Grophland is a browser based Virtual Pet Site, launched in 2004. Created by David Donachie, Grophland is inhabited by Grophs (pronounced to rhyme with coughs), magical sluglike creatures that take inspiration from many different animals, plants, and natural phenomena. Players the on the role of an 'owner,' a kind of guardian charged with taking care of a cave full of grophs, discovering new lands, opportunities, alchemy recipes and monsters to fight.
Grophland is free to play, though paid members may have a greater number of grophs, and access to extras, such as premium items and full body painting.
The game can be played here.
Grophland provides Examples of:
- Anachronism Stew: An interesting case. Each area of grophland is pretty consistent with time period internally, but when viewed as a whole, are quite the mishmash. The corresponding time periods range from ancient Egypt, to 18th century Europe.
- Nonstandard Character Design: Special grophs, but in particular ones which have unique facial art such as sharks and seals. Male rock grophs, however, take it up to 11. Their appearance is so far removed from most other grophs, that new coding had to be implemented to prevent them from wearing many items of clothing.
- Many NPC characters have hair, wings, clothing etc that are not obtainable in game.
- One-Gender Race: Not exactly 'race,' but rainbow grophs can only be female, and guppy grophs can only be male. Fairies may be a more straightforward example of this. Only female fairies have ever been seen in game, although Celes's gender is apparently unknown.
Throw It In!: Rock grophs were never intended to be permanent, but users loved them so much they were added back into the game.
Viewer Gender Confusion: Nukkali, a whoofa hunter from Chak-Chak, was initially thought to be female by many users but is actually a male.
