The Legend of Polybius 

Hi everyone, The Blu-ray is officially done, so it's back to our regularly scheduled programming! I thought it would be fun to get to the bottom of the Polybius mystery. What we discovered was pretty interesting, and I don't think this urban legend will go away anytime soon. If you enjoyed the video, give it a share. Thanks!

Titus Interactive bought the rights to Polybius and released it as Superman 64

Plot twist... Polybius is Candy Crush.

lol downloaded data on each of its players, idk why I imagined some fbi guy downloading data from people named ass and other stupid 3 letter names.

I'm German and "Sinneslöschen" does indeed sound awkward. "Sinnes" is the genitive singular of "Sinn" (sense), so "Sinneslöschen" literally translates to "deletion of the sense". While grammatically somewhat correct, the dulling or blocking of senses in German isn't usually tied to the verb 'delete' in everyday usage. So the whole thing sounds like a non-native speaker constructing a technically correct, but quite awkward-sounding name for the sake of adding a certain strangeness to it by using a different language.

Not so much about Polybius, rather the test machines. They often sent those to weird places. Years ago I went to one of the local arcades before going to a movie with my parents and I saw a cabinet that just had purple question marks on the side, on the marquee and on the main menu attract screen. Otherwise it was all black. I walked up and began playing this game with another kid who was already there and it was insane.. Like nothing I'd ever experienced before.. I was hooked.. I played it for the 45 minute wait before the movie and hated to leave it alone.. but soon I had to When I next went to the mall, I looked for the game but it was gone. months later, maybe even upto a year later, I was walking by the arcade and saw a screen that I knew was THE game. Kids were swarming it... only this time it had side graphics and a name... Mortal Kombat This was wayyyyyy up in far east Canada, I wouldn't have even believed theyd ship a test machine or whatever they do send up here, but i'm sure glad they did

So it's entirely plausible that a Tempest cabinet may have been labeled Polybius in the testing phase, perhaps accidentally, then later correctly labeled and officially rolled out nationwide? Could it not have been the flashing vector based graphics of Tempest that caused the Seizure and the ensuing gossip surrounding it that morphed into the Legend we all know today?

Polybius should be turned into a sci-fi or horror movie.

my grandpa played this game and now he's dead. coincidence? I think NOT!!

If you want a videogame that will give you everything polybius alledgly gave players. Just play action 52

I must say, man. You're one of the better RU-vid announcers that I've seen. And it's almost like you did it by doing the exact opposite of what is normally done: - They talk in a douchy, needlessly-assertive voice; you speak calmly. - They talk really fast and overwhelm you with words and sentences; you show down and speak deliberately. I hope this, or whatever it is that's related to this that you are working towards, becomes a viable career for you and hope your channel gets more recognition (at least in part -- it's also very well-researched it seems -- I'm particularly a fan of your Super Mario Bros 2/Doki Doki Panic episode) for it.

I know about test marketing games first hand. Around 2009-2010, there was a unique game at my local arcade in Largo, Florida called "Ballistic". It was a racing game of sorts, with flashy graphics and a rumble seat. It was addictive and easy to play. Years later, around 2015-2016, I returned to the arcade and asked about the now AWOL game. The people working there had no idea what I was talking about. It was eerie. Not long after, I went to a retro gaming store and a guy looked up Ballistic for me, and turns out it was an experimental game, only test marketed in like 10 arcades around the US. Yet nobody but me seems to remember playing it. So was Polybius an early test market game like Ballistic that actually gained noteriety? Who knows!

