In April 2016, the Poptropica Creators announced that they were working on a “New Poptropica.” It would be over a year before this project finally launched—as Poptropica Worlds.
It’s Happy Lobster, and I’ve got some exciting new sneak peeks of Poptropica Worlds, which is coming out this spring (for the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn for the Southern Hemisphere).
If you click on the link directly above, there will be a video trailer for Poptropica Worlds, in which you’ll see a few Poptropicans (most recognisably Dr. Lange), but the art style is more detailed than the original Poptropica’s characters – which clearly is the style that will be used in the upcoming Pop Worlds.
But recently, there have been a few more images of these intriguing new Poptropicans, from the Poptropica App descriptions in iTunes and Google Play! (Credit to Perfect Flyer for this discovery!)
Poptropica
Poptropica’s Mysteries
Customization
50+ islands
1000+ Store items
Challenge Your Friends
From these previews, there are a couple of things to take note of:
Five or more new islands not on the original Poptropica will be in Pop Worlds (since there are currently 46 islands in Poptropica, not counting individual episodes, and the bottom-leftmost picture states that there will be 50+ islands in Poptropica Worlds). However, we might not see all of these 50+ islands immediately, answered by Skinny Moon in a somewhat recent Q&A.
More Store cards will be in the Poptropica Worlds Store. Since there have been less than 1000 Store cards over Poptropica’s history, still existent or not, in-game or app-exclusive, this much is quite likely (and there are costumes in some of the previews that have never been seen before). However, it seems marginally unlikely that there will be 1000+ Store items at once in the Store to collect, so possibly that picture with Dr. Hare’s statement includes more than just Store items, or there are more app-exclusive costumes in the App included with the 1000+.
That isn’t all, though. The two app sites list some features about Poptropica Worlds:
– Explore the virtual world of Poptropica and its 20 islands!
– You’re the Hero! Solve 1000+ mysteries!
– Customize your hero from head to toe with 1000+ themed outfits!
– Collect items from your favorite heroes!
– Multiplayer game where you can meet and chat with your friends! Join a community of more than 10M players.
– Create your own island!
– Free to play, with in-app purchases available for more customization!
So, most of these we already know, with the old Poptropica. But it’s that penultimate point which is interesting – that we can create our own island. Most likely it’s just our own unique home island (remember that poll about what house we wanted in Poptropica Worlds?). But who knows what might happen in the future – it could mean something else.
Also, to that top point – the last time Poptropica (the old version) had 20 islands was back in 2011 – so it’s probably a typo. But going back to what Skinny Moon hinted, not all islands may be there at once in Poptropica Worlds.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this tour through some new and revealing Poptropica Worlds articles! I’ll see you soon – stay tuned on the PHB for more upcoming Poptropica Worlds news!
(Hey Poptropicans! This is a guest post written by Smart Flame, who also runs his own site, The Smart Way to Poptropica. This post, while grounded in fact, is still just speculation. With that said, enjoy! –🐠)
Hi guys! Smart Flame here, and today I want to discuss a picture that Poptropica recently released for the upcoming Poptropica Worlds. Now, Perfect Sky on the PHB has already commented loosely about the photo in her post, but I’d like to go a little more in-depth, even politely disagreeing with a few of her points. The parts discussed below are labeled for your convenience. Let’s take a look:
From a peeping Dr. Hare in a nearby bush to mountains in the distance, there’s a lot to see. Some of these are a dead giveaway as to what they are, while others are a little more ambiguous. All that being said, here are my thoughts:
Dr. Hare
There is really no question at all as to Dr. Hare’s identity. Even the Creators have acknowledged his return in the Poptropica Worlds FAQ. We’ve seen hints that 24 Carrot is going to be one of the islands remastered for Poptropica Worlds, so Dr. Hare could very well return in a new and exciting way.
Pelican/Seagull
Well, the bird beside Dr. Hare in the picture could either be a seagull or a pelican. If it’s a pelican, could Escape From Pelican Rock Island be remade as well? However, it is one of the newest islands, so this may not be likely. We’ll probably see the regular EFPR Island in the new Worlds.
