Pranks

Poptropica is CANCELED 😡🙅‍♀️😡

Fellow haters, it’s time we rise up against the mutilation of Poptropica!!

With every update that isn’t an old island returning, one thing becomes abundantly clear: Poptropica doesn’t care about building a quality game anymore. And we’re done building them up! From now on, the Poptropica Help Blog is going to be a Poptropica Hate Blog. 😤

Honestly, with so much to be mad about, where do we even begin? 🙄 Let’s count the ways in which Poptropica has sinned against us; everything they’ve given that no one asked for: Costumes. Membership. Side quests. Social media. Contests. And… Roblox??

Perhaps you’ve noticed that Poptropica has developed a strange obsession with costumes over the past few years: new costumes, new areas and revamps for costume shops, monthly costume contests. Booorrrriinnng… and it never ends!! 👘 There’s no denying it: they’re spending more time on these instead of the islands, i.e. the actual game!

Art Attack: No one respects true art anymore.

What is the one thing they can’t stop churning out? Store updates. 💸 They’re more than happy to keep their promises and stay up to date with weekly store rotations and monthly costume contests, but year on year we’re coming up with almost no new islands. What gives??

And okay, we can appreciate a cute fit every now and then. But new stuff every week? That just seems excessive. If this were real life, they’d be indulging in some very unsustainable fast fashion practices right now. And even though it’s virtual, why are they emulating such toxic practices and encouraging so much consumerism anyway? What kind of message does that send to kids — the values of superficial spending, hungrily hoarding, and dressing to impress? Come on, think of the children!!

Poptropica wishes they could be as cool as Club Penguin.

Oh, but the consumerism extends to real life, too — the good stuff is too often locked under the paywall of membership. 🤑 Rare is the parent or guardian who will fork over a few bucks a month for your extra Poptropica perks, but should you be so blessed, only then will you get to enjoy fractions of old islands, new side-quests made for babies, and half the store in exclusive items. Back in our day, we had full islands for free, and now you have to pay for a partial island without all the episodes? Not only is that a terrible deal, but the whole membership model just reeks of capitalist greed and reveals the unfairness of class privilege. Canceled!!!

Or… fine. Let’s try our patience and put up with their weird new additions, their costumes and member gifts, and other wearisome whatnot. But when it comes to their horrible new methods of “storytelling,” we’ve gotta stop and say no to side quests. Disjointed, unorganized, facepalm-worthy, Mocktropica-esque side quests.

When the Creators promised a “year of stories” back in 2021, we were hoping they’d fill the year with real good Poptropica stories; y’know, stories with original characters and intricate plots. Stories told in the space of an island. Guess we shouldn’t have been so quick to assume! Fragments of unicorns and fairytales and bee-themed news reporters and who knows what else scattered about; we can’t keep up anymore!! Creators, if you care at all about our wellbeing, you’ll refrain from releasing such headache-inducing content, please and thank you!!!

Plus, can we talk about Amelia popping up all over the place? Pop’s Amelia, as you may know, is based on a real historical figure, Amelia Earhart. Why use Amelia as the central character of a story when there are sooo many original characters they could instead!? Especially when the real Amelia Earhart didn’t even like tea and had no known affiliations with unicorns?? ☕️ How dare Poptropica call themselves an educational site and then share such obvious misinformation!!

Just the sight of this makes us want to exit Poptropica and never log back in.

While they’re busy not bringing back the old islands, though, they sure like to bring up references to those classics on social media to chase that clout. 📱 After they remembered who Betty Jetty was, it seems nostalgia has been their trustworthy strategy for reeling in the fans — which would work if those characters and islands still existed, but alas, all we have are weird TikToks about how Ringmaster Raven is a liberal.

Train in Vain: Go nowhere fast in this subway tunnel.

Plus, they think they can distract us with all those contests? 🏅 We’re not even playing the game anymore, we’re asked to go offline (excuse me?) and dream up costume designs and island plotlines for the honor of having them featured in the game or on their blog. What, are we having to do the Pop Creators’ work because they can’t come up with good ideas anymore? And why are we making more costumes when we already have weekly store hauls?? Told you Poptropica has a shopaholic problem.

