Poptropica
| Poptropica | |
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| Developer(s) | Family Education Network |
| Publisher(s) | Family Education Network |
| Distributor(s) | Pearson Education |
| Platform(s) | PC and Mac |
| Release date(s) | July 2007, September 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Educational Massively multiplayer online game, with single-player elements |
| Mode(s) | Single and multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | Intended for children 6-15 |
| Media | Adobe Flash |
| System requirements
PC:
Mac:
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| Input methods | Keyboard, Mouse |
Poptropica is a online game, targeted at children ages 6 to 15, where players can travel, play games, compete in head-to-head competition, and communicate safely with each other. There is a role-playing component as players are encouraged to finish "island missions" and get medallions. Poptropica was developed by the Family Education Network[1], a division of Pearson, which also owns kids’ site FunBrain.com. Poptropica has an Alexa Internet rating of 2,166.[2] Its official launch date was in September 2007. It now has over 75 million registered users, 35 million of which are in the 15-25 age group.[3]
Contents |
Gameplay elements
Characters
When players first arrive at Poptropica, they are given a character avatar they can either customize immediately, or modify while playing.[4] Such modifications include changing hair color, clothes, hair style, and skin color. After they make their avatar they jump on a hot air balloon to choose an island to start with. In addition to user's characters, Poptropica is filled with citizens called Poptropicans that interact with the user as NPCs.
Items
In Poptropica, the player starts off with only clothes he/she chooses in the beginning. The player can then get various items and additional outfits from quests on different islands, many of which allow special actions on the associate island. Players will get a special medal each time they solve an island's main problem. A backpack icon is used as an inventory. Some items picked up on one island cannot be used on another.
Players can switch their clothes around with the Costumizer tool, which allows the player to copy clothes, various accessories such as jewelry, hairstyles, and mouths (i.e. whether they smile and how) from other citizens of Poptropica: the Poptropicans as well as other human players. The player uses the Costumizer tool on his/her character by finding a character who has clothes he/she desires, clicking on the Costumizer icon, then clicking on that character. Once the player is in the Costumizer tool, he/she simply clicks on the clothes he/she wants to put on their character to replace what they already have. Clothes are not usually part of the inventory except when crucial to finishing the island (e.g. the Chameleon Suit in Spy Island is clothing and is in the inventory).
Some items, sometimes including ones essential to the central mission in a particular island, have to be earned (e.g. In Spy Island, the player has to earn a chef's hat by playing a game similar to Simon). These are not available in any islands except the one in which earned.
On May 30, 2009, Poptropica began selling "Poptropica credits" online.[5] The credits are used to "buy" costumes that cannot be costumized and special abililties such as the ability to change the player's character's hair or skin color quickly. Credits can also be earned through the completion of different islands.
User safety
Poptropica uses pre-scripted chat which allows players to communicate without sharing personal information.[6] This also keeps the communication free from profanity.
Character names (such as "Fierce Hippo" or "Magic Feather") are also pre-constructed[7] to prevent any profanity or personal information from entering the virtual world.
Synopsis
Once a player enters Poptropica, he chooses an island to explore; as noted before, each island has a central mission. To travel between islands, the user boards a blimp with the Poptropica logo, which shuttles between the Main Streets of the various islands.
Early Poptropica
Early Poptropica was the first island created for Poptropica. Players encounter the original settlers of Early Poptropica who are in distress. They are 8 bit arcade characters much like pilgrims[8] who are missing items from their village. While finding the various objects, the player encounters a large spider and a purple giant. On Main Street, there is an art museum with works by artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, and Georges-Pierre Seurat. Before Shark Tooth Island came out you could go inside the side and there were two buttons saying start over or play.[citation needed]
Shark Tooth Island
Shark Tooth Island was the second island released in Poptropica. The scenario revolves around the inhabitants of the island who are being troubled by a fierce shark. The player must help the citizens by exploring the island's ancient temple ruins and subduing the giant shark, called Booga, with a special concoction. The player then has to rescue a boy and a professor from an island where they were marooned by Booga.
