If you haven’t heard of Pokemon Go by now, then you probably live in a locked up room with no windows or Internet. It’s inescapable. It’s on the radio, stores are using it as a marketing tool, and it’s all everyone has been talking about. I haven’t downloaded it myself, and just like any craze, there’s the good and the bad. People are actually going outside to socialize and exercise, but several people have been injured playing the game. Whatever you think about the game, it’s the new thing of the now. That is, until the next thing comes along. So while we bask in wonderment in how a single concept can become so omnipresent and our culture can be so single-minded, let us remember the past phenomena that were enjoyed to their max, then forgotten.
Before there was Pokemon Go, there was…
1. "Flappy Bird"
Early 2014, everyone suddenly started playing this simple, yet addictive and frustratingly challenging game. But on February 10, dotGEARS removed the game from the app store at the peak of its popularity. Phones with Flappy Bird installed were listed for $1,000, and replica games were made, but it will never be the same.
2. "Temple Run"
This one was a lot easier to get the hang of and it was just as addicting.
3. "Angry Birds"
I never played it, but I hear it’s something like the Wacky Zingoz game on Webkinz. Somehow, these birds have successfully remained in our collective consciousness with copious merchandise and movies, whether we want them or not.
4. Ice Bucket Challenge
A great way to raise awareness and money for an otherwise unknown disease. It was a load of fun while it lasted, and a bunch of celebrities even jumped on the bandwagon.
5. Planking
I think it just goes to show how that when something catches on, there’s no going back. No matter how strange it is.
6. "Candy Crush"
One day I woke up and everyone was playing "Candy Crush." I downloaded it to see what the hype was about, and it’s basically "Bejeweled" with candy. I never got the big fuss, but after "Candy Crush" reached mainstream, numerous mini-games and other apps have replicated the same exact game.
7. Cinnamon Challenge
One of the many food challenges that have gained mainstream popularity, then (thankfully) disappeared. Although the cinnamon challenge was not the most dangerous (ie. condom challenge), there has to be other ways to entertain yourself. However, I can’t deny that this one was funny.
8. Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge
Another dangerous challenge, and this is also one of the new challenges that promote a singular form of beauty and blatantly body shames. If you really want to take a selfie with huge lips, just stick your tongue above your upper lip.
9. Harlem Shake
As long as there’s a catchy beat and a fun concept associated with it, people really don’t need to listen to the lyrics of a song.
10. QWOP
I for one, never figured out how to properly play this one. But that didn’t stop me from trying.
11. The Dress
Not to be confused with that dress, this was the dress divided the nation. There’s some science behind it that you can try to understand, but it was white and gold.