Oliver (from the comics and graphic novels)
Considering that Poptropica is exploring the idea of a universal storyline in its universe, Oliver and the others from the comics and graphic novels may play huge roles in this. Maybe we’ll see the storyline continue online with islands for each of the books after Mystery of the Map.
Park Ranger
Past sneak peeks have indicated that a similar design is for a park ranger from the unreleased Crisis Caverns Island. I like to think of it as, maybe, a guide that you’d have throughout Poptropica Worlds or Home Island: someone who could give help advice and chat with your character.
Blimp
In all due honesty, the blimp’s presence probably means we will still use blimps, something I’ve always hoped Poptropica would continue with. The only observation I can make here is that it has no Poptropica logo – maybe it’s just facing the opposite direction.
Coins
These gold coins buried in the sand seem interesting. They were first seen used tokens on Wimpy Boardwalk, but for Poptropica Worlds, there are two guesses for possibilities I see with them: either they are Pop Coins (like from Mocktropica, where every movement is restricted unless you pay up), or coins you can use to buy items to use to decorate your house. The second possibility seems more likely, considering how silly Mocktropica’s Pop Coins. Using coins to buy decorations for your house would be cool – I’d be excited for something like that!
Island with Knight, Tower, and Princess
This is confusing. Although, at first glance, it reminds us of Astro-Knights Island, it looks to me more like a Sleeping Beauty type of island. First of all, the knight here does not look like the knights we meet on Astro-Knights. The castle is gray instead of brown. The princess has the same design, though. Is she a predecessor? I still think that this takes place in Arturus, where Astro-Knights is, but years before Mordred came along.
Island with Ferris Wheel
Although it’s tempting to chalk this one up to Monster Carnival, this doesn’t quite resemble it, even when the Monster Carnival rides are in normal daytime mode. The colors and the star design don’t quite match up. Honestly, I have no idea what this one is, but I don’t think it is Monster Carnival. I think it could be a once-in-a-while carnival event or something entirely new.
Island with Snowcapped Mountains
At first glance, I thought this was Survival island. But when you zoom into the cave, you’ll notice the two bright red eyes. It really confuses me, since Survival doesn’t have something like this – although you could consider the bear in the cave from Episode 1, his eyes aren’t bright red; they’re asleep. Could there be a remake of Survival Island as well, with a monster to defeat?
Island with Big Skull
The skull here most definitely looks like the one from the Pirate Outpost on Skullduggery Island. There is a clear resemblance to the trading post, which is surrounded by pirate infested waters. The difference here is the daytime setting, which makes it seem less ominous.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for this picture. Thanks for reading, and bye!
~Smart Flame
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Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Smart Flame!
The PHB welcomes guest posting from anyone in our community if you have something to share, whether it be sneak peeks, My Place in Poptropica stories, or any other ideas you might have. We also encourage sharing on the PHC.
If you have an idea for a guest post, send it in to [email protected]!
After the announcement of Poptropica Worlds, most players have had many questions regarding the new game. Although some of our questions were answered in a Q&A with Skinny Moon on the PHC last month, more information has been revealed in a new Creators’ Blog post, which looks at some frequently asked questions (FAQ).
This FAQ could very well be the Creators’ way of responding to the PHB’s earlier post, Thoughts on Waiting for Poptropica Worlds, in which we commented on their silence on the matter of the big new game. The PHB post is linked to within the FAQ.
The post also included this cool preview image, in the new Poptropica Worlds art style. It’s interesting to see some familiar sights in the background, like the classic Poptropica blimp, and mountains that resemble Survival Island. Some newer, interesting observations include:
the newer Poptropican anatomy: with four-fingered hands, thicker limbs, shoes, and more 3-dimensional shading
islands in the background, with a twist: Astro-Knights with a knight calling up to the princess, a skull island (Skullduggery or MOTM?), Survival, and a ferris wheel (Monster Carnival?)
a park ranger like the ones seen in early Crisis Caverns sneak peeks, further suggesting its return – and she’s sharing a map with Oliver, which may either be a hint at connecting that storyline with the graphic novel (especially considering the map), or may just be an artistic decision
Anyway, let’s take a look at the FAQ:
Will Poptropica be shut down when Poptropica Worlds comes out? No. You will still be able to play Poptropica when Poptropica Worlds debuts.
