Guest Posts, My Place in Poptropica

My Place in Poptropica: Fearless Goose

Slanted Fish

This is a guest post from Fearless Goose sharing their My Place in Poptropica story, which is all about one’s Poptropica journey. Enjoy!

Hi guys, I’m Fearless Goose and this is my first ever blog post.

2019 | A blue book

It was a normal day in 2019 during school when I saw a blue book titled Poptropica: The Official Guide. When I got home, the first thing I did was check out Poptropica. I was 7 at the time, so I don’t remember the account name sadly.

I was so excited to play, and the first map I played was Mission Atlantis, Episode 1. But being so young, after facing the first challenge, I ragequit for a month.

Hot Seat: This outfit will go straight to the dome.

2020 | Take two

The second time I played Poptropica was around 2020, a few months before Flash was discontinued at the end of the year. I played a few maps, but I didn’t really like the game, because for my 7-year-old brain, it was very hard.

2024 | Resolution

This year, one of my resolutions is to play games from my childhood, one of them being Poptropica. I was heartbroken to find out about most of the islands being removed, but happy they were a part of my childhood. I went from ragequitting to easily beating all of the remaining islands. I also enjoyed playing with my interesting character.

Well that’s my story. And if you have free time, just write your story. To see how to send in your story, click here.

This is Fearless Goose, over and out.

Breakout: Some forces cannot be contained.

Hope you enjoyed this “My Place in Poptropica” story! If you did, you’ll probably enjoy our other MPIP stories here on the PHB.

If you haven’t already shared your story, we invite you to send in your own. Interested in writing for the PHB under a different Pop-topic? Take a look at our Write for the PHB page for ideas, guidelines, and more!

Web Development

An Alternative, Chinese Poptropica: BoKe Travelog《卜克环游记》 🕹️🏝️

Slanted Fish

Hold onto your blimps, Poptropicans—we’re about to take a deep dive into an alternative universe. You’re looking at a Chinese Poptropica!

Shout-out to Pink (popping-tropics on Tumblr) for the discovery.

《卜克环游记》— which translates to BoKe Travelog — was a PC browser game made by TaoMee Inc, a Chinese company creating children’s entertainment. The game ran from 2011–2013, though it was only recently discovered by Poptropica fans now, over a decade later!

Though this Poptropica-inspired game is no longer playable, it was once hosted online at boke.61.com. We used the Internet Archive to explore what the site used to look like and grabbed some screenshots:

Prizes for joining game beta
Islands
Login
Homepage with news and forum links

Unlike Poptropica, BoKe Travelog came with a background story, as found in this Chinese wiki. The lore goes that due to climate change, human life gradually moved from land to sea. As water levels rose, cities were submerged, and mountains turned into islands.

People known as BoKe lived happily on the islands, each with their own unique styles. One day, a mysterious black fog appeared on the southeast side of the ocean. As it continued to thicken, the islands faced various troubles, with people disappearing and economies collapsing.

The attacks came from the evil and highly intelligent Dr. Hedra, whose face no one had ever seen, and who wanted to rule over the world. But the brave BoKe people chose to unite to solve the crises of each island.

Welcome screen
Balloon travel, like Poptropica’s blimp

Inside BoKe Travelog are many visual similarities to Poptropica, as documented by Simon Cai 蔡思敏, who played both games in 2011. While BoKe Travelog puts its own spin on designs, many of the mechanisms such as the map layout and island adventures are clearly inspired.

Island map on Chinese Poptropica
Island map on OG Poptropica
Cave on Octopus Island
Cave on Shark Tooth Island

BoKe Travelog had eight islands that closely followed many of Poptropica’s classic adventures, as outlined and documented in videos which you can watch by clicking on the BoKe island names below.

Confronting the villain on Potato Island, who resembles Dr. Eggman Robotnik from Sonic, as noted by Pop fan Sleepy Biker
Confronting Dr. Hare on 24 Carrot Island
Ned Noodlehead (left) in BoKe Travelog
Ned Noodlehead (right) in Poptropica
Party room at the end of BoKe Travelog’s Haunted House (peep the Chinese fai chun)
Party room in Poptropica’s Haunted House

Also like Poptropica, BoKe Travelog released a book series with more stories unrelated to the in-game islands. They were called Mystery Island Adventures (谜岛大冒险) and some details are on Amazon.

What an interesting glimpse into an alternative version of the game we know! Though this green Chinese Poptropica is now lost media, its existence is a testament to the inspiring power of Poptropica. 🌴

Did you know that there’s another alternative Poptropica? Check out our exploration of Our Discovery Island (Orange Poptropica)! 🥕

What do you think of BoKe Travelog 《卜克环游记》? Would you play it if you could? Share with us in the comments! 👀

~🐠

PHB Specials

Favorite Poptropica Island Tournament (Final Round)🏝️🏆

Gentle Dolphin

The time has come, Poptropicans! 🏝️🏆

We are down to our final two Poptropica islands: Astro-Knights Island and Mythology Island (Classic). These two tales of epic proportions explored the public eye, collected your votes, and competed all the way to the final round. Which adventure will take the crown as the #1 fan favorite Poptropica island? 🚀🌩️

Before the final voting round begins, we have a couple messages for you. Our little tournament has caught the attention of iconic Pop villains, Mordred and Zeus, who have words to share with their fans.

