Tips, tricks, and cheats for Poptropica

Kindle Fire App-dates & Halloween Concept Art

10/18/2015

The Poptropica app recently came out for Kindle Fire tablets, and now they've got a couple of awesome new updates to try out before the rest of us, meaning Android and iOS users, get to play with them. (The speculation for this is that Amazon reviews apps in a much more relaxed manner than Google and Apple, so they get new updates sooner). They are...

The Fall Fashion costume pack in the Store. In case you missed the buzz, it includes the incredibly covered costume pictured right (that now also goes for 75 credits in the desktop Store).
And the most important... importing your Poptropican's appearance from the desktop to the app!

For a long time, players have asked for the ability to log in to their online accounts from the app, thus having access to the same costumes, items, and Membership from the desktop. Granted, the Membership model doesn't work so well in the mobile app world as the in-app purchase model, so importing your costume is the next best thing! All you have to do on the app is make a new account and then enter your username and password from the online Poptropica (don't worry, it's safe to enter that info into the official Poptropica app). Soon, Android and iOS players will be able to do the same!

On a different note, it's October again! The month of Halloween, in case all your neighbors' gruesomely decorated houses didn't clue you in. The Creators have also gotten in on the spirit, with a bunch of new Halloween characters, props, and backdrops for a limited time only in the new Photo Booth. But there's hints of something more... as the latest Creators' Blog post says,

It might not be a bad idea to start practicing your Halloween photos in the Photo Booth. But perhaps we've said too much... for now.

So perhaps there is some sort of Halloween-themed Photo Booth competition coming up later this month!

Also this month, the Creators have been sharing previously unpublished concept art for some of Poptropica's creepier islands, like Monster Carnival, Ghost Story, Vampire's Curse, Great Pumpkin, and the Haunted House, on Twitter:

Insightful and detailed, aren't they? Bonus question: can you guess which island each of these sketches refers to? (Click on each image to zoom in and see info). Finally, Andrew Wiles asked an interesting question on Twitter the other day for the Creators, about the monsters from Mission Atlantis:

Well, I had never thought to connect those creatures to actual prehistoric animals until now :). Anyway, that's all for today's post. Happy October!

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Hub Island & Poptanium Stashes

8/20/2015

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There's a new island that just sprung up out of the blue this week: a Home Island, just like the one on the mobile app! Previously, new players had to figure out Poptropica just by trial and error (which I still think is a great way to learn something), but now the new Home/Hub Island also offers a guided tutorial. And it goes beyond the simple medallion-shard-finding quest from the mobile app: you can talk to almost any character for guidance, such as how to use the Costumizer.

Here's the fun part: now available on the online Poptropica through Home island is the Colorizer, now for free (just go into the New You shop). Previously, if you wanted to recolor your hair or skin color, you had to splurge in the store to buy the Colorizer, or visit certain places in the game that did it.

The Bundle Shop and the Arcade are also there, but they redirect you to the Poptropica Store and the Pathfinders common room, respectively. Hopefully there are plans to expand these with a new store and app-style common rooms (with the new chat and games).

And a quick word on the topic of Poptanium stashes -- in Poptropica Realms, it's possible to share worlds that you've created with the public. Poptanium is the currency that is needed to build anything in your realm, and there's a tool that lets you place Poptanium bricks into your realm, which can be collected later. So you can "give" Poptanium to other players by putting Poptanium bricks down and then sharing it! Brave Seagull has done just that, with an enormous world that not only looks good, but is filled to the coffers with pyramids of Poptanium that you can collect. The code is 9thzx., and according to Slippery Raptor's estimates, you can collect up to 4,630 Poptanium from it!

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Pop-In Prize and App Multiplayer Updates

8/4/2015

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Hello, and sorry for the late post -- I've been a bit busy on vacation, but I should be back on track for this week. First and most exciting of all, there's a new thing going on this month on Poptropica: the Pop-In Prize. This is an item that you get by entering a promo code, usually credits, and the code/prize changes daily, so you get rewarded for logging in every day. Now, this system isn't unique by any means, but it's still interesting to see on Poptropica, and who knows, it might actually increase its pop-ularity (I'm so sorry).

If you want to see a list of all the codes and prizes, check out this continually updated post on the Poptropica Help Blog.

And now, there's some exciting news about the new Poptropica app update. The multiplayer game Balloons is now available in common rooms on the app! In case you're not familiar with it, it's sort of like a vertically inverted Connect 4 which you play with other Poptropicans. (Note the clever reference to Counterfeit Island's Balloon Boy on the start screen.) And that's not all...

Chatting has also come to the app, and it's a little bit more sophisticated than the desktop version. The important difference is that when you try to chat with someone, you first choose between Greetings, Compliments, and Questions. Then, as before, you choose from three randomized options for each category. Next, the other person can reply. The responses are also tailored to the place you are right now, for example, the Arcade in the home world. Personally, I find this a refreshing and long-awaited change to the basic chatting in Poptropica.

