polybius

September 23, 2020

Hypnotize Your Friends With This Miniature Polybius

Peter Paltridge collectibles, crowdfunding, Kickstarter, polybius, video games 0

The story goes that during the golden age of arcades, a mysterious cabinet appeared that was all black except for the words “POLYBIUS” in bold blue. Those who dropped their quarters in were given a psychedelic experience that left them with headaches and other medical problems afterward, and strangers in black suits were later seen collecting data from the machine. There’s no proof that Polybius ever happened, of course, but it’s a fun urban legend that’s grown in popularity since the dawn of the Internet (its earliest mention was on a message board in 2000). People have tried to repllicate what they believe Polybius would have been like, but none have attempted what Quarter Arcades wants to do. Quarter Arcades specializes in 1/4-scale reproductions of popular arcade machines that are fully playable. They’ve introduced mini versions of Pac-Man, Galaga and Galaxian, and now they’re turning their attention to Polybius. A Kickstarter campaign to fund the “replica” has just met its goal with three days to go. How do you recreate

October 13, 2016

Polybius, The World’s Most Dangerous Video Game, To Be “Recreated” For Playstation VR

Peter Paltridge downloadable games, playstation 4, playstation vr, polybius, PS4, video games, Videos 0

The legend goes that in the heyday of arcades, a mysterious cabinet called Polybius was tested in Portland, OR. It made many people who played it ill, and men in black suits were seen collecting data from it before it disappeared. As someone who lives in Portland, I’m rather skeptical….there was parental paranoia about arcades back then, and when you combine this with our local overactive media, a game that fried people’s minds would have blanketed the news for weeks. If it had happened, we would have known! Polybius has made cameo appearances in movies and TV shows, like The Simpsons (above). A Polybius machine was originally in the opening sequence of Wreck-It Ralph (it can be seen in the trailer, but is replaced in the final movie). And there have been attempts to make the game itself, but none quite as bold as Jeff Minter’s. He’s going to SELL a game called Polybius, as one of the first titles available for the Playstation VR. Here’s where it ties together:

May 20, 2015

Polybius Conspiracy Hits Kickstarter

Todd Black Kickstarter, paranormal, polybius, theparanoidgamer.com, todd black, xbox 360 0

In any medium, there are tales and mysteries that boggle the mind. Many are false, but there are a few that true that make you wonder how it ever could have happened. For video games, this is no different. There are tales and legends that have come from numerous generations of consoles and handhelds, but the oldest may just be the Polybius, Polybius (allegedly) was a arcade game that was in Portland, Oregon for a short time before mysteriously vanishing without a trace. It was “disappeared” with such vigor, that many don’t believe it exists, or ever existed, at all. One group though is determined to not only find proof the Polybius exists, but show their proved to the world. Thus, they’ve started a Kickstarter to raise money for a short film that will: “dive into the chronology, testimonials, and psychology of the legend; an intersection where urban mythology and dark secrets meet the arcade scene.” The people behind the project are actually all former employees of the Sundance Film