Poptropolis Games sunk on January 24th, as promised... see http://blog.poptropica.com/2013/01/and-just-like-that-its-gone.html for the proof. But the question is, are the Games really gone forever? They're meant to stay down for another 100 years, but the Members cards for Poptropolis say "Poptropolis 2012", as the picture below will prove. As the island was released with the London 2012 Olympic Games, could it return for the 2016 Games, scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil? It seems very likely, and why would the Creators delete such an amazing and fun island? They say that they love it themselves, twice:

The second example instructs you to check for updates on the Creator's Blog. So, it seems likely that the Games will return. And they're not really gone yet... my Poptropica account is currently on Poptropolis Games! So I'm going to win it just one last time. But if they're gone forever... oh well... I guess all good things must come to an end.

Remember Dr. Hare's mysterious travels all over the world from late 2011? Well, you probably don't, so here's a map of his search for world domination and click here to see Poptrickia's coverage of his adventures. Back then we thought he would reappear in some insane mix of Game Show Island and Legendary Swords. But it was neither! For he himself has revealed to us that he is actually going to take over the real world -- through Lego. He's designed a replica of Dr. Hare's Secret Lair from 24 Carrot Island and is plotting to use it for world domination. Well, good luck with that. You've failed twice already, Doctor!

And it's true! Poptropolis Games will sink back into the ocean from where it came by January 24th! I believe this is the only Poiptropica island ever to actually disappear... well, maybe it's the second one after the cancelled Monster Carnival island. But just like that one was replaced by 24 Carrot, Poptropolis Games will be replaced by Night Watch Island. The trailer is below and some new Members-only items have also been released. Check the Poptropolis Games page soon for more information! The video playthrough is available now!

And the name of the long-awaited upcoming island... the first island of the new year... the grand new island the Creators promised in their New Year's resolutions... the one that appears to have a mall security theme is called... *drumroll*... Night Watch Island! Wait, what? Night watch? What an imaginative name... NOT! This better be a really good island to make up for it's pretty unimpressive name. But anyway, this proves what I said in past posts: the new island of the new year does take place in a mall-like setting with many shops and most importantly, a suspicious security room. Maybe there's been a robbery, and you've been ordered to be on night watch? This sounds sort of like a mystery island, doesn't it? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. In the meanwhile, you can take a look at these sneak peeks and anticipate Night Watch Island. There appears to be some code-breaking here. And I guess that the similarity between Twin Palms Mall (the mall in this island) and Twin Pines Mall (the mall in the movie Back to the Future) was probably an accident.

Have you made any New Year's resolutions yet? I have a huge list -- that way nobody will notice if I break any of them. If you haven't, now is the time! They're a great way to actually get things done rather than just talking about them, like I do. Oh yeah, and that brings us to my resolutions. Here are some of my Poptrickia-related ones:

• Get at least one other person on my Poptrickia team -- right now I can barely manage the whole website.
• Fill in some of the gaps in my walkthroughs and do some fact-checking for once; some of those are over two years old, and written very hastily!
• Start writing in the Magazine again. I gave it up a long time ago, but I will definitely start again. In fact, I already have an article planned...
• Two more features I might add to my website if I get the time. I can't tell you them right here; they're top-secret, and screens have ears.
• Fill up the PopTopics wiki with some information and trivia, and get volunteers to run it.
• Eat less sugar. No, never! Eat more chocolate. Wait, that's not healthy. More fiber! No, yuck, what am I saying? Broccoli? AAARGH! You know what, let's just forget about the dieting resolutions.

Happy New Year! Kind of late, I know, but I've been on break. Zomberry Island is arriving to non-members on January 10th... and it looks like Poptropolis Games is disappearing very soon. Don't believe me? Look at the island map. You'd better hurry to finish all those games! And I'd better complete my Poptropolis Island Video Walkthrough in case it doesn't disappear...

The next island seems to have something to do with fashion and shopping and sports, but there isn't much information in the Daily Pop. Actually, it looks like it takes place in a mall. Here are a few snapshots:

As you can see, there are many shopping and fashion references, most likely linked. And there are also some pictures of something called the "land of nod", whatever that means: look at the bottom-left two pictures. There are also some "evil secret lair" pictures. All of this is obviously connected, but how? I'm not sure. And here's an extra: according to the Daily Pop, the name of the mall is Twin Palms Mall. The name of the mall in the movie Back to the Future is called Twin Pines Mall. Are they linked somehow? Probably not, there aren't any time-travel references elsewhere. I'll post more as I find out!