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A commencement address to Poptropicans of 2020

This post is going to be a bit different from our usual news updates and fandom spotlights, but we want to take a moment to toast and encourage you, Poptropicans of unprecedented and tumultuous times. Here’s to you!

To the Poptropicans of 2020,

It’s been a strange year. We’re living in a global pandemic, yes, but that hasn’t stopped us from playing Poptropica. That threat lies elsewhere, in the impending end for Adobe Flash. But more on that later.

In some parts of the world, now’s about that time of the year when students graduate and have ceremonies to celebrate the occasionโ€”gatherings which now, of course, may not happen in person, or at least will look different than usual. So if you’re graduating this year (whether from elementary, middle, high school or college): congratulations! ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŽ“ And even if it’s not your turn yet, what follows is still for you too.

Here at the Poptropica Help Blog, we want to commemorate with you with a commencement speech of sorts, to remind you of the times we’ve had, to give you hope, and to send each other into the world to come. So we’ve donned our caps and gowns (from the Graduation costume available now in the store!) and prepared a celebration for you. Let’s roll.

Some of you have discovered this game only recently, and others of you have been around for literally a decade. Either way, we’re all part of the Poptropica fam, and that’s worth celebrating! ๐Ÿ™Œ

As Poptropicans, we’ve ridden on gryphons, been chased by blueberry-infected zombies, trolled some lumberjerks, and had lots more adventures. (And when you were stuck, we were right here with illustrated island guides to help you through. ๐Ÿ˜‰ ) How many of these moments in Poptropica do you remember?

It’s been a good long run, but things are different now. There’s uncertainty. We know that Flash will not be supported by the end of this year, and it’s resulted in drastic changes for Poptropica as they prepare for this futureโ€”it’s meant islands disappearing and cosmetic and structural changes to the game. A fresh, challenging, solid island adventure seems a long way away.

And offline, there’s uncertainty too. Plans have changed, and perhaps you’re not sure what the next year or even the next few months might look like. But it’s okay not to know. What you can hope in is this: the world needs you, noble Poptropican.

Remember your adventures in Poptropica, and all that was gained from them. Love sacrificially, as the Vizier did for you in Arabian Nights. Find joy in wonder, like Salerno with her alien structures in Lunar Colony. Live patiently, as with your grind for the Phoenix Warbird in Skullduggery. Even when these islands fade, their legacy remains. So know that the giants you’ve faced, and the friendships you’ve formed, have prepared you to take on the world with courage, kindness, and yes, even greatness.

Have hope, because you’ve come this far. Have faith, because you are surrounded by people who believe in you. And take heart, brave ones, because you’re just getting started.

Life is made up of the everyday moments, and your part matters.

A new world awaits. Poptropicans, may you rise up to meet it.

โ€”the Poptropica Help Blogโ€”

p.s. While you’re here, consider sharing in the comments about how Poptropica has shaped you as a person! โญ๏ธ

Community Creations

Community Creations: May 2020

community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you theย May recapย for Community Creations!ย May’s themeย wasย Wild Westย (and the featured work is not in any particular order). Be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue whatโ€™s going on? Go see our intro post.

TOP 5 PICKS

In the Desertย by happyclonetrooper

Wow, right off the bat I love the ambiance of this work. The warm hues and brilliant lighting really add to the western atmosphere. The composition is well arranged and there are lots of details that fill up the scene! Finding that sort of variety in an otherwise plain landscape can sometimes be a difficult task, but the textures here were nailed. And the presentation leaves me wanting more! Will our hero find her way home, or succumb to the harsh temperatures of her environment? Very smooth execution! Find her DeviantArt here.

Snake Oil Salesmanย by Gentle Dolphin (aka JordynGowens)

Oooh, now this is an interesting take on our theme! While most of us think of El Mustachio Grande when we imagine the Wild West, that’s not the only villain of the desert! Hardcore Poptropica fans will certainly remember R.J. Earl, the infamous salesman of Wild West Island. The tonics and mixtures that he offers may seem “too good to be true,” but… what do you think? Anyway, the attention to detail in this piece is wonderful, making for another vividly atmospheric scene. The lighting is gorgeous, the lineart is smooth and crisp, the items in the shop add great easter eggs, and the colors are brilliant! A truly unique entry with an intriguingly symmetrical composition! Find her DeviantArt here.

Lone Coyote’s Fond Memories by Perfect Fish (aka jaekelopterus3)

Lots of detail in this submission too! The busy composition here presents a lot of information, but truly represents the fun of Wild West Island! With the changes in Poptropica we’re all facing right now, this piece definitely reflects the nostalgia and perhaps worry that we are all feeling. The work has a ton of brilliant energy, making for a whimsical, childlike mood (perfect for Poptropica of course). I love the elements of text, the bold colors, and the vivid texture. Plus, we don’t often get to see Poptropicans portrayed with fingers! Attention can be found in every inch of the paper, for sure! Find the artists in the comment section and on Discord.

