A strange little side quest
The mechanics around Pirate Pop have roots that stretch far beyond modern browsers. Sonic the Hedgehog launched in 1991 and turned speed itself into a defining platform-game mechanic. That old idea kept changing rather than disappearing. Pac-Man went on sale in 1980, and its creator Toru Iwatani famously linked the character's shape to a pizza with a slice missing. It is a good reminder that simple game mechanics can carry a surprising amount of history.