Fellow Poptropicans, it is both to my surprise and disappointment that, not only has my home island been removed from the map, but I also am at odds once again with Jove himself! The so-said “god” who dared challenge my genius! Let it be known, I will not lose evermore, not to any king or god or… corporation. This, I have learned, is the problem with your futile insistence on “democracy” and “voice of the people”. I believe you all will rally behind not only myself (but mostly myself) but also my homeland and the surrounding galaxy.

‘Tis a shameful, tragic demise that Astro-Knights and that forsaken kingdom of Arturus is no longer present and, thus, will never see the full extent of my vengeance. A pity that is spared, albeit, by us never facing some pathetic, oversimplified remaster like certain other islands I know.

(Imagine, they make me hand over the energy orb without a fight! I’ve already faced enough humiliation because of Princess Elyana!)

Now vote! Vote, I say!

—Mordred from Astro-Knights Island

To the people of Poptropica, the time has come for a rematch like no other! I once again come face-to-face with the Binary Bard himself. This mortal knows not when to quit, risking life and limb for what? Knowledge? Power? Votes?! I ask Mordred a simple question: ‘From where do you gather the electricity to power your inventions?’ If he wants to play god, then he must face one himself.

It is true that Mythology Island is present in a less than idealized way. Despite this, my island’s original state is immortalized for all to experience. You may shudder at the price of admission, but we all must pay a price to achieve great things. One must pay in currency or status or even humanity. Even Mordred himself knows that.

With your votes, I will defeat that foolish mechanical mortal and Mythology Island will claim its rightful title of the people’s most beloved island! However, if the votes are not in my favor, then Poptropica will once again feel my wrath.

—Zeus from Mythology Island (Classic)

Thanks to Mordred and Zeus for those wonderful words of encouragement! Now, Poptropicans, it’s time to vote! You have until Monday, March 11 @ 11:59 pm EST to pick your favorite island.

🏝️ VOTE NOW! 🗳️

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

—Gentle Dolphin 🐬

Web Development

Farewell Poptropica.com, reborn on Coolmath Games 😭😎🕹️

Agent Bubbles

It’s official: Poptropica.com now automatically redirects to Coolmath Games (CMG), as announced earlier this year following a shutdown scare in December. The Poptropica website is no more, but the game will live on through CMG, which hosts a vast library of ex-Flash games.

Coolmath Games will be the platform to access Poptropica going forward, although as previously mentioned on their blog, there are currently no plans to restore the old islands (RIP to best island Astro-Knights 🚀). Like Poptropica, CMG is also under Sandbox & Co, so the ownership remains the same — only the web hosting has switched.

CMG’s announcement of the move on social media (Twitter/X and Instagram) was short and sweet, stating that you can still access your account and to contact them for any questions.

Curiously, CMG liked a comment from a fan account on their Instagram post which said that Poptropica was going to close until CMG stepped in to save the day. This matches the narrative in CMG’s earlier blog post, though it’s interesting that Poptropica never said so themselves.

CMG liked a comment about how they saved the game, but didn’t elaborate further
Poptropica reshared CMG’s post on their Instagram story but did not make their own

At the end of the day, Poptropica is still alive and doesn’t seem to be shutting down anytime soon, so that’s worth celebrating. 🙌

However, as their blog states, there are no plans for more content new or old, so what we have now — mostly several short islands and episodes — may be all we get for the foreseeable future. It may not be much, but there are a couple of improvements to CMG’s Pop: mobile playability straight from your web browser, and full screen mode!

UPDATE — Mar 5: CMG’s blog post removed the part about the old islands, offering a slight hope that old islands might return, although there is no other indication that any such plans are in the works.

If you want to replay the old islands, you can still do so through Flashpoint, the unofficial preservation project. Another option is Poptropica’s paid Steam bundle, but Flashpoint has more content. Whether you play on Coolmath Games, Flashpoint, or Steam, don’t forget to visit our Island Guides for tips along your adventures! 🥳

~ Ad astra per aspera ~

-Smart Bubbles

p.s. Read more about the Poptropica-to-Coolmath Games migration here.

PHB Specials, Pop-over

Poptropica Characters as Pokémon Trainers — Part 2 🦸‍♂️👣👻

Gentle Dolphin

Happy Pokémon Day, everyone! Let’s celebrate by showing more Poptropica characters as Pokémon trainers.

If you want to know what Dr. Hare, Amelia, and DJ Saturday Nite would be like in this little AU, check out our first post in this series. Let’s hope for no more shutdown scares. 🤞

Ned Noodlehead wants to save the day!

