How many of you can remember playing with POGs in the 90s? I used to love collecting these weird and wonderful little cardboard circles, checking out what new insane things Pogman was up to on each one. For many 90s kids, myself included, it was one of the most nostalgic points of my childhood, along with Captain Caveman who, if we were being honest, could have been Pogman’s brother.
The idea of POGs wasn’t anything inherently new; it is widely believed to have been influenced by Menko, a game that was popular in Japan in the Edo Period (1600 to 1868) and made popular in the West during the 1990s by the POG drink. POG stands for Passion fruit, Orange, and Guava (thanks Sweety High for the info), and with Pogman as the mascot on the branded caps, the name just stuck and kids the world over jumped on the craze.
Now, for the first time ever, there’s a dedicated World POG Championships for fans to take part in, throwing down their slammer and racking up points in a bid to see who the ultimate POG fan is. It’s taking place as part of Retrofest Arkansas this October 12th & 13th, and fans are already dusting off their collections and practicing their techniques in preparation.
Retro Rick teaming up with POG is an amazing collaboration that brings so much joy to the Dodo team. Can you imagine what it’s going to be like to see people laying down their shiny POGs and shining up their slammers ready for the same game we used to play back in the school playground? It’s a nostalgia overload, and we’re very excited for footage from the event to hit social media so we can join in with the excitement from afar.
It’s not the first time that POG has teamed up with other creators and brands over the years. Heck, how many of you can remember the amazing Power Rangers POGs or, even more on brand for Retro Dodo, Pokémon POGs? I’m getting all excited just thinking about them!
If you’re wondering what on earth I’m talking about or equally have suddenly just remember about POGs for the first time in over two decades, then head to the POG Unlimited website or catch up with Pogman’s antics on Instagram!
