wild west – 🏝 Poptropica Help Blog 🗺

Welcome back to “Pop Places IRL,” Poptropicans! We’re gonna be moseying back in time today to visit Wild West Island! And if you like this series, sure to check out other Pop Places IRL posts.

Wild West Island quite obviously takes place in the western US during the American frontier period of the 19th century. The time period has been highly romanticized, especially in film, so there’s no wonder we have a Poptropica island themed around it!

Pretty much every building, character, and background matches this old western aesthetic. Details range from apparel, architecture, fonts, dialogue, and beyond! Sometimes the smallest changes can have a big impact on an island’s theme. The setting has this wide open feeling, and I think Poptropica was able to successfully portray that in their own style. Do you agree?

Rawhide: It’s a little wild, and a little strange, when you make your home out on the range.

One of the most iconic places in any old western town is, of course, the Saloon (in this case, found in Diamond Plains). And Poptropica did manage to make such a location kid-friendly enough to be included! Anyone care for a round of root beer? It’s on me!

Saloonatics: This Poptropican is a stand-in that you’ll never see on any Island.

Another noteworthy building would definitely be the Marshal’s Office or Jail (also in Diamond Plains). Whatever the law enforcement may be (sheriff, marshal, constable, you name it), even deputies seemed to be quite prevalent in a time rampant with outlaws, bounty hunters, and gangs. It was cowboys galore!

Marshal Law: Justice is black and white.

Since we mentioned the jail, we of course have to bring up the Bank, because the whole “outlaws robbing banks” trope just cannot be ignored. The bank we see in Poptropica is located in Rock Ridge. Stick ’em up!

photo: Pioneertown California (onlyinyourstate)

We could very well look at the Train Station as well, considering it does tie into the bank robbery within the story. Quite different than the train station we see in our Mystery Train comparison, huh?

Train in Vain: It doesn’t look like much is happening at this station.

After all that, I think we simply must talk about the Casino in Dos Cactos next. During such wild times, gambling tended to be a common occurrence. But yet again, Poptropica was able to fit it into its kid-friendly world! Looks like everything’s coming up aces for them!

Everbody Wins: Everything is coming up aces in this Wild West town.

If we stay in Dos Cactos, we can head on over to a sort of carnival, but more specifically a shooting gallery. Yes, traveling shows did date back to the wild west era—you simply had to travel between the far away towns for profit! And every good cowboy knew how to shoot a pistol.

photo: Early 1800s Midway (doc’smidwaycookhouse)

Curious about other displays of showmanship? Why, just take a look at the local Snake Oil Salesman in Rock Ridge of course! Traveling carts were quite the norm in the wild west, with salesmen often promising miracle cures and obscure tonics of all sorts. Maybe be careful about spending your money around here…

photo: Traveling Medicine Shows of the Old West (curioushistorian)

Another cart we get to see in Wild West is owned by a photographer (this one in Dusty Gulch), which could perhaps be considered more of a miracle than the tonics! The world’s first photograph was taken in 1826, perfectly fitting into the frontier era. That makes us pretty lucky to even have photos from around that time to compare with the island!

Pilot Error: Different parts of scenes are made at different times, so we use stand-in characters when necessary.

Dusty Gulch is also home to Rusty’s Ranch, as you may know (though this can also be compared to the ranch in Rock Ridge). Raising cattle and horses and such was so common in fact that it was actually one of the factors leading to the Dust Bowl. So maybe it was only a stable job in one sense of the word?

Cool Ranch: Giving you a new perspective on the next Poptropica Island.

Something else we can’t forget: the gold mines! The California Gold Rush of the 1800s was a huge population push to the west. Time and time again it seems like people yearned to move west! Though it didn’t guarantee fortune to all, that’s for sure.

Mind the Gap: Be careful not to get off-track here.

Bringing our adventure to an end, the Canyon Hideout feels like an appropriate grande finale. One of the most famous IRL hidey-holes for gangs and outlaws was the “Hole-In-The-Wall,” an isolated area in Wyoming.

Desert Inn Nothing: like a secluded hideaway for the discerning bandit.

Boy howdy, that was a lot of places, wasn’t it? And we didn’t even go into detail about the hotel, clock tower, or trading post! Just goes to show you how much detail goes into one setting/game design.

Do you think Poptropica successfully replicated the alluring aesthetic of the IRL wild west? Yay or neigh? What island would you like to see us compare next in this series? Be sure to leave your thoughts in a comment below!

So long, partners!