Time Tangled Island
Time Tangled Island is the third island released for Poptropica. The scenario revolves around a malfunctioning time machine made by Professor Peter P. Pendulum that has distorted history. It is the player’s job to go back in time and set things right. During the quest, users encounter major historical figures such as Thomas Edison, Lewis and Clark, and Leonardo Da Vinci. Once the player has restored the future, they can go forward in time to see what the future holds, and visit themselves 50 years older. This island was created in conjunction with the editors of Fact Monster to maintain historical accuracy.[9] Professor Pendulum can also be found on Shark Tooth Island in the Tourist Center. Previously called Time Twisted Island, the creators changed the name to Time Tangled Island.
24 Carrot Island
24 Carrot Island is the fourth island released on Poptropica. The Poptropicans on 24 Carrot Island are in trouble. Someone has stolen all their carrots, citizens are disappearing, and the economy, which appears to be based on carrots, is in ruins. The player has to face an antagonist named Dr. Hare, who has built a giant robot bunny inside what was formerly a carrot cake factory. Dr. Hare is apparently using the carrots to make fuel for a rocket that will send his giant robot into space, from where he can control everyone's mind. The character must free the kidnapped citizens from Dr. Hare's mind control and stop his evil plot. The island has a sequel called Dr. Hare's Secret Lab, which can be purchased in the Poptropica store.
Super Power Island
Super Power Island is the fifth island released for Poptropica. A giant radioactive meteor has crashed into Super Power Island's county prison, freeing six criminals and giving them super powers. Now they are wreaking havoc on the island, committing various crimes.[10] The player must defeat five villains, and earn the power to fly (only on Super Power Island). The final villain, Betty Jetty, can only be defeated by flying after her. The island was opened on July 26, 2008.
Spy Island
Spy Island is the sixth island released for Poptropica. In this plot, a new threat to the residents of Poptropica has been discovered by Poptropica's top three spies, but the spies have been captured by an evil group called B.A.D. The residents of Spy Island are losing their hair, apparently due a B.A.D. plot. The player must use top-secret spy devices to rescue the three spies and defeat the nefarious plan. The island was opened on September 10, 2008.
Nabooti Island
Nabooti Island was the seventh island released on Poptropica. This island was made in conjunction with the publishers of Choose Your Own Adventure books.[11] The Nabooti tribe is looking for five missing jewels from the mysterious Nabooti totem. The player flies to various locales across Africa to find the jewels and return them. The island was opened on December 10, 2008.
Big Nate Island
Big Nate Island is the eighth island released on Poptropica. This island is based on the comic strip Big Nate, written by cartoonist Lincoln Peirce. The player is on a mission to find a long-lost time capsule which, if found, can save the school from demolition. The player will need help from Nate and his friends to complete the quest. Unlike other islands, Big Nate Island is drawn in the style of the comic strip by Peirce. The island was opened on February 12, 2009.
Astro-Knights
Astro-Knights is the ninth island released on Poptropica.[12] The princess of the Kingdom of Arturus has been kidnapped by Mordred (now Binary Bard), and taken somewhere into space. The player must build and customize a spacecraft and use it to rescue her. The player will visit various planets in his quest and will have to fight various mechanical beasts.[13] The island contains numerous allusions to Arthurian legend, such as the kingdom being named "Arturus", three knights being named Cador, Peleas, Gawain, and the villain's name being Mordred. The island was opened to early access on June 3, 2009, and to the general public on June 10, 2009.
Counterfeit Island
Counterfeit Island is the tenth island released on Poptropica. It is a detective quest involving some of the world's most famous paintings. While they are on display at the Island Museum, the Black Widow is plotting to steal them all. It is up to the player to stop the Black Widow and recover the stolen painting The Scream. The island was opened to early access on December 21, 2009, and to the general public on January 4, 2010.
