🏝 Poptropica Help Blog 🗺

Popular Poptropican: Gentle Dolphin

May 3, 2021May 3, 2021 LJ

Howdy, Poptropicans! It’s LJ here with Gentle Dolphin in the third installment of our Popular Poptropicans – Poptropica Help Blog staff lineup. Gentle Dolphin joined the PHB a couple of years ago and has since stayed on top of reporting Poptropica news. In addition to that, you may recall her massive artistic involvement in our Flash Experience and “Smash! Crackle! Pop!” pranks. Let’s get to know her even further, shall we?

1. What do you enjoy about blogging with the PHB?

I like being able to work with other people who have similar interests, even if those interests are as niche as a 2007 computer game. Some of my favorite PHB memories involve partying in the PHC Discord server and creating wonderfully dumb April Fool’s pranks (the 2020 prank being my favorite).

2. What advice would you give to aspiring bloggers or writers in general that you wish you had starting out?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or critique; it’s nice to have feedback before you publish your work. On the flip side, trust your instincts if you think something will enhance your writing.

3. What is your favorite island and villain?

Big Nate is my favorite island nostalgia-wise, Ghost Story is my favorite island story-wise, and Super Villain is my favorite island design-and-concept-wise. As for my favorite villains, it would be the Super Power Island crew. Although they aren’t the most complex villains, they are a fun collection of villains to take on. Also, BlazingAngel123‘s take on them made me love them more.

4. What challenge in the game has been the hardest to complete in your opinion?

For me, that challenge was the Thunder Volt arcade game from Wimpy Boardwalk‘s bonus quest. It’s the only bonus quest I haven’t completed. Sorry I couldn’t help you, Greg. 😢

5. What is your favorite feature (still here or gone) from the many years of Poptropica?

I agree with many fans that the biggest lost feature is the multitude of islands. As Lone Axe said it best, the game feels gutted ever since the death of Flash. The Creators are hard at work converting everything to Haxe, but it’s going to be a while until we see everything come back.

6. What is your favorite Poptropica item?

That’s a hard question to answer since there are hundreds of items in the game! If I have to pick one, it would be the Forest Amulet from Twisted Thicket Island. It’s a lot of fun to transform and harness the powers of nature, even if you can only use the amulet on one island. 😅

7. What is your favorite Poptropica Easter egg/secret/reference?

I’m not sure if anyone else knows about this one. When you visit Mother Leeds’s house on Cryptids Island, the dishes on the table will shake when you get close to them. It certainly spooked me when I first noticed it. 😱

(LJ: You can friend her on Poptropica with the username magicalyre!)

🌟 Would you like to be the next Popular Poptropican? 🌟

To nominate yourself or someone you know, send me an email at [email protected] or a private message on Discord with the following:

the name of your nominee (a Poptropica name or other screen name)
a reason why your nomination should be the next Popular Poptropican

Thank you so much for reading as always and I’ll see you all in the next one. Pop on!

– LJ 🍀

Fan Art Features, Lost Cubs, Member Gifts, Membership, Social Media

A new mini-quest?! May we bear witness? 🐻👀

May 2, 2021June 6, 2021 Gentle Dolphin

Hey, Poptropicans! Gentle Dolphin here with news surrounding our favorite computer game. We’ll be taking a look at May’s new member gifts, some Instagram art features, and a mysterious new mini-quest. Let’s dive in!

A new month means new member gifts! The members of May will receive a colorful Rainbow Kite, a soaring Pump Rocket, and a somewhat dated LED Fidget Spinner. If you’re interested in owning these items, you can become a member by purchasing a membership or entering the PHB’s Free Membership Giveaway!

On April 30th, a new mini-quest appeared on Home Island but was deleted later that day. Where did it come from, and where did it go? Our theory is that the Creators accidentally released the quest too early then swiftly deleted it when they realized what happened. This is supported by a notification on the Messages app, teasing an upcoming mini-quest.

Here’s what we know about the quest so far: you encounter poor Ishmael on Home Island, who is being crushed by a sad momma bear. You offer to help the two by finding the bear’s five lost cubs in a snowy forest reminiscent to the wilderness of Survival Island.

It seems that you would receive something after completing this quest, but the game gets stuck on an infinite loading screen after you collect all five cubs. It’s good to know that the Creators are now taking the time to remove bugs for the final release, but it’s still strange how the quest got accidentally leaked in the first place. We’ll have to wait and see what the full quest has in store.

