Category: Blast from the Past

Pop down memory lane with throwbacks from over the years!

Blast from the Past

2022 Rewind: Poptropica Wrapped 💝

Slanted Fish

It’s that time of the year! In the spirit of Spotify Wrapped, we’re bringing you a Poptropica version for our look back on 2022. Let’s hit rewind!

From January to December, Poptropica kept things interesting…

Though the year began with the loss of a bunch of old islands on the mobile app, Poptropica also brought on new content, launching the Blitz on the Fritz Side Quest sequel to Goofball Island for members in January, and the long-awaited Jade Scarab Island, the final Dream Island winner, to everyone in April. (Check out our review here!)

But things took a strange turn as Poptropica began flirting with Roblox, releasing two games on their platform: Unicorn Frenzy in March, and Zomberry: Humans vs Zombies in April. Neither seemed well received.

Then again attempting to appease the conventional players, Poptropica began teasing the return of some “classic” islands, leading up to the release of their Steam bundle in May with 17 of the newer “old” islands, including a rewritten ending for Monster Carnival, and Realms.

But Poptropica’s forays into other projects only kept going throughout the summer, when we discovered their new Roblox studio Suit Up Games (which brought a Dr. Hare pet to a non-Pop Roblox game), and Poptropica Junior, with small activities aimed at Pre-K kids.

Poptropica on Steam
Suit Up Games
Poptropica Junior

We had our share of competitive fun too, from the PHB’s Poppies fan awards and Halloween costume contest with a blue theme, to Poptropica’s PoptropiCon challenges, monthly costume contests, and Holly Jolly Holiday Design Contest, which brought a special twist to the 12 Days of Member Gifts tradition by inviting player-made items.

Let’s look back on our Top Islands! In addition to the releases mentioned above, as well as the temporary returns of the mini-games Hoptropica, Zomberry Hero, and The Grapple-Gift, Poptropica also converted a few quests for Haxe (desktop) and mobile.

PoptropiCon, Ep. 2 was re-released for members in January, then for all in June, and Ep. 3 came out for members in September, completing the story. Survival, Ep. 2 followed a similar trajectory, re-releasing for members in May, then for all in November, alongside Ep. 3 for members.

As for our Top Con Artists this year, a host of bad actors aboard the Baron’s airship certainly kept us on our toes with a saga unfolding over several months. While Rumpelstiltskin seemed up to no good playing tricks on the Baron who went missing, we’re still waiting to see where the reveal of the Red Queen on a rampage for Rumpel will lead us next.

Back down on Home Island, all might seem well with Amelia, who continues to rotate her shop selection regularly and without drama. At the same time, though, she’s been roped into Roblox by the Poptropica Creators themselves who, as mentioned, have lowkey been turning tail on their own game to make new games on another platform.

Anyway, the year can’t be contained in a list of top reads. But here are a few highlights from our blog archives:

This year, Poptropica dabbled in both old and new, from the nostalgia of the Steam bundle and comic series to the novelty of Roblox games.

But they also killed off Poptropica Worlds.

Rest In Pop 2017–2022

Time to meet Poptropica’s 2022 island personality…

The PoptropiCon Cosplayer

Banner Day: Let your freak flag fly.

Like the island’s convention, Poptropica celebrates its legacy by bringing back fan favorite islands while also exploring new trails. Yet just as a cosplayer isn’t the real thing, so Poptropica’s nostalgic returns are just a shadow, no match for the more complex magic it once offered.

But onwards we go. Here at the PHB, we’re grateful to share with you another year filled with monthly Community Creations and membership giveaways, as well as guest posts including Pop fanfics and puzzles. Thanks for tuning in with us — that’s a wrap for 2022! 💝✌️

Pony Ride: Off into the sunset we go.

See you in 2023. Go on, press play!

~ 💙▶️ the PHB

 ✏️ P.S. While you’re here, comment with your thoughts on the year! Or peek into years past with the rest of the Poptropica Yearbook.

Blast from the Past, Social Media

Cheers to years of stories 🥳

Slanted Fish

Happy New Year, Poptropicans! ✌️🥳✌️✌️

Before popping off into 2022, Poptropica popped down memory lane with a blog reflection of the past year, highlighting all the new quests from 2021 — the “Year of Stories,” as they had called it.

Most notably, the blog post shares a little update about the state of the old islands, with a reassurance that our cries have not fallen on deaf ears:

As for a current update, there are more episodes in the process of conversion at this very moment! It’s worthwhile to note that we recognize and share your frustrations. Although the act of converting the older islands is long and difficult, we’d like to thank you for your patience, Poptropicans. Your understanding is greatly appreciated! If you’re hoping for hints about the next rerelease, there will be much more news to share in the coming weeks!

