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5 reasons Poptropica is the best virtual world for kids

May 13, 2013 By 21 Comments

While surfing through the waves of the web, I came across an article called Five things learned from five years of Poptropica, which you can click to read if you’re interested. It’s written by Director D – I mean James Lema, the director of product development at Poptropica.

Anyway, onto the good part! Here were 5 reasons James cited as what makes Poptropica a better kids’ virtual world than any other game:

  1. We are not building a game. Let’s create a collection of narrative driven quests.

  2. Ask for age and gender. If they want to register, ask them after they have played around for a while.

  3. 2D is faster, cheaper… and none of us know 3D.

  4. We will use pre-scripted / random chat.

  5. We are NOT Facebook for kids.

Interestingly, Poptropica started out with a staff of just two artists, one of them being Lema, and Poptropicans spend an average of 30 minutes per session on the site! If you’d like to read more, check out Lema’s Poptropica article on Dubit, which explains the 5 things more in-depth.

Want to know what we at the PHB think about Poptropica? Check out our Poptropica: Game Review article in the Cool Stuff section!

Now the question is, why do YOU think Poptropica is awesome? Let us know in the comments! :D

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To Max Steel and moms everywhere: it could get ‘harey’

May 11, 2013 By 9 Comments

Earlier this week, PHB author Angry Wing found “Max Steel” mysteriously listed in green at the top of his item inventory. This has now disappeared, though the new “Closet” (leading to one’s costume closet) above the [also new] dashed line is still here. Subtle indeed!

max steel

Last week on Poptropica, there was a video ad on Main Streets for Max Steel, a new Disney XD TV series. Watching the video awarded viewers with a costume and super power of Max McGrath’s tech alien, Steel. Sadly, I don’t have pictures, and all I could find of this ad was a blurry YouTube video.

What could this mean? Will there be more Max Steel in Poptropica’s future, or was this just a glitch? What if we get to keep all advertisement items in the future?! That would be awesome, especially considering the Creators disabled the Poptropica Ad Transporters a while back.

UPDATE: PHB commenter Abigail informs us that “Scholastic Summer” (a book-reading challenge) now takes the top spot in the items dropdown menu. Once again, clicking on it will tell you “You don’t have any items for this campaign yet. Explore Poptropica to see what you can find!”

This could mean that we’ll only get to keep our ad items until a new ad replaces the previous one, as commenter Fruitbat7777 speculates. Perhaps they’ll release this ad soon!

Scholastic Summer

On a different note, the Creators blogged about this Dr. Hare fan art they received from Poptropican Cool Crown, complete with a Dr. Hare plush toy. Watch out… it could get “harey”!

Lastly, this Sunday (as are all other second Sundays of May) is Mother’s Day! The Creators have posted a lovely Tribute to the Moms of Poptropica on their blog (featuring the likes of CJ’s mom on Shrink Ray, Katya’s mom on Vampire’s Curse, and more).

But there’s another definition to “Poptropica moms,” and that’s all the mothers whose son or daughter is a Poptropica player! If that’s you reading this, happy Mother’s Day!

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Thursday, Thursday, Gotta Get Down on Thursday

April 4, 2013 By 13 Comments

Hey everyone, it’s me again! Angry Wing. The Creators have made an announcement. First of all, they have confirmed that the whole HD-3D thing was yes, just an April Fool’s joke. A good thing too, because I don’t exactly have $999.95 just laying around.

But now for the big announcement…

Back Lot countdown

Back Lot Island comes out for members today, Thursday April 4th. (And for non-members, it’s April 25th – three Thursdays later.) Mark your calendars! Set your keyboards! Go play that island!

Later.

You can check out the countdown on Poptropica’s homepage now.

Right now it’s at 6 hours 36 minutes, 17 seconds. 16 seconds. 15 seconds. 14 seconds…

Here is the video one last time before the release.

Alright, that’s all for now! Good luck on your quest through the Back Lot!

*flies off*

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That Delicious Bread

January 10, 2013 By 21 Comments

Happy Second Week of the New Year! Have you made any New Year’s resolutions (or *gulp* broken any)? Well it appears that the Creators have in this interesting new post.

