Hey, Poptropicans! Be on your guard, a suspicious sight has shown up…
The Red Baron has returned, but she seems a bit off this time. Her visible eye is twitching, which she claims is caused by the thrill of adventure.
Her Cabin of Curiosities is chock full of Rumpelstiltskin-branded… things. You’ll find gold statues, a lamp, plushies (including a cursed version of Amelia’s unicorn), and even a Rumpel-fied Dr. Hare costume.
Okay, Baron, what’s with all of this? You deny that something is amiss, and you’re suddenly a big fan of Rumplestiltskin. Look, we know you’re not the most morally upright person, but vouching for Rumpelstiltskin is insane! And why does Ack keep missing his shots, throwing grapes at your convulsing eye? Something’s definitely up. 👁⚫️
At least one thing hasn’t been corrupted by Rumpel’s influence: June’s winning costume, the stellar Star Kid by Busy Bee! 💫 Be sure to grab this free outfit before the Baron — err, Rumpelstiltskin?? — takes off.
Thankfully, Adventure Outfitters’s latest lineup is Rumpel-free. Summer styles are in season for the costume racks! 🌞
On the shop floor to the left, you’ll find the two costumes teased last month. The dark medieval garb is called Cloaked Rogue, and the fuchsia demon is called Demon Mischief. The Creators’ update post doesn’t mention anyone who correctly guessed the names. Meanwhile, on your right, you’ll find plenty of cabana goods for your clubhouse.
Member gifts have also flown in for July! Inspired by our recently rewritten fowl friend Ringmaster Raven, this month’s exclusive spoils are a Crow Cloak, Crow Mask, and Baby Crow Follower. 🦅
Wrapping up this post, enjoy the latest fan art features of curious characters from Poptropica’s Instagram stories!
Anyway, what’s your theory on what’s up with the Red Baron? Baronstiltskin? Are you twitching in excitement at what will unravel? Share in the comments!
What’s up with Suit Up? 🧐 A new link has subtly been added to the bottom of the Poptropica homepage, directing visitors to Suit Up Games, a game studio with Dr. Hare in its logo. Here’s what we know…
Suit Up Games is a work for hire game studio specializing in Roblox, the popular virtual world for kids. They haven’t listed what games they’ve worked on so far, but it’s possible that they might be behind Poptropica’s Roblox releases earlier this year, Unicorn Frenzy and Zomberry: Humans vs Zombies. It seems we haven’t heard the last of Pop meddling with Roblox… in fact, maybe it’s just the beginning.
Unicorn FrenzyZomberry: Humans vs Zombies
Poptropica has yet to clarify their relationship, but their website claims that they are “a spin out of Poptropica.” If this means more of Pop’s resources are being diverted to Roblox projects… yikes.
Suit Up Games calls itself “a spin out of Poptropica.”
Last month, Poptropica initiated a follow spree on Twitter, following back mutual Pop fans who followed “our friends @SuitUp_Games.”
psssst. impromptu follow spree in 3, 2, 1…
FOLLOW OUR FRIENDS @SuitUp_Games RN RN RN & show ‘em some love! Post proof in the comments afterwards, we’re ready to complete the moots 👀🕹 pic.twitter.com/WNSdMiS9uL
Suit Up Games soon followed up the hype with a tweet of cursed Poptropica meme faces (not to be confused with our own similar series) on Hades and Myron Van Buren. It’s their only Pop-related tweet so far.
Suit Up Games seems to be a relatively new company, considering they are a “spin out” of Pop and they’ve only been mentioned by them in the past month. Suit Up’s website also shows they’re currently hiring Roblox developers and more, suggesting they’re still building their team.
Suit Up joined Twitter in June 2022, but their website claims they’ve been active since 2007, i.e. Poptropica’s founding year. However, the LinkedIn profile of the studio’s Managing Director may be closer to the truth, as it shows he took on the role starting March 2022.
And how did he get here? Turns out Ross Targett is also the founder and current Managing Director of Code Kingdoms, which teaches children how to code via Minecraft and Roblox. It was acquired by Roblox in 2020, and then by Sandbox & Co (which also owns Poptropica) in 2021.
Notice anything else interesting about his profile? The London-based Ross is also concurrently the General Manager of Poptropica, a role he began at the same time as the one at Suit Up Games! Besides taking over from Natalie Shahmiri, the previous GM, Ross’s joint holding of these executive positions also means his leadership work is divided between the three projects: Code Kingdoms, Suit Up Games, and Poptropica. Can Poptropica still be managed with the attention it deserves?
Ask Poptropica Siri is a Q&A segment here on the PHB where you, dear readers, are invited to send in your Poptropica questions to have them answered with all the wisdom you can expect from a Smart Icicle.
