Polybius: The most dangerous arcade game ever made? - BBC REEL

Summary

The Polybius legend, a mysterious arcade game from 1981, has sparked countless rumors about government mind control experiments and dangerous side effects. Set in Portland, Oregon, the game allegedly caused players to experience catatonia, nausea, and hallucinations, while government agents monitored the machines. Over time, the story has evolved into an urban myth, blending elements of truth and exaggeration. Creators like Kevin Mannis helped amplify the tale through online storytelling, influencing pop culture and inspiring new generations of artists and game designers to explore the dark, enigmatic side of video gaming.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Polybius legend is an urban myth about an arcade game that supposedly caused psychological and physical harm to players, leading to symptoms like nausea, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts.
• 😀 The game is rumored to have been part of a secret government experiment aimed at controlling people's minds, linked to the MKUltra program from the 1970s, which involved mind control research using hallucinogens.
• 😀 Polybius machines were allegedly placed in arcades in Portland, Oregon in 1981, where they attracted teenagers with their cryptic game mechanics and ominous effects.
• 😀 The game was reportedly housed in unmarked black cabinets, adding to the mystery and making it difficult for players to identify or trace the source.
• 😀 The myth of Polybius was fueled by reports of government agents, sometimes referred to as 'men in black,' who were supposedly seen monitoring the game machines before they mysteriously disappeared.
• 😀 Many of the claims surrounding Polybius are based on second-hand accounts, with no concrete evidence to support the existence of the game, creating a mixture of fact and fiction.
• 😀 Cat DeSpira, a journalist from Portland, shared her personal experience of growing up in the city and later learning about the Polybius legend, despite not having encountered the game herself.
• 😀 Dr. Ken Drinkwater, a conspiracy theory expert, suggests that urban legends like Polybius often have elements of truth but become embellished over time, especially in periods of societal uncertainty.
• 😀 Video game designers, like Phi Dinh, have drawn inspiration from the Polybius myth, particularly its focus on the 'flow' state—where players become completely absorbed in the game, similar to the trance-like effects described in the legend.
• 😀 Kevin Mannis, a writer and interactive storyteller, may have contributed to the development of the Polybius myth online, blending real events with creative storytelling to shape the narrative and fuel its spread.
• 😀 Despite the uncertainty about whether Polybius was ever a real game, the legend has influenced popular culture, inspiring music, TV shows, and other forms of creative media, continuing to captivate audiences with its eerie and mysterious story.

Q & A

What is the central myth of Polybius?

The central myth of Polybius is that it was a highly addictive arcade game released in Portland, Oregon in 1981, rumored to have severe side effects on players, including nausea, catatonia, and suicidal thoughts. It was believed to be part of a secret government experiment to control people's minds.

How does the Polybius legend relate to MKULTRA?

The Polybius legend is often linked to MKULTRA, a CIA mind control program from the 1970s that experimented with hallucinogens and other methods to manipulate behavior. The myth suggests that Polybius was part of this government experimentation to control the minds of the public.

What were the reported effects of playing Polybius?

Players of Polybius allegedly suffered from horrific side effects such as catatonia, nausea, vomiting, and even suicidal thoughts. These symptoms were supposedly triggered by the game's unusual, moving series of numbers and letters on the screen.

What role did 'men in black' play in the Polybius story?

According to the myth, 'men in black'—mysterious, government agents—were said to monitor the Polybius machines in the arcade and remove them without a trace. This added to the conspiracy theory that the game was part of a secret experiment.

Why was Portland, Oregon significant to the Polybius legend?

Portland, Oregon is central to the Polybius myth because it is said to be the location where the game first appeared in arcades in November 1981. The city was also a test site for many game companies, adding credibility to the idea that the game might have been a prototype or part of an experiment.

What does Cat DeSpira, a journalist from Portland, think about the Polybius legend?

Cat DeSpira, who grew up in Portland, initially had never heard of the Polybius myth, despite frequenting the Lloyd Center arcade. She later became aware of the legend and believes that it is a fabricated story, though she acknowledges the existence of unusual events in Portland's gaming scene at the time.

How did urban legends like Polybius gain traction, according to Dr. Ken Drinkwater?

Dr. Ken Drinkwater, an academic specializing in conspiracy theories, believes that urban legends like Polybius emerge during times of uncertainty. People tend to create and embrace conspiracy theories as a way to explain unexplained events, which leads to the spread and embellishment of such stories over time.

What influence has the Polybius myth had on contemporary game designers?

Game designers like Phi Dinh have been heavily influenced by the Polybius myth. The concept of creating a game that induces a trance-like state in players, often referred to as 'flow,' is similar to how Polybius was described in the legend, where players supposedly became entranced or addicted to the game.

Who is Kevin Mannis and what role does he play in the Polybius story?

Kevin Mannis is a former actor and writer who is believed to have created the Polybius urban legend online in 2001. He suggested that the legend might be based on real events in Portland, where arcade games in black boxes were tested, and that elements of the story had some factual basis.

What makes the Polybius myth so enduring and widespread?

The Polybius myth persists because it taps into the human fascination with conspiracy theories and the unknown. The blending of a kernel of truth—such as real events in arcades, government surveillance, and the strange disappearance of arcade machines—with fictional elements, makes it an intriguing and adaptable story that evolves over time.