Pogs
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- For other uses, see POG.
Pogs is a game that was popular from the early-to-mid-1990s.[1] The word "pog" also refers to the discs used to play the game. The name originates from POG, a brand of juice made from passionfruit, orange and guava; the use of the POG bottle caps to play the game pre-dated the game's commercialization.[citation needed] The game of pogs originated in Hawaii in the 1920s, and returned to popularity when the Canada Games Company reintroduced them to the public in the 1990s.[1] The United States Army and Air Force Exchange Service has adopted pogs as a light-weight gift certificate in lieu of monetary change at its stores in contingency operations.[1]
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[edit] Origins
Sources describe the game of pogs as originating in the 1920s or early 1930s in Hawaii.[2][1] Dairy farmers would play the game with milk caps.[citation needed] Blossom Galbiso, a teacher at Waialua Elementary School on the north shore of Oahu, is credited with reviving the game in 1991.[2] She began using the milkcaps in her classroom and applied the game of pog to her mathematics curriculum.[2] This was the beginning of international popularity for the game.[2]
Other sources place the origins of this style of game much earlier: Menko, a Japanese card game very similar to pogs, has been in existence since the 17th century.[3]
[edit] Rules
Two players both have their own collection of pogs and slammer (a heavier game piece).[3] The players each contribute an equal number of pogs to build a common stack of pogs that is used during the game.[3] The players take turns throwing their slammer (also called a 'kini') at the stack and each player keeps the pogs that turn face up due to their throw.[4][3] After each slam, the pogs are re-stacked for the other player. When no pogs are left in the stack, the player with the most pogs wins.[3] The pogs may be redistributed to their original owners, or they may remain distributed amongst the two players as dictated by the outcome of the game.
[edit] Popularity
Pogs became so popular in the 1990s that hundreds of types of pogs were manufactured, covering a wide array of toys, cartoons, movies, games, sports and images of famous people on the front of the pogs. The popularity of the game spawned knockoffs, such as "Slammer Whammers," a similar game released under a different brand name. Today the pog craze has tapered off, but pogs can sometimes still be found on eBay and in game and card stores. During the early 1990s, a national pog tournament was held every February 7 in honor of the game's inventor's birthday.
[edit] School banning
Because many children would keep the pogs they won in games from other players, many school districts considered Pogs a form of gambling.[3] Pogs proved to be major distractions from classes and the source of various playground arguments.[3] Furthermore, in some schools monetary coins began to be used instead of actual pogs.[citation needed] These elements eventually led to the banning of pogs from several schools across North America.[5]
[edit] Educational pogs
Responding to and capitalizing upon the popularity of pogs, many groups, ranging from Christian charities to government organizations, released their own versions of pogs.[citation needed] These enjoyed marginal successes, and can be seen as novelty items.[citation needed] They can be recognized by the name of the organization that produced them as well as the ideas they promoted. The pogs included versions quoting Bible verses, encouraging healthy activities and sports, even a series based upon health food groups.[citation needed]
[edit] Tazos
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The word Tazo referred to a registered trademark of Frito Lay, Sabritas, the products of which included discs that were similar to pogs. Tazos hit their peak in 1996 and 1997 (the same time as the Tamagotchi), with the most popular being the Looney Tunes discs. In the Netherlands and Belgium these were called "flippos".
In the UK, Tazos came free with Walkers crisps. Walkers released several series including the very popular Star Wars series.
Tazos evolved to different forms: at the end of the Tazo fever at the end of the nineties Tazos had eight slots around the edges. The slots were the width of one Tazo, so that one could slot together multiple Tazos and make structures from them.
They were relaunched in October 2006, this time with a Simpsons theme. A second wave is expected in Spring/Summer 2007 (it may coincide with the release with The Simpsons: The Movie).
In Spain, pogs are widely known as "Tazos", with no other name associated, mostly because the word "Tazos" has a distincly Spanish sound to it. The last mention of the product was from #2 winner of EuroJunior, Antonio Jose singing "Te Traigo Flores" in 2006, with the Spanish lyrics, "Today I give to you a bright day, a drawing, a poem, a rumba and my "collectible" pogs. (Tazos de Colección)" This song was heard in all of Europe because of the television show and more importantly around the world because of services like Youtube.)
[edit] Military uses
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the main merchant for the US military, distributes pogs as change at its stores in contingency areas (those supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom).[6] The reason for adopting pogs as currency was that supply flights overseas had limited capacity and high costs.[1] Metal coinage weighs significantly more than cardboard pogs. However, since only Congress can order US currency made and the pogs stay within the AAFES system, they are "gift certificates" instead of currency.[1] While they are only issued in contingency areas, they are redeemable at any AAFES store worldwide.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Pennies, POGs -- dollars, cents of setting up shop in a war zone", Air Force Print News Today, 2005-06-06. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c d "POG® Is Back!; Funrise Heads to Hawaii Where It All Began to Re-Introduce the International Collectible Craze of the 90s", Business Wire, 2005-12-05. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Flipping out pogs are popping up everywhere as the game that is sweeping through the nation catches on with South Hampton Roads youngsters", The Virginian Pilot (Landmark Communications, Inc.), 1995-03-07. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.
- ^ How to Play POGs. Retrieved on February 17, 2007.
- ^ April 1997, "If You Can't Beat 'Em, Ban 'Em", Stay Free! (no. 13)
- ^ a b Why pogs and not legal tender? (website). Stars and Stripes (Pacific Edition) (2007-02-06). Retrieved on February 17, 2007.
