Small Talk Episode 7: Polybius

In this Small Talk episode, we dive into the strange urban legend of Polybius, the mysterious arcade cabinet said to have appeared in Portland, Oregon in the early 1980s. Was it a government experiment? A moral panic twisted into myth? Or just one of the internet’s first creepypastas?

We break down the story, question its validity, and explore why Polybius still captures imaginations today. From the fears of early gaming addiction to Cold War paranoia and the lasting appeal of urban legends, this one blurs the line between fact and folklore.

Grab a beer, throw on your tinfoil, this is Small Talk