Ask Poptropica Siri is a Q&A segment here on the PHB where you, dear readers, are invited to send in your Poptropica questions to have them answered with all the wisdom you can expect from a Smart Icicle.
Welcome back everyone! From all your questions last time, looks like everyone wants to know more about me in Poptropica. Well, I’m happy to answer! Time to get on the question train.
Who is your favorite villain? ~Pegs
I have lots of favorite villains from Poptropica, glad you asked that. My favorite villains are Dr. Hare, Captain Crawfish, Black Widow, and Binary Bard. Not only are they the aliases of the Poptropican Creators irl, but they also make great appearances in the game. We meet these villains in Super Villain, 24 Carrot, Counterfeit, Skullduggery, and Astro Knights Island. Sometimes in Reality TV as well.
Who is your favorite Super Power Island villain? ~Friendly Shell
I liked Copy Cat and how she makes copies of herself. If my Poptropican could choose a super power, I would want hers.
“Copy Cat” by napstachillCopy protection gets tougher all the time.
Who is your favorite pet/follower? ~Sliver Horse
My favorite pet is the bunny because it looks so cute in the game. My favorite followers are the Alicorn and Gary from SpongeBob Island: Kamp Koral. It would be cool if Poptropica added more magical creatures soon (if there’s ever a phoenix follower in Poptropica, I’m buying it since I have a LEGO set of one).
Alicorn followerGary the snail follower“Dorf and Pepper” by Blue Tooth (Poptropica creator)
How can you send in your questions to Ask Poptropica Siri?
That’s a great question! You can use the following methods:
📧 Send an email to askpoptropicasiri (at) gmail (dot) com. This way, you’ll get to keep your questions a surprise when they get answered on the blog.
💬 Comment on the latest Ask Poptropica Siri post. Your questions will be publicly visible before they appear in a Q&A post, but this allows others to interact with your question if they so choose. If you don’t have an email address, you can enter a fake one in the email field when you post your comment.
Also before I go, I would like to promote a little something from my blog. I’m doing an appreciation week for a TV show, The Masked Singer. (Click here to learn more about the show and here to watch one of my favorite performances from the show.) Anyway, see you soon!
Howdy doodly Poptropican friends! It’s LJ here with the final interviewee of the Popular Poptropican staff lineup. She’s the friendliest of fishes, the editor-in-chief, the very creator of this Poptropica Help Blog… it’s the one and only Slanted “Fishy” Fish! Does she really need an introduction, though? Let’s pop right into it!
1. What has it felt like to watch something you created grow so much and even get recognized by Poptropica themselves?
No doubt it’s been amazing! When I first started this blog, I couldn’t have imagined how big it would become. I didn’t really have any expectations — I just wanted to make a blog about something I cared about, because I had been inspired by fan blogs on the internet for other games I played, made by kids and young adults.
I remember the first time Poptropica made some kind of acknowledgement to the PHB, almost a year after it first began, it was just a feeling of surprise, awe, and excitement from me and others involved with the blog. Since then, it’s been nice to know the Pop Creators are keeping up with what fans are thinking, and to garner an occasional nod of appreciation!
2. What advice would you give to aspiring bloggers or writers in general that you wish you had starting out?
Looking back at some of my earliest posts, I’d say the biggest points I could have done better are writing more concisely and making the formatting more appealing. On the first point, remember that effective news writing is all about how well you’re able to get your message across, and you don’t always need a ton of words to do it. On the second point, it turns out there are ways to polish up a digital post, like making use of hyperlinks, bold text, and images.
Of course, these are things that take time and effort to figure out, and best practices will change over time. But the old adage remains: practice makes better!
3. What has been the biggest milestone for the PHB?
Just the fact that it’s been around for so long (12 years and counting), almost as old as Poptropica itself, is pretty phenomenal. The community definitely helps keep the spirit alive — without all of you, there’d be no blog here!
4. What sort of future do you hope the PHB will have?
I hope the PHB will continue to share Poptropica insights that are thoughtful, truthful, and tale-full for as long as we can dream of and grow from them. Nothing lasts forever, but why not enjoy the ride while we can?
5. Would you say the PHB is like a family? What do you think keeps everyone so involved and connected with the blog?
In a sense, yes! We may not know each other IRL, but we’re in touch with one another digitally and united through our common interest in Poptropica. I think new and solid quality content is what keeps people engaged and coming back — that’s true of any online space!
6. What is your favorite island and villain?
My favorite island is Shark Tooth, which may seem like an underdog choice, but it’s a classic (Poptropica’s second island!). The blue palm trees in the background are nostalgic Poptropica aesthetics, and despite the simplicity, there’s good story to explore.
And my favorite villain is probably Scheherazade from Arabian Nights. I love her many forms, with impeccable outfits in all and a compelling backstory that tugs at the heartstrings.
7. What challenge in the game has been the hardest to complete in your opinion?
Anything that’s dependent on game physics is quite the challenge — as in jumping platforms with the right timing or you’re toast. The volcanic platforms on the Fire Planet in Astro-Knights are a great example of this.
8. What is your favorite feature (still here or gone) from the many years of Poptropica?
The Costumizer, which allowed you to “steal” (well, copy) clothes off characters, was such a unique and fun feature in Poptropica. It’s a shame it didn’t carry over to the new Haxe version of the game (except for on PoptropiCon, where it’s essential to the quest).
9. What is your favorite Poptropica item?
It’s hard to pick! Maybe the boba tea, since I love drinking the stuff IRL. I also quite like the Rainbow Ride hoodie, which is a staple of my Poptropican’s wardrobe nowadays. And I have to also mention the Fireworks, which makes every PHB party pic so much brighter.
