Pou (video game)
| Pou | |
|---|---|
 A screenshot of the home page | |
| Developer(s) | Paul Salameh |
| Publisher(s) | Paul Salameh |
| Engine | Stencyl |
| Platform(s) | Android, iOS, BlackBerry 10 |
| Release | August 5, 2012 |
| Genre(s) | Virtual pet |
| Mode(s) | |
Pou (/puː/ or /poʊ/) is a 2012 virtual pet mobile game for BlackBerry 10, iOS and Android developed by Lebanese designer Paul Salameh and published under the name Zakeh Limited to the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The game plays similarly to Tamagotchi, a fad game that requires caring for a simulated creature.[1][2] It was one of the most downloaded games of 2014.[3]
The creator, Paul Salameh, mentioned during an interview that "People really got strongly attached to their Pou, they found it cute. I saw people who tattooed it on their hands."[4] While Salameh did not comment on download numbers, the game was estimated to have reached 100 million downloads across platforms.[4]
In 2024, Pou made a resurgence on TikTok, appearing in videos where plushies of the character are placed into dangerous situations.[5]
Gameplay
[edit]The gameplay is similar to Tamagotchi and other pet caring games. The player has to feed, dress and care for the creature, with the option of dressing it with several cosmetic items.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Wolf, Mark J. P., ed. (2021). Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming (Second ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 566. ISBN 978-1-4408-7019-4.
- ^ Hammond, Andrew (2017). "Angry Birds/Pou". Pop Culture in North Africa and the Middle East: Entertainment and Society Around the World (First ed.). ABC-CLIO. pp. 246–247. ISBN 978-1-4408-3383-0.
- ^ Guinness World Records (2015). Guinness World Records: 2016 Gamer's Edition. Jim Pattison Group. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-9105-6113-3.
- ^ a b "A la découverte de « Pou », jeu phénomène méconnu". Le Monde. March 16, 2025.
- ^ Cao, Steffi (February 4, 2024). "Meet Pou, the orange alien that people love roughing up on TikTok". Fast Company. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
- ^ "How a 24-year-old Lebanese entrepreneur found global success by beating Tamagotchi at their own game - Wamda". February 21, 2024. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
External links
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