Can you believe it’s already been over a year since Ask Poptropica Siri started? Let’s keep it going by answering some more questions!
How do you feel about the mini-quests? ~Silver Horse
I enjoy them! I appreciate how Poptropica still keeps making content for people to play, even if in short bursts, so we don’t lose interest. Mini-quests feel fitting for when an island leaves the player on a cliffhanger on what will happen next, like in Rumpel’s Challenge when we could see what happened to the king in Fairytale Island. I also liked getting a fun little epilogue to the Goofball Island story with Blitz on the Fritz.
What is Poptropica Realms and how can you access it? ~Silver Tiger
Realms is where you get to build your own world, share it with others, and all that fun stuff. It’s similar to the game Minecraft, except you won’t die of hunger and there isn’t much of a survival element. You can find out more in the PHB’s Poptropica Realms Guide. It’s currently only available in the Steam bundle, not in the regular game.
Ok, so first I am happy that they brought back Monster Carnival (to Steam at least). I liked Bird Boy! I was a little sad when I found out they changed the story. But I’m also a little bit happy that you get to be friends with Ringmaster Raven, so I guess I mainly just feel neutral about the ending. It reminds of my own friendship with my drawing buddy, Bronze Socks, who would probably do the same thing of trying to help and befriend Raven.
I know some fans are still concerned about the ending despite its update, and that’s okay. This is just my opinion!
To all US readers, have a good 4th of July! 🎇 See you soon, Poptropicans!
How can you send in your questions to Ask Poptropica Siri?
That’s a great question! You can use the following methods:
📧 Send an email to siri (at) poptropi (dot) ca. This way, you’ll get to keep your questions a surprise when they get answered on the blog.
💬 Comment on the latest Ask Poptropica Siri post. Your questions will be publicly visible before they appear in a Q&A post, but this allows others to interact with your question if they so choose. If you don’t have an email address, you can enter a fake one in the email field when you post your comment.
It’s been fun to answer questions again. Bye bye for now!
Hello Poptropicans! Welcome to a special addition to our Pop Portfolio series, in which we showcase the work of Pop Creators. This time, we’re featuring artist Lance Fry (whose portfolio we first saw in 2016)! 🍟
Anyway, like his Mocktropica counterpart, Lance left Poptropica for a while following staff cuts in 2018. However, he returned this May and is currently working remotely, according to his LinkedIn. Along with this, he’s also added new pieces to his design portfolio, so let’s jump in!
Mystery Train – train cars
Lance appears to focus largely on background design, with only a few pieces featuring items and assets. He’s done the interiors for many areas, such as the cars in Mystery Train, Pop HQ in Mocktropica, and the Viking dining hall from Mystery of the Map.
While we often cover Poptropica’s storytelling or fun characters, we sometimes miss appreciating the stellar background art. Personally, I remember hanging out in different areas just to enjoy the environment. The color palettes are vibrant and synergize well, and everything fits the cartoony style while having impressive detail. Lance’s work certainly does not fall short in this! (Click to enlarge images!)
Lunar Colony – space stationMystery of the Map – Viking dining hallMocktropica – Main StreetBack Lot – Sunrise StreetCryptids – Mews Mansion
This updated portfolio is found on ArtStation, and most of the work comes from older islands. It’s nice to see familiar faces — er, names, I guess — among the Pop crew again!
Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the June recap for Community Creations. June’s theme was Carnival, so be sure to check out all the featured artists!
Right away, this submission caught my eye with its creative, dynamic perspective. Having the viewer positioned in the game booth makes for a really interesting use of depth and drama! The eye contact with Black Widow and sense of danger with her soon-to-be-thrown dart provides some captivating intensity. Not to mention how I love seeing all these different characters visiting another island, and with such cool outfit designs! Amazing work! Find their Twitter here.
Monster Carnival Poster Redraw by TillyMeowJings
Of course, no “carnival” theme would be complete without some good ol’ Ringmaster Raven features. This design is a recreation of his poster seen on the island, which is really neat to see done in a different style. It retains that sense of vintage, worn paper while incorporating a more digital-feel in its linework. I also love seeing the slight alternate design choices of Raven’s outfit and other small details! Find her Tumblr here.
Goofy Ringmaster & Wicked Ringmaster by Magic Poptropican
Between these two costumes, I love to see their differences and similarities in how they relate to our carnival theme. Both mimic the theatrical aesthetic of Ringmaster Raven, with elements like the top hats, capes, and staffs, but have their own twists too. The goofy version is especially fun to see since it clearly incorporates themes from the recent Goofball Island! I also appreciate the attention to detail in the pet that accompanies this character, and how it changes accessories as well. Find the artist commonly in the comment section.
