1. Origin and Offline Popularity
Tongits (or Tong-its) is a three-player card game originating from the Philippines, combining card grouping gameplay similar to "Rummy" with unique local scoring rules. The game uses a standard 52-card deck (excluding jokers), where players score by forming specific card combinations (such as straights, flushes, three of a kind, etc.) or forcing opponents to "bust". In the 20th century, Tongits was mainly popular in Filipino family gatherings and local neighborhoods, becoming a part of local culture.
2. Early Digital Attempts (2000s-2010s)
With the spread of the internet, Tongits began to enter the digital realm. Early online versions were mostly simple Flash games or localized software with limited functionality, supporting only basic AI battles. For example:
Pogo and other international gaming platforms launched simplified versions of Tongits, but did not optimize for the Philippine market.
Local Filipino developers created standalone Tongits games, distributed via CD or download, but lacked multiplayer online features.
This phase of online Tongits did not scale up, mainly due to insufficient network infrastructure and immature payment systems.
3. Mobile Internet Boom (2010-2018)
The proliferation of smartphones propelled the online transition of Tongits. Local Filipino game companies began developing mobile applications, for example:
Tongits Go (2015): The first popular mobile Tongits game, supporting real-time multiplayer battles and social features, quickly amassing millions of users.
Pusoy & Tongits (2017): Combining Tongits with another Filipino card game Pusoy, further expanding its audience.
Characteristics of this period include:
✅Socialization: Integration of Facebook login, friend battles, and chat features.
✅Monetization: Introduction of virtual currency and ad monetization models.
✅Localization: Interface and payment methods optimized for Filipino users (such as GCash).
4. Esports and Platform Competition (2019-2023)
As the internet penetration in the Philippines exceeded 70%, Tongits games entered a phase of intense competition:
Major manufacturers entering: For example, Zynga acquired a local team to launch "Tongits Masters", adding tournament modes.
Esports attempts: In 2021, the Philippines hosted its first online Tongits league, with a prize pool of $50,000.
Cross-platform development: The game expanded from purely mobile to PC (such as the Steam platform) and web versions.
However, challenges also emerged:
⚠️Regulatory pressure: The Philippine PAGCOR began requiring game operators to apply for legal licenses.
⚠️Cheating issues: Some platforms suffered user loss due to rampant cheating programs.
5. Current Trends and Future (2024 to Present)
Today's online Tongits shows three major directions:
Blockchain: Some platforms (like Tongits NFT) are experimenting with tokenizing game assets.
AI Opponents: Integration of intelligent robots, offering single-player challenge modes.
Globalization: Promoting to Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia) and overseas Filipino communities.
Conclusion
From street card games to digital entertainment, the online journey of Tongits reflects the rise of the Philippine gaming industry. In the future, with the development of technologies like 5G and cloud gaming, this game carrying cultural memories may find new audiences globally.
