A great way to get started is to buy the Island Creator Kit which offers great tips on how the creators create the islands. Using the kit, you can have a better idea on how to create your own island. But, for those of you who are on a tight budget (like yours truly) then you need to start from scratch. Even if you don't purchase the kit, you can still enter the contest! I'll give you some tips on how to create your own island without the guide later in the post.Before you start creating, you should probably know the details...
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Important Information
The contest is for ages 8-12 and residents of the fifty (50) United States of America and The District of Columbia.You need to print out the official entry form, fill it out, and send it to the mailing address on or by December 24, 2013 and the entry needs to be received on or by December 31, 2013.
Everything has to be original. People want a Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc. island. The reason why Poptropica hasn't used ideas and characters? Copyright. Unless Poptropica has permission, they cannot use these characters created by someone else. If it has anything copyrighted, then the chance of it becoming an island is most likely impossible. Even Captain Crawfish said so:
"No licensed properties(I have to admit, it would be pretty interesting to see Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen team up to fight Darth Vader.)
Believe us, we'd love to make an Island in which Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen team up to fight Darth Vader. But it's not up to us. Other people own those properties. For this contest, we can't use existing characters, stories, or fictional worlds -- period. So make sure that everything in your entry is an original idea!"
Tips From Crawfish
Before I tell you my tips, the Captain Crawfish posted a few hints on how to make your entry stand out:"A setting we've never done beforeTake these hints into HUGE consideration. These 3 things are probably what the judges are looking for.
It might sound simple, but one of the very best ways to get our attention is to set your Island in a place we've never done before. Sometimes that's all it takes for us to get excited about an idea. Even if you have a great story, if it's set in Old Japan or on the moon, we'd probably pass. But if it's somewhere new, we'll be interested. Look for something that's never been done on Poptropica!
An interesting time period
Another way to catch our attention is to look into the distant past, or the far future. For instance, when we were writing Mystery Train, we started with the idea of a mystery story set on a moving train, but it wasn't until we decided to place it in a historical moment -- the 1893 World's Fair -- that the whole thing came together. The when of your story may be as important as the where.
A twist on a familiar tale
We like genre stories. That's why we often start with time-honored premises: a Wild West story, or a vampire story. But try to figure out what makes your idea different. For instance, Astro-Knights Island mashed up two familiar genres -- knights and aliens -- to make something new and original."
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My Tips
Here are my tips on how to create an island:Brainstorm
Write down every idea you have. It doesn't matter if they sound crazy. Write it down in case your first idea doesn't quite work. It's always good to have many ideas so you have a variety of choices. The more, the merrier! Remember, it's okay if they don't work out. It's all part of the process.
Use different references
If you are ever stuck on something, try to think back on your favorite island(s). What made your favorite island fun? Do you want it to be challenging with bosses? Was there a feature that you really loved in one island and you want to do the same in yours? Using previous islands as a reference is great to get more ideas but remember to try to be creative as well!
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| Doesn't Hercules look fabulous? |
Do some research
If you are going to do a twist or time period, you probably should do some research. Could you imagine if Mythology Island had Medusa turn people pink instead of stone and if Poseidon was the King of dirt instead of the sea? Know your subject so you can make it accurate. You don't want to confuse the judges (unless you want your island to be inaccurate.)
*I have not looked at the kit so if these tips are in the kit, it was unintentional.
That's all the tips I have BUT if you have questions, I'll be happy to help! (Just comment and I'll see what I can do.)
Good luck to all those participating in the contest!
~Speedy Wing~
This contest has already ended, but please be free to comment what you would have submitted if you could.
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Credits:
"Create your dream island contest" island picture from Poptropica but snapshot by me (Petpet)
"Island creator kit" belongs to blog.poptropica.com
"Captain Crawfish" picture belongs Poptropica Wikia
"Pink Hercules" belongs to me (Petpet)
The collage of Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen, and Darth Vader belongs to me (Petpet) but the original images in the collage belong to rightful owner.
The "Create Your Dream Island" contest is hosted by Poptropica, Young Penguin Readers Group, and other sponsors. This post is only to promote the contest. Read the original post here.
what if it was a reference like using a movie to be created on an island because of its creativity?
ReplyDeleteI'm not 100% sure what you mean by that.
DeleteAre you saying that you want to reference the island similar to a movie that you like? Like making the same idea but changing it a bit. (Example would be using the movie "Percy Jackson." You like the movie and would like one similar to it? [I'm using this example because Mythology Island is similar to it.]) If you mean that, then yes, you should be able to do it BUT you have to change your idea enough so it's not exactly like the original. Be careful not to use any of the copyrighted characters though.
Hope that helps.
