Club Penguin (franchise)
Club Penguin is a dormant media franchise that was created in 2005 with the release of the online massively multiplayer online game Club Penguin, later bought out by [The Walt The Walt Disney Company|Disney Company|Disney]. Club Penguin inspired a variety of console video games, books, and television specials. Following the game's discontinuation in March 2017, the game was replaced by a successor, Club Penguin Island, which was released on mobile and later desktop. The successor was closed in late 2018, marking the end of the franchise.
Despite being officially dormant, several unofficial media has been made after the closure of the original game and Club Penguin Island, the most notable being Club Penguin Rewritten, a recreation of the original game which ran from 2017 to 2022.
Main video games
''Club Penguin'' (2005–2017)
Club Penguin was a massively multiplayer online game that ran from 2005 to 2017, created by New Horizon Interactive.''Club Penguin Island'' (2017–2018)
As of mid-November 2016, Disney Interactive advertised a related but separate mobile gaming environment named Club Penguin Island, to become available in select languages and areas in 2017. Pre-registration was available for reserving player names. On January 30, 2017, it was announced that the original game would be discontinued on March 29, 2017. The game was released worldwide for mobile devices on March 30, 2017, the same day Club Penguin shut down. On November 30, 2017, the game was released on Windows and macOS. On September 27, 2018, Disney confirmed the imminent discontinuation of Club Penguin Island in a letter obtained by the website Kotaku, and in a blog post.Console video games
The Club Penguin video game series is a series of party games for the Wii and Nintendo DS based on Disney's popular massively multiplayer online game, Club Penguin. They are published by Disney Interactive Studios.Nintendo DS
''Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force'' (2008)
Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force was released in the US on November 25, 2008, in Europe on March 13, 2009, and in Australia on April 16, 2009. In September 2009, a Collector's Edition was released and included upgrades to the game and extra features. Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force was released by Disney for the Nintendo DS on November 25, 2008. As members of the "Elite Penguin Force", players solved mysteries around Club Penguin. The game features mini-games from Club Penguin; coins earned by the mini-games could be transferred to the player's Club Penguin account.''Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force – Herbert's Revenge'' (2010)
Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force – Herbert's Revenge is a sequel to Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force. The game starts off as the player and former members of the PSA are recruited to be part of the EPF. They are put in 6 different PSA missions, starting with Secret of the Fur, and 4 game-exclusive EPF missions featuring the main antagonist, Herbert the bear. Herbert's Revenge was announced on February 13, 2010, with a release of May 2010. Previously established character Dot the Disguise Gal features as a character in the game.The Sports Shop was changed to the 'Everyday Phoning Facility.' Players who were PSA agents and had taken 'the test' became agents of the EPF. Players who were already EPF agents no longer had any benefits whereas members who had entered a code from 'Herbert's Revenge' can call the elite puffle 'Flare' from the game by using the puffle whistle button on the EPF phone, and performed a special action when they sit or dance with the puffle, although they were able to get more puffles through the EPF phone.
Wii
''Club Penguin: Game Day!'' (2010)
In 2010, Disney Interactive Studios announced plans for Club Penguin: Game Day!, a game for the Wii. It was reported that the game was released on September 21, 2010, in the U.S. Reportedly, the game would involve players working as a team trying to earn sections of land on an island, with the objective being to conquer the island. The game was based around several interactive games, some of which were 3D versions of games then played and games which appeared only at the Fall Fair in Club Penguin. Players were able to customize their penguins and choose their team. Any points earned in the Wii game could be synchronized with Club Penguin.Club Penguin: Game Day! was developed by Artoon and released in September 2010. The game can be played by up to 4 people at once. There is also a single player mode. Club Penguin: Game Day! and its rating were first found on the ESRB site in April 2010, but it was taken down before May since the game was not announced at that time. It then was officially announced on June 10, 2010. In the game, players can create and customize a 3D penguin and compete in a variety of challenges. Each time players beat a challenge, they conquer some territory on the island. The ultimate goal for players is to conquer as much territory as possible. Once, players could transfer coins, items, and stamps to their Club Penguin account. However, this is no longer working since May 20, 2014 at 10.30 PM EST when Nintendo discontinued the Wi-Fi support with the Nintendo DS and Wii.
Television specials
British company Factory produced three TV specials based on the game, a Christmas TV special, titled We Wish You a Merry Walrus, aired on Disney Channel in the UK on December 17, 2014.A sequel to We Wish You a Merry Walrus, a summer special titled Club Penguin: Monster Beach Party was also produced and premiered on Disney Channel in the UK on August 10, 2015. A Halloween special based on the game, Club Penguin: Halloween Panic!, premiered on Disney Channel UK on October 25, 2015.
Merchandise
Books
In honor of Club PenguinOn February 3, 2018, Club Penguin Island released an e-book titled Wish Upon a Squid which could be read via the Disney Story Central app. Players were given a code to get the eBook for free. The code expired on March 31, 2018. The book followed the story about a determined penguin named Leedah and her journey across the island to discover her special talent.