StoryArc Media, Web Development

Brand New and a New Brand

Ultimate iPad Expert

Heyyo Poptropicans, it’s Ultimate iPad Expert here. I know I just posted today’s PMFM (which you should totally check out, btw (shameless self-promotion)), but Poptropica has just announced some really big news.

We’ve all been wondering for a while what Poptropica has been up to, and it seems we now have an answer. Later this year (when exactly, they have not said), a brand new Poptropica is going to be released! New and improved, as they say.

shoeAnimate

But what are these changes, you may ask? Well, the Creators are still pretty secretive, but they revealed a few details on their blog:

– New look! The new Poptropica will still be Poptropica, but it’ll be improved. Newer! Shinier! More features, more options, more FUN — on a new app and a new website!

– New avatar! We’re exploring new designs, new movements, and new looks for the Poptropican avatar. Don’t worry, the essential elements that make a Poptropican a Poptropican will still be there! But we’ll change things up a bit — in a really good way.

– New stories! We’ll be bringing you new stories for your Poptropican to experience! And we’re exploring the idea of a unified story that connects all of Poptropica in a way that we’ve never done before. I know that sounds pretty mysterious, but that’s all I can say for now…

– New stuff! Like SHOES! And pets! And so much more!

– New social experience! We’re developing a way for Poptropicans to have a fun and safe social experience within Poptropica. It’s going to be awesome.

I’m especially looking forward to the unified story element. Bringing all of the islands and characters into one awesome universe. And, of course, the prospects of a new social experience is really awesome.

I’m super excited to see where all of this goes. I know some people may be skeptical, and frankly I am too, but this really could be something awesome. Really it is just a lot to handle. 😛

That being said, Poptropica wants to have what you want. They’ve been reaching out to us, the Poptropica Help Blog, to tell us they want to hear your feedback on things they’re working on. Over the coming months, the Creators will be revealing more details about this new Poptropica and we’ll be ready to share that information with you when the time comes. If you like or dislike something, feel free to comment on our PHB posts and let your voices be heard! The Creators do sometimes read and respond!

Do stay tuned to the PHB for more details on not only the new Poptropica, but more updates in the future.

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In other news, the minds behind Poptropica themselves have created a new parent company to encompass the many different properties they have created (namely Poptropica, Funbrain, and Galactic Hot Dogs).

StoryArcMain

StoryArc is their new company. I’ll let their site description speak a little more about themselves:

GalacticHotDogsAboutStorytellers. Entertainers. Educators. Creators. Put them all together, and you’ve got StoryArc Media.

At StoryArc Media, we create fun, engaging, interactive experiences that light up kids’ faces and brains. Every day and all around the world, kids enjoy our online games, mobile apps, books, and more, including Poptropica, Funbrain, Galactic Hot Dogs, and Mystery of the Map.

Parents and educators think we’re pretty cool, too, because while StoryArc Media creations are oodles of fun, they also educate and reward players. And our online games and apps for kids under 13 carry the KidSAFE seal, so adults can be assured that children are exploring in a safe environment.

StoryArcTeam

The newly created StoryArc Media website (www.storyarc.media) contains a list of the main team leaders, including a few familiar faces. The newly formed company is headed by Jen MacLean as the President and CEO. Jeff Kinney himself is the chief creative officer of the company, as well. They stated the following in regards to the company:

StoryArc Media is the realization of our storytelling history and extension of the success of our many gems – including Poptropica and Funbrain – with an ample dose of hilarity, respect, and learning, that children love and parents and teachers value. From a brand perspective, StoryArc gives us a solid platform to expand our storytelling to every touch point – school, home and on the go – and seamlessly weave our fans’ favorite characters and stories across the platforms of today and tomorrow.

-Jen MacLean

Our brands are a springboard for kids to explore the world around them and to develop their imagination and creativity. We know reading for fun is the secret to growing a life-long reader and that content today is being consumed across all media – print, digital, and mobile.

-Jeff Kinney

There is also an announcement video on the new StoryArc YouTube channel, which you can check out below:

If you’re interested in checking out any more videos from the big bosses, click here for Jen MacLean or click here for Jeff Kinney.

