Global InformationPoptropica information
 | This article is written like a manual or guide. (November 2022) |
| Poptropica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Jeff Kinney Group (formerly) StoryArc Media |
| Publisher(s) | Pearson Education (formerly) Sandbox Networks |
| Designer(s) | Pete Amomaur Jeff Kinney |
| Engine |
|
| Platform(s) |
|
| Release | July 2007 September 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Educational, adventure, single-player with massively multiplayer online game elements |
| Mode(s) | Single and multiplayer |
Poptropica is an online role-playing game, developed in 2007 by Pearson Education's Family Education Network, and targeted towards children aged 6 to 15. Poptropica was primarily the creation of Jeff Kinney, later known as the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. As of 2015, he remains at the company as the Creative Director.[1] The game primarily focuses on problem-solving through game quest scenarios, called "islands". Islands all center on a problem that the player must resolve by going through multiple obstacles, collecting and using items, talking to various characters, and completing goals. All islands, upon completion, award "credits," which are non-negotiable currency that may be used to buy costumes and special effects in the Poptropica store.
In 2011, Poptropica was listed on Time magazine's list of "50 Websites that Make the Web Great", where it was described as "an inventive megasite for kids with a wholesome and slightly educational bent".[2] By 2012, the game had grown to have over 75 million registered users, with 35 million in the 15-25 age group.[3] Versions of the game have been released on Nintendo DS and 3DS, iOS, and Android mobile devices. In May 2015, it was announced that Family Education Network was sold by Pearson to the interactive-education venture capitalist Sandbox Networks,[4] and that Poptropica had "over 3.2 million monthly unique users in 200 countries and territories".[5]
In 2015, Poptropica was sold to educational-technology investment group, Sandbox Partners.[6]
In 2020, because of the discontinuation of Adobe Flash, Poptropica began porting their old islands that were built on Adobe Flash over to an HTML5 format. As a result of Poptropica's utilization of varying Flash engines, a number of islands were unable to be ported immediately, and were effectively removed from the game.[7] Fan archivists later made 35 islands available once again via the Basilisk browser within the Flashpoint program.[8]
In April 2022, Poptropica announced that some of the old islands would return as part of a bundle on Steam.[9] Though delayed by a day, the game was eventually released on May 26, 2022, and includes seventeen islands and Poptropica Realms.[10]
In 2024, Poptropica announced that they would be permanently hosted on Coolmath Games while remaining playable on Steam and mobile.[11]
- ^ Dossena, Tiziano Thomas (October 29, 2014). "From Lost Side Of Suburbia to Poptropica, An Exclusive Interview with Artist Kory Merritt". L'Idea Magazine. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ McCracken, Harry (August 16, 2011). "50 Websites that make the web great". Time. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ Solis, Brian (2010). "Virtual Worlds". Engage. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-57109-5.
- ^ Rosen, Judith (May 21, 2015). "New Owner for Poptropica and FEN". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
- ^ Dorbian, Iris (May 21, 2015). "Pearson sells Family Education Network to Sandbox Partners". Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- ^ "Pearson sells Family Education Network to Sandbox Partners - PE Hub". PE Hub. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
- ^ "State of the Game: Converting from Flash". Poptropica. Sandbox Networks Inc. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ "Old Island Directory". server.idkonpop.com. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
- ^ @Poptropica (13 May 2022). "PSA: The NEW Poptropica bundle will available on Steam starting MAY 25th!!" – via Instagram.
- ^ "Old Poptropica: picking up Steam". Poptropica Help Blog. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ https://twitter.com/Poptropica/status/1748070245762322700