10. What is your favorite Poptropica Easter egg/secret/reference?
June is a month of celebration for the LGBTQ+ community, and the PHB is bringing that celebration to Poptropica. But we recognize that not everyone is familiar with what this is all about, so we wanted to make this post to explain the ABCs of LGBT in a kid-friendly way (with brief mentions of mature forms of attraction).
This post will be using the terms “LGBTQ+,” “LGBT,” and “queer” interchangeably, though it’s worth noting that “queer” has historically been used as an insult and only recently been reclaimed as a positive catch-all term. We’ll be going over some basic concepts and common LGBT identities — and tying them to the world of Poptropica!
Please remember that everyone is different, and identities are complicated, but we are all deserving of acceptance, love, and support. If you feel uneasy about the topic of LGBTQ+ identities, I encourage you to be open-minded and patient. Though you may not currently understand the perspective of a queer individual, they are important people nonetheless. And if you are LGBTQ+ and feeling misunderstood by people who don’t quite get it, I encourage you to demonstrate patience even when it is challenging, because the PHB aims to be an accepting place for all viewers. All that being said, let’s unpack this!
As some of you have noticed, there was no Island Flash-back in May. Mostly because of IRL things getting in the way and my poor planning. I’m sorry, as I did say this would be a monthly thing, and I’ll try to be more consistent in the future! To make up for this, TWO islands will be announced, one for May and one for June…
While not the most popular, both of these islands have their fans! Skullduggery (2010) is known for its iconic villain, Captain Crawfish, as well as its focus on trading and travelling over action and boss fights. On the other hand, Twisted Thicket (2012) is most remembered for its references to Norse mythology and its beautiful scenery and designs!
Twisted Thicket Island
Skullduggery Island
🌳 Twisted Thicket was very much a story about environmentalism, though the fantasy elements helped the point feel more natural rather than forced (as is common in children’s media with moral messaging).
The island is on a medium difficulty level, balancing the twisted and dangerous forest with fun puzzles and, once again, amazing scenery. The Poptropica Creators have consistently gone above and beyond with their art design, even with such a simple art style!
Rare Bog: But will it be a rattlin’ bog?
Wicked Woods: Don’t get off the beaten path here.
🏴☠️ Skullduggery revolved heavily around an archipelago map, where you could travel to other mini-islands within the island’s storyline using a boat. (The same feature was later to get around Hemlock Harbor in Ghost Story Island.)
While Skullduggery’s main plot is about the evil pirate Captain Crawfish threatening the peaceful islands, the focus of the gameplay is on trading goods and basic economics of saving for bigger and better ships, until you can finally buy the beautiful Phoenix Warbird. The Creators’ Blog has an interesting series of articles on the design process for this ship! Though some players found the cycle of trading and buying and selling tedious, others found it to be an educational experience, unique from that of previous islands.
Sea Power: The stormy seas of Skullduggery Island began as a simple sketch.
An early sketch of the Phoenix Warbird, dated from April 2010.
To wrap up, I’m going to showcase some awesome past fan art for these two islands that are no longer in the official game. And let’s encourage the Creators to preserve these stories with more!
Ask Poptropica Siri is a Q&A segment here on the PHB where you, dear readers, are invited to send in your Poptropica questions to have them answered with all the wisdom you can expect from a Smart Icicle.
What is your favorite island? ~Pegs
That’s a good question! I have many favorites so it is hard to choose just one. But, I like 24 Carrot Island the best! I have had a laugh when meeting Dr. Hare with the Dr. Hare costume. Still wondering where he is after he flew into outer space. 🐰🌌
My second favorite island would be Skullduggery. I’m a big fan of pirates. Plus, I enjoyed meeting Captain Crawfish and the ships in the island.
Where is Rumplestiltskin? ~AMOGUS SUS
Well, no one knows. He might be planning something right now! I know that there’s going to be more mischief from him, so let’s just sit tight for now. 😈 Although, thanks to the fanfic challenge, there are so many new stories where Rumplestiltskin returns to Fairytale Island. I am wondering if the Creators will be able to change the cliffhanger at the end of the island…
What is the best costume for you? ~Dangerous Dragon
My best costume has to be the one I’m wearing right now (see the Ask Poptropica Siri pic above!). I got the kimono through the ASG and the boba tea from Card Collector. Also I have to point out my favorite costume is Slanted Fish’s kimono, bonsai tree, and genie combo. That’s what inspired me to wear kimonos on Poptropica. I also thought that Incredible Joker’s costume was cool!
Slanted Fish with genie earsFashion Plates: What color is your kimono?Slanted Fish by iHateFridays
How can you send in your questions to Ask Poptropica Siri?
That’s a great question! You can use the following methods:
📧 Send an email to askpoptropicasiri (at) gmail (dot) com. This way, you’ll get to keep your questions a surprise when they get answered on the blog.
💬 Comment on the latest Ask Poptropica Siri post. Your questions will be publicly visible before they appear in a Q&A post, but this allows others to interact with your question if they so choose. If you don’t have an email address, you can enter a fake one in the email field when you post your comment.
Finally, as this is my first official post as a contributor on the PHB, allow me to introduce myself to all you readers!
You may have seen my otherguestposts on the PHB, or perhaps my site, Smart Icicle’s Blog! When I first sent my draft for Ask Poptropica Siri and the PHB asked me to be a contributor, I almost fell off my chair. I am very excited for the experiences that lie ahead of me on the PHB. So before I pop off, here’s a little more about me…
I have been playing Poptropica forever. I like to draw, and even though I’m not good at it, it still makes me happy. I also enjoy watching SpongeBob, reading The Hunger Games, and participating in PHB activities and Creators’ Blog contests. You can add me on Poptropica with the username Target1051.
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