Last but not least, the Creators featured some more art on their Instagram stories. We have a dozen creative pieces ranging from Poptropica edits to illustrations. Look, there’s also some fan art for the new Fairy Tale Island!

That’s all for now. How would you rate this month’s member gifts? Do you have any thoughts about the upcoming mini-quest? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

—Gentle Dolphin 🐬

Community Creations

Community Creations: April 2021

May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 Spotted Dragon

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the April recap for Community Creations! April’s theme was Bugs (and the featured work is not in any particular order). Be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

Top 5 Picks

Computer Bugs Are Different From Regular Bugs by Noisy Snowball

Alright guys, you know I’m a sucker for a good pun. And this pun is right on the nose! Er, perhaps I should say “antennae” in this case? Anyway, I love the humor in this submission. What would you do if you were shrunk to the size of an insect?!? The variety of the bugs here is quite dynamic and the frustrated expression of the Poptropican really sells the joke. And given the recent “buggy” comparisons we’ve been able to make with Mocktropica recently, the theme is certainly apropos. Find the artist in the comments and on Discord!

Anansi by Sporty Boa

Not only does this submission relate well to our bugs theme, but it is also quite appropriate for the recent debut of Fairy Tale Island. This folktale trickster and god of stories is from the the Ashanti tradition in Africa and is most commonly depicted as a spider. I love how unique and representational this tale is, as well as the personality put into the design. The colors are playful and thematic, and seem to work really well with a Poptropican style! Find the artist here on the PHB and on Discord. Be sure to check out the Fairy Tale Island contest winners too for more cool art!

Poptropica Bugs by 12345rose18

Aw, cute! Who said bugs had to be creepy crawlies? The adaptation of the bee and ladybug into Poptropica costumes is perfectly executed. I can really see these as being available in the store! More than that, I appreciate the combination of traditional and digital art that the artist chose to incorporate. The colors are great and the design really stood out to me. Find their DeviantArt here.

Ain’t it Buggy by Silver Horse

Alright, let’s get into a costume submission now! Obviously this outfit screams BUG! Yikes! Don’t worry, I’m sure your room is mostly bug free at the moment… hopefully. Ahem, anyway, I love the combination of items used in this design. Though the Virus Hunter body may be an obvious choice, its pairing with the yellow eyes, green skin, antennae, and lack of mouth really sell it. You’re making my skin crawl over here! Find the artist in the comments and on Discord.

Binary Bard & Butterfly by icecream

You butter believe this submission should be featured! The smooth line-art and coloring really caught my eye here. I love the gentleness of the scene and the expression on Binary Bard’s face. And who doesn’t love an alliterative title? The delicate butterfly makes this a more subtle fit in our theme, but still a perfect one. Well executed! Find the artist in the comments and on Discord.

Honorable Mentions

Black Widow as a Spider by Dangerous Dragon

Bah humbug! Time sure flies, but we’re unfortunately nearing the end of our post. Can you bee-lieve how great those submissions were? I think the Nightcrawlers would be proud. Hope all my puns didn’t bug you too much. 😉

May: How Do I Participate?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what it’s about, it’s basically a chance to show off your artwork, creepy fan-fics, Pop clubhouses, costumes, and anything else that pops into your mind.

If we really like the piece you submit, we will feature it here on the PHB! As long as it relates to that month’s theme. So what is May’s theme? May’s theme is…

Robots!

In today’s modern age, we are no longer strangers to rapidly growing technology. And in the world of Poptropica, robots are similarly no strange occurrence. Plus, if we’re being honest, robots are simply… cool! So perhaps robots (the more fun side of technology) make an appropriate theme when considering that many of us are wrapping up online school pretty soon (the more boring side of technology, at times).

Whether it be those hosting contests on Game Show Island, or Sprocket flying on Steamworks, or the mechanical Merlin from Astro-Knights, or… well, you get the point… they’re everywhere in Poptropica! Even Quippy has become a memorable Poptropica bot. So, let’s get to creating some robots of your own this month!

Go Go Robot: Just some of the ideas that would eventually become the Steam Robot costume in the Poptropica Store.

Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created, email it to the PHB team on our Contact page, OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArt, Twitter, or Discord.
Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as some honorable mentions.
Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to both the theme and Poptropica.
Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!

I will be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. While quality counts, I’m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so don’t be afraid to join in!

So what are you waiting for? Go make something awesome!

