Guest Posts, Popspiracy Theories

Popspiracy: Mystery of the Mini Blimps

Hey Poptropicans, this is aย guest postย by Invisible Ring. Enjoy!

For years, Iโ€™ve wondered who shrunk the yellow blimp I was riding on, and I have returned once again to share my air-headed thoughts on such a small mystery.

For example, the first mini-blimp like this was on Shrink Ray Island, which leads me to believe that the culprit was armed with a shrink ray. After all, those ray-guns certainly flooded the market back in the dayโ€ฆ

โ€ฆBut if this is true, then who put those shrink rays to such a devious use?ย Some may automatically blame the classic ray-gun villains, like Dr. Hare or Director D. But I think that the most likely suspect would be Dr. Blandston, zapper of blimps! After all, I saw the doctor from Goofball Island with my own eyes; firing that blandston-ray at my blimp. Whoโ€™s to say they didnโ€™t fire a shrink ray too?

However, the blimp mystery may not be as simple as all that. For back on Home Island, I found not one, but TWO mini-blimps!ย  Almost as if someone used โ€œTwin Powerโ€ on them!

โ€ฆEither that, OR somebody mightโ€™ve found a way to split a large classic blimp into two smaller blimps! That doesnโ€™t explain where the โ€œPoptropicaโ€ logo disappeared to, though. (Unless those blimp vandals took the logo off first!)

But this isnโ€™t too much of a problem, because there are still plenty of classic blimps to go around, thanks to the Monkey Wrench Island monkeys.

โ€ฆAlthough, there are a few islands that donโ€™t have blimps at all! And those islands are the episodic adventures. Survival Island: Episode 1 is surely to blame for that. After that blimp destruction, thereโ€™s no blimp on that island, nor on any OTHER episodic adventure!ย 

Thank goodness for the Monkey Wrench monkeys, to have built us new blimps for the islands that came after those multi-part islands, like this one on Pelican Rock!

Of course, we canโ€™t forget the most common blimp Popspiracy out there: The mini-blimps are only on the newest islands, from 2021-now. Fairytale, Goofball, Jade Scarab, and the newest Home Island have the small blimps, and the rest of the islands have classic blimps.

Maybe Glowbhax shrunk the blimps! โ€ฆhaha, just kidding! Iโ€™m sure you all would rather say that the 2021 mini-blimp is just a modern design that’s only big enough for stuffed bunniesโ€ฆ but what if that modern design was ALSO done by the monkeys? Perhaps the Monkey Wrench monkeys were trying to keep up with the times, so they made big blimps for the old islands and small blimps for the new ones!

But one small catch… What if you travel from old islands to new islands, or vice-versa?

โ€ฆWell, THAT answer is probably as wild and crazy as all the Poptropica storms we fly through! Imagine crossing over a modern island like Fairytale, when a shrink ray hits you and turns your classic blimp miniature!ย Then when you fly on outta there and exit that atmospheric layer of shrink ray waves, your blimp turns back to normal! โ€ฆEither that, or Rumplestiltskinโ€™s magic is at hand. Who knows?

One thing I do know is that it’s lots of fun to formulate all these deductions like a detective from Mystery Train Island. The sky is literally the limit!ย  But regardless of whether youโ€™re on a train, in a blimp, on foot, or in the real world, my advice to you is to keep on adventuring, and keep your eyes to the skies. And keep asking questions and making guesses, too, because that is exactly how we all learn!

(This Popspiracyโ€”Poptropica conspiracyโ€”was brought to you by my early Blimpy Trance posts from Pop Fan Kids.)


Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Invisible Ring. If you did, you might also enjoy watching her full-length Poptropica fan movie, Battle Morale!

The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. Interested in writing for the PHB? Weโ€™d love to hear from you!

Uncategorized

Pop Quiz: Which Tribe Are You?

Hey Poptropicans, this fun quiz to find your tribe was put together by Unknown Spider as part of our recent Tribal Tournament. Enjoy!

Note: Keep track of your answers to get your results at the end!

1) Which quality describes you best?

A) Adventurous
B) Fierce
C) Inventive
D) Curious

E) Confident
F) Fearless
G) Elegant
H) Outgoing

2) What’s your favorite color?

A) Green
B) Red
C) Yellow
D) Blue

E) Black
F) Purple
G) Gold
H) Orange

3) What’s your favorite island?

