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Polybius

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Description

This game was out for a very short trial run of one month in small arcades in Portland Oregon in 1981. Produced by the company Sinnesloschen, the game gave many players nightmares and many who played it completely swore off all video games afterwards. Others complained of having blackouts and memory loss. Employees of the manufacturer, in black coats came and collected data from the machines as part of a lease agreement. After only one month, all of the machines were removed. ROM's of this game are rumored to be in the hands of some collectors but at this time they are not generally available.

In actual fact, this game is one of many urban legends and hoaxes found on the internet. The only 'evidence' of this game ever existing is a title screenshot easily produced in Photoshop. Then again, perhaps that's just what the men in black coats want us to believe.

Polybius was produced by Unknown in 1981.

Unknown released 775 machines in our database under this trade name, starting in 1700. Unknown was based in United States.

Other machines made by Unknown during the time period Polybius was produced include: Galaxy, Kick'N Catch Football, Galaxy Games Multi Game Video System, Lil Razzle Dazzle, Hoop Shot!, Big Kong, Billiards The, Car Race, Donkey King, and Frog

Specs

Name Polybius
Developer Unknown (United States)
Year 1981
Type Videogame
KLOV/MOG # 11344
Class Concept, One-Off, or Hoax
Cabinet Styles
  • Upright/Standard

Polybius KLOV/IAM 5 Point User Score: 2.89 (1 vote)

Fun Factor: 2.75

Overall Like 2.00
Fun (Social) 0.00
Fun (Solo) 2.00
Collector Desire 5.00

Technical Rating: 3.00

Gameplay 1.00
Graphics 3.00
Originality 5.00
Sound/Music 3.00

Personal Impressions and Technical Impressions each account for half of the total score. Within the Personal Impressions category, Like carries a little more weight than the other factors.

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Images

VAPS Arcade/Coin-Op Polybius Census

There are 15,160 members of the Video Arcade Preservation Society / Vintage Arcade Preservation Society, 9,626 whom participate in our arcade census project of games owned, wanted, or for sale. Census data currently includes 166,300 machines (6,975 unique titles).

Uncommon - There are 6 known instances of this machine owned by Polybius collectors who are active members. Of these, 5 of them are original dedicated machines. One is a conversion in which game circuit boards (and possibly cabinet graphics) have been placed in (and on) another game cabinet.

Wanted - There are 2 active VAPS members currently looking for Polybius.

This game ranks a 3 on a scale out of 100 (100 = most often seen, 1=least common) in popularity based on census want list records.

Rarity and Popularity independently are not necessarily indications of value. [More Information]

Additional References (logged in members often see more)

  1. 3D Model (External): Upright (Fantasy) (u4b85adbe-d082-49c0-8ecb-e559acbd41f4)

eBay Listings

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TOP WATCHED LISTINGS FOR: Polybius

Ebay Compatible Application

Polybius Arcade Marquee 26" x 8"

Auction ends in: 1 week, 6 days

FixedPrice
$24.95

Polybius Arcade Marquee Header/Backlit Sign

Auction ends in: 1 week, 6 days

FixedPrice
$17.00

Numskull Quarter Arcade Space Invaders 1/4 Scale

Auction ends in: 1 week, 6 days

FixedPrice
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