The creator of one of the best-loved computer games of the 21st century says he’s “confident” it’ll get to return one day in the future.
We’re talking about Club Penguin, of course.
The massively-popular multiplayer online games and activities experience – which often saw players spend hours on end navigating cartoon penguin avatars around an Antarctic-themed virtual open-world – was founded all the way back in 2005, and soon developed into a thriving online community with millions playing along.
Players could either sign-up for a free membership, or pay for a subscription that gave them access to a range of additional features – including being able to use an in-game currency to buy clothing, furniture, and pets called “puffles” for their penguins. through
At the height of its popularity, Club Penguin had 30 million registered users, and the success of the game led to parent company New Horizon being purchased by the Walt Disney Company in August 2007 for the sum of $350 million.
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Club Penguin creator says he’s ‘confident’ the game will return in the future / Credit: Disney
After Disney took over, the game became even more popular, and eventually grew to having 200 million registered user accounts worldwide in 2013.
But by 2015, user numbers started sadly declining, and the game eventually closed down in 2017.
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The reason for the game’s downfall, according to The Washington Post, was that users didn’t have to pay to play the game, and the developer relied heavily on the 10% of gamers who signed up for a membership.
Despite the decline in users, when it was announced that Club Penguin would be no more, millions of fans from all over the world shared their devastation at the closure, and can now often be heard talking about the game with a nostalgic fondness – but luckily, the game’s creator has teased that this might not be the end of the road.
Lance Priebe is “confident” the game will return one day.
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No regrets. Disney helped Club Penguin expand world wide and introduced millions of children to our exciting little world. I'm sad that it ended but I am confident it will one day return.
Responding to a fan on Twitter who asked whether he “regrets” selling the game to Disney, Club Penguin creator Lance Priebe said: “No regrets. Disney helped Club Penguin expand world wide and introduced millions of children to our exciting little world.
“I’m sad that it ended but I am confident it will one day return.”
While there is, of course, no concrete comeback plans in the works at the moment, only time will tell if Club Penguin will ever return.
All we know is, we’re not the only ones holding out hope.
Featured Image – Disney
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Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Emily Sergeant -
15th March 2023 