A) Mission Atlantis
B) Steamworks
C) PoptropiCon
D) Mystery of the Map

E) Skullduggery
F) Crisis Caverns
G) Ghost Story
H) Game Show

4) Who’s your favorite villain?

A) Captain Crawfish
B) El Mustachio Grande
C) Omegon
D) Gretchen Grimlock

E) Red Baron
F) Zomberries
G) Ringmaster Raven
H) E. Vile

5) What would you have as a pet?

A) Octopus
B) Phoenix
C) Wasp
D) Unicorn

E) Parrot
F) Spider
G) Raven
H) Robot

6) Where would your dream home be?

A) Underwater
B) Somewhere warm
C) Laboratory
D) Wherever your adventure takes you

E) Pirate ship
F) Underground
G) Castle
H) High-tech mansion

7) What common feared have your conquered?

A) Sea creatures
B) Fire
C) Bees & wasps
D) Getting lost

E) Swimming
F) Spiders
G) Heights
H) Crowds

Results

Mostly As = Flying Squid ๐Ÿฆ‘
Mostly Bs = Wildfire ๐Ÿ”ฅ
Mostly Cs = Yellowjackets ๐Ÿ
Mostly Ds = Pathfinders ๐Ÿงญ

Mostly Es = Black Flags ๐Ÿดโ€โ˜ ๏ธ
Mostly Fs = Nightcrawlers ๐Ÿ›
Mostly Gs = Seraphim ๐Ÿชฝ
Mostly Hs = Nanobots ๐Ÿฆ€


Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Unknown Spider. If you did, you might also enjoy other games weโ€™ve hosted, like our Pop the Difference series.

The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. Interested in writing for the PHB? Weโ€™d love to hear from you!

Creators

The End of Poptropica?

In Ruins: Honestly, not so bad.

BREAKING NEWS: It seems Poptropica is officially shutting down.

The news comes from a LinkedIn post by ex-Pop Creator, Lauren Kamb, who writes that “I’m announcing the closure of… Poptropica Ltd.”

According to her profile, Lauren served as Digital Advertising Account Manager at Poptropica from 2019โ€“2022, then as Director of Partner Relations at Suit Up Games, Poptropica’s spin-off Roblox studio, from 2022 to now. So it seems safe to say she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to announcing the closure of both companies.

What’s odd is that, as of now, Lauren’s post is the only place breaking such big news. The announcement of Poptropica’s closure hasn’t yet appeared on Coolmath Games, where Poptropica is currently hosted, nor on any of its socials (nor Poptropica’s socials, for that matter).

Deplane: It’s going down for real.

But to back up the claim of closure further, Lauren’s post was ‘liked’ and reposted by many in her network, including some with connections to Poptropica and Suit Up Games. (Thanks to jeeperpretzel for the tip!)

And Lauren is not the only recent staff departure from Poptropica and Suit Up Games. Within the past month, according to their LinkedIn posts and profiles, departures were announced by Jonathan Pitcher, art director; Lance Fry, another artist whose Poptropica Portfolio we’ve featured; Justin Kelly, software developer; and Rick Hocker, director of development (side note: Rick’s profile also mentions being responsible for managing Poptropica’s big move from Flash to HTML5 and mobile).

While Jon Pitcher was working on both Poptropica and Suit Up Games, the rest of those mentioned are ex-Poptropica staff, having migrated to Suit Up Games in 2022 when the studio was founded.

With all of them sharing that they are now looking for work, the departures seem to be layoffs, comparable to the layoffs in 2018 of several senior Pop Creators. We’re certainly sorry to see them goโ€”and anxious for confirmation on what this means for Poptropica. ๐Ÿฅฒ

Monkey Business: Our beach vacation is in ruins.

Meanwhile for Suit Up Games, we’re seeing some questionable content that may back up Lauren’s claim of its closure. On their website, the calendar which was previously offered to schedule meetings with them is now unavailable, while the staff’s name is still there. However, according to his LinkedIn profile, Joshua Mixon was Head of Product at Suit Up Games until May 2024. Plus, their job application site is down.

Also on their website, it appears that Suit Up Games is using AI-generated artwork. Taking a closer look at the image alongside their “strategic, data-driven approach” message reveals some wonky-looking numbers and charts that are characteristic of AI art not getting details quite right. This is particularly questionable considering they’ve just let go of actual artists on their team, but if the whole company is going down anyway, perhaps it’s just a minor detail.