But wait, there’s more. Let’s talk about that Roblox game Poptropica recently released, which just about embodies everything that’s wrong with the state of the game today. No, we’re not talking about the Zomberry game that’s dropping today, because we already decided to boycott it as this post was being written. 😤

That’s because we’re not crazy about Unicorn Frenzy, the pathetic pastel pony pile-up. 🦄 No story or substance related to the game, and it’s not even on Poptropica’s platform? It’s evident that the Pop Creators are making a vain attempt to appeal to Roblox’s much larger fanbase, but what’s the point when we can’t even gather five players to start a game at any given moment?? Besides, the sickeningly saccharine scenery is a poor imitation of My Little Pony Generation 3’s beautiful visuals. Sadly, it reveals the Poptropica of today: soullessly devoid of originality.

Where’s the Poptropica we loved? All we want are the old islands back, or at least new ones that could be just as good — yet we’ve gotten everything but. If actions speak louder than words, Poptropica’s tone-deaf updates are violence crushing our once-hopeful hearts. 🔪💙

And not for lack of trying: we’ve shared Pop Petition posts, contributed to countless comments on social media, and even made a music video for the cause. We know they hear us, but their silence is suffocating.

Best of the Best: A Poptropica designer’s work is never done.

Meanwhile, the Poptropica of the present just isn’t cutting it. So from this day forth, we’re not the Poptropica Help Blog anymore. We’re more like a “Help Poptropica” Blog now. Because this game really needs some help.

We’re calling it now: Poptropica is canceled. It’s too far gone. Cut it out of your life and join the chorus of haters pronouncing it dead. Until the ashes of Captain Crawfish, Gretchen Grimlock, and all our old faves rise from their graves, we’re just gonna be here to gripe. Let’s let it all out!!

In the comments, bring your rage, your sorrows, your calloused hearts! Join us in taking down these posers who call themselves storytellers. 🤯 LET LOOSE YOUR HATRED! WE DESERVE BETTER!! 😤😤

Dare to dissent,

🔥💀💔 The Poptropica Hate Blog 💔💀🔥

App, Roblox

Multiplayer on mobile and Zomberry soon rising on Roblox 🧟

Pop on in — we’ve got updates on the Pop app and Roblox game!

At long last, multiplayer functions are now available on the Poptropica mobile app with the latest update. But recall that earlier this year, a bunch of old islands were deleted from the Pop app. So if you do decide to update, be warned of what you’ll be missing. ⚠️

Anyway, if you do proceed with this app update, you’ll get all the multiplayer features from the desktop version of the game, including the arcade and island common rooms with Quippy stores, 1v1 arcade games, and private parties in player clubhouses. Plus, when the Baron visits, mobile players will get the same experience as desktop users! 📲


In other news, we have a launch date for the teased Zomberry Island-inspired Roblox game, and it’s this Friday, April 1! 🧟 The date might be sus but this is no April Fools’ joke, according to the Pop Creators’ Blog.

As you can see above, there’s a new sneak peek of an infected 3D Poptropican bitten by Zomberry blues looking as horrified as all of us when we learned of Poptropica’s first Roblox game, Unicorn Frenzy.

Anyway, let’s hope this one turns out better — according to previous peeks, it’s going to be survival-based, humans versus zombies. Now, what about other questions of survival: Poptropica vs Roblox? Desktop vs mobile? Share your thoughts in the comments!

UPDATE: Poptropica announced on their Instagram story that they’ll be hosting a launch party for the Roblox game, with more details to come. In the meantime, here are the latest fan art features from their stories:

~🐠

Advertisements, Fan Art Features, Roblox, Social Media

March of Outfits: Oscars to Fraggle Rock 🎎

March on in, Poptropicans, before March is on its way out!

Entries for the monthly costume contest are in, and while a winner has not yet been selected, the showreel for March’s costume designs is now available below. We’ll find out which one gets made in-game when the Baron docks again in early April!


