Pog
WHO LET POG OUT OF THE BOTTLE?
POG wasn't invented by one person. The original game goes way back to the days before there were CD players, video games or TV sets.Back to when most milk and fruit juices were, believe it or not, sold in glass bottles.
Back then, kids would often collect the round, wax coated cardboard disks that sealed every milk bottle and invent simple "milk cover" or "milkcap" games that everyone could play.
No matter where you lived, milkcaps were the kind of toy that anyone could collect.
OVER 70 YEARS OF FUN & GAMES
Grandparents and parents kept the tradition alive by sharing the games they had played with younger generations.But new disposable containers nearly put an end to milkcaps, milkcap games, and several decades of simple fun.
Chances are, your grandparents can tell you about the fun they had with milkcaps when they were kids.
You might even ask them to play a game or two.
AN OLD GAME BLOSSOMS WITH A NEW NAME
Now, fast-forward to Hawaii in 1991.Thats where a very wise and truly insightful teacher named Blossom Galbiso introduced her students to the milkcap game she enjoyed so much as a child.
Her students loved everything about the game. And POGmania was born.
Because the disks Blossom gave her students to play with were printed with the brand name POG, a popular blend of Passion fruit, Orange and Guava (P-O-G) juices produced by the Haleakala Dairy on Maui.
A LITTLE ORGANIZATION GOES A LONG WAY
In 1993, several dedicated POGmaniacs joined forces to create the World POG Federation.Their four basic goals were: To provide a steady supply of top-quality (and very collectible) milkcaps, game accessories and gear.
To help standardize, preserve and protect the traditional rules of the game.
To organize and sanction official tournament play throughout the world.
And, last but not least, to encourage and promote good sportsmanship among all players.
Needless to say, things are always jumping at World POG Federation Headquarters.
And POGmania has now become truly international in scope.
With thousands of enthusiastic POG milkcap players, collectors and traders (just like you) all over the world!
IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO GO POG WILD!
Nearly everything you need to play milkcap games can be carried in your pocket.You don't need batteries or game cartridges.
Pretty outrageous, huh? All you really need are enough POG milkcaps to form a stack, a kini, plus a level playing surface.
And since milkcaps is a game of skill, not strength, it doesn't matter if you're a him or a her. Big or small. Young or old. POG milkcaps mean fun for everyone.
POG CLASSICS:
CLASSIC POG brand milkcaps are produced by Stanpac, the world's oldest supplier of "genuine" milkcaps. Each one features a thumb tab, pick-out, staple and special wax coating.Because of their excellent action and bounce, they are used in all Official W.P.F sanctioned tournaments.
POG KINIS:
"Kini" is the Hawaiian word for king, POG KINIS are used as "hitters" or "slammers". So they're larger, thicker and heavier.The first kinis were made by players gluing two milkcaps together. Today, kinis are made from a variety of materials like plastic and metal. A POG SLAMINATOR is a special kini made from anodized aluminium.
If you want to hit the competition with your best shot you want an authentic POG KINI.
POG DESIGNER CAPS:
POG LIMITED EDITIONS, POWER PAC and POG TOONS are a different breed altogether.They're "designer" milkcaps. No thumb tabs or staples, here.
Instead, you get radical artwork, brilliant metallic foils and blazing colours.
Each one is also numbered within a series, so POG designer milkcaps are not only a kick to collect and trade, but may really increase in value.
YOU'RE A WINNER EVEN IF YOU DON'T PLAY
One of the coolest things about POG milkcaps is you don't really have to play the game to still enjoy them.In fact, many POG purists choose to concentrate solely on collecting and trading the wide variety of POG CLASSICS, POG KINIS, and POG designer milkcaps created by the World POG Federation.
ALL MILKCAPS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
Originally, all milkcaps were truly created equal.Each one was made from the same type of cardboard, on the same special machines, by the same Canadian company — Stanpac. And each one had a thumb tab, pick-out, staple and special paraffin wax coating.
Today, the vast majority of milkcaps aren't real milkcaps at all. And most don't come close to matching the consistent quality, radical designs and overall collectibility of POG brand milkcaps.
CHECK THE BACK, JACK!
Only 100% authentic WPF POG brand milkcaps carry the official POG logo on their backs.It's your assurance of genuine P0G quality, value and collectibility. So remember to look for the P0G logo.
And always invest in the best.
IT'S MORE FUN TO PLAY BY THE RULES
Whether you decide to play "for fun" or "for keeps, all players should agree to the basic rules and weight and thickness of kinis before starting any POG milkcap game.Its also traditional to shake hands before the game begins.