While we haven’t yet seen an official announcement of closure from Poptropica as an entity, or any of its related companies, we did come across official documents filed by Pop to the Companies House of the UK government, where Poptropica Limited is registered.

The most recent filing comes just around the time of the latest staff departures, dated 20 August 2024. The document is an “audit exemption statement of guarantee by parent company for period ending 31/12/23”, stating that Poptropica’s parent company Sandbox International Holdings Limited would “guarantee all liabilities of its subsidiary.” In other words, Sandbox is claiming responsibility for all of Poptropica’s financial obligations. But this filing may just be a formality, since Pop was already under Sandbox. (Previously it was under another Sandbox-related parent company, Aspen Newco 1 Ltd.)

Digging further into the previous audit exemptionโ€”the “audit exemption subsidiary accounts made up to 31 December 2022″โ€”we find a more detailed document that includes Poptropica’s older (but latest published) financial statements. While page 2 shows a loss of $154,952 in 2022, the previous year still held a profit with $86,537 in 2021. But by page 12 we can see that the cash generated from operations in 2022 was $630,857, so perhaps things were still doing alright then.

Since Sandbox International Holdings Limited has swallowed up the reporting of Poptropica’s finances, we took a peek at their docs, too. On page 35 of the document “Group of companies’ accounts made up to 31 December 2022”, we find Poptropica listed as just one of many subsidiaries held by Sandbox. Then on page 38, we find various losses noted among the company cash from operations. Disclaimer, though: we’re no experts at reading these lengthy accounting statements, so this may not necessarily spell the end for all we know.

All this to say, it’s not super clear right now how Poptropica is doing financially, since their last financial statement reflects the year 2022, and Sandbox has lumped in Poptropica’s finances with their other subsidiaries. But perhaps things will become clearer with the next statement, or with any announcement from Poptropica. We’ll see!

Fireside Chat: Pull up a chair.
Creators, Hellos & Goodbyes

A Fierce Legacy

How’s it going, Poptropicans? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we have a departure within the Poptropica community.

In early August, Jonathan Pitcher, a longtime Pop Creator who has left his stamp on the game, shared on X/Twitter that his time with Poptropica had come to a close. Considering Jon’s frequent appreciation for Poptropica and the fact he’s currently seeking work elsewhere, this sudden exit appears to be yet another layoff.

Jon Pitcher has worked at Poptropica for well over a decade. His duties included leading the charge in branded advertisement games, then later becoming an art director who contributed to creating new islands and managing the Poptropica store.

Jon leaves behind a legacy for the beloved game that simply can’t be overstated. His contributions to the community will forever be cherished and remembered — we wish him the very best! If you’d like to learn more about Jon’s work and impact, we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing him here on the PHB and have highlighted his Poptropica Portfolio from earlier in his career.

Sports Legends: Only the finest sports collectibles.

In a similar light, I too will be stepping away from blogging — on my own blog, Fierce Flyer Adventures, as well as here on the PHB.

As I’ve shared before, being asked to join the Poptropica Help Blog all those years ago is one of my favorite and most cherished moments, and this still holds true. The community I was able to be a part of and the friends I’ve met through Poptropica have changed my life for the better.

Fierce Flyer representing Tribe Wildfire

I sincerely believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without this chapter in my journey. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for being part of it.

Fierce Flyer out, love y’all! ๐Ÿ’™โœŒ๐Ÿพ

Contests, PHB Parties, Tribes

Recap: PHB Tribal Tournament 2024 ๐Ÿ†๐ŸŽ†

Wazzup, Poptropi-lympians! In the last few weeks, our vibrant community representing the diverse tribes of Poptropica engaged in an exciting showdown to determine who would emerge victorious as the ultimate champion. With activities ranging from artistic creations and brain-teasing puzzles to an adventurous scavenger hunt, culminating in a grand closing ceremony, we hope you all had an unforgettable time!

The party was a typical mix of fun and laughter at Midas’ Gym on Mythology Island, where everyone gathered to enjoy some classic common room games. We chatted away in the Poptropica Help Chat (PHC), sharing nostalgic stories and funny gifs and pics. There were also plenty of pushups and dance moves to keep things lively! โšกCan you find yourself in the collage graphic?


