Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Quick Skinny Moon Session: It’s Friday Edition!

Spencer

skinnymoon phc

Hoi, I’m Koi. Just so before I get addressed any of these questions, my current Gravatar is a Poptropican version of what I really look like in real life, not a new Popsona! I want to start a blog for my own clutter that doesn’t surround Poptropica, but Poptropica is also a big part of me, so I thought the icon was appropriate.

Anyway Poptropicanos, just early this morning, from about 10:40AM to 11AM Eastern time, Pop Creator Skinny Moon dipped into our Discord chat – the PHC! She answered a few pressing questions – to the extent she could ‘Kick back, relax–’ oh, that’s for a post later today. Alrighty, let’s get into it!

–

Skinny Moon: Hi all! Just popping in for a minute! I’m doing great! It’s Friday! YAY!

Tall Cactus: When do you think new pop will be out and when can you tell us more info? We want a new island on CURRENT pop!
Skinny Moon: I really can’t say anything. All details have to be kept confidential for many boring business reasons.

KeithSammut: Crisis Cavers got removed but are you guys gonna do some other island?
Skinny Moon: We do have plans for the current Pop. I can’t tell you what/when/how, but I definitely will start dropping hints when I can!

Tall Cactus: What about that guy who won Island Hopper Contest, the video chat was never posted in the Creators blog.
Skinny Moon: I just don’t have the resources/time right now to edit a video. It exists but I have to actually deal with it and have more pressing stuff to deal with right now! Sorry!

Kaliscene: Well, if I recall, you said we’d get some significant news about the New Pop very soon, will that be on the creators blog soon, and if so, how long from now?
Skinny Moon: I’m not sure I remember saying that. When we can release news, we will. I know it’s hard to wait but we have SO much going on.

Skinny Moon: You guys, I can’t give you details on the current and new Poptropica. Sorry. I’m just here checking messages and saying hi. I know it’s hard to wait but there are real-world business reasons I can’t talk about it.

Please know that all of us at Poptropica LOVE Poptropica and we are brainstorming and working and creating completely awesome stuff for you. It just takes time. Remember, we aren’t just working on the current Poptropica. We’re also developing the New Poptropica on a totally new platform – for web and mobile! So instead of just working on one game and its web and mobile versions, we’re working on two games and their web and mobile versions – on two different platforms (flash and unity). It’s a lot of work for a small company and we’re working like crazy to update what we can on the current Poptropica and create the New Poptropica.

When we used to release many islands each year, we only had web to focus on – know what I mean? We are in a period of transition and it’s very exciting!!!

Tall Cactus: Why don’t the other creators post as much on their blog as they used to? Will the second graphic novel become an island?
Skinny Moon: People don’t have as much time to post as they used to, for all the reasons I just wrote about. Not sure about the 2nd novel becoming an island – I hope so, but it’s not one of the ones we’re working on right now.

KeithSammut: Why did you choose the name Skinny Moon instead of all the other choices you had xD
^ I’ve always been curious about that
Skinny Moon: It was the first name that popped up and I went with it. I thought it was fun.

Skinny Moon: PS: Everyone should enter the #poptropicaArt contest. Even if you think you’re “not good.” We’re not necessarily looking for professional art! If you don’t have Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, a family member or another Poptropica player can enter you! And don’t forget to spin the wheel for credits so you can grab the costumes/powers you want in the store before they’re gone… Spin every day! Your credits will build up super fast! BYE! Have a great weekend!!!

–

What a poppin’ morning! All the PHB staff sadly missed her while she was really on, whoops. I would’ve asked her why there wasn’t a shrine of me on an island somewhere. But, it is what it is. Thanks for coming on, Skinny Moon! See you guys later.

Uncategorized

Happy Fourth of July from the PHB!

Brave Tomato

Hey guys, BT here! On behalf of the PHB, I’d like to wish the American viewers of the blog a happy Fourth of July (Independence Day in the USA)!

To celebrate, the PHB has a gift for everyone – no matter where you reside. Check it out below!

4th of july pop

Poptropica glitcher WimpyKidFan is offering a special Avatar Studio Glitch for you all, and it’s not just the standard costume or Poptropican modification. Today, celebrate with an ASG for the Exploding Gum from the Johnny English: Reborn ad from 2011!

happyfourth.png

If your Poptropican is a boy and you want this gum, perform the ASG on the username Happy4thBoy, and if your Poptropican is a girl, it’s Happy4thGirl. For an explanation of how ASGs work, and for tons more ASG usernames for costumes out there, check out the PHB’s Avatar Studio Gift page here!

BT out with this quick wish, and once again, happy Fourth of July to those who celebrate! 🎉

Uncategorized

Announcing the Official Poptropica Fan Art Contest!