I've done my own research about Polybius and while I have my doubts about it existing, some things were just really interesting. There was no real copyright on the name Polybius, so it was either a working title or the person who started the "urban legend" back up in the 90s got the name wrong (if it existed). Another thing is if the game was similar to Tempest there is a rare ocular phenomenon of delayed motion sickness contributed with games using that Tempest style wormhole/faux-3D game style. It even occurs today with VR games. Players can feel 100% comfortable playing a VR game, but once they stop and take off the headset they can get sick, dizzy and light headed. So it is possible a kid played this mystery arcade game and walked away feeling fine only to play another game and get motion sickness symptoms. I don't believe anyone really died from this, again if it existed. Also, the men in black suits could have been the FBI but more than likely it was men from the company of whoever built the cabinet collecting data to tweak their new game, there were test markets all over the country doing this. Capcom and Nintendo even did it in Japan. It was all about collecting data to see what could be altered to get the most quarters out of the player. They tracked how long the average quarter lasted, how many average quarters were inserted by the same player and even what part of the game users gave up on the most (if applicable/game had levels and bosses like Double dragon). So really I don't think there was a Polybius cabinet, just different aspects of circumstantial events squished together to come up with a cool sounding urban legend.

As much as I've been following gaming for the past 20 years, I never knew about Polybius. Very interesting!

This would make a great X-files episode.

That whole bit about the government making an addictive arcade game to have soldiers as to whoever plays it. Sounds like Metal Gear about the rigorous VR Training that the new generation of soldiers have to go through, and Sons of Liberty as to what Raiden had to go through. Talk about creepy in all seriousness, but I guess we don't have to worry so much about it now of course this legend won't be going away anytime soon.

I'd just been thinking lately, "dang, Norm's been busy, haven't seen a new Gaming Historian video in a while." Good to see you back! Hope the Blu-Ray turned out great and that we'll be getting more regular content now! Polybius has always been interesting to me.. I'd love to believe the myths.

*plays Polybius while listening to the Lavender Town theme*

And practically right after this, Nine Inch Nails brought the Polybius legend to (near) mainstream with their music video Less Than.

I love stumbling on random gaming topics in such a well researched and thoroughly presented manner. Thank you for this channel. Please don't stop.

The government created a machine to find potential soldiers? Someone's watched The Last Starfighter one too many times :D

every crazy urban legend has a few bits of truth and I hope for more urban legends stuff in the future

Hey, a Kristin video! Awesome work guys, really enjoyed it!!

Every time I see a Gaming Historian video in my feed I think how much I love them, and how I see them to infrequently.

I PLAYED POLYBIUS ON PS4 AND NOW ALL I HEAR ARE BLEATINGS OF SHEEP AND GLASS SHATTERING! TOP SCORE!

I remember this story with the guys in suits collecting data from the arcades, even back then as a kid we already thought it must be just an urban legend lol

the Polybius story is really interesting thank you for covering it. Ernest Cline wrote a book called armada a few years ago which uses this story as the beginning of his story

Your presentation of videos is still one of my favorite styles. Keep it up!

I kind of love how seedy arcades used to be

One other bit of truth is that the government would eventually repurpose games as training/recruitment tools.

I really love the illustrations in the beginning around the half minute mark, great job!

Absolutely my favourite channel on RU-vid. Keep up the great work

Personally I am tired of seeing the "all seeing eye" in videogames... I've seen it in two Call of Duties... life is strange... Deus Ex... Max Payne... etc

I bet the kids of today wouldn't even flinch.

Sounds like the plot to The Last Starfighter.

Fantastic video. I love how creative you are with your thumbnails and the way you produce your videos! Keep it up!

The Polybius game on PSN is made by Jeff Minter. He deserves and episode of Gaming Historian. The guy is a total legend and has had a small footprint on so many consoles over the years, especially ones that didn't do so well like the Nuon.

To be fair about the German name, somebody who wants to create a unique brand name is probably _more_ likely to use a unique combination of words than something people use in everyday speech. And if it's not in their native language, they're even more likely to get it wrong out of laziness and/or thinking it sounds cool. Just look at virtually every anime with an English title.

fantastic effort. fresh idea and as always outstanding content. good job, Norman!

High quality, doesnt have an annoying voice, and well thought out explantion. With sources too (and not just reddit comments!). Subscribed.

HOW IS THIS NOT A HORROR MOVIE yet?!

