Milk caps (game) facts for kids
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| Players | Poggers |
Milk caps is a game that was popular among children during the early-mid 1990s.
The brand name "Pog" is owned by the World Pog Federation. The name pog originates from POG, a brand of juice made from passionfruit, orange, and guava; the use of POG bottle caps to play the game preceded the game's commercialization.
Contents
Equipment
Milk caps generally involves two types of playing discs: milk caps and slammers. Milk caps are typically flat circular cardboard discs which are decorated with images on one or both sides. Traditional (or traditional-style) milk caps are made of rougher cardboard, are printed with limited colors, and often have a staple in them (as they appeared when used as actual POG bottlecaps), while modern commercial pogs were stiffer, thicker and are often printed with colorful glossy imagery.
The other equipment that is used is a slammer: a heavier game piece often made of metal, rubber, or more commonly plastic, which come in various thicknesses and weights. They are typically similar in diameter to milk caps. Metal slammers are not allowed in some games because they are usually heavier than other materials, giving the player with the first turn an unfair advantage, and have a tendency to damage the milk caps.
Gameplay
Rules vary among players, but the game variants generally have common gameplay features. Each player has their own collection of milk caps and one or more slammers. Before the game, players decide whether or not to play "for keeps", i.e. players get to keep the milk caps that they win during the game and must forfeit those that have been won by other players. The game can then begin as follows:
- The players each contribute an equal number of milk caps to build a stack with the pieces face-down, which will be used during the game.
- The players take turns throwing their slammer down onto the top of the stack, causing it to spring up and the milk caps to scatter. Each player keeps any milk caps that land face-up after they have thrown.
- After each throw, the milk caps which have landed face-down are then re-stacked for the next player.
- When no milk caps remain in the stack, the player with the most pogs is the winner.
World POG Federation
The World POG Federation was the licensed POG publisher, which was 14% owned by Haleakala Dairy, the trademark holder of POGs. The company was based in Costa Mesa, California.
Global variants
Japan
Menko (めんこ, 面子) is a Japanese card game played by two or more players, dating back to the 17th century. Each player uses Menko cards made from thick paper or cardboard, printed on one or both sides with images from anime, manga, and other works.
South Korea
The card used in ttakji or ddakji (딱지) is constructed by folding two square pieces of paper together into a square. As with milk caps, the game is won by flipping the other player's card. The popular Korean variety show Running Man occasionally features ddakji in its missions, which may contribute to the awareness of the game in other parts of the world.
China
It is known in China as wáah pín (Chinese: 畫片) (also called yang pian in northern China) and is printed on rectangular or circular cards.
Philippines
A similar game in the Philippines played by children is known as teks. It involves small collectible cards, originally of popular actors, and then later on of popular comics and cartoon characters. It dates back to the 1930s and involves flipping cards with a thumb and forefinger. The winner is whichever card lands face up. The loser has to give one of his collectible cards to the winner.
Catalonia
"Patacó" is a catalan traditional card game played by children in Catalonia in which the "patacons" are turned upside down, hit with the palm of the hand and, if they turn around, they win.
They are made with wasted Spanish playing cards.
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1. Spanish card back view
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2. Spanish card front view
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3. Fold up the middle
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4. Cut down the middle obtaining two equal parts
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5. The two parts are placed at an angle of 90°
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6. The vertical part is folded back and then forward again
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7. The horizontal part is folded back and then forward again inserting the tab into the slot to hold it
Images for kids
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Men'uchi from the Edo period were made from clay. They were converted into paper format (menko) during the Meiji period.
See also
In Spanish: Patacón (ficha) para niños