~SD

Community Creations: May 2020

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 Spotted Dragon

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the May recap for Community Creations! May’s theme was Wild West (and the featured work is not in any particular order). Be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

TOP 5 PICKS

In the Desert by happyclonetrooper

Wow, right off the bat I love the ambiance of this work. The warm hues and brilliant lighting really add to the western atmosphere. The composition is well arranged and there are lots of details that fill up the scene! Finding that sort of variety in an otherwise plain landscape can sometimes be a difficult task, but the textures here were nailed. And the presentation leaves me wanting more! Will our hero find her way home, or succumb to the harsh temperatures of her environment? Very smooth execution! Find her DeviantArt here.

Snake Oil Salesman by Gentle Dolphin (aka JordynGowens)

Oooh, now this is an interesting take on our theme! While most of us think of El Mustachio Grande when we imagine the Wild West, that’s not the only villain of the desert! Hardcore Poptropica fans will certainly remember R.J. Earl, the infamous salesman of Wild West Island. The tonics and mixtures that he offers may seem “too good to be true,” but… what do you think? Anyway, the attention to detail in this piece is wonderful, making for another vividly atmospheric scene. The lighting is gorgeous, the lineart is smooth and crisp, the items in the shop add great easter eggs, and the colors are brilliant! A truly unique entry with an intriguingly symmetrical composition! Find her DeviantArt here.

Lone Coyote’s Fond Memories by Perfect Fish (aka jaekelopterus3)

Lots of detail in this submission too! The busy composition here presents a lot of information, but truly represents the fun of Wild West Island! With the changes in Poptropica we’re all facing right now, this piece definitely reflects the nostalgia and perhaps worry that we are all feeling. The work has a ton of brilliant energy, making for a whimsical, childlike mood (perfect for Poptropica of course). I love the elements of text, the bold colors, and the vivid texture. Plus, we don’t often get to see Poptropicans portrayed with fingers! Attention can be found in every inch of the paper, for sure! Find the artists in the comment section and on Discord.

Staring Down the Barrel of a Gun by ray-of-flight

Ah, yet another piece with brilliant lighting! The warm hues, once again, are very appropriate for this month’s theme and make for a particularly interesting color palette. I love the drama found within this scene, especially given the angled lighting and the perspective of the viewer. The foreshortening required in the pose is a difficult one to pull off, but the view of the gun certainly makes the effort worth it. The composition is more straightforward, but that certainly adds to the drama! Excellent work! Find their DeviantArt here.

Ready for the Showdown by AdventurersNHunters

Here, we see “Sheriff Jackson ‘Red Hunt’ Smith and Deputy Darcy ‘Yellow Stone’ Stone Versus El Mustachio Grande and The Grande Gang.” How exciting! According to the artist, “Red was just visiting his home island while Yellow went there due to what is happening there. Suddenly, Yellow and Red run into eachother and have no choice but to work together, they still hate eachother. Jackson only did to hunt down El Mustachio and claim his reward.” Dun dun duh!!! This piece is definitely filled with drama and excitement, perfectly showcasing a true western showdown. It’s as if it were a movie poster for an old western film! I love all the different characters, the colored blocking within the composition, and the dark shading. Wonderful! Find her DeviantArt here.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Lots of Grande fan art this month, which was super cool!

JUNE: 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 June’s theme? June’s theme is…

Monochromatic

With June kicking off Pride month and the continued fight for equality, the significance of color never ceases to be prominent. Luckily in art, color is an element for self expression and pride rather than something that divides us. So this month, let’s showcase some color in our amazing community, but with an added challenge!

Monochromatic, if you aren’t familiar, means “one color.” Therefore, I challenge you to submit work that you make using only one color! Remember that different shades and tints of that color, as well as neutrals are allowed. So get creative, and maybe we will be able to feature work from EVERY COLOR OF THE RAINBOW! And if you aren’t into drawing, remember that you can still participate. Perhaps write a story with one color being particularly important, write a poem about all your favorite purple things in Poptropica maybe, or even put together an outfit in Poptropica that’s all one color. It’s all up to you, so let your color shine with pride!

Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArt, Twitter, or Discord.
Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as 3 honorable mentions.
Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to the theme.
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!

~SD

Back Lot Island, Wallpapers

Heroes, villains, and everybody in between

March 29, 2013May 17, 2013 Slanted Fish

The Poptropica Creators have created this all-new Poptropica Crowd desktop wallpaper, which comes in downloadable and printable poster formats, both free to use of course. I like it so much that I’ve even created a new PHB header out of it, as you can see above! Now, which costume below is the best?

Speaking of pictures, the Creators have also posted a new sneak peek for Back Lot Island, which appears to be a rather grainy movie clip of a chase sequence in a “Wild West” (not the island) film in sepia. Sometimes that’s just what a movie needs, along with heroes and villains and all.