I once threw up after marathoning Jak 3 with my friend.

Informative as always, keep it up dude!

You do great work Norman, don't ever stop!

Sinneslöschen sounds like the kind of fake German you find in Return to Castle Wolfenstein. I get what it's supposed to mean but it's not a proper German word. More like the work of someone with a dictionary and a vague understanding of German grammar.

Any plans on a History of E3 Video?

Jeeze, I completely forgot about this channel. Glad to see you back!

Thanks for all your hard work on your content Norm; it's some of the best and most fascinating stuff out there!

7:02 >that guy just has the same name, the Steven Roach that posted that said he was born in Wales while the Steven Roach that abused his kids was American

I remember years ago I thought I saw a Polybius cabinet. but it wasn't working and I wasn't aware of any urban legend related to it at the time. It was just an out of order cabinet. The one I saw, or think I saw was labeled and had a sort of 'vector' design to the art. it was there for about 2 or so weeks and then it was replaced with a Super Street Fighter 2 cabinet. additionally, I live in Canada. so I guess if anything, it was just someone being creative and using custom art to attract attention to their arcade.

I LOVE your channel so much, really brings me back to my youth, you present the story's in such a unique fashion....... Thank YOu!

I been waiting for you cover this episode

I played it in an arcade in a flea market around 1984. The arcade had junk machines and wasn't fancy at all. Most of the machines were hobbled together with parts from other ones. I remember playing this game there! It was not very entertaining, so I didn't waste my Space Invaders quarters playing it, but yes, it DID EXIST!

AVGN is doing a Polybius episode.

As always Norm bravo. Love your videos and I cant wait to see your Blueray. Thank you for all the hardwork you put into your videos

Wow. Best episode I've seen here! Keep up the good work!

Polybius existed elsewhere. I knew it at the Rockingham Mall on Rt. 28 in Salem, NH (which has now moved 1/4 mile north. It was there for about 2 or three weeks. Game was similar to "I Robot", had a throbbing subwoofer and when you hit enemies or were destroyed, strobes from the top inside of the cabinet would flash, which I found distracting. I remember a guy wearing a suit would watch the gameplay from a bit afar, but that wasn't uncommon in 1981, as adults often went to play games like Phoenix, etc. and there were ashtrays as smoking was allowed. Vector/polygon graphics and a ship firing in a 3/4 pseudo-3d upward with ships and other shapes all colored would come down at you and spin, UFOs, etc. There was a sort-of soundtrack of throbbing like PacMan might but it was very deep tones that increased over time. Instructions were hand-printed on the side, which I found odd. I never could get past the 2nd level. Once an adult asked me what I thought about it and I said it gave me a headache.

The story of Polybius doesn't even really make sense. Most of the versions I have heard paint it as an experiment by the government. But..if it was an experiment, wouldn't they want to run it in a more controlled environment? Kids are playing it in the arcade but then they will finish playing it, not talk to the men in black and then shortly leave. The more dramatic alleged effects of the game would be completely unknown to the agents. It seems like they would experiment with it in a more controlled way to actually try to prove anything, having kids or teens come in and play it and then follow-up with monitoring. No credible cases have come about to my knowledge of anything like this happening. To me it seems like the early predecessor to Creepy Pastas. If the story really started in the 80's, it probably began with some bored kids making crap up to someone who initially reported on it.

Very nice Episode, just as expected.:) Keep it up! I heard about polybius the first time some years ago and informed myself a little bit but watching your Episode was as extra informative as always.😃

Never thought i'd see you talk about a subject like this, but either way it's a great episode

Where did the font and title come from though? Every time it's referenced it's written the same way.

You should make a video on the _real_ game whose subject was so horrifying that it caused its lead programmer nightmares for years; so uncannily realistic that they thought it too terrifying to publish without censoring the names of places involved in the game: Missile Command

Glad to see such a level-headed RU-vidr! Subscribed!