Can my Poptropican play Poptropica Worlds? Yes! Your Poptropican can play both Poptropica and Poptropica Worlds.
What can my Poptropican bring from Poptropica to Poptropica Worlds? You can port over your Poptropican’s basic look and name.
Will there be a Poptropica Worlds app? Yes, and Poptropica Worlds is cross-platform. That means when you play through some of an Island in the app, you can continue it on the web, and vice versa. If you change your Poptropican’s look on the web, they’ll look the same on the app.
Will you put any new Islands on Poptropica? All new Islands will be released for Poptropica Worlds only.
Will Poptropica Worlds have some Islands from Poptropica? There will be a mix of remastered Poptropica Islands and brand new ones in Poptropica Worlds! They won’t be released all at once — remember, it took 9 years to build all those Islands on Poptropica — but you can look forward to lots of cool stuff in 2017!
Is it true I’ll have my own house in Poptropica Worlds? Yes, when we launch Poptropica Worlds you’ll be able customize the inside of your very own home. As the year goes on, we’ll be rolling out more features and customization options.
Can I customize my Poptropican? Yes, you’ll still be able to customize your Poptropican’s hair, skin color, and clothes — and you’ll be able to pick your own first and last name!
Will Poptropica Worlds have memberships? Yes, and membership will give you access to lots of awesome members-only stuff!
Will Poptropica Worlds have multiplayer features? Yes, but not right away. One of our first priorities: Giving you the ability to invite friends to your house.
Will there be other things to do in Poptropica Worlds besides playing Islands? Yes! You’ll have to wait and see what we have in store for you…
By the way, what’s taking so long for Poptropica Worlds to come out? We care very much about our players and take your blog posts to heart. We want to make the game as good as we can for EVERYONE — that means people who play on mobile and on the web. And perfecting all of those platforms takes time.
And one more thing: It drives me crazy that Poptropica only goes up to age 15. Can you fix that in Poptropica Worlds? We hear you and yes, you can pick your age in Poptropica Worlds!
Wait! One more question! Will Dr. Hare still be in Poptropica Worlds? Oh yes, and he’ll be badder and schemier than ever!
And there we have it, Dr. Hare is confirmed in the new game! I’d assume all the other main villains will make an appearance in Pop Worlds too, but who knows? We’ll find out soon though.
Well, that’s all for the FAQ. Have all your questions about Worlds been answered, or is there more you’d like to ask the Creators? Comment below! Perhaps Skinny Moon will return for another Q&A session sometime soon.
Hey Poptropicans! This post is going to be a long one, so hang in there – it’s out of this world. 😉
Let’s talk about Poptropica Worlds. For those of you who have missed the memo, Pop Worlds is the massive overhaul project formerly referred to by the community as New Poptropica – the complete re-designing of Poptropica as we know it. It was officially announced on the Creators’ Blog in April of last year, where it was advertised to launch “later [that] year.”
Well, it’s early 2017, and we know that didn’t happen. However, we did get the trailer video last month, where the name Poptropica Worlds was announced, along with a new release time frame: spring 2017! You can check out the trailer below:
Let’s not deny that it has been a long time coming, though; even longer than expected. The frustrating part, as many Poptropicans can attest to, is not getting many updates on its progress (sneak peeks and the like). But if you’re reading this, it means you’ve held on for all this time, keeping the spirit of Poptropica alive. And that’s pretty awesome.
Waiting isn’t easy, but it’s given us some things to think about. Let’s get into the big questions.
Is Poptropica “dying”?
2016 was a very different year for Poptropica, in terms of production. As you may recall from our 2016 Rewind, there were events and updates here and there, but barely any new islands – the only one was Monkey Wrench, the tutorial for new players, which doesn’t really constitute a full island.
And so, understandably, there have been concerns from Poptropicans all over the community that the game is “dying.” That the only thing keeping it alive is the fandom community. These are legitimate concerns. We’re used to getting a new island every couple of months, as we have been for years, and Poptropicans were not prepared for the dry spell we’ve been having.
