'It's a crazy crazy world'

Whether you spent your playground days skipping rope, swapping cards, or slamming Pogs, one thing is certain: crazes affected us all. When the novelty of scraped knees brought on by heavy sessions of tig wore thin, we turned instead to the latest must-have toy. All of a sudden, the playground was united for a brief moment where social status was swept aside and the summer air hummed with the whirring of yo-yos and fevered discussion. Conformity had never felt so sweet.
That time has long since passed. The games, a distant memory confined to the forgotten realms of car boot sales and dark attic climbs. We take a look back at some classic schoolyard gems.

The Yo-yo dates back to 500bc, in Ancient Greece. Made from disks of turtle skin, the toy was a far cry from the refined and modern ‘Pro-yo’, but was of such significance that it was once offered to the Gods when a child reached adolescence! The design was revamped throughout history from wood, to plastic and to the modern metal hybrid. The Yo-yo was as fun as it was challenging with a trick list that continues to grow as it evolves. Here are a few classic tricks, why not take them for a spin?

Stalling

Curl the yo-yo up in your hand with the palm facing upwards
Bend your forearm towards your chest
Throw back your arm away from your chest, unfurling the yo-yo
With a little practice, the yo-yo should rotate but remain at the bottom of the string
This is a stall

Praise Factor *

Walk The Dog

First stall the yo-yo as before
Whilst stalling, lightly place the yo-yo on the ground
The yo-yo should run away in the direction of the stall
Snap your wrist back to reel it in
Bark preferred command for effect

Praise Factor ***

Around The World

Clear any obstruction directly in front and behind you
Thrust your arm upwards from your waist, palm down
Release the yo-yo when your arm reaches eye-level
Continue to whirl the arm around in a windmill arc
Upon returning to eye-level, reel in the yo-yo to much applause

Praise Factor ****

Pogs were another classic craze that satiated our need for all things colourful while still allowing us to vent our violent tendencies. There was nothing quite like the immense pleasure of seeing the tear-stricken face of your now ex best-friend as you cast down your final ‘Slammer’ on his stack, retrieving the upturned Pogs you had desired for so long. Everything about Pogs conjures up nostalgia, the scraping echo of victory on school tarmac, the crowds that would gather, handing over a hard earned (or stolen) 20p piece for one shiny packet and the excitement at the uncertainty of the contents within. This was one of the first instances of swapping in the schoolyard, which bred as much jealousy as it did joy.

How to Win at Pogs

Select an amount of pogs to bet (about twelve in a stack)
Place the pogs in a stack, face down
Pick your best Slammer
Line up your shot at the stack
Hurl the Pog down to the left or right of the stack
Any Pog upturned is yours to keep

Whether you loved them or hated them, the Tamagotchi swept the nation in a craze that was to sharply transform the playground into a more desolate landscape. Pioneering care over conflict, the Tamagotchi was a small, egg-shaped mini-computer that housed a virtual pet. Three main buttons provided the owner the option to feed, play games and clean up their pets mess. Without due care and attention, the virtual pet could die, taking its last ‘beep’, as it were. A sense of competition arose from who was the best carer, while jeers were directed at the owner whose pet struggled to survive in its own pixelated excrement. Like most pets, the craze soon died after children became glued to their Tamagotchis, losing all social skills and in some cases, emitting small ‘blips’.

Pokemon cards were to ignite our immature desire for all things Japanese, as television screens became awash with Japanese cartoons (Anime). Pokemon was a show so skilfully targeted at children it was almost criminal. New-age themes and an attractive animation style previously alien to many British children ensured that any merchandise would be lapped up. The game play was akin to a watered-down version of Dungeons and Dragons. Players take it in turns to choose a command on their card in the hope of beating the opposing player. The all too bemusing truth however, was that few British children actually bothered to understand the game mechanics. Instead, the cards were collected either for self-preservation (“Gotta catch em all!”) or simply because they were nice and shiny!

Which Craze is Best?

Ross Bennett, Design student at Camberwell:

“Pogs were my first love! There was this whole community vibe behind it that really brought people together. I never quite knew how to play though, I just digged the crazy designs!

Mitesh Mistry, Graphic Design student at Chelsea:
“The Yo-yo started it all! The styles were diverse, from your standard wooden model to a fully pimped out ‘Pro-Yo’ complete with flashing lights! The number of tricks to master was challenging but it was one of those ‘easy to learn, hard to master’ toys. How good was I? Well… I had a Pro-Yo…”

Rosie Pearmain, Advertising student at LCC:

“For me it was micro scooters, they were a bit like skateboards but easier and not quite as cool. Also the sight of 40 year old city workers wobbling about on them still brings back many a happy memory.”

Yet crazes live on in different cultures. Japan for example, spawns new crazes every week from toys to fashion and food. This has launched the culture far beyond the schoolyard and into the mainstream. While many last only days, the art of ‘Dekochari’ has lasted around 30 years and is still practiced. ‘Dekochari’ means to decorate a bicycle, though the process is a little more than a lick of paint. In response to another craze ‘Dekotora’ which involved flamboyant modifications to real trucks, the youths of Japan took it upon themselves to recreate the style, on a modest budget. The result can be seen from a mile off – plywood boxes that shimmer with chrome-plating, a vast array of flashing lights and in some cases, even a cup holder. Horns are typically louder than your average and in some cases riders attach their Hi-Fi units. ‘Pimp My Ride’ has got nothing on this.

‘Tektonic’ is a French dance craze that began in early 2000 originating around the Paris club Metropolis. Mainly danced to techno, the style borrows heavily from hip-hop, rave and breakdancing to create a unique range of moves. The craze shares common themes with Nu-Rave, another UK craze that has seen widespread success. Dancers generally wear tight-fitting jeans and neon coloured trainers. The style is typically energetic and as much a display of stamina as showmanship. The sporadic hand-waving is derived from the glowstick-waving heydays of the rave scene. Though the style is influenced by other forms of dance, it is steadily growing in popularity in several countries, including the U.K. and Belgium.