Last but not least, before I go, Poptropica has put up a help page for issues with the Flash Player. Maybe this means that it's a common enough issue that it needs a FAQ page. Anyway, if you're having trouble with Poptropica, it might be worth your time to go check it out before asking for help.

And... (OK, this is actually the last thing) any luck with the latest Poptropica Hide & Seek game, anyone? It's been at least a month and still no correct entries. I might have to cancel it early if no-one's got the answer, so keep trying hard!

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Multiplayer on the App and Timmy Failure Island!

5/6/2015

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One of the most long-awaited features of the Poptropica App (well, after being able to use your desktop account) is here! Starting with the recent update, there is now a Multiplayer Arcade on the app. If you go all the way to the right of the home scene, past the bridge and shop, you'll see the new building.

Inside, you can meet players who are in at the same time. You can't really chat with them yet; the most you can do is find out their name. And don't forget emoticons! You've got the full suite of them, pictured to the right, which you can access by pressing the emoticon button underneath the Menu.

Then, there are a few arcade games to play, scattered about the area. Sky Dive and Star Link (my favorite!) are ready to play, with Balloons coming up. There are little variations from the desktop version, except that you can't chat, and you play with a random opponent each time. Maybe that's a good thing?

Click here for the Creators' Blog post on it, which has some more details.

Moving on to sneak peeks... recently we got a little bit more behind-the-scenes than usual, with actual photos of the Creators' offices via Twitter! Here they are, to the right. What an astounding collection of Poptropica swag! Sadly, I didn't find any hidden sneak peeks, but comment if you do.

They also expressed an interest in decorating offices to look like Poptropica scenes.The perfect place to work! I call the Astro-Knights cubicle.

In other news... we've been awaiting an island based on Timmy Failure for a while now. It was hinted at, confirmed by Thinknoodles, then denounced as a rumor. But now it seems like it may come true! Check out some of these Daily Pop sneak peeks:

@liopingu “We don't need no stinking badges." We just do Poptropica. Just took photos of office. Convinced? pic.twitter.com/vmsfZ1Ur7v
— Poptropica Worldwide (@Poptropica) April 22, 2015

They're in a very distinctive art style, not like normal Poptropica, suggesting it is going to be a sponsored island, and have something to do with animals at a zoo. The crate on the giraffe's head seems to say "Boom Boom Shoewheels," which are something from the Timmy Failure universe. On the other hand, the character designs seem to be normal Poptropica style, so I'm not sure what to think. Any insight?

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Poptropica on Android and Shrink Ray Remade!

11/21/2014

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After months of waiting, the Poptropica App is here as a free download for Android! Get it on your phone (or if you have one, tablet). It's almost the exact same as the iPad version, and they don't force a particular aspect ratio, which is awesome -- Poptropica in HD! If you need help on any of the islands, check out the Walkthroughs page, which has written guides for every island, and video guides for most too.

And speaking of bigger screen sizes...

Shrink Ray Island, Poptropica's 20th island first released in 2011, has been remade for the big screen and sound! Everyone, not just Members, get to enjoy it. The remake is largely the same as the original, aside from some zoomed-up scenes and minor adjustments.

Stay on the lookout for a video walkthrough and review from Poptrickia sometime soon! In the meanwhile, check out the excellent written guide. Happy shrunken adventures!

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Poptropica Store is Coming to the App!

9/7/2014

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We've been wondering why the the iOS Poptropica App lacks the Poptropica Store and any advanced costumizing options, right? Well, not for long! The Creators are working on a cool addition to the Home World in the app that lets you buy new costumes and abilities. Check out the screenshots (these are Poptrickia's exclusive sneak peeks, so spoilers ahead!):

The Town

There's a blimp in the town, and if you were on an island before entering, then there'll be that island's icon below the blimp for you to travel to. Here you can see two buildings, the "New You" and the Bundle Shop.

"New You"

Bundle Shop

By the way, wow, don't all these scenes from the Poptropica App look really quaint and cool?! I love the barbershop-themed store. In it, I assume the three pedestals will have three randomized, costumizable Poptropicans on it (which you can change by pulling the lever).

Also, there's chair and a Colorizer sign to the left. And the Bundle Shop is probably like the regular Poptropica Store (but you use $'s instead of credits... hmm... could those be real-life American dollars or just another symbol for virtual Credits?) There's a bunch of categories to choose from, each with many items. So, keep an eye out for these cool new additions to the Poptropica App in the near future!

UPDATE: Here's two more images (these are from the official sneak peeks). I bet clicking on the Colorizer brings up something like this. I'll keep this section updated as more sneak peeks come out!