Last but not least, if you’re interested in more about the company, you can check out their website. And, feel free to check out their social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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And that about wraps up this super important news. Feel free to comment your thoughts on all this, unless you’re still in a state of confusion. 😛

Meme King out. 👑

• Ultimate iPad Expert •

PMFM (Poptropican Meme Face Mondays)

Poptropican Meme Face Mondays: Round 23

Ultimate iPad Expert

Heyyo Poptropicans, it’s Ultimate iPad Expert here.

RightMeow

You’ve got to be kitten me, we’re down in meme profits, this is just cat-astrophic. Mittens, I’ll need those meme purr-formance reviews by Caturday or else you’re fi-purred. Welcome to round twenty-three of PMFM (Poptropican Meme Face Mondays)!

PMFM-Round23

The lucky meme-faced Poptropicans this week are airraptor, Cool berry, and get rekt! And here are the memes:

Feel free to click on the images to view them in their full glory. 😛

Want your own meme face?

Well, it’s simple. Comment on the most recent PMFM post (just choose the one of the list here). Be sure to follow the criteria below:

  • Very crucial: Wear the outfit you want to have in the meme face on Poptropica and keep it on for at least a week.
  • As mentioned, find the most recent PMFM post (it will be at the top of this list)
  • Include your Poptropican username in a comment.
  • Include the meme face you would like on your Poptropican in your comment (a link to an image of the meme is very preferred).
  • Post your comment and wait! (PMFM is operated on a first come-first serve basis, so your meme face will come after all of the ones before are released).
  • Just a note: You do not need to re-comment on newer posts if you haven’t gotten yours yet. Once I reply to your comment mentioning “You being added to the list,” then I have seen your comment and added it to my literal list, so yours will be made after each one before is made.

This completes round twenty-three of meme faces. Tune in next Monday for the next Poptropican Meme Face Mondays!

What do you think about this week’s meme faces? Comment below.

Meme King out. 👑

• Ultimate iPad Expert •

My Place in Poptropica

My Place in Poptropica: Zany Hawk

Slanted Fish

This is the My Place in Poptropica story of Zany Hawk, who found Poptropica from Funbrain’s Math Playground and has enjoyed playing with common rooms, islands, and the PHB community. See the bottom of this post for details on sending in your own MPIP!

MPIP-ZanyHawk

2008-2009 | From Math Playground to Poptropica

It all began when I was in third grade and my class was watching a Goosebumps movie. My teacher told us that if we thought it was too scary, we could go to the back and play games instead. Well, there was a dark figure with a creepy voice in that movie – so off I went to the back. A few minutes later, while I was on Funbrain, I found the game Poptropica through an advertisement and my teacher said I could play it. A friend sat next to me and we checked it out together.

The name I got in the game was Sneaky Fox, and he looked like John Travolta’s character from the film Grease. I thought, “Wow, he’s a pretty cute character!” So I went on and played Super Power Island, then Spy Island. The game seemed boring with only a few islands at the time, so I went back to Funbrain’s Math Playground. My teacher wanted us to play it to practice our math. Poptropica was always advertised when I finished a level of math, and I figured whenever I’d come back, there’d be more islands for me to play through.

2009-2011 | Fun in the Common Rooms

I made a new character, which I believe was named Smarty Dolphin or Smarty Fox, and I heard there were common rooms on the islands. I entered one, and inside it looked like a candy shop.

What shocked me at the time was that I think I may have interacted with some of the PHB authors! We played quite a few games, like Sky Dive and Soupwords. I kept doing the angry expression and other characters did the laughing emote in return. Not long afterwards, I forgot about them, and I suppose they forgot about it too.

2013-2014 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Other Islands

I have two Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, the first one and the do-it-yourself one. At some point, I caught wind of the fact that the author of the Wimpy Kid books, Jeff Kinney, is the creator of Poptropica. I heard a snowy Wimpy Kid island was made (Wimpy Wonderland), and decided to check that out along with Red Dragon and Big Nate Island.

However, I didn’t know what to do on the islands. All I knew how to do was go left and right to collect limited edition items or buy from the Store to customize my character.

Later, I was looking for a guide for Shrink Ray Island, which to me was very hard. I went to Google, found the Poptropica Help Blog, and used the cheats there. Back and forth, I followed the guide and played the island. I was sitting with my little sister, who liked to watch me do the animations from using Store items. At the time, I also played Shrink Shot, which was the Shrink Ray Island promo game that you could get a lot of free items from. You can still play it today.