This past weekend also saw the 2022 Oscars hosted, and Poptropica’s pop-arazzi got in on the buzz with some red carpet looks on their Instagram. 🏆✨ Check out their recreations of big night outfits worn by celebrity singer Beyoncé, actor Simu Liu, actress Jessica Chastain, and actor Kodi Smit-McPhee (swipe to see them all):

Of course, if you’ve been on the internet lately, you might know that the stars of this year’s Oscars weren’t all the glitzy fashion, but the face slap moment that quickly became a meme. 💥 Poptropica’s Instagram might only show a pretty side, but Poptropica’s Twitter gets real with a retweet of one such meme from Coolmath Games, and even their own surprised tweet when the moment occurred. Seems like Pop’s social media might have split personalities across platforms… 🤔


Onto the game itself: on Home Island, there’s a new ad for Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (now streaming on Apple TV+)!

Head inside for an obstacle course mini-game to get Gobo’s backpack while avoiding hidden Gorgs and other dangers. After two minutes, if you make it, you’ll win a Doozer Follower and Be Red! outfit.

Still a better game than Unicorn Frenzy, perhaps? If we’re going to be playing lackadaisical mini-games, at least this one’s got Pop style.


Speaking of which, if you’ve been wondering what’s up with Poptropica’s Roblox game (or couldn’t get a game going), Poptropica recently released footage of the candy-colored collect-a-thon in action. 🦄


Rounding off this update are the latest fan art features from Pop’s Instagram stories! These characters are really rockin’ their pink. 💖

Keep on poppin’ on!

~🐠

Ask Poptropica Siri

Ask Poptropica Siri #7: waiting for Jade, Flash’s fade, and islands to be remade

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.

Hey everyone, it’s Smart Icicle! You know how the game works now. Let’s answer some questions!

What do you think of the upcoming Secret of the Jade Scarab Island? ~ Dangerous Dragon & when the imposter is sus

I am pretty excited for when it comes out. So far the sneak peeks remind me of Arabian Nights and catching the genie. Another desert theme seems pretty cool to me. This one seems fun from what we’ve seen so far, and I can’t wait for it to release! I’ve loved seeing all the ideas everyone came up with for the Dream Island contest.

Would you rather play the old islands on Flashpoint now, or in a few years if they become officially accessible through Poptropica desktop and mobile? ~Silver Ghost

I like these types of questions. It’s fun playing the old islands on Flashpoint, but I am going to have to go with playing the old islands from Poptropica itself if they all become available again because I have been playing on their platforms for years. It’s been a while since Flash has been gone, and I still praise it. Still miss you, Flash! ❤️

What do you like to do on Poptropica when you aren’t playing islands? ~Silver Shell

I either do side quests, check out the store for any cool stuff, or relax in my clubhouse. But honestly, I mainly play Poptropica for the islands — they’re just so fun, am I right?


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 askpoptropicasiri (at) gmail (dot) com. 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.

I hope you all are having some fun and good luck. I’m feeling especially lucky for next month. See you soon!

~🌸📚❄️🌸

Free Membership Giveaways

PHB Membership Giveaway: March 2022

Hey Poptropicans, we’re approaching the end of the month, which means it’s time to announce another lucky Poptropican to win our monthly membership giveaway! 🎁

Congratulations, Magic Poptropican — your new membership status allows you access to some exclusive island adventures, including Arabian Nights, Ep. 2: Lair of Thieves and PoptropiCon, Ep. 2: Spoiler Alert! Plus, you’ll also get to enjoy the next month’s member gifts.

If you’re not a member, you still have the chance (or many chances, in fact): the PHB is hosting a giveaway every month, and it’s easy to enter! Just comment on the Free Poptropica Membership page and leave at least two other comments around the PHB within the month to be entered into that month’s giveaway.

We’ll announce a winner sometime in the final week of each month. If you don’t win, you can always try again for the next month! Full details »

Congrats again to Magic Poptropican! Keep on popping on! 🪄