Club Penguin Frontier

Greetings Critters!

Items have officially landed on Box Critters. Complete with an inventory system, the virtual world is really starting to take shape. In this post, we look at the significance of items in virtual worlds; with particular focus on Club Penguin.

Hat do you mean?

What really needs saying of items? For some, they serve as a customisable identity that opens up endless combinations for the likes of popularity, roleplaying and personalisation. Some use a unique mix that that’s almost used as a branding; found on social media and fan blogs alike.

Items were always a pivotal staple within the Club Penguin game, and everybody knew this. Monthly parties and events were often most hyped for the release of new, limited edition items that had every chance of becoming rare in the future. This brings us to the concept of rarity within online games; with particular relevance within virtual worlds.

(The new Box Critter’s inventory system. Cosplaying as Club Penguin Space’s Riyita).

How do you like your Items? Medium Rare!

For my personally, the idea of limited edition items generated excitement. Likely due to how the Party Hat (Beta Hat) was executed. I’d never seen crowds of penguins, gathered around one player (that wasn’t a mascot or moderator), purely due to the hat on his or her head. It was an exciting experience, even for those not in possession of such a scarcely seen item. Screenhog’s efforts to make the item less desirable in the future (by using what he described as “tacky” party colours), were ultimately in vain.

Whilst it’s far too early to predict if any of the current items will be ‘rare’, that would be beside the point. Currently, items are the only new content being added to the game on an – almost – daily basis. Like how the free items were often the highlight of Club Penguin’s monthly parties, they remain a reason to log in. They don’t appear in free item boxes though, which brings us to our next point!

(Jimbobson shows off his new outfit).

The Community Unity

Rocketsnail has opted for a rather unique method of adding items when compared to what was done on the former winter wonderland. Instead of free item boxes, players currently enter a specific message in the chat box. For example, saying “/freeitem” provides the user with a free Blue Toque (as of the current date).

(To unlock the red hard hat, enter this code! /SadlyUntrue)

But these specific chat codes are unique. Some of them, at least, are based on specific items from around the community. For example, the Box Critters Wiki’s signature Newspaper Hat has found itself in the game. To obtain it? Enter “/boxcritterswiki”. Other examples include fan blog Box Critter’s Bulletin as well as other vocal members of the community.

This fan interaction not only generates hype, but shows Rocketsnail is effectively engaging with the support and fanbase he’s built up over the last 10+ years with Club Penguin. It’s a smart move, and one I hope continues as the game grows. If I could recommend something, it would be to allow and encourage users to design and submit items that could be incorporated into the game. Perhaps the users could also decide how the item is distributed? Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself..

Beta Late than Never

In term’s of items, there’s one question on many a critter’s mind. That question? What will the Beta item be and when will it be released? To these questions, we do not yet have answers. If we use Club Penguin as an example, the Party Hat released during the Beta Party which served as the conclusion of beta testing. If we are to base anything on this, it’s that this item could be a way off.

I do however, have some suggestions for this item.

• Simplistic design – Club Penguin’s Beta Hat worked well because of this.
• Desirable – Screenhog’s efforts were in vain, it’s likely the same efforts would be again. Why not make it look great at the same time?
• Unique by colouration, if not design – The Beta Hat served as the basis for the following Anniversary party hats. These were the exact same design, but with a different colouration. I’d love to see the same again.
• Extremely limited – Games such as Pandanda had their Beta items available for months, a total contrast from Club Penguin’s couple of hours. This meant their items generated very little hype throughout the game’s short-lived lifespan.

Whilst this item could be literally anything, I do also have two suggestions of what it could be.

Option 1: Party Hat.

The same again?! Yep. Club Penguin’s untimely end has left a plethora of current and former players upset, frustrated and even let down. I believe re-releasing the Beta Hat once again for Box Critters, would be a fantastic decision. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a 1:1 carbon copy. Instead, it can serve as a basis, with maybe a few additions like we see with the current green/yellow party hat currently in game.

Option 2: Viking Helmet

If Rocketsnail doesn’t wish to go down the former route, I have another option. We already have a Viking Helmet in game, why not create a striking, unique coloured one that will serve as the elusive item everybody will want? A signature icon of the Rocketsnail’s Club Penguin brand, it would certainly make sense.