Ned Noodlehead seems like your typical Super Nerd trainer, but he’s super in more ways than one. Ned owns a comic book shop where people read tales of great heroes like Gligarman and Accelguard. When trouble arises, he dons his super suit and fights crime with his super powerful team of Pokémon! 🦸‍♂️🌭

  • Palafin– Palafin is the quintessential superhero Pokémon. This unassuming dolphin can transform into its powerful Hero Form in battle. Fun fact: it evolves at level 38, which is a nod to Superman’s debut comic from 1938!
  • Gliscor– The Pokémon anime has an episode titled The Superhero Secret, which features Gliscor’s pre-evolution, Gligar, as a superhero’s sidekick. This line of caped crusaders is known for helping heroes, and its flight skills come in handy when catching flying fiends like Betty Jetty.
  • Magmortar– This Pokémon may not be the prettiest, but it certainly is a powerful special attacker. Members of the Magmortar line are used by fellow Super Nerd trainers, and they could act as a nod to Pop’s in-universe comic book, Lava Boys.
  • Electrode– Here’s another Pokémon frequently used by Super Nerd trainers, but this one specializes in super speed. Speeding Spike is shocked to finally meet his match!
  • Machamp-Being a super strong fighting type Pokémon, Machamp is a great addition to any superhero team. Its strength and prowess are unmatched, giving Crusher a run for his money. It also helps trainers in day-to-day life, so Ned’s Machamp moves heavy stuff around the comic shop.
  • Dachsbun– This adorable doggo may not be a hot dog, but it is a wiener dog. Dachsbun loves greeting customers and napping behind the front desk. Don’t underestimate it; its fighting skills are nothing to scoff at.

Gentleman Harold Mews wants to discover Pokémon!

Harold Mews is a reclusive billionaire who specializes in Pokémon cryptozoology. Throughout the years, he traveled to many regions in search of legendary and mythical Pokémon, and now he wants to inspire others to do the same. While his status is high, he is down to earth and cares for the Pokémon he finds. 👣🚁

  • Lapras– This Pokémon is inspired by one of the most famous cryptids in the world, the Loch Ness Monster. Since Nessie is prominent in Cryptids Island, it makes sense for Mews to have Lapras on his team.
  • Abomasnow– While there is no Bigfoot Pokémon as of now, Abomasnow is a close fit since it’s based on the Abominable Snowman aka the Yeti. Plus, the defunct Mews Foundation website mentioned that Mews pursued cryptozoology after discovering Yeti tracks on Mount Everest.
  • Malamar– This strange cephalopod is a nod to Archie the Giant Squid, whose existence inspired Mews to offer a reward for whoever discovered irrefutable proof that other cryptids exist.
  • Sableye– Although they’re not featured in Cryptids Island, the aliens spotted in the Kelly-Hopkinsville encounter inspired this Pokémon. Aliens can be considered cryptids, right? Also, Sableye’s gemstone diet is easily supported by Mews’ incredible wealth.
  • Persian-This fierce feline is a beloved pet of upper-class trainers. Persian and its pre-evolution, Meowth, know the move Pay Day, which rewards trainers with extra money when winning battles.
  • Mew– In the wonderful world of Pokémon, Mew can be considered a cryptid in of itself. It is an ancient elusive creature sought out by many explorers. Of course, it shares a similar name with Mr. Mews himself.

Madame Fiona wants to look for someone!

A rickety mansion by the sea harbors many old secrets. The silhouette of a woman appears at the top window and looks out at the sea, searching for something or someone. Few trainers dare to enter this mansion, fearing the Pokémon that take residence as well as the mysterious woman at the window. 👻🎻

  • Kricketune– The Cricket Pokémon is built like a violin and known for its famous musical cry. Its melodies soothe Fiona’s restless soul and creep out unsuspecting passersby.
  • Luvdisc-It is said that meeting this heart-shaped Pokémon promises couples loving, never-ending relationships. Fiona and Valiant likely would have encountered a school of Luvdisc near their seaside town long ago. Although death did them part, their love for each other never died.
  • Gothitelle– Fiona and Gothitelle share their love of black dresses and big bows. Fitting the town’s spooky nature, Gothitelle can see lifespans and cries upon learning when its trainer dies. Long after Fiona’s death, it senses her presence and stays in the mansion.
  • Banette– Old dolls line the shelves of Fiona’s house, so it not unlikely that some of them would become Banettes. They guard the mansion’s dark basement, keeping curious trainers on their toes.
  • Chandelure– After escaping the basement, trainers enter the mansion’s living room and contend with a grand Chandelure. Its life-draining flames pose a great risk to intruders.
  • Roselia (Shiny🌟)– Unlike normal Roselia, Shiny Roselia has a yellowed body and dark petals. It looks as if it had died before reaching its full potential. Since roses are heavily associated with Fiona, this Pokémon seemed fitting.

I hope you all liked this new installment of “Poptropica Characters as Pokémon Trainers”! What characters would you like to see next? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to vote in the Favorite Poptropica Island Tournament semifinals! The poll closes this Thursday @ 11:59 p.m. EST.

Thank you for reading, and have a good day!

—Gentle Dolphin 🐬