The Traditional Rules
If possible, all milkcaps should be stacked, face up, on an official World POG Federation game board.
1. To determine who goes first, flip a POG milkcap or play Ro-Sham-Ro (Rock, Paper, Scissors).
2. The first player slams their kini at the stack. All POG milkcaps that land face down go to that player.
3. All POG milkcaps remaining face up are restacked for the next player's attempt to flip the stack.
4. Players alternate turns until every POG milkcap has been flipped and won. The player with the most POG milkcaps is declared the overall winner.
W.P.F. TOURNAMENT RULES:
1. Each pair of opposing players starts with a single stack of eleven POG CLASSICS milkcaps (placed face up).
2. The first player throws their kini at the stack. All milkcaps landing face down are added to that players score.
3. Players alternate turns. The first player to flip six milkcaps is the winner of the round.
4. The first player to win three rounds wins the match or game.
Note: In some tournaments, a time limit is also imposed.
Pog Baseball
1. The player whos "up" throws at a stack of four POG milkcaps. If one is flipped, it's a single. Two are a double. Three are a triple. Four are a home run. If the stack is missed, or no mllkcaps are flipped, it's an out. All milkcaps are restacked after each throw.
2. After the player who's "up" has made three outs, it's the other player's turn to throw for a "hit".
3. As in baseball, "runs' are scored when a "runner" (POG milkcap) reaches "home".
4. After 6 or 9 "innings" of play, just like in baseball, the team with the most runs wins.
More Fun & Games
One of the best things about milkcaps is that theres more than one way to play the game. A lot more.In fact, with POG milkcaps, the name of the game is creativity. Exciting variations and whole new games are being invented all of the time.
Here are some of the most popular POG milkcap -based games currently being played by dedicated POGmaniacs everywhere.
THE PIT
1. To determine who goes first, flip a milkcap or play Ro-Sham-Bo (Rock, Paper, Scissors).
2. Each player starts the game with two separate stacks of four POG milkcaps. All eight milkcaps are stacked face up.
3. The first player throws their kini at either one of another players stacks. All milkcaps that land face down are won by that player (and taken out of the playing area).
4. All milkcaps remaining face up and touching at least one other milkcap from its stack are simply restacked. But all milkcaps remaining face up and not touching any other milkcap from that stack are added to "The Pit" — a common stack of milkcaps in the middle of the playing area. (This rule also applies to a milkcap at the bottom of a stack that wasn't hit or moved.)
5. When any milkcaps are in The Pit, a player has the choice of throwing at The Pit's stack or at one of another player's two stacks. Unlike winning milkcaps from another player's stack (which are then removed from the playing area), any milkcaps flipped and won from The Pit are added to one or both of the winning player's stacks, as that player sees fit.
6. A player who's down to a single stack of one milkcap must successfully accomplish one of the following or forfeit their last milkcap to The Pit: A) Flip and win at least one milk cap from an opponent's stack. B) Hit and send at least one milkcap to The Pit from an opponent's stack, C) Flip and win back at least one milkcap from The Pit, if a Pit exists.
7. Any player who has lost all of the milkcaps in their two original stacks is allowed one final turn to replenish their stack(s) from The Pit (but only if a Pit exists). If at least one milk cap isn't flipped, that player is eliminated.
8. After all but one player are eliminated, all players count their milkcaps. The overall winner is the player with the most combined milkcaps (milkcaps won plus milkcaps left in any game stack). Milkcaps remaining in The Pit are not added to anyones score.
9. The Pit can be played for fun or for keeps. When played just for fun, milkcaps in The Pit are returned to their owners. When played for keeps, all the milkcaps that remain in The Pit are awarded to the overall winner.
THE POG WAR
1. This game us designed to be played on a smooth polished wood or glass surface, like a desk or coffee table. (Kids — make sure you get your parent's permission before you begin play). Each player starts with four POG designer series milkcaps (the ones without staples) and one kini.
2. Each player positions their four milkcaps in a row across opposite sides of the desk or table about four inches from the edge and six inches apart from each other. When positioned right, it should look something like a big checkerboard that's missing all but the back rows of checkers.
3. Flip a milkcap or play Ro-Sham-Bo to determine who goes first.
4. The player going first gets to position their kini anywhere on their half of the desk or table and take a "shot" at trying to knock one of the opposing players milkcaps off the desk or table. (A "shot" consists of "flicking" a kini with your thumb and index or middle finger).
