Table of Contents
I. Origin and History
POG is a slang term that was originally used in the 1990s to describe excitement or skill level during games. The acronym stands for “play of game” and was slang popularized during that era. It referred to someone displaying a high level of prowess or excitement while engaging in gaming or game-related activities. The term was mostly used amongst tight-knit gaming communities and circles during that time period to give praise and applause for exciting gameplay moments, amazing plays, clutch wins, or just a general “hype” factor when watching skilled gamers. While the slang originated in real-life gaming contexts during the 1990s, its meaning and usage has transformed and evolved over the decades to take on a new life online in virtual communities and streams today.
II. Current Online Slang Usage
While originally used amongst tight-knit gaming communities in the 1990s, the term “POG” has taken on a new life online in the modern day. It is now commonly utilized as slang within video game live streaming culture and virtual gaming spaces online. The acronym serves a similar purpose as its original 1990s usage – to express excitement, hype, and praise for cool or clutch moments. Stream viewers may spam the “PogChamp” emote in chat to show enthusiasm when something amazing happens. Additionally, people comment things like “that play was so pog” or “dude, that was poggers af” to commend particularly exciting, impressive, or hype-worthy events they witness in streams, esports tournaments, or gameplay highlight reels. In current online contexts, “POG” isUsed as a positive interjection to declare something as good, cool, or just plain exciting regarding gaming accomplishments, skills, or entertainment value.
III. Emote Usage
One of the most iconic ways “POG” is expressed online is through the “PogChamp” emote on Twitch. This emote features the beaming, exaggerated facial expression of Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez in a state of intense excitement or surprise. Due to the visceral hype and energy conveyed through Gootecks’expression, PogChamp became one of the most popular and spammed emotes on the platform. It’s often used by chat viewers to demonstrate enthusiasm for amazing plays, funny moments, or anytime a streamer reacts in a genuinely surprised/shocked manner. When something particularly impressive or hype happens in a stream, viewers will mass “spam” the PogChamp emote in celebration. Through this emote, POG energy is shared communally between streamers and audiences to heighten engagement and complement great gaming highlights. The recognizable PogChamp face serves as a crowd-favorite means of expressing POG sentiments online through visual communication on Twitch.
IV. Derivative Terms
Over time, different variations of the term “POG” have emerged within online gaming communities as alternatives used to express similar sentiments of hype and excitement. Two derivatives that are commonly seen are “Poggers” and “Poggy”. Both of these terms function comparably to “POG” in that they denote when something impressive or hype has occurred. Phrases like “that play was so Poggers” or comments containing “PoggyPog” can often be seen in twitch chat or on gaming social media as positively-charged interjections celebrating an awesome moment. The derivatives maintain POG’s core meaning of praise and awe for skilled plays or entertainment value. With their bubbly, energetic sound and letter combinations, terms like “Poggers” emulate the giddy sensation intended by POG in a colloquial, slang manner. As such, they can most often be utilized interchangeably with “POG” to convey excitement, positivity, and approval within communities centered around gaming spectatorship.
V. Other Uses
While “POG” originated and exists primarily as a slang term within gaming culture, its name was also used for an entirely different 1990s game featuring stackable circular discs. Known as either “Milk Caps” or “Milkcaps”, this game involved stacking small discs of varying thickness and value on top of one another in an attempt to build the biggest column without it collapsing. Given this overlap, some may mistakenly associate “POG” solely with this physical game instead of its intended meaning as an acronym for praise during gaming. Within modern online contexts however, references to “POG” are undertaking virtually and deal almost exclusively with enthusiasm for games and livestreams. When used in online spaces like Twitch, YouTube or gaming forums, “POG” has become universally understood to signify hype, excitement or approval for skilled plays, clips and other gaming-related entertainment.
