Polybius

POLYBIUS

Based on the urban legend, a teenage girl tries to convince the local Sheriff that a mysterious new game cabinet caused her brother to commit suicide.

POLYBIUS - In 1981, a mysterious arcade game popped in random places in Oregon. During it’s run, government men in suits would visit the game, take readings, and leave. Those that had the misfortune of playing claimed to suffer from depression, night terrors, obsession, and more. Even with these cases, the government suits still did nothing but take weekly readings. Then, without warning, the game vanished, taken by the government suits. So states the urban legend POLYBIUS.

Our story takes place in the beginning of this legend. Jennifer Bower, an intelligent teen, visits the local magic shop with her gamer brother Michael. Unbeknown to them, magic shop owner Mr. Dandridge was given the Polybius game under strange circumstances by suits. The arcade cabinet immediately draws the innocent Michael to the game. “Hey Jenn, you got a quarter?”

We jump ahead to Jennifer awaiting to talk to Sheriff Atkins, the soon to retire vet of the force and leader on Michael’s case. He is given the file on the death of Michael Bower by Officer Lloyd, his eager protege. With a heavy heart, Sheriff Atkins leads Officer Lloyd in to the interrogation room where Jennifer waits...

She begins her story with the first day Michael played the game. It was an ordinary day apart from Michael’s dismissing of Jennifer’s nagging that they are late for Mom. Later that day when Mr. Dandridge was going to close, Michael refused to stop playing. So began his obsession. As the week went on, he got worse and worse causing Jennifer to begin researching hypnosis and the like.

Sheriff Atkins listens intently while Officer Lloyd tries to poke holes in her story. Neither know how to react when Jennifer explains Michael’s final hours where he jumped out of his bedroom window moments before she could stop him. Sheriff Atkins ends the interview with asking the important question: “Where did he play the game, Jennifer?”

With the knowledge Jennifer gave him, can Sheriff Atkins discover the truth? Is Officer Lloyd right? Or has the game gotten to Jennifer? You’ll have to see to believe.