Staring Down the Barrel of a Gunย by ray-of-flight

Ah, yet another piece with brilliant lighting! The warm hues, once again, are very appropriate for this month’s theme and make for a particularly interesting color palette. I love the drama found within this scene, especially given the angled lighting and the perspective of the viewer. The foreshortening required in the pose is a difficult one to pull off, but the view of the gun certainly makes the effort worth it. The composition is more straightforward, but that certainly adds to the drama! Excellent work! Find their DeviantArt here.

Ready for the Showdownย by AdventurersNHunters

Here, we see “Sheriff Jackson ‘Red Hunt’ Smith and Deputy Darcy ‘Yellow Stone’ Stone Versus El Mustachio Grande and The Grande Gang.” How exciting! According to the artist, “Red was just visiting his home island while Yellow went there due to what is happening there. Suddenly, Yellow and Red run into eachother and have no choice but to work together, they still hate eachother. Jackson only did to hunt down El Mustachio and claim his reward.” Dun dun duh!!! This piece is definitely filled with drama and excitement, perfectly showcasing a true western showdown. It’s as if it were a movie poster for an old western film! I love all the different characters, the colored blocking within the composition, and the dark shading. Wonderful! Find her DeviantArt here.


HONORABLE MENTIONS

Lots of Grande fan art this month, which was super cool!


JUNE: HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what itโ€™s about, itโ€™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 monthโ€™s theme. So what is June’s theme?ย June’s theme isโ€ฆ

Monochromatic

With June kicking off Pride month and the continued fight for equality, the significance of color never ceases to be prominent. Luckily in art, color is an element for self expression and pride rather than something that divides us. So this month, let’s showcase some color in our amazing community, but with an added challenge!

Monochromatic, if you aren’t familiar, means “one color.” Therefore, I challenge you to submit work that you make using only one color! Remember that different shades and tints of that color, as well as neutrals are allowed. So get creative, and maybe we will be able to feature work from EVERY COLOR OF THE RAINBOW! And if you aren’t into drawing, remember that you can still participate. Perhaps write a story with one color being particularly important, write a poem about all your favorite purple things in Poptropica maybe, or even put together an outfit in Poptropica that’s all one color. It’s all up to you, so let your color shine with pride!

  • Comment below with a link to whatever youโ€™ve created OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArtTwitter, or Discord.
  • Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as 3 honorable mentions.
  • Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to the theme.
  • Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as youโ€™d like!

I will be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. While quality counts, Iโ€™m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so donโ€™t be afraid to join in!

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

~SD

Clubhouse, Home Island, Store

Summer on Haxe and Avatar Studio hijacks

Hey, Poptropicans! Today, we’re going to talk about a store rearrangement, a Home Island makeover, and the Avatar Studio. Why am I getting a strange case of dรฉjร  vu? Anyway, let’s get started with this week’s store lineup!

This week, players can purchase trendy summer fashion and classic costumes. Although the Orange Julius is members-only, the other outfits are available to all players. These items are: Rainbow Storm, Rebel Beach, Spiff Boy, Soccer Player (boys and girls), Mythology Surfer (boys and girls), Pop Star, and Rock Star.

Over the past few weeks, the four items in the Powers section took turns being on sale one week at a time. First was the Bobblehead Power, then the Atom Power, and now players save big with the Binary Rain Power. Maybe the Flower Planting Power will be on sale next week? We’ll see.

Also, some of the sections rearranged the order of their cards, and the Ice Blaster Pistol disappearing from the Pranks section.


Remember Home Island getting a summer makeover on Flash? The Haxe version of Home Island followed suit and welcomed summer in its own unique way. Bushels of apples can be found in the trees and on the ground. If you need a cool refreshing treat, head over to the ice cream stand next to the Blast-Off Arcade to get a free soft serve cone. Sweet! ๐Ÿ˜‹


Need a place to get away from the heat? Players can now access their clubhouses in the Haxe Javascript build of Poptropica! However, there isn’t (yet?) a physical building for it on Home Island like there is in Flash.

Instead, you’ll need to click the clubhouse icon in the menu to be transported to your virtual home away from home.

haxe clubhouse iconYou’re going to need some furniture to decorate your humble abode. Click the store button on the bottom left of the screen, and you’ll be transported to the clubhouse store. So far, 23 furniture items are available in the Haxe clubhouse store, with five being members-only.

Check out the decorator in action. Yup, just like in Flash!