Monster Mya and Oliverby sleepybiker
Now this was quite the unexpected submission! The “Monster” aspect of Monster Carnival is obviously a huge part of the island’s story, but it’s especially interesting to think about what the monster versions of other characters may look like as well. The drawing was based on a fan-fiction that the artist wrote, making for some wonderfully fun designs. Find their DeviantArt here.
The Bird Boy by Dangerous Dragon
It was another dark moonless gloomy night in one of Poptropica’s unknown island, usually people would be scared but today they had a smile on their face! It was the day before Halloween! This time there was a carnival too! There was even a costume contest. People tried on many costumes and stores sold out in minutes! People were really excited as there was a chance to meet the famous monster Bird-Boy aka Ringmaster Raven! Now there was this boy Edgar who seemed the most different from all. He was the only Poptropican who couldn’t understand what the big deal was. “What’s so special about that magician?” asked Edgar. His grandfather told him all about the history of Ringmaster Raven. “They say that he is a monster! A long time ago in another one of poptropica’s island people used to hate him when he first appeared. Then Ringmaster Raven seeked revenge but was stopped. A hero named Dangerous Dragon helped Ringmaster Raven to fight for his justice without harming people. People soon realized that they were wrong. They agreed on equality. Now Ringmaster Raven is famous and even Dangerous Dragon too! Too bad this happened long ago. The island has already sunk.” Said his grandfather. Edgar was fascinated by all of this. He wanted to meet Raven!
The next day on Halloween Edgar set out to the contest wearing a costume that was most splendid. He was dressed up as Dangerous Dragon! When he reached the carnival it was filled with stalls of games, food and much more! There was even a Pumpkin decoration contest but Edgar had come to participate in the costume contest. There was a stage and everyone had to come up and show their costumes. When Edgar came up and Ringmaster Raven looked at him, he cried of joy! It reminded him of his friend who fought for his justice! After other people had finished, it was time for the result declaration. Everyone was excited to see who won. Ringmaster Raven walked to the stage and announced the winner. Edgar won! Ringmaster Raven came up to him and asked him to be his assistant. Edgar accepted and so now he helps Raven all around the world in his shows!
Though this is a simple narrative, details are rather apropos for the controversy surrounding Monster Carnival Island. The short story takes place in an alternate universe where Ringmaster Raven is accepted instead of ostracized and unfairly punished like in the island’s original ending. The ending was later rewritten, but still results in an imprisoned Ringmaster Raven. Dangerous Dragon gives us a glimpse into what Raven’s life could have looked like instead, which opens the door to a world of alternate possibilities. What do you think such a world would look like? Find the artist in the comments section.
Honorable Mentions
Carnival Goblin by Dizzy FeatherBehold, Corn by sleepybikerWorms by sleepybiker
Night at the Carnival by Smart Icicle and Bronze Socks
It is 10:00 in the morning, Red Ant and Maroon Lizard are on Main Street. They notice a flyer near the ice cream parlor.
Red Ant reads the flyer: Hello everyone! The Carnival is officially coming to town. Please go to the right to get to the front gate. Tickets are worth 25 credits. Can’t wait to see everyone! -the Ringmaster
Maroon Lizard: A carnival! Can we go. PLEASE!
Red Ant: Sure, I have enough credits to buy us both tickets. Come on!
Red Ant and Maroon Lizard rush to the carnival gate…
Looking at all the submissions from this month, I think I’m suddenly craving some cotton candy… anybody else? Just me? Well, anyways, awesome job as usual, everyone!
July: 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 July’s theme? July’s theme is…
🎉👯♀️ COSPLAY! 👯♀️🎉
PoptropiCon Episode 2: Spoiler Alert was recently re-released for all players, which got me thinking about all the amazing costumes and fun references throughout the island. Conventions IRL have slowed down quite a bit these last few years due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the same way online!
Cosplay is such a fundamental part of conventions, both IRL and in the world of Poptropica. I mean, who doesn’t love the chance to don a killer costume based on your favorite character? This month, we’ll extend that practice to Poptropica!
Of course, you can make a Poptropica costume based on your favorite TV show character, for example. But you could also draw other characters in the style of Poptropica, or write a fan-fiction all about dressing up at PoptropiCon. Maybe draw some of your favorite scenes from PoptropiCon featuring the coolest costumes, or even make your own IRL costume based on a Poptropican!
Submit: 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, Tumblr, or Discord.
Results: Next month, I will feature 5 submissions that stood out to me the most as well as some honorable mentions.
Limitations: Just make sure you relate to both the theme and Poptropica (and nothing NSFW or otherwise inappropriate).
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!
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