Neighhhh, horsey! *rides off into the sunset*

Daily Pop Sneak Peeks

All Poptropica’s a stage, and all the players merely puppets

January 13, 2013January 13, 2013 Slanted Fish

A couple new sneak peeks suggest the possibility of a theater/stage performance theme! Perhaps a new island idea? This one’s called “Wild West – Nope, not a sequel. Something new!”

Wild West

The guy with the Legendary Swords skull mask is apparently SteveCreator, who appears in some Daily Pop sneak peeks. (Another is the character who looks like Gamer Guy from Zomberry Island.) Thanks Elphangor! Check out this sneak peek as well: “Cheap Seats – Sit too close and you’ll go cross-eyed.”

cheap seats

Thanks Samwow5 for the heads-up. Perhaps this theater is related to the recent home studio sneak peek we saw. What do you think this might be about?

Cryptids Island, Daily Pop Sneak Peeks

Makeup tests on Tibetan mountaintops

January 15, 2011January 16, 2011 Rainfall

Perhaps you know about the failed gif on the PCB a couple of days ago. Well, no need to be curiously sitting and wondering what it was all about.

Animation re-test

(Please go here to see the gif, as I am unable to copy and paste nor save it)

Nothing like a make-up exam.

SHARK BOY

Although, if you examine if long enough, you may notice that the gif does stop after a while, in the same position it seemed to be eternally stuck in on the previous post. There is a strong chance the horse may be from Wild West island, as you immediately think horsies and pretty ponies when you think cowboys!

Notice how the horse looks awfully similar to a new Daily Pop picture?

There’s also several more Daily Pop pictures– check them out!

It looks a bit like Uno– but the title does say Jack. Perhaps a Poptropica form of Slap Jack, Black Jack, or even an entirely new game!

“Now, lerkey here, Creators. Yer release Cryptids Island sooner then planned and we dun have to report you to the Sheriff. Ev’rybody wins.”

These baddies don’t scare me! *whimper*

I don’t think I want to know either…

Hey, look! There’s Captain Crawfish, kids!

RCG: Oh, hi Captain Crawfish!
CC XII: Agggghhh!
RCG: Got a toothache?
CC XII: Youre…you’re one of those bratty PHB people who always like
to eat me!
RCG: It’s all cool. I don’t like seafood.
CC XII: Oh, very well…I guess I can tell you about the new post.

Tales from the Cryptids

Cryptids Island can be dangerous for an old salt like me. Sea legs I’ve got. Mountaineering arms, not so much. Good thing I found a guide to help me out.

Cryptids Island will be open to everybody next Tuesday, January 18!

CAPTAIN CRAWFISH

Whispers from the shadows: Mmm…salt.
CC XII: Who said that??!?!
RCG: No one. It’s okay, Crawfishy.
CC XII: Arghhh, I’m not so sure about that.
RCG: Oh, well. It’s a shame I didn’t bring any salt myself, but I guess you’re already bloated from it, living on the seas and such. It was nice knowing you. I’m glad we could become acquaintances. …Ok guys! Come on in!
*rest of PHB team appears*
CC XII: B-b-but you said you didn’t like seafood!
RCG: I never said that the others didn’t like seafood…

*THUNDER CACKLES*

(lights flicker on an off until there is complete darkness)

Random PHB Member: Hey! That’s my finger! AGGGHH! SOMEONE’S EATING MY HAND!
Random PHB Member 2: I’m eating someone’s hand? *barf*
RCG: SOMEONE GET OFF OF ME BEFORE I SMACK THEM!
Random PHB Member 3: Where’s that Crawfish Dude? He’s gotten away!

CC XII: Heh heh… now, onto my next adventure!

More tales from the Cryptids

Whether an ocean or a lake — or “loch,” as some call it — I’m always more comfortable on a boat than on land. But during my trip to Scotland in Cryptids Island, I was the passenger and not a captain. I even found time to take pictures.

Did I find proof of the Loch Ness Monster?

CAPTAIN CRAWFISH

RCG: *sigh* Notice the strange ridges along “Nessie”? They don’t exactly look like scales. I think you only saw truck tires or giant rusty mechanical gears.

CC XII: How’d you get here?!

RCG: Oh, I’m apart of the PHB posting a random update, and this is only written text. That means I can go where ever I want, as long as the words take me! You’re simply only typed up as well. Did I mention I’m a secret sorceress?

CC XII: That makes no sense…

Tag: wild west

Pop Places IRL: Wild West 🏜