Poptropica Creators’ Blog (2021 Wrap Up)

We’ll have to wait and see what 2022 brings, but it sounds like the next conversions will continue to be for episodic islands, like with 2021’s rereleases for Mission Atlantis and Arabian Nights. Stay tuned!

Besides the Creators’ wrap-up, you might also enjoy the PHB’s 2021 Poptropica Rewind, which highlights not only the Pop drops, but also other noteworthy happenings from around the fandom.

One of our throwbacks was to our mini-series featuring insights from former Poptropica head Jess Brallier. His first tweet for the new year shared a “wonderful, heart-warming” testimonial to Poptropica from a college-aged kid, who praised the game’s value of cultural literacy:

Here’s hoping past years of “historically significant narratives” carry on to Pop’s future years of more stories, new and old.

That’s a wrap for 2021, and onwards to 2022! Cheers to you! 🥂

~🐠

Blast from the Past

2021 Poptropica Rewind: Dreaming of Regeneration 🧒💭

Slanted Fish

Almost to New Year’s, Poptropicans! Congrats on surviving another year with Covid — but this roundup isn’t about the pandemic. We’ve got plenty of variants to talk about with Poptropica, so strap in for the PHB’s 2021 Rewind!

Poptropica in 2021 has been unlike any other in years past. With the end of Flash in 2020, they’ve had to rebuild the game on a new engine, Haxe, which has brought about some interesting changes. Let’s pop into it! ⏪

Continue reading “2021 Poptropica Rewind: Dreaming of Regeneration 🧒💭” →
Blast from the Past, Store

Get in Character with Bucket Hats 👒

Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, there’s a new store update at Adventure Outfitters, and bucket hats are in! With the new Sandy Beach costume, you can match with your pet by getting them a Bucket Hat — or Blue Shades to go with last week’s Water Battle outfit!

Summer looks also include a Lifeguard vest for pets and the return of the Boho Chic for members. See the full stock on the Creators’ Blog »

  • Sandy Beach
  • Boho Chic
  • For Pets: Bucket Hat, Blue Shades, and Lifeguard

In other news, as you’re moving about Poptropica, you may notice a new sidebar ad from Infoplease which links to a Pop quiz of Pop characters! It’s not clear if the Pop Creators made this or if they’re just linking to anonymous fan-made content, but either way, it’s a fun little game that tests if you can name 10 classic Poptropica characters. Play it here »

That’s all for now, but we’ll have more news in other posts! Remember to vote in the Poppies if you haven’t already, and stay tuned for our guide to the new ad island. Keep on popping on!

~🐠

Blast from the Past, Creators' Blog Guest Posts, Home Island, Monkey Wrench Island

A history of Home Island and mystery (and return) of Monkey Wrench 🐵🏠

Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans! You’re familiar with Home Island, the perennial launchpad of your Poptropica adventures (and home to a brand new store interior!), but are you aware of its storied past?

An early iteration of Home Island in 2016. Yes, before DJ Saturday Nite was whitewashed, she dyed her hair blonde. Welcome to Poptropica.

This week on the Poptropica Creators’ Blog, guest writer Invisible Ring lays out a history of Home Island and how it connects to the disappearance of Monkey Wrench Island, released in 2016 as a tutorial for first-time players. Her main theory is that, as Home Island kept changing with seasonal makeovers, the connection to Monkey Wrench must have gotten cut off. “How could Amelia land her airplane on Home Island if Home Island won’t stay still?”

Monumental: You finally made a monkey out of me.

Ring also gives a shout-out to “Monkey Wrench posts on the PHB” which inspired her to contact the Pop Creators about bringing the island back. (One such post: Purple Paw’s Pop Petition: Bring Monkey Wrench back.) In response, the Creators have confirmed a return for Monkey Wrench, although no dates are set yet.

As for Home Island’s history, in addition to Ring’s guest post, the PHB has captured its evolving stories over the years as well. Before 2015, there was no Home Island — when you logged in, you’d find yourself wherever you last left off on whatever island you were on. Since its release (back when it was briefly known as Hub Island), it’s gone through a lot of cosmetic and functional changes in the past five years.

Did you know that in the first Home Island, you had to find a wrench for Amelia Earhart and medallion shards for an explorer, which was later disbanded into the separate islands of Snagglemast and Monkey Wrench? Anyway, we went through our archives and pieced together some pics from over the years! Do you remember these scenes?

Enjoyed the throwback? There’s much more in the PHB archives!

Anyway, how do you feel about Home Island? What changes do you want to see on it, or have you had enough of its constant facelifts? Do you miss Monkey Wrench, or is Snagglemast superior? Share your thoughts in the comments, and pop on, Poptropicans! ✌️

~🐠