with him!” Hm, Dino ain’t listening to me today.

Well, that’s the end! Also, if you’d like to friend me, my username is: foxamazing1 (you don’t have to tell me, I know it sounds silly). Byeeeeee!

~Dangerous Shadow

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Dangerous Shadow. If you did, you might also enjoy other clubhouse tours we’ve featured, such as this Hare-y home from Invisible Ring. 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!