Crazy Shit Files: Polybius

[StephenArdrey]

This is the alleged arcade cabinet of one of the most storied games in video game history. Polybius, has been featured on many television series. The Simpson's and G4's Blister, have both alluded to the existance of this CIA created game. I am not here to tell you my opinion.

I am simply here to present the facts and let you come up with your own conclusion.

Facts For The Exsistance

The CIA has experimented in a variety of ways with brain washing. The most famous experiment being MKUltra, which used LSD in order to make more complacent interragation subject. They have also experimented with binural sound and subliminal messaging. Using both of these with a highly popular arcade cabinet would be a great way of populace controll.

This would also be beneficial for the company helping to create it. Hypnotizing gamers while playing a highly addictive game would possibly be a great way to get gamers to come back to a machine. Binural sound, has had the same side effects on human beings as illicit drugs and also has some of the same side effects that this game allegedly produces.

At the time, Atari had been working with the US Government to make a simulator for the Bradley fighting vehicle. This was based around the Battlezone game and none of the programmers have ever been credit with it's creation. There is also numerous eye witness testomony.



If there is a screen shot, there must be a game. For someone to spend this much time and effort just to further a hoax would be insane. It would take months, to create this screen shot alone.

The Against

Beyond the CIA, mind controll stuff, there has never been a mention on what populace it would be used on. At the time, 1981, the USSR was our biggest enemy. They also didn't allow the mass distribution of video games made in the USA or Japan. This would have been a useless endevour.

Binural beats, are only really effective in an almost soundless environment. Interfering tones can change the impact of binural beats and even make them uneffective. For anyone that has ever been in an arcade, they would tell you that this would have been an impossible scenario.

Subliminal messages, only work if exposed for longer than a small fraction of a second. In legitimacy, most screen flashes on older games come and go fast. Plus psychological testing would be needed on each subject.

Here is an actual excerpt from a file on the operational potential of subliminal messages:

In order to develop the subliminal perception process for use as a reliable operational technique, it would be necessary a) to define the composition of a subliminal cue or message which will trigger an appropriate preexisting motive, b) to determine the limits of intensity between which this stimulus is effective but not consciously perceived, c) to determine what preexisting motive will produce the desired abnormal action and under what conditions it is operative, and d) to overcome the defenses aroused by consciousness of the action itself.

In other words, it would take a lot of databasing in order to gather the information on a populace.



I am not enough of a programmer to know how hard it actually is to program this screen shot. I can't even program names into my phone some days, so I would really need an expert opinion on this. The biggest thing is the font not really appearing in any other game produced at the time. It looks familar to me but still

These are your facts, what do you think?

[Mouse]

I don't believe this is real. I think it was made and the person who made it gave up after just one screen shot cause they figured out it wouldn't work like they thought.

[StephenArdrey]

I don't believe this is real. I think it was made and the person who made it gave up after just one screen shot cause they figured out it wouldn't work like they thought.

I believe in the future, when all things have been taken over by video games. There will be those who believe in Polybius, those who don't, and those who are agnostic about it. This will result in much death and destruction. I honestly, don't know what I think about it because it's to inconclusive.

[Ceiletenfer]

This could be true as binural beats and subliminal messaging aren't uncommon in games. Though this sounds like another "Lavender Town Syndrome" or a creepypasta, This could be true and is pretty frightening. Interesting article though

[StephenArdrey]

This could be true as binural beats and subliminal messaging aren't uncommon in games. Though this sounds like another "Lavender Town Syndrome" or a creepypasta, This could be true and is pretty frightening. Interesting article though

Oddly enough, both of these stories appear around the same time. Honestly, both of these have believable and unbelievable points.

[Steveo Fantastico]

We're brainwashed daily by the tv and radio. The media is dumbing us down, making for easier sheep. They're pumping subliminal satanic messages in all of the new music. Promoting hate, violence and sex. They want us to praise false idols, and steer away from God. They want your soul. love your family and turn off your tv.

[badgirl_696969]

is this really real i cant believe it. messed up tho i agree with Steveo tho we are brainwashed every day

[Toploader]

turn off your tv.

We seldom have seen eye to eye, but I'll quote that for truth.

As for Polybius, well, I personally think it was just a diversion from the real mind control game of that period...

International Tetris Conspiracy

 

[The_YongGrand]

These look strange. Video game as brain-washing tool? First time I heard of it.

They might as well make interrogation tools which features crappy, lousy video games, to make people admit the truth everytime the subject play it!

[StephenArdrey]

These look strange. Video game as brain-washing tool? First time I heard of it.

They might as well make interrogation tools which features crappy, lousy video games, to make people admit the truth everytime the subject play it!

It's been floating around out there for awhile. If someone could tell me a practical application for a clandestine agency to do this. Really, at the time it really would have only effected a small sector of people. I think the Year Zero game is closer to a brain washing tool than this.

[Stephlolz]

I really liked this article because u explained what Polybius was. My older brother thinks that it's fake though. He says that it was an idea made by the government to scare ppl into not buying video games anymore. I thought it was to persuade ppl to be indifferent and close-minded. I'm still not sure though lol I still think this is a great article

[Steveo Fantastico]

The media tells us how to walk, how to talk, how to act, what to wear, what to eat, how to live. We don't live our lives. We live theirs the way they see fit, for profit.

[VezzyRattlehead]

These look strange. Video game as brain-washing tool? First time I heard of it.

If you really think about it, video games are to some extent, brainwashing.

The army uses first-person shooters to desensitize soldiers to killing. Also games such as America's Army (which is produced by the U.S. Army itself to get more recruits), Call of Duty, Battlefield and other war shooters can be considered military indoctrination.

[FaTony]

Just look at all of the ads out there. It is the real brainwashing.