Slippery Raptor

art

You are an artiste, dolphin, and so is our Poptropica community! Calling all of the Poptropica artists! Make sure to ready your pencils, pens, markers, coloring materials, and drawing tablets because Poptropica is holding an official art contest—and wants you to be in it!

You got really excited, eh? What if I told you that if you win, you could get some membership? Now, let’s move on over to the contest details (You can also read it on the official blog)!

The contest runs from June 30 to September 5, so you’ll have a lot of time to create the ultimate Poptropica masterpiece! Before joining the contest, you must use the hashtag  #PoptropicaArt on any of Poptropica’s social media accounts, like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in order to be included in the contest! Another thing to remember before joining, make sure to read the contest rules and make your artwork public, so that the Creators can see your work!

NOTE: To those players who doesn’t have any social media accounts, you can ask for an adult to post on your behalf, so you can enter the contest. 🙂

Popart

After September 5 (Labor Day in the US & Canada), Poptropica will pick 3 of the best artworks and will be awarded 1, 3, and 6 months membership! How awesome is that? If you need some inspirations, why not draw your favorite character, your Poptropican or maybe your favorite Poptropica island?

You don’t have to wait any longer, start creating the Ultimate iPad Expert er, Poptropica Masterpiece! Stay awesome! 🙂

dontbethespongebob

-SR 💦🐊

Creators, PHB Parties, Uncategorized

Creator Q&A: Strawberry Moon Party Edition!

Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans! Did you get to enjoy the Strawberry Moon last night? 🍓🌔

Well, I sadly didn’t see it in my part of the world – but for those who attended the PHB’s 25M Hits & Summer* Kickoff Party (*or winter solstice, for those in the southern hemisphere), we were treated to a different, but very special, type of Moon: Poptropica Creator Skinny Moon! Which brings us to this…

strawberry moon

Yup, just a week after our impromptu Discord Q&A session with Skinny Moon, she’s back at it again to meet and greet more fans online! In this post, we’re reprinting most of the questions and answers that took place, so everyone has the chance to check it out. Note that this post is a little long and does not recap the party itself, which will have its own separate PHB post!

Skinny Moon showed up for about an hour, between around 8:40-9:50pm EST, taking questions she could answer (generally, not much could be revealed yet about New Poptropica) from those who were online. As she was on her iPhone, she could not join any of our Multiverse rooms, but it was still a fun time! Check out the Q&A below!

By the way, if you have a question for SM, you can let her know by tagging her on Twitter or other social media (if you don’t have any, message a PHB staffer on the PHC to ask them to pass it on!).

–

Poptropica Game Questions

“Sorry everyone, I can’t answer most of these questions. Plans for current Pop and New Pop are still top-secret! There are so many questions I’m just going to answer the ones I can and not responding to the ones I can’t answer.”

PoptropicaPerfectSky: Hey Skinny Moon, I don’t know if you can answer this but will we be able to access our old store items in the new Poptropica?
Skinny Moon: Don’t know that yet, sorry!

Jumpy Feather aka MP: What would the new poptropicans look like in the new pop?
Skinny Moon: That’s still top secret. 😉

Shaky Skunk: Will our clothing be accessible? Like my cool shirt
Skinny Moon: Can’t give out info yet on current/new Poptropica specifics.

Cool Octopus: When will Poptropicans get an eye color change?
Skinny Moon: Can’t comment.

Slanted Fish: How involved is Jeff Kinney with Poptropica?

Skinny Moon: Jeff is involved with every creative decision. If it’s important, he’s involved with it!

Silver Wolf: Is there a possibility more Poptropican names will be added?
Skinny Moon: Yes I think there will be more in the New Pop.

WITHER STORM: Will E. Vile come back?
PoptropicaPerfectSky: Personally, I’d love if Ringmaster Raven came back.
Skinny Moon: I told the team that there are lots of requests to bring villains back! They like the idea (but no guarantees)!

Hyper Gamer: Are nonmembers every going to be allowed to submit realms?
Skinny Moon: Hmmmm, I don’t know. Sorry!

SydVC: How will our current accounts be “transferred” to new Poptropica? Will they basically be the same?
Skinny Moon: Can’t comment on plans for new Pop yet.

WITHER STORM: Any new Pop Quizzes? Because I haven’t seen any in 2 years.
Skinny Moon: I will ask my team! (*later response: “Prob no new Pop Quizzes anytime soon. Working on some NEW cool social features for the New Pop!”)

Pastelia: Why did you guys decide to design the characters like that?
Skinny Moon: Good question. I will ask! (*later response: “Pop characters weren’t designed in a particular way for a particular reason – that’s the design the original Creators liked in the end!”)