~SD

Pop Protips

Pop Protip: Play the old islands with Flashpoint 🏝🔦 (Windows and Mac)

April 30, 2021January 6, 2026 Slanted Fish

Are you wondering why the Poptropica map doesn’t have more islands than it does? If you’re an older player, you may recall a time when Poptropica had wayyy more islands on the map—more than 40, even! Where did they all go, and how can you play them again?

Continue reading →

Fanfiction, The Villain Saga, Uncategorized

“The Villain Saga” – Episode 1, Part 3

April 29, 2021August 10, 2022 Agent Bubbles

(See previous)

INT. EREWHON LUNCH ROOM – SAME DAY

DIRECTOR D. and MOREAU are watching the prisoners from outside the lunchroom, through the window. Inside, the GUARDS are leading the three to their table.

MOREAU

What if we just told them who we actually are? Perhaps they would work better with a bit of fear pushing them.

DIRECTOR D.

Do you really think we can intimidate them? They may be desperate, but I doubt they’d all be willing to obey our every command if they felt they were being used.

MOREAU pinches her forehead.

MOREAU

If only one of them could keep them in line for us…

As if almost on cue, more (real) prison guards enter the hall, leading an older man dressed as a pirate, just as the AGENTS leave the lunch room.

EREWHON GUARD 1

Hey, is there any chance we can add him? He slept past lunch and we couldn’t do much about it.

One of the AGENTS shares a concerned glance with D. and MOREAU.

MOREAU

(Points at the window, towards the three)

…I don’t think it would be safe to put him in with them.

The PRISONER chuckles, leaning towards her, showing yellowed (and one real gold) teeth. MOREAU backs away.

CRAWFISH

I believe I can handle them m’dear!

DIRECTOR D. turns to the AGENT.

DIRECTOR D.

Let him in.

D. and MOREAU watch intently as the pirate is led into the room. Surprisingly, the other prisoners do not protest his seating at their table. One of the GUARDS hand CRAWFISH a tray of food before leaving. CRAWFISH practically starts drooling, and ties a cheap napkin to his shirt as though he were about to begin a 5 star feast.

DR. HARE picks at his food.

DR. HARE

I understand that this place has limited vegetarian options but…why are the mashed potatoes green?

BLACK WIDOW

If you think that’s bad, I think I chipped a tooth on the bread here once.

The COOK (Note: The same chef who served Myron Van Buren in Survival Island) enters from the kitchen, scowling.

COOK

Is that complaining about the food I hear?

DR. HARE

Unsurprisingly yes-

CRAWFISH

Ah, don’t listen to ‘em! This is delicious!

(He turns to the COOK, aware of who she is but just playing.)

Give my thanks to the cook.

The COOK chuckles, and gives him an extra serving before walking off. CRAWFISH starts to chow down, while the rest look at him in confusion.

DR. HARE

You actually like that stuff?

CRAWFISH

Compared to the months of maggot infested biscuits I had to endure, this is heaven!

MORDRED

I had to endure months—years—ages without anything. Without the brilliance of my cybernetics I most certainly would have perished of hunger!

(Somewhat to himself)

Per aspera…

BLACK WIDOW

Oh here we go again with the sob story.

MORDRED glares at her, but once again his grin hasn’t faded. WIDOW doesn’t back away but loses some of her boldness.

MORDRED

I don’t want your pity, I want the world’s punishment for what happened—

CRAWFISH stands, slamming both hands on the table.

CRAWFISH

Enough! I’m certain everyone here has a horrible tale to tell, but can I have a meal in peace?

MORDRED

Who are you to order me around?

CRAWFISH turns to him, his tone suddenly becoming more cautious.

CRAWFISH

I was simply making a suggestion for your own good, sir.

Pause. MORDRED nods, and the tension in the room settles a little as they all get back to eating. We look back at DIRECTOR D and MOREAU, who are so interested in the prisoner’s behavior that they don’t notice a shadowed DR. JUPITER lurking behind them.

DIRECTOR D.

He—he’s a leader.

MOREAU

Of course he is. Even evil pirates don’t want to face a mutiny.

DIRECTOR D.

Yes, but he knows how to work with them! Mademoiselle, I believe we’ve found the ones who can work for us.

The camera follows JUPITER leaving them, both “psychologists” still not even suspecting his presence. He turns down a corner, before mumbling to himself with a faint smile.

DR. JUPITER

As have I, friends. As have I.

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE 1.

And here we are! I’m just as excited to see where this goes as some of you are, and I’m happy so many of you have expressed interest in this series!

Of course, I can’t have a Villain Saga post without mentioning the amazing recent additions to the comic GEAR made!