Haunted House
Haunted House was added to Poptropica for Halloween 2009, as a free game in the Poptropica store. The player enters a haunted mansion to find the "treasures" sought by the local supernatural entities. Completion of the quest rewards the players with 50 Poptropica credits, as with the 100 credits received for completing the various islands.
Reality TV Island
Reality TV Island is the eleventh island released on Poptropica and is based on the hit reality TV show Survivor. The player has to compete in challenges against seven other characters to avoid being "voted off" the island. The island was released to Poptropica monthly members on February 24, 2010 and was open to the public on March 24, 2010.
Mythology Island
Mythology Island is the twelfth island released on Poptropica. It features the gods from Greek myths, such as Zeus and Aphrodite. The player has to meet mythical gods and creatures. They must find five items for Zeus and the player will be granted immortality. However, Zeus cannot be trusted, as he plans to rule all of Poptropica. They must use the powers of the god of the underworld and the god of the seas to defeat Zeus. The island was released to Poptropica monthly members on April 1, 2010 and was opened to the public on April 29, 2010.
Skullduggery Island
Skullduggery Island is the thirteenth island released on Poptropica. This is more of a strategic island than the rest. It is a pirate quest, and the player must assemble a treasure map and defeat a cruel pirate foe. The player must also compare prices of the different pit-stops and earn money to buy bigger ships and more crew members. The island was released to Poptropica monthly members on May 20, 2010 and was opened to the public on June 17, 2010.
Islands awaiting release
- Steamworks Island[14]
Games
- Switch: A 60-second game similar to Bejeweled in which the player groups three or more fruits in a row to earn points.
- Sudoku: This is the only game the player can play alone or with another player.
- Hoops: Basically a game of basketball; the player shoots basketballs into the net. The first player to get 5 points wins.
- Sky-Dive: When the signal is given, the player's character has to land on the ground safely by clicking on their parachute, which is in a backpack. There is no time limit.
- Paint War: The player needs to blast seven paint-filled balls with their cannon to win.
- Star Link: Link stars together using a line to form a square. A player earns a point by filling a box with four lines.
- Balloons: This game is similar to Connect 4, except balloons are used. The first player who does this wins the game.
- Soupwords: Spell words by connecting three or more letters in a bowl of alphabet soup. The player's goal is to find as many words as he or she can before the soup gets cold. This game is similar to Boggle.
- Pathwise: The player who makes a connection, made by clicking on a hexagon each turn on a diamond shaped board to the other side, with their colour wins.
Merchandise
Poptropica began selling products via the internet in March 2009,[15] starting with t-shirts through Zazzle. Poptropica also started selling wall prints with various Poptropica characters a few days later through Larger Than Life prints.[16]
On May 30, 2009, Poptropica began selling "Poptropica credits" online. Credits are used in the game to "buy" special costumes and abilities. However, players can also obtain credits through the completion of islands.[5]
Membership
Poptropica has started selling "Membership." With membership, players receive many benefits, including early access to available islands (previously purchasable with earned credits).
Notes
- ^ Pearson Education description
- ^ Alexa ranking
- ^ Brian Solis, Ashton Kutcher (2010), "Virtual Worlds", Engage, http://books.google.com/books?id=AUczMkQo5F4C&pg=PA48
- ^ CNW news report. [1]
- ^ a b Announcement on Poptropica Creators' Blog
- ^ Review at Parenting iVillage. [2]
- ^ Hub Canada review and news article
- ^ and Review on Parenting iVillage. [3]
- ^ Review and article on Gainesville Sun. [4]
- ^ Description of Super Power Island on Poptropica
- ^ Choose Your Own Adventure books and Poptropica
- ^ Poptropica's Upcoming Island Section
- ^ Astro-Knights Island Announcement
- ^ Steamworks Island Announcement
- ^ Announcement from the Poptropica Creators' blog
- ^ Announcement from the blog