Closing Thoughts

Items are of upmost importance in games. Virtual worlds, are no exception. Look at almost any other game, Fortnite, Rocket League etc. Items provide the user with a reason to log in at a specific time (and hopefully meet new friends doing so).

I for one, can’t wait to see how the game progresses. It’s development to date has been fascinating to experience. I always wished I had experienced Club Penguin’s development, now I feel that wish has been (almost) granted.

Many thanks for reading, I look forward to seeing you all on Box Critters!

-Jimbobson

Greetings all.

Much has happened since the last time we spoke.

For example, the long-awaited “successor” to Club Penguin; Club Penguin Island, now is no more than a single player world that only exists if you downloaded the app before it’s closure. The franchise in which encapsulated childhoods of a generation, now no more. At least officially, of course. 

Alas, it’s time for something new. Is the high-flying Animal Jam the answer? Or maybe reliving Club Penguin via the fan-made, unofficial (yet very impressive) Club Penguin Rewritten? 

Or how about we look at the current workings of the man who created Club Penguin – Lance Priebe I.e Rocketsnail. 

I’m sure many will have at least checked out his latest game in testing, Epic Snails. Whilst still a virtual world, it doesn’t quite harness the same gameplay mechanics as that of the winter wonderland we all knew and loved. It’s certainly an interesting, unique game – but not one that’ll satisfy those in need of ”a game like Club Penguin”. 

“A game like Club Penguin”

I’ve heard these words used on numerous occasions over the years. Almost every virtual world aimed at children got described as such, regardless of how accurate the statement was. Panfu, Animal Jam, Bin Weevils, Fantage – the list goes on. 

In my experience, only one game ever came close. That was Pandanda. Unfortunately, it closed 2 years after its official launch in 2010 (though in Beta from 2008) due to financial reasons. 

After Club Penguin’s eventual closure in March 2017, Club Penguin Island – formerly codenamed Project Super Secret behind the scenes, took its place. However, after years of hype, Disney pulled support for the direct successor a year and a half after it released. But of course, we all know this already. 

What comes next?

So earlier I mentioned Rocketsnail. Since he left Club Penguin, some wondered if or when he was creating another game like Club Penguin. Like any good game developer, he wanted to work on new projects. Completely understandable. There would be no more games like Club Penguin developed by the man himself. Until now. 

The mastermind behind our beloved franchise, on which this, and countless other blogs have devoted a lot of time and effort into, is in the early stages of working on something new. Yet something very familiar at the same time. 

That “something new” is called Box Critters. 

Box Critters – what we know so far 

Initially, Box Critters didn’t really sound or look anything like Club Penguin. With the focus seemingly on quests instead of social interaction, it sounded more like a child-friendly Runescape. The artwork on the other hand, a finely crafted paint-looking artwork that even Van Gogh would’ve admired. 

Since the news of Club Penguin’s doomsay, however, the focus appears to have shifted quite considerably. Let’s have a look at some of the new-look-artwork. 

Does the room look familiar? It should – this is quite clearly designed by an artist who once worked for Club Penguin – a genius move by Lance to immediately attract those seeking a new place to waddle around and meet new friends, albeit without the waddling. 

There’s throwbacks to the winter wonderland itself, including a crossbow and hamster skull very similar to the Puffle and crossbows we saw on Rockhopper’s Migrator. This is fully intending to fill the void left by Disney’s abrupt decision in 2018. To generate excitement amongst the passionate fan base Rocketsnail has built since the early days of Experimental Penguins and Penguin Chat. 

Hamsters are the new..penguins?

The choice of a hamster is both refreshing and exciting, though challenging the popularity of penguins will surely be a ginormous task. Will there be any other characters to choose from? Who knows. But this looks to be a fresh idea that, if executed properly, could be another smash hit for the veteran game developer. 

All I know thus far is that I’m extremely excited to see how Box Critters will evolve as production progresses. For many of us, a game like Club Penguin has been something we’ve patiently being waiting for. For some, this was after Club Penguin Island shut down. For others, possibly as early as 2013 which some argue marked the the beginning of the game’s decline. 

But how exactly will Box Critters survive in a saturated gaming market that differs enormously to that of 2005? Stay tuned for a future blog post where I’ll aim to answer this question – and more! 

Until then!

– Jimbobson