Polybius (arcade game)
In Polybius is a modern legend , according to a 1981 from a manufacturer called sense Delete produced arcade game . The game is similar to the Tempest saga , but has more abstract graphics and puzzle elements. Steven Roach was the producer. The game was suspected of causing photosensitivity to cause epileptic seizures and disappeared from the market after a few weeks.
About the game
According to legend, Polybius automatons were only installed in Portland . The game consists of a flight through a tunnel, framed by kaleidoscope-like changing and flashing colors and shapes, accompanied by sound effects repeated in quick succession. The game could have become an addiction. Allegedly, queues formed in front of the machines. Reported side effects of the game include: epileptic seizures, memory impairment, convulsions, hallucinations, insomnia, panic, and depression. Cases of suicide have also been linked to the game. According to an interview by Gamepulse Magazine on March 2, 2007 with the alleged developer named Steven Roach, the game was only tested in arcade halls. When a child suffered an epilepsy attack from playing, Sinnesloschen withdrew the game from the market.
Rumors about the game and reception
In the early days of the Usenet and internet, rumors were circulating that the machines were being watched by men in black suits. Every now and then they would have read data from the machines and picked up the machines again. The game also contained subliminal messages such as “Obey!” Or “Consume!”.
In the US show Blister , presenter Bill Sindelar tried unsuccessfully to find the game. In the American edition of GamePro , editor Dan Elektro concluded that there was no reliable evidence that the game ever existed. Stuart Brown also comes to the conclusion in an analysis that Polybius never existed.
In the Simpsons episode Homer, get the hammer out , a Polybius machine can be seen. The words Property of US Goverment can be read on the machine .
The science fiction and horror television series Dimension 404 dedicates its own episode 4 to the slot machine with its own fictional plot.
The Angry Video Game Nerd also devoted himself intensively to the game and the underlying myth in episode 150, and took a closer look at some of the modern legends, even though no in-game footage was shown and the machine used for filming was probably the case was not an original.
A freeware game Polybius for PC (2007) is available to download from the senseless website.
In May 2017 Llamasoft released a shoot 'em up of the same name for the PlayStation VR with VR support.
Web links
- Sinnesloschen.com
- Homepage about the game
- Polybius in the Killer List of Video Games (English)
- Further information
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Polybius Arcade. In: Puking Unicorn. May 1, 2011, accessed March 2, 2019 .
- ^ Jason Helton: Polybius - the most mysterious game of all time? (The Of Geek)
- ↑ Entry on Polybius at coinop.org
- ↑ Polybius article at Slashdot
- ↑ Michael Förtsch: Polybius . 360 Live Magazin, pp. 66–69
- ↑ Polybius: Video Game of Death (skepticblog)
- ↑ May 7, 2004 . Program information of the TV channel G4
- ^ Dan Elektro: Secrets & Lies. GamePro, September 2003, p. 41.
- ↑ POLYBIUS - The Arcade Game That Doesn't Exist (YouTube, September 8, 2017, accessed November 10, 2018)
- ↑ Skepticblog "Polybius: Video Game of Death. Retrieved August 6, 2017 .
- ↑ Gaming Historian: The Legend of Polybius | Gaming Historian. June 15, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017 .
- ↑ imfernsehen GmbH & Co. KG: Dimension 404 Season 1, Episode 4: Polybius. Retrieved on February 28, 2018 (German).
- ↑ Cinemassacre: Polybius - Angry Video Game Nerd (episode 150). October 25, 2017, accessed July 6, 2019 .