Also like the Flash version, there’s a “switch room” lever you can pull to change the interiors. And in Haxe, in addition to the three interiors we know from the Flash version, there’s a fourth whimsical world: a mushroom forest!

Pretty magical, huh? It’s too bad it’s members only… just like in Flash, non-members only get the first clubhouse interior, which is the treehouse.


Another little cosmetic change in Haxe: the save screen where you create a Poptropica account has gotten a makeover! Now it features some kind of futuristic warrior in a robot suit and a girl waving from the sides.


Ah, the Avatar Studio. A simple application in which players can look up and share their avatars with others online. Former PHB author Purple Claw gave us a tip that something was amiss with the system. Players can still search for their avatars as normal. However, when you view the link to your avatar, you are suddenly greeted by this handsome fellow:

AvatarStudioVlad

Every Avatar Studio link now directs you to former Pop Creator Vlad the Viking’s avatar, regardless of the username you typed in. It’s a strange glitch, to be sure. Let’s hope this gets fixed soon.

That’s all for now. What do you think of this week’s store lineup? What items do you want to see return in the future? Thoughts on the other updates?

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

โ€”Gentle Dolphin ๐Ÿฌ

Home Island, LEGO Poptropica, Store

Batter up! Summer’s here with paper cheer

Hey, everyone, Gentle Dolphin here with a fresh batch of updates! Let’s take a look at what’s in store for Poptropica this week.

We have a new array of old costumes available to everyone! This week, we have: Baseball Fielder (boys and girls), Baseball Batter (boys and girls), Shady Pockets, Cool Green, Spring Fling, and Cheesy Slice.

Looks like the Bobblehead sale didn’t last long. The Bobblehead power went back to being a members-only item that costs 350 credits. On a lighter note, the Atom Power now costs an affordable 75 credits, so you can save money and show off your radiant looks (or is that just radiation?). ๐Ÿคจ

The Miscellaneous section still features the Cinnamon Fire PopGum and Balloons, but the Flash version of Poptropica added a printable Arabian Nights poster and the Avatar Studio. Interesting, they added the Avatar Studio though it won’t be functional after the Flash shutdown later this year. Are the Creators working on a way to port it to a new platform like Haxe Javascript? Only time will tell.


While the Haxe version of Home Island seems to be stuck in a perpetual autumn, the Flash version finally welcomed summer after a six-month long winter. The trees regrew their lush green leaves, barnacles made their homes on the rocks, and there seems to be a rise in seagull droppings. ๐Ÿคข

On the platform where ads are typically present, you can see a billboard promoting the newest sponsor islandโ€” American Girl: Joss’s Island. Check out our post on Joss’s Island if you want a quick tour of this interesting little AD-venture.

HomeIsland_Summer2020_7

Looking at Home Island makes us long for the great outdoors. While we can’t leave home yet because of quarantine, the Creators have been giving us fun boredom busters to pass the time. They gave us coloring pages and word searches, and now they’re inviting us to get crafty with these Dr. Hare and Rabbot paper crafts!

These templates were originally released as rewards for the Dr. Hare’s Lair LEGO CUUSOO project, which was a pitch for a potential Poptropica LEGO set. Although the toy never came to be, we can still have fun and build with paper! All you have to do is print the templates then cut, fold, and paste as needed to build your own mini Dr. Hare and Rabbot!

That’s all for now, folks! What do you think of Home Island’s summer update? Will you take a crack at crafting a miniature mad scientist? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

โ€”Gentle Dolphin ๐Ÿฌ

Store

Cobble up 75 credits, become a Bobblehead

Hey Poptropicans! Another week of May has gone by, and surprisingly, there’s been a rotation of items in the store. Here’s what’s in:

Many of last week’s items are still around, but all the costumes have changed. In the costume department, we have: Cool for School, Baseball Uniform*, Orange Julius, Spiff Boy, Unicorn Girl*, Football Fever* (with a whopping 8 color options!), Prom Queen, and Swan Ballerina. (A * indicates members only.)

The Bobblehead power has been made available to all (it was members only last week) and dropped from 350 credits to a mere 75, so now’s a good time to snap up this wobbly-bobbly classic!

Modeling while bobbling.

In followers, the Dryad has replaced the Chick from last week, and in pranks, the Ice Blaster Pistol has joined the ranks. And finally, in miscellaneous, the Cinnamon Fire PopGum has risen to 300 credits, a drastic change from last week’s 75. (Thanks to Perfect Fish for the alerts!)

That’s all for this week’s news! In case you missed it, catch up on all the exciting stuff that came out in the past couple of weeks:

Stay healthy, Poptropicans! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿงผ

~/๐Ÿ