Polybius The Arcade Myth

Marcus Bennett

• 06 februari 2026
• 9783565226726

Samenvatting:

"Polybius: The Arcade Myth – The government experiment that never existed" dives into the most enduring conspiracy theory in video game history. The legend says that in 1981, a mysterious arcade game called Polybius appeared in Portland, Oregon. It caused amnesia, nightmares, and seizures. Men in black suits were seen collecting data from the machines, not coins. Then, the cabinets vanished. Gaming journalist Marcus Bennett separates fact from fiction. He traces the origins of the myth to Usenet forums and connects it to real events: a federal raid on arcades in Portland (for gambling) and kids actually getting sick from playing Tempest for too long. This book is a study of modern folklore. It explains why the gaming community wanted to believe in a "cursed game" and how the story became a creepypasta that influenced pop culture from The Simpsons to Loki.