2015–present | Together again?

I made a new Poptropican called Zany Hawk, who looks like a cartoon James Bond! I was happy to get what I think was four medallions for completing islands using Slanted Fish’s island guides. I commented on some blog posts on the PHB as well.

Even though I was internet friends with the PHB community way back then, I’ll always remember the fun and craziest times we had together. If you like my story, add me on Poptropica by searching the user BigHero6Fan1. See you next time, Poptropicans!

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Hope you enjoyed this “My Place in Poptropica” story! Feel free to send in your own (please include a minimum of 550 words, type with good spelling and grammar, divide it into labeled sections, and include your username). Click here to read more MPIPs, and look out for more in the future!

~the PHB.

Popspiracy Theories

Earth Day Special: Where does Poptropica take place?

Spencer

Wihi folks!

This is something I wanted to bring up for a very long time, and now that I have a much larger audience to listen, I guess it’s time to share!

WhereDoesPoptropicaTakePlace.png

In Nabooti Island, we got to see Poptropica’s planet for the very first time, implying perhaps that the planet we saw was Poptropica itself. I personally believe the planet we see is Earth, and Poptropica is just a chain of islands, like a super large Hawaii. Why? Well, let’s look here:

Also, let’s care to mention that Time Tangled Island is literally filled with famous monuments, continents, and places on Earth, and Ghost Story island takes place in New England, and that our solar system’s planets look nothing like Poptropica’s.

So, now it’s time to wonder. Is Poptropica this, or this?

Is it just a country, continent, archipelago, or who knows? So why are all the villains after “Poptropica”, and just not “Earth” specifically? That’s really the only disadvantage we have to the theory I’m about to share…

Here’s what I think: Poptropica may just be PART of an alternate version of Earth. Like Steven Universe, for those familiar with the show. So perhaps Poptropica is like Earth, with places such as Africa and Ancient Greece, except it also has its own uniquely “Poptropica” islands that are somehow connected to these times and places. It’s also worth noting the different variation of planets in Poptropica’s solar system we see on Astro-Knights and Legendary Swords (Ice Planet, Fire Planet, etc) – which are different to Earth’s solar system.

I think when Time Tangled Island and Nabooti were made, the Creators didn’t have the thought in mind for Poptropica being a world of its own. Now, perhaps Poptropica is in no way connected with Earth, and just has its own similarities and differences. Who knows? Only Poptropica, (and time) will tell!

Considering this is an Earth Day special, make sure to respect the environment, recycle, yada yada yada, don’t liter. 😛

Hope you Poptropicanos enjoyed reading my thoughts! How do you see Poptropica in relation to the Earth we know? Until next post comes around,

Wibi!

-Cobalt

Home Island, PoptropiCon Island

On your marks, get set, run!

Slippery Raptor

Hey guys, Slip here!

hi

There’s a brand new event on Poptropica’s Home Island! It’s called Feats of Speed. You simply need to beat Speedy Sam in a race to get the prize! (Samwow5, I didn’t know you liked track and field! 😛)

feats

Once you land on Home Island, go to the left and you can easily spot Speedy Sam running on the treadmill. (He’s more fit than Samwow5! Just kidding. 😉 )

sam

Once you talk to him, he then dares you to beat him in the race to the PoptropiCon roof. The mini-game is similar to the race between you and the Cheetah Bandit in the first episode of PoptropiCon. If you need help, check out this video!

That was quick!

After you beat Speedy Sam, he will ask you to beat the world record. The default world record is 14 seconds, and the only way to receive the sneakers is to beat it! When you’re done, Speedy Sam will grant you your very own running sneakers — it’s the first time we get shoes to keep!

The sneakers work like Cheetah Bandit’s bottle cap amulet. When you move, it leaves a magic trail behind you. Cool, right?

shoes

Speedy Sam also tells us that this won’t be the last sneaker you’ll have! There will be another prize next week, so better train yourselves for the next challenge! What do you think it is?

What’s your world record? Make sure to like this post and share your world records in the comments!

mermaidhi

-Slippery 💦