In your opinion, would they allow there to be famous musical band members to be one of the main characters on our island (possibly with an exception for Back Lot Island if that even counts, 'cause you know, there are famous movie iconic stars on that Isle)? It's always been a dream of mine to have an island on Poptropica that has band members on it, maybe ones from the 80s or these days (*AHEM, AHEM* Marilyn Manson), or another time period around then. Theyhave had Rockstar costumes, so maybe that means a No, and also I am over age for the range they have to be able to make is a reality and all, but if you'd answer, someone else could see this that CAN registrate and... my dream could come true?
ReplyDeleteI know this probably sounds cheesy, eh but whatever. Thanks for creating this post anyway Petpet, rose-thorn-blood also known as iLoveMarilynManson❤
It is possible to use the band members names but the island itself has to be original. So, a rockstar type of island would be acceptable with a famous band.
DeleteCool! Great. Thanks, as always~~
DeleteDo Elvis!
DeleteDo you think its possible to create an anime themed island. Maybe some characteristics could be from specific anime. I was thinking on creating an island that has many different anime characters from different shows together. I'm not quite sure if my idea will work out,but i least would like to know if they would accept my idea for the contest. If not, I'll just come up with another one. Anyway, Thank You so much for making this post. It has really been helpful with all the information.
ReplyDeleteThe only problem I see with the anime themed island is that you can't use characters from the animes (due to copyright.) Unless Poptropica has permission from the owners, the chances of an anime island is highly unlikely.
DeleteHOWEVER, you can still have an island with a similar concept. For example, say you wanted to use Naruto with other anime characters and they are off to fight a villain. Well, you wouldn't be able to use any of the characters but you can take the concept of a character and make it your own. For example, if I wanted to use Naruto for one of my characters, I would have to come up with a unique character design and make his personality like Naruto. (This would have to be with all the characters.
Copyright is a difficult thing when you enter contests. That's why the Poptropican Creators want everything as original as possible. Thank you for reading my post and I wish you the best of luck on the contest!
Ok, First of all Thank You for for the advice it was really helpful!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of questions on the Create Your Own Dream Island Contest.
First one,So lets say i want to an island related to reapers, how am i suppose to give the setting. Reapers are basically ghosts so would i say the setting takes place in a graveyard or in an abandoned church, I"m not quite sure where reapers come from.
Second, on the application form they tell you to list 3 characters. Do they mean main characters? Also will they create the minor characters using the info i gave them of the 3 characters or will they base it of the story.
Third, I was thinking on making an island relating to sword art online. so i wanted to create my own characters with similar personalities to the main characters (Kirito · Asuna · Kirigaya Suguha). i was thinking of creating a virtual world in which the main characters get stuck in. I will use the story line but put my little twist in it. Do you think my idea will work out?
Forth, If yes am i suppose to make the setting inside the game or in Kirito's room when he's already stuck in the game? I'm so confused!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fifth (Sorry!! You mus be tired and bored of answering my questions now!!), For the question in the application saying ""What kind of characters live on your island (Athena,Hercules,Hades''" What do they mean by that! do they want characters that already made (harry potter as an example) Or do they want to know like certain type of people, like on spy island there lived spys and detectives.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME!!!!! I'm sure your already bored of me and frustrated after answering my questions, So thanks a lot :)
1. I think a really simple setting should do. So it could be a "small eerie town that's mainly focused around the abandoned church and graveyard."
Delete2. They want 3 main characters that would make a difference in your plot without them. The Creators would create minor characters to fit the plot you gave them.
3. I think that would work out really well. I can't wait to hear how well it works out for you!
4. The main setting would be inside the game because that's where he is most of the time. So I would put the setting as a "Slightly futuristic time period with a medieval-themed virtual game world that traps people who play it." Or something like it...
5. They want to know certain types of people unless there are specific characters that are really well known. (Historical people mainly.) If you don't have any, then just give them a generic idea of who lives on the island.
I really hope this helps, natalia! Thank you for reading my post and I wish you the best of luck on your entry!
I wish I was still 8-12 :c I have an idea I would LOVE to be made into a poptropica island. Oh well ;~;
ReplyDeletedo villans have to look like poptropican PEOPLE or can they look different
ReplyDeleteif u r reading this anyone, can you PLEASE tell me if you know anyone whos done hunger games island? because if so , I really hope they win.
ReplyDeleteum sorry but it couldn't be hunger games island. if you were reading important information like "no licensed property" you would know that hunger games is out of the question.
Deletewe can do an island that we can jump horses in it the people in poptropica ride a horse and jump obstacles an in a competition like the island that called poptropica games and you must win to have the medal and money and every time make the obstacle higher and higher and special thing to do not fall the obstacle
ReplyDeletei hope you make my idea because i wish to make it
People were transported back to the time of the dinosaurs!m you have to defeat the Dinosaur King and bring them back to modern times!
ReplyDeletei should have entered that