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Ads on Mobile & Creators' Blog, P-Con Selfie Analysis

8/6/2014

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While playing the Poptropica app the other day (by the way, the Android app is delayed again), I noticed something new and strange on the map...

That's right, an ad space! But it's almost on an island of its own, unlike desktop ad spaces which you can only visit through islands. To be honest, I think I prefer this format. It keeps the islands themselves clean and the map is a logical place to put it.

Before I get into the ad space itself (Galactic Hot Dogs), I'd like to point something out -- so far, ad spaces on-line have been using the classic Poptropica engine (small screen, no sound) even if you get to them through a modern island. And we also know that only islands on the modern engine can run on the mobile app. So that means the Creators will start making regular ad spaces using sound and the big screen too!

Right, on to the ad itself. Go to the right of the ad space and start the game -- you have to jump over or shoot obstacles with two gray robots chasing you. The gun shoots automatically, so the strategy is to just run directly towards things smaller than you, and climb on top of/jump over things much bigger than you. Very easy. At the end, talk to the Princess, who has the Mega-Dog (I'm lost too). You get the prizes pictured above.

So those were the good ads. Now, on to something more alarming: the Creators' Blog now has an ad in the sidebar. Not so bad in itself (hey, even this blog has an ad in the sidebar), but their ad pushed the whole site into a wider look. The extra width misaligns the Poptropica logo and the text wraps for far too long. Also, accidentally leave your mouse on the ad for too long and it expands to take over the screen.

June 26

Now

AAAAA WHERE AM I???

Also, don't know if I mentioned this already or it's stuck among fifteen other blog post drafts, but the Creators' Blog has a new search bar and tag cloud in the sidebar (for a while now). A quicker/better way than what I was doing, typing "site:blog.poptropica.com <search query>" into Google.

While I'm here: the latest Creators' Blog post shows a selfie taken on Poptropi-con Island (which, as we knew, is about costumes, fashion, and not much meta-Poptropica-ism, closer to Poptropolis Games than Mocktropica). The man in the picture is the same as this guy from Poptropica Land. In addition, we know that you have to retrieve a Mjolnir for a wizard-like person in the island. So, Poptropi-con will have a distinct Norse Mythology theme as well as Land and possibly Legendary Swords. What role this has in the island, I don't yet know. Anyway, that was a long post and we've got a good week to look forward to in Poptropica!

UPDATE: Poptrickia got mentioned on the Poptropica Help Blog recently! Congrats on their 13M hits! I believe Poptrickia just recently hit 3 million -- but that's over four whole years. What an honor!

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Survival Island (with a twist)

3/7/2014

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Turns out I was wrong about my prediction. Survival Island is the upcoming island, not Deep Dive (although Deep Dive is still coming soon). Both, and all future islands, are going to be released in episodes rather than all at once. That means that we'll get less islands in the entire year, but they'll be spread out. I protest this change because of a few reasons:

We'll get less islands in the whole year! Which means less fun! Already the Creators have slowed down from the golden years (2009 to 2011).
We'll have to play stop-and-go. I mean, you leave off the story and come back a few days later... just boring.
Members will get less bang for the buck. Before, a one-month membership would let you play a whole island early; now, you'll get choked off in the middle or have to buy a longer membership.

Anyway, the first episode comes out on the 20th. In it, you crash-land in the Yukon and have to make a fire as it gets colder and colder at night. Next episode, you have to fish for food under ice. Also, you have a guidebook that you (my guess) have to rip pages out of to light the fire. As you can guess, that will complicate things...

More Advertising! Boo-hoo!

First of all, the ads on the sides of the screen that have always been there are different. They're animated now! A small step, but still disturbing.

Even worse! Go to any Old Pop island (like Night Watch) and go left of Main Street. There's a new ad space! This one is much wider, and you have to walk through it rather than click the sign to continue. Soon it'll have more ads on it... oh, no.

Does anybody realize what's happening? Mocktropica is coming true!

All Islands to Be Updated

The Creators recently announced that Poptropica is going to be playable on iPads. They said,

The initial iPad release will include the new-and-improved versions of two of our most popular Islands, 24 Carrot Island and Time Tangled Island. Soon after, you'll be able to download the bigger and better editions of more classic Islands...

Ah-ha! That means that all islands, including Mythology, Spy, Twisted Thicket, etc., are going to be upgraded to have music and the bigger screen. I suppose that's a good thing, now that the bugs are being squashed out of New Pop.

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Kindle Fire App-dates & Halloween Concept Art

Hub Island & Poptanium Stashes

Pop-In Prize and App Multiplayer Updates

Multiplayer on the App and Timmy Failure Island!

Poptropica on Android and Shrink Ray Remade!

Poptropica Store is Coming to the App!

Ads on Mobile & Creators' Blog, P-Con Selfie Analysis

Survival Island (with a twist)

More Advertising! Boo-hoo!

All Islands to Be Updated

That's Me!

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