But: not all is lost. It’s true that a lot of the activity is kept up by the community, the players like you and I. Many Pop bloggers have been active in Poptropica-inspired fan projects and pursuits, and the PHB is no exception: we’ve averaged about a post a day (sometimes more) in the past year (just look at our archives in the sidebar). Poptropica has been busy in their other endeavors as well, even putting on a couple of contests for the fans as well as releasing books and other little updates.
Sometimes, in the midst of “lame” updates, we forget that we actually are waiting for something, that the New Poptropicais and has beenin development all this time. Even though we’ve gotten only a few glimpses of what’s to come, let’s not lose sight of the future ahead. Something bigger is coming.
Even as we wait, Poptropica is not dying. Poptropica is building a new kingdom behind-the-scenes, and it’s almost time for us to step into it. Are we ready?
Here’s another question to think about…
How is Poptropica doing in relation to other kids’ virtual worlds?
Poptropica is a pretty big enterprise, and it’s easy to dismiss the slowed signs of activity as a signal of its impending doom. But for almost a decade, Poptropica has done pretty well for themselves – they’ve achieved the ever-elusive “success.” Just think of the many other games, apps, and projects you’ve dabbled with for a period of time, only for them to fade from memory and use. So, for all that it is, it’s pretty impressive that Poptropica has stayed afloat for over 9 years.
Some of you may have heard about the imminent closure of another popular virtual world: Club Penguin. Well, closure isn’t fully accurate. But they are shutting down the desktop and app worlds in favor of a new, mobile-only game: Club Penguin Island.
You read that right: Island. Like Poptropica Islands! It’s funny that they’re embracing this term just as Poptropica is choosing a new one (Worlds).Poptropica blogger Tall Cactus noted the similarity on her blog as well. Could they even be trying to rub off on Poptropica’s success with one buzzword? This is only a speculation, but the possibility is there.
As Club Penguin enters this new stage of existence after 11 years online, so Poptropica approaches its 10th anniversary this coming September. The official Poptropica Twitter (and an ex-Creator, Director D aka @JamesDLema) has even acknowledged the big news from their competitor:
It is a bit sad, huh? btw, we're not discontinuing Poptropica when we debut Poptropica Worlds this spring.
Friendly reminder that, unlike Club Penguin, Poptropica is keeping its original game even after the launch of the new one. So you don’t have to worry about losing everything you’ve built just yet – and that’s a good thing. We’re going to need to ease into the big transition.
Speaking of kids’ sites, Poptropica’s social media person (though on a personal Twitter handle), Jessica (Skinny Moon) gave a shout-out to ex-Creator Director D’s latest endeavor, Lego Life:
Might catch your interest if you’re into Lego and social media! It’s brand new, and that’s the thing: Creators keep creating. Who knows how long it’ll be before it takes on a new form?
What next?: Our Hopes, Concerns, and a Call to the Creators
So now what? How do we keep our patience from running thin?
First, we remember that Poptropica Worlds is still in development, has been for at least the past year, and will soon be here. We remember that Poptropica is creating something totally cool for our interests.
Then we recognize that Poptropica has come a long way, has already delivered on many amazing islands and other events, and still has a bright future ahead with the development of a massive upgrade.
And then, of course, we hope for the best. Spring is right around the corner – you know, once we get through this winter. If all goes according to plan (and it would be embarrassing to backtrack on a release date a second time), we should be playing Poptropica Worlds sometime soon.
Now let’s address perhaps the biggest concern we’ve had during this whole waiting business: Poptropica’s silence. Their commitment to keeping development and progress reports under wraps for the most part did not bode well for many Poptropica fans.
Dear Poptropica Creators, it’s understandable that you don’t want to give too much away and spoil the fun, but if you’re going to keep us waiting for this long, you need to give your fans something more to hold onto than the same old lines about not revealing anything. Where are the sneak peeks? The progress updates? Is a little tease every once in a while too much to ask?
When it turned out that you could not make the release in the timeframe you had promised, why did you not acknowledge it? Many of us were left disappointed (though some of us unsurprised) when 2016 rolled away and New Poptropica did not arrive. Why didn’t you say something? Why did you keep our hopes up and wait for them to be dashed without a word?