Hey nice video norm! Still watching, this was one of your best so far. I cant wait to see what is next

Oh crap, this was a part of the plot in Ernest Cline's "Armada", wasn't it? But I had no idea it was an urban legend outside the novel.

Does anyone know which episode of "The Simpsons" the screenshot was from? I'm curious to know because I'm in the mood to watch it right now. ;D

You did a good job covering this story. Well done!

Great to see a new video. Brightened a mediocre week.

What an interesting urban legend, I remember hearing about this as a kid floating around on forums and message boards. Never investigated it for myself though, I just wrote it off as a silly horror story being spread around not unlike other creepy pastas at the time. Very good episode!

If they ever found one, would you play it?

Nice to see you producing again Norm!

Another great video! You keep'em coming and I'll keep backing! Thank you!

Good info and video thanks

*government hands Norm undisclosed amount of money in briefcase after filming episode* Government Suit: "Thank you for your service to the our classified federal Bureau of Interactive Media (B.I.M.), Mr.Gaming Historian." Norm: "yeah yeah...just keep up the 2nd part of our deal, ya stuffy Fed...>__>" Gov. Suit: "...um...yes, your monkey butler will arrive in 2 weeks." Norm: "Gooddddd....:3"

Enjoyed this episode. Never had it broken down like that.

Just found your channel and I really like your content! Alot of interesting videos i got to watch!

There has been countless of shadow-govermental empirimental games like Polybius over the years in 80's and early 90's in arcades all over the world. Most of these games were just around in arcades for a day a two, all with different purposes for these secret agencies to test out the possibilities, and side-effects of videogaming on unsuspecting younglings. The story of Polybius is just one, where a game had too many noticeable negative psychical side-effects, and the game sat to long time, at the same place, for the game to grow as an urban-myth - though this may also has been on purpose. These elements of sense-deprivation/enhancing, added Intelligence, or even psychical discomfort etc. that videogames are capable of creating, are still being tested (and uses) today, but these days, it's via known games, through the net in games we play at home, just with subtle differences in visuals, gameplay and sounds, which we never notice when they happen.

Polybius is my favorite conspiracy! I don't think it actually happened the way people say, but it's neat to think about.

Hey it's a video I'm excited to watch on this *New Channel I subbed to!!* Very excited to retroactively watch the Gaming Historian videos!

Facinating and another amazing video!

My dad showed me a documentary about this game when I was like 8. After that I couldn't sleep for days because I was extremely scared. I was convinced that video games where made to control my mind. 😂

Get an investor. Quietly purchase the license to Polybius. Make a found footage movie about the game. re-release the game on every platform. *drops mic*

Great episode, I had never heard of this one before!

Your videos are still fantastic man.

if your intrigued by this tale go to Retro Ahoy's Documentary about this very topic it literally takes the lid off this myth and goes into more detail you wont be disappointed

Sinneslöschen means deleting senses . sensory deprivation would be sensorische Deprivation

This was an amazing episode!!!

Another great video. Thanks Norm!

Reminds me of the whole EGM Aprils Fools Episode on Street Fighter 2. Where if you beat the game on Hard, without getting hit once. That Akuma would eventually come out and Toss Bison Off Screen, and then you got to fight him. People tried, and tried to no avail. Then it finally came out it was one big giant sick joke. But Capcom got so much free publicity out of it. They decided to create and incorporate Akuma into the Genre.

I think Polybius is better known in its Japanese name which translates to Transformers Mystery of Convoy.

Solid work as always.

thank you for the great content you provide

Oregon huh? *Gravity Falls intro starts*

There’s actually one in Starfighter Arcade in Arizona

these videos are so well made

Don't forget the "Less Than" video that uses the new Polybius as graphics.

I didn't need to sleep or anything. I like nightmares.

Had the video from Ahoy on this topic suggested... couldn't pass 4 minutes because they were milking the view time. I learned more in 20 seconds on this channel than in over 3 minutes on that other channel. Respect and thanks.

Another good upload. Thank you, sir!

Love your work. Keep it up.