Yandari~Sama: Will there be any Create Your Own Island again?
Skinny Moon: Not sure, I will ask! I have a much smaller contest coming soon, though! (*later response: “Probably not another Create Your Own Island contest anytime soon. I am launching a much smaller-scale but definitely fun contest this week!”)

Sammeh (Samwow5): How many islands approx will be coming out the rest of the year? I have found over the years that Poptropica islands have decreased every year and I’m wondering if they might increase again soon also ;p
Skinny Moon: I can’t say anything about that. I know this year hasn’t been typical but we are going to launch cool stuff on current Pop and new islands will come to the New Pop!

“About Skinny Moon” Questions

“I’m on Twitter a lot. I do get TONS of messages and am tagged a lot, so I may not respond – but I see your tweets!!!”

Hyper Gamer: What made you want to be a Creator?
Skinny Moon: I started out managing Galactic Hot Dogs blog and social media. Poptropica asked me to take on their social media too, and I was thrilled to!

shirokurokuma: What role did you play in creating Poptropica?
Skinny Moon: I didn’t create Pop – I started working with the company in January 2015.

Shaky Skunk: Are you evil? like are you the true Poptropica villain
Skinny Moon: Not one bit evil. Pretty nice, actually. 😀😀😀

shirokurokuma: SM, do you know where the name Poptropica came from? Have you watched any Perfect Sky movies? If so, which ones, and how did you like them?
Skinny Moon: I’m not 100% sure but I’m almost positive Jeff Kinney came up with the name. It’s his creation!

PoptropicaPerfectSky: Do you watch Poptropica videos?
Skinny Moon: I watch some videos. Best way for me to notice videos and blog posts is to tag me on Twitter!

Yandari~Sama: Have you watched Balloons by Perfect Sky? If so, what did you think of it?
Skinny Moon: I haven’t seen a @PoptropicaPerfectSky movie. Tag me on Twitter and link to one!

redpanda1677: Do you know Jeff Kinney?
Skinny Moon: The first time I met Jeff Kinney was when I interviewed him during the launch of the MOTM book. As you can imagine he is SUPER busy. But when I have a question he finds time to answer my email. He is a super nice guy!

idk: Are you in constant contact with the developers of Poptropica?
Skinny Moon: Yes, we talk every day. We use an app called Slack for communicating and have daily video conferences.

InnerBeast(CO): How did you get a job at Poptropica headquarters?
Skinny Moon: I knew someone who worked there who told me about the job opening, and I applied and got it!

Ruby: Who is your favorite villain in Poptropica?
Skinny Moon: Captain Crawfish, my blog buddy – naturally!!!

Hyper Gamer: Why are you the only creator who joins things like Discord chat, comment on PHB?
Skinny Moon: I’m the social media manager so this is kinda my thing. 😀

Slanted Fish: What’s a typical day in the life of the Pop social media manager? 😄
Skinny Moon: Oh wow. Every day is different. I check all out social media channels (not just Poptropica), manage email, think about what to post, attend meetings, plan fun things for the community, write blog posts, read people’s comments and questions and ask the team for answers when I don’t know the answer… Right now I’m planning a fun contest for the summer, too!

Slanted Fish: Are the meetings online or in the Poptropica HQ?
Skinny Moon: The team is all over the country – even out of country – so meetings are in HQ and virtual.

InnerBeast (CO): Do you have a private office in the Pop headquarters?
Skinny Moon: No, I am not located at HQ.

Yandari~Sama: Can you promise more visits soon?
Skinny Moon: I can’t promise anything but I don’t see why I wouldn’t visit more! 😀

DJScratchStep: Just a random question, what’s your favorite fast food chain? XD had nothing else
Skinny Moon: I have a weakness for McDonald’s fries and cheeseburgers. Lol. It’s an occasional treat. 😉

Yandari~Sama: Will you be my Senpai?
Skinny Moon: I’m honored! I wish I could! 😀

Hyper Gamer: What do you like to do when you’re not working on Poptropica?
Skinny Moon: I like to write, read, and hang out with my family and friends!

PoptropicaPerfectSky: Do you ever just hang out in common rooms or multiverse rooms?
Skinny Moon: Yes!

WITHER STORM: When did you make your Skinny Moon account?
Skinny Moon: I think this past August.

Silver Flame: What is your favorite island?
Skinny Moon: I like MOTM a lot! Choosing a fave island is like asking me which kid is my fave.

Slanted Fish: How did you decide on the name Skinny Moon? Do you like it or would you change it?
Skinny Moon: I took the first name Poptropica gave me. I liked it! Seemed very “Poptropica.”

shirokurokuma: Do you like Danganronpa?
Skinny Moon: I haven’t seen/read it, sorry!

