Polybius
1981
In the dimly lit arcade halls of Portland, Oregon, stacks of arcade cabinets lined the walls and the sounds of children laughing and 8-bit explosions filled the air. All sorts of exciting new video games came and went, providing the children who played them an escape from their daily lives. One day, a new cabinet was added to the multitude of gaming options: an all black box with distinct green lettering that read “Polybius”.
This new addition to the ranks of arcade adventures almost instantly became a hit and soon drew crowds of children eagerly waiting for their turn to try and best the new title. Strangely, just as fast as it’s rise to stardom, Polybius was quickly and unexpectedly removed from every location.
Was Polybius just a one-off gaming experiment? Arcade folklore? Or was it something more sinister?
After Polybius had come and gone disturbing reports began to appear. Claims of mind control, mysterious men-in-black retrieving data from the machines, and illness cropped up across the arcades. Many children who played this game became terribly ill, symptoms ranging from headaches and visions, to nightmares and seizures, and on the rare occasions…