Remember this holiday post on the Creators’ Blog, and the speculation it brought over the ambiguous but hugely suggestive wording – that we might finally get a New Pop update?
And how, we waited for the remaining week of the 2016 year, hoping for something with each passing day? What did we get? Two updates to the #MyPoptropicaCostume contest, and on the last day of the year finally delivering on… the behind-the-scenes look for an Island of the Month, promised since the beginning of the month. Don’t get me wrong, these were good things, but the fact remains that Poptropica chose to stay silent on the biggest matter of them all: New Poptropica.
Can you feel the disappointment?
So this is the call for Poptropica’s Creators: If you value your fans, listen to them. Address their yearning and give them something new to hope for, a little taste for what’s in the works. Don’t be silent.
Thanks for making it through this lengthy post, and I hope it’s given you some food for thought.
Creators, you’re awesome for working hard to bring Poptropica Worlds to life – just remember who’s playing the game. Poptropicans, you’re awesome for sticking it through a year of no new islands – so keep going, and of course, stay popping. 😉
All good things,
– slantedfish –
Update: Poptropica left a comment on this post saying the following:
Hi Poptropicans! Slanted Fish, thanks for writing this post! As I said in the FAQ post comments, there hasn’t been much to share because we’ve been building Poptropica Worlds from scratch. All the back-end work has to come before actual Island development, and then the beginning parts of Island development don’t have anything visual — so that’s why there hasn’t been anything to show for a long time. You’ll get peeks when we have peeks to show, and that should be in the near future!
As for that end of 2016 blog post where we said there would be some “very interesting stuff on the blog” the next week — I was referring to the post about having 12 instead of 2 winners in the art contest, and the post about Poptropica Worlds. The PW post got delayed for a few reasons, unfortunately. We didn’t mean to be silent at the end of the year, but sometimes in game development, unforeseen things happen!
Poptropica Worlds is going to be awesome and we’re so excited to debut it this Spring. I wish I could tell you more, but what I’ve seen is really, really cool. 😀
Lucky Joker here and today I’ll be sharing updates regarding the #MyPoptropicaCostume contest, the Poptropica app and more! Skinny Moon has seen most of the FAQ on Poptropica’s social media and decided to answer a few today on the Creator’s Blog, so let’s get right to it.
Regarding the #MyPoptropicaCostume contest, here’s what she had to say:
We haven’t forgotten about the #MyPoptropicaCostume contest. Au contraire, my popping peeps. We are almost done combing through all the entries and hope to open up voting for the runners-up later this week!
You read it right—Voting could open up as soon as this week! When the voting process commences, we’ll let you know. Can’t wait to see all of the amazing runner-ups!
She also mentioned Poptropica Worlds in her latest post and is fully aware of all of the questions we have. Expect a FAQ post to appear on the blog in the near future. 😉
Also, don’t forget to vote for February’s Islands of the Month. Voting ends tomorrow January 24 at midnight ET, so be sure to do so soon. Here are the results so far:
It’s pretty neck and neck here. Which one will you vote for?
On the topic of Islands of the Month, make sure to go finish January’s Islands of the Month and take advantage of the usual credit boost. You have a week left to play!
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Skinny Moon hasn’t only been blogging as of late, but snapchatting as well under the name “Official Poptropica”. Check out these snaps from earlier today:
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As for the Poptropica App, there appears to be a new ad (acknowledging Poptropica’s latest comic – Week 32) with a couple of prizes to be earned! Though it may be on the desktop version as well, I was only able to find it on the app. Anyway, let’s pop right into it!
I’ll admit, the game is pretty difficult but it’s still fun nonetheless! To earn your prizes, slide your finger across your screen to dodge falling objects which include bananas, barrels and carrots. (It makes much more sense if you read the comic. 😛 )
The broomsticks up on the top left corner signify the amount of times you can get hit with an object before you lose. The bar on the left shows the progress you’ve made on your way to the finish.
Upon completing the game, you’ll win the Flying Monkey Costume and the Banana Peel!
(Click here if you’d like to read more Poptropica Comics)
Well, that’s it for now! Thanks for stopping by and I’ll talk to you soon. Pop on!
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