๐Ÿ– Gifted Gladiators ๐ŸŽถ

The kickoff round, Gifted Gladiators, which took place throughout the entire event, was a dazzling display of art and creativity. A multitude of Poptropicans showcased their talents by submitting written works, eye-catching visuals, musical compositions, and an array of Poptropica-themed fan creations! We recognized the effort behind each submission, granting players 20 points for their tribe for every piece they submitted.

We were blown away by the amount of artwork that the Nanobots created, which amassed a whopping 1,740 points! Hats off to the mechanical crustaceans for stealing this round. ๐Ÿค–

Check out the awesome Art Gallery Exhibition packed with some spirited submissions for this event. Thereโ€™s a ton of great stuff to see!


๐Ÿ’ช Brawny Brainiacs ๐Ÿง 

In the second round, Brawny Brainiacs, there were several ways to rack up points such as a fun word search, a captivating character crossword puzzle, a tricky decode-a-message challenge, and a host of entertaining Pop the Difference games. Including bonus points, you could individually score up to 1,330 points in this round for your team if you completed every task.

It was the Seraphim who soared to the top this round, racking up an impressive grand total of 3,960 points! ๐Ÿชฝ


๐Ÿ”Ž Sensational Scavenger Hunt ๐Ÿ”ฆ

In the thrilling final round, teams joined forces in a frantic dash to the finish line. A total of 10 clues awaited the tribes, each cleverly hidden throughout the blog’s many pages. The scoring system ranked participants from 80 points for first place down to 10 points for those who crossed the line last.

This time, the Wildfire tribe outshone all rivals, wrapping up their hunt in less than an hourโ€”an astonishing feat unmatched by any other tribe. Standing tall and triumphant, they secured a stellar score of 80 points! ๐Ÿ”ฅ


๐Ÿฅ‡ Final Scores๐Ÿฅˆ

Unfortunately, we have to say that the Yellowjackets are taking home the last place ribbon for the second time in a row, scoring just a tiny 60 points. Yikes! It looks like hibernation came early this year for these sleepy insects.

Worming their way into 7th place, weโ€™ve got the Nightcrawlers. With a score of 845 points, it looks like the early bird caught these little guys before they could wiggle any further.

Wildfire is sitting at a tepid 6th place this year. They put in a solid effort with 1,025 points, but it seems like the flames have cooled off a bit this time.

Flying Squid takes our 5th place spot with 1,460 points! They just ‘squid’n’t manage to break into the top half of the leaderboard. There’s always next time.

The Pathfinders‘ pursuit of first place did not culminate in success, as they raked in a total of 1,520 points; however, they can take pride in their earnest efforts. Coming in 4th place is still a commendable achievement!

In 3rd place, we have the Nanobots! With an impressive score of 3,090 points, these robotic crabs were truly electrifying!

The Black Flags put on an absolutely ‘plunder’ful performance, racking up an impressive total of 3,570 points! While they couldn’t hold onto their title as champions from the previous games, they still managed to clinch an impressive 2nd place. Argh, super close!

Which means…๐Ÿฅ๐Ÿฅ๐Ÿฅ

The Seraphim have emerged as the triumphant champions of this year’s tournament, scoring an overall 4,140 points! Their meticulous game plan, rather than ‘winging’ it, proved to be the winning strategy for this heavenly squad! ๐Ÿ†๐ŸŽŠ


๐Ÿ™Œ G.O.A.Ts of the Games ๐Ÿ‘

While we value each and every one of our participants, a handful of competitors truly excelled, pouring their hearts into ensuring their tribe brought home the gold.

We want to give a super special shoutout to these exceptional Poptropicans for their remarkable dedication:

Pegs of Nanobots, Lazy Kid of Black Flags, Sleepy Biker of Pathfinders, Magic Kid of Nightcrawlers, Squidney24 of Seraphim, Lune of Wildfire, & Bony Bones of Flying Squid

Thank you all so much, once again, for your efforts in maintaining the lively spirit of our Tribal Tournament! Y’all are the GOATs! ๐Ÿ

Strive to persevere

โœจ the PHB tribe representatives โœจ

LJ๐Ÿ€, Gentle Dolphin๐Ÿฌ, Purple Paw๐Ÿพ, Smart Bubbles๐Ÿซง & Smart Icicle๐ŸŒธ