Today's Google Doodle is a Popcorn Game
The internet’s go-to homepage is popping off today.
On Sept. 25, Google published its latest Doodle celebrating the worldwide appeal of popcorn. In addition to the art viewable on its homepage, web browsers are also able to play a popcorn-themed player-versus-environment game.
“You butter believe that today’s interactive Doodle is celebrating your go-to movie companion and classic late-night snack: popcorn!” Google wrote in an announcement. “This game is making Doodles history by allowing the highest number of players to compete in a match at the same time ever!”
Folks can choose to play alone or can invite friends via a link and play together in “squad mode.” Players start the game as an un-popped corn kernel trying to avoid pellets shot by enemies — including an evil stick of butter — to survive each round.
Users can choose from three character options and then play simultaneously, using arrow keys and the space bar to move from one phase to the next.
“I’ll never forget the week we kicked off the project, brainstorming ideas and asking ourselves questions like, ‘What would a popcorn kernel’s biggest fear be? and ‘Should the attacking kernel have muscles?’” Brian Murray, Doodle lead engineer, tells TODAY.com via email. “We had a fantastic time creating it, and we hope people have just as much fun playing it!”
Google is connecting users from around the world to compete against each other as the Doodle game is available in several countries, according to a company map.
“Different countries and regions now have their own flavorful spins for this timeless snack: pipoca in Brazil, nori-topped popcorn in Japan, Za’atar popcorn in the Middle East, maple popcorn in Canada — the list goes on,” Google wrote.
The company notes that it is celebrating today to commemorate the day the largest popcorn machine ever-created was awarded a world record. Carnival Magic Theme Park in Phuket, Thailand, made the machine that measured over 25 feet tall, 11 feet wide and 9 feet deep, according to Guinness World Records. They were awarded the title on Sept. 26, 2020 — the game will be live until Sept. 26 at 11:59 p.m, USA Today reports.
Representatives for Google did not immediately return TODAY.com’s request for comment on the game’s run time.
Google has been publishing its special homepages for a variety of reasons since 1998. The team drew up its very first Doodle — a symbol of the Burning Man community and arts festival — as an out-of-office message for founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who were participating in the desert event.
Since then, Doodles have been known for celebrating a wide variety of subjects from Filipino adobo to young artists, Black cartoonists to teachers and even the inventor of the Zamboni.
Joseph Lamour
Washington, D.C. native Joseph Lamour is a lover of food: its past, its present and the science behind it. With food, you can bring opposites together to form a truly marvelous combination, and he strives to take that sentiment to heart in all that he does.