New Year’s resolutions

It’s that time of year again when everybody makes well-meaning plans to better themselves, only to abandon them within a week. Well, not us. We stick to our plans. This year, we’re resolved to do the following:

  • Make the best Poptropica Islands ever
  • Add new features that you’ve been wanting for years
  • Give you even more ways to enjoy Poptropica
  • Eat fewer carbs

Wait, forget that last one. Bread is too delicious to give up. But the rest of it? You better believe those are our New Year’s resolutions!

avatar image
CAPTAIN CRAWFISH

I completely agree, bread is way too… wait! Before that! What could be coming soon to Poptropica?

The best Islands ever? Could one of these Islands be Monster Carnival? How about Mardi Gras and the Mall Island? What other Island ideas do they have stewing?

Add new features? What have we been wanting for years? One thing definitely comes to mind, Houses! The Creators have acknowledged this idea before and have even added a poll asking if we would want our own houses. You can check that out over here.

More ways to enjoy Poptropica? What else can they add, does this not just happen when you add the best Islands ever and awesome new features that we have been dying to get?

What do you want to see added to Poptropica this coming year?

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Hello 2013 – happy new year!

January 1, 2013 By 21 Comments

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Happy new year, Poptropicans! We survived 2012 and made it through ten new islands: Ghost Story (for all), S.O.S., Vampire’s Curse, Twisted Thicket, Poptropolis Games, Wimpy Boardwalk, Lunar Colony, Super Villain, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Zomberry (for members). Poptropica added members-only bonus quests for islands starting from SOS, the much-anticipated Friends feature was released, we celebrated Poptropica’s 5th birthday and 30th island (Super Villain), Poptropica came out with 4 new books, we experienced Poptropica on the DS, tribes were given special common rooms… looking back, things have been very eventful on Poptropica! :D

2013 should be a very exciting year as well, for the PHB, the Poptropica Help Network, Poptropica, and of course the world. For starters, I’ve put up a new fresh header for the PHB! Also, be sure to check Party With Hobos, the comedy series written by MT, on January 7 – 11 for some special unreleased episodes! :)

unreleasedd

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From Santa’s, no, Poptropica’s little help bloggers…

December 25, 2012 By 36 Comments

christmascard2012

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings and all that good cheer from the PHB! Don’t forget to get the holiday-themed that have been pushed to the front of the Poptropica Store for December! There’s the Elf Costume, Crazy Candy Cane, Snowman, and Tangled in Lights… the first one’s free!

December store costumes

As for the gold cards, get in the Yuletide mood with the Little Candy Cane, Winter Blast Flavor PopGum, Candy Cane-on, and Snow Fall… again, the first one’s free. Enjoy your prezzies! :D

-Poptropica’s little helpers

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Deuces!

December 25, 2012 By 120 Comments

Long time no see, Poptropica Help Blog! It’s been a really – interesting experience. I mean, I wanted this ever since I was 10. When I got added, I was so excited, happy and I felt like the king of the world. But now, I’m 13 almost 14 busy with trying to graduate middle school and my social life. And I don’t want to take up space on this blog. What’s the use of having an author that doesn’t even post? Maybe there’s another kid out there who dreams of being on this blog like I did. So, Hijuyo (Slanted Fish), thanks for giving me a chance to be here, and thanks to all the readers for taking the time to read my posts! This was definitely a point in my life that I never want to forget. So, thank you all!

Happy Holidays,

MT.

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The Poptropolypse Games?

December 22, 2012 By 26 Comments

(misspelling is intentional)

Hey guys, BT here. Now, there’s been some peculiar activity in the island of the Poptropolis Games. Apparantly, when you go on the map, you see that island shaking and a question mark icon over it. Here’s the news article the Creators had released:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 21, 2012 — We are tracking reports of seismic activity in the North Poptropica Sea. Initial data indicates that the tremors are based in the proximity of the Poptropolis Games. Mews Foundation seismologists are en route to the location to investigate further. At present, there is no reason to fear widespread earthquakes or further damage to the Poptropolis ruins.
This is a breaking news story… updates as events warrant…

Okay. An earthquake. …Huh?

We all know today’s date: 12/21/12. But what’s with this whole earthquake thing? Unless…

is Poptropolis going back into the sea for another 100 years? Could be a possibility. In the meantime, we can only wonder what the heck are those Creators up to…

BT out!

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