PoptropicaPerfectSky: Do you ever add people on Poptropica if they tell you their usernames?
Skinny Moon: Sure, I’ll add people!

Ruby: Silly question, but do any of the islands tug at your heart strings?
Skinny Moon: Lots do!!!

And perhaps the best Q&A of all…

TechWizard: Do you like Pringles?
Skinny Moon: OMG OF COURSE

–

At about 9:50pm EST, Skinny Moon wrapped up her time on the PHC with, “Okay, I have to go. Sorry I can’t answer all questions! This was fun!!!” It was indeed! Thanks for popping by on this night of the Strawberry Moon, and thanks to everyone who participated!

Also, you may notice that a few of the questions have a “later response” tagged onto them in parentheses – at about 11am EST the following day, Skinny Moon popped back on the chat to deliver some answers to questions she wanted to get back to, which you can see above.

She also added, in response to a question Young Hippo asked her privately: “Yes, Lunar Colony and Mission Atlantis are connected – they have the same alien race.” Pretty interesting! Signing off, she messaged on the PHC, “I have to go – lots to do today – have a great day everyone!!!”

Thanks for checking out this Q&A! Hope you enjoyed all the insights Skinny Moon provided both about herself and Poptropica, and hope you’ll check out (or continue to visit) the PHC – you never know what friendly faces you might meet! If you were at the PHB party, thanks for coming – a recap will be made in a separate post on the PHB, so be on the lookout for that!

As always, stay popping, Poptropicans!

– 🌊 slantedfish 🐠 –

Uncategorized

Unity and the future of Poptropica

HPuterpop

Unity. Unity is a hugely popular game engine for 3D games and apps. It has been used to create games like Kerbal Space Program, Monument Valley, I Am Bread, Crossy Road — the list goes on. It’s a huge 3D indie game engine.

So, why do I bring this up?

Oh.

My Thoughts

So, before I chase this rabbit trail, I’d like to clarify something: Poptropica being 3D is not official information. Is it likely? Yes. Is it certain? No. Unity has been used before to make 2D games, but overall it’s known as a 3D engine. With the Daily Pops we’ve been seeing recently with 3D environments, it seems that this is the path Poptropica has chosen to pursue.

South Pacific: This is some enchanted evening.
Bloon: We feel lighter than air.
Freeze Frame: Getting animated about Poptropica.

With that in mind, this update is bad news, 3D or not. The Unity web player does not work for Google Chrome, which is the main browser of the internet. The main one. Unity was disabled a year ago because of security issues. If Poptropica goes with that, they’re cutting off their audience — big time. With the theme of accessibility that they’ve been pursuing recently, this is a major slap in the face in that regard.

What else is wrong? Perhaps my largest concern about 3D is that Poptropica was founded on 2D grounds. That was their quirk, that’s what made them unique in times when 3D was the online world status quo (and still is). Instead of vague and cheaply made hexagonal 3D models, Poptropica had great art with a distinct and clear style. The controls were fresh, partly because the developers only knew 2D, and it created a unique and rich experience.

treebackground

Poptropica needs to have that edge. Online worlds have risen and fallen, but Poptropica has stayed constant and fresh because of the unique approach.

If Poptropica goes completely 3D, they lose some of that edge. Let me clarify, however, that from what we’ve seen from the Daily Pops, the “New Poptropica” does not appear to be completely 3D. It shows 2D graphics on a 3D plane, similar to popular indie, Don’t Starve. Don’t Starve perpetuates a storybook atmosphere, and it works for that type of game — but again, Poptropica has been built on 2D and it should stay that way.

Those are my two cents. Along with cutting off a large portion of Poptropica’s audience, the switch to Unity could destroy Poptropica’s unique art style and completely sink the company. What do you think of the change? While 3D might sound cool at first, look at it objectively. What are the gains? What are the losses? Tell me in the comments.

TAFN.

-HPuterpop

UPDATE: Poptropica’s Skinny Moon has left a comment on this post addressing some of our concerns! Here is a snippet:

Hi there Poptropicans! Thanks for your feedback! Let me explain something to ease your minds: We’re confident that we are creating a new game experience that will be accessible to you, our current Pop players, which is our most important consideration. And while we’re not ready to reveal any details yet, rest assured that we’re staying true to the 2D Pop experience you love.

Please know there is SO MUCH going on behind the scenes, and we always have you, our passionate, dedicated players, in mind when we’re working on all things Poptropica. Seriously. (…continued in the comments section!)

While she hasn’t given a lot of detail about what to expect, at least we now know they’re sticking to “the 2D Pop experience”!