5. Prior to the first players shot, the opposing player is allowed to position their kini as a blocker anywhere on their half of the desk or table. (But it cannot touch another milkcap).
6. The object of the game is to win as many milkcaps as you can by knocking them off the desk or table with your kini. However, to win a milkcap your kini must knock a milk cap completely off the desk or table without going off the desk or table itself (much like the game of Caroms).
7. If a kini that's shot knocks a milkcap off the desk or table (or completely misses its target) and goes off the desk or table itself — it's called a "scratch". The opposing player gets to put their milkcap back in its original position. And the shooter must reposition their kini behind the milkcap that's closest to the back edge of their side of the desk or table.
8. Whether or not a shot is successful, players alternate turns. If a player hasn't scratched, a player always shoots from wherever their kini ended up after the last shot was taken.
9. You may choose to shoot at another players kini to knock it out of a threatening position. You may also shoot at one of your own milkcaps to move it into a safer position. If you knock an opponent's kini off the desk or table, their kini is positioned as if they had scratched.
10. Caution: If you scratch on either of the shots above, you could be left in a dangerous position. And if you knock your own milkcap off the desk or table, it goes to your opponent.
11. Play continues until one player has knocked all four of the other players milkcaps off the desk or table.
NOTE: You'll find that POG WAR works best when you play it on a surface thats smooth, clean and freshly polished. And since POG WAR is a game of strategy as well as skill, the more you practice, the better you'll become.
TAI POG CONCENTRATION
1. Start with 20 matching pairs of POG CLASSICS milkcaps and mix them up well. (Unlike other POG milkcaps, they aren't numbered on the back.) You'll find plenty of matches for the POG CLASSICS milkcaps you already have at your POG dealer.
2. Place all forty milkcaps randomly on a flat surface, face down.
3. Flip a milkcap or play Ro-Sham-Bo to determine who goes first.
4. The player who goes first turns over two POG milkcaps. If they match, the player wins them and gets to turn over two more POG milkcaps. If they dont match, the player puts both POG milkcaps back, face down, and its another player's turn.
5. The game continues until all twenty pairs of POG brand Classic milkcaps have been matched and won.
6. The player with the most pairs of matching POG milkcaps is the overall winner.
Pog Slamination
1. All players start the game with three POG KINI or SLAMINATOR slammers. Each player puts two of their game pieces face up on the playing surface and uses their third as a hitter.
2. Flip a milkcap or play Ro-Sham-Bo to determine playing order.
3. The player going first can choose to flip one of their own SLAMINATOR slammer or kinis to "protect" it or they can try to flip one of their opponent's game pieces.
4. If a player successfully flips an opponents game piece, they win it. If a player successfully flips one of their own game pieces, it is given "protected" status.
5. "Protected" status simply means that your opponent must flip your protected SLAMINATORT" or kini twice, in successive turns, to win it from you. (However, on your turn, you may successfully win your game piece's protected status back.)
6. Whether the first player is successful in flipping any game piece or not, all players alternate turns after every throw.
7. At the end of the game, the winner is the player with the most POG SLAMINATOR slammers or kinis — not necessarily the last player left in the game.
HELP YOURSELF TO MORE FUN
The slamming technique that seems to work best for most players is the traditional "two-fingers slam" with "no grips." In the beginning, you may feel the need to use your thumb to help grip your Kini when you throw it.Most players, in fact, learn this way. But once you've gained a little more experience and confidence in your slamming, you'll realize you don't really need a thumb grip.
You'll also realize that you need to take very careful aim before each throw. And, of course, you never want to completely miss the stack.
Keep hi mind that in all official tournament play the WPF enforces a "no grips" rule for all players who are over 5 years old or who are not beginners.
In general though, the more you practice, the better you'll get.
And the more fun you'll have.
WATCH WHERE YOU PLAY
The WPF uses special custom-made cork game pads in all of its official tournaments, But for home play, a genuine WPF Game board with interchangeable game pads is ideal.The KT-100 (Kinda Tough) pad is neoprene and provides a little extra bounce for those just learning.
The 1-200 (Tough) pad is molded rubber and plays a lot like the WPF tournament game pads.
The RT-300 (Really Tough) pad is a hard polystyrene specifically designed to give experienced players a unique challenge.
The next best place to play is on an elevated surface (like a table, coffee table, desk, etc.) that will provide you with at least 12 inches of smooth, level playing area. A raised surface also makes it easier to hit the stack.
What's more, it eliminates any arguments about "leaners" or about milkcaps hitting legs and feet.
