Topic: I own the original Polybius ROM
+buoyancy — 5.5 years ago #56,626
Wikipedia calls this an urban legend, but I owned this ROM since the early 80s. I found it in my father's game collection. He worked as a game developer for ColecoVision, but he knew a guy called Steven Roach. I just recently learned this is considered a legend and people create documentaries about it.
I know there was a guy online claiming to be Steven Roach and I don't know whether he is the real guy or not, but I remember the name from my childhood, my parents mentioning the name quite often for a while. Sinneschlossen I have never heard about. My dad definitely never worked in such a company, nor did Steven Roach, because they worked together at some point. My dad's name was Sam David. He was from Illinois. I think he told people about the game sometime in 1994, on Usenet.
Now, you will immediately ask - so, show us the game. The problem is that I have never run it. I am not an arcade aficionado, nor do I own any hardware to run it on. So, the only thing I have is the physical circuit itself. It has a paper sticker on it, with "POLYBIUS" written in a black marker. This is the same sticker I've seen as a kid, nothing changed. But I don't know if one can even run it. What if you need more specialized hardware?
Either way, the game is real. If there is any way I can prove it, tell me how. Ask questions. I am ready to oblige.
Kim David.
I know there was a guy online claiming to be Steven Roach and I don't know whether he is the real guy or not, but I remember the name from my childhood, my parents mentioning the name quite often for a while. Sinneschlossen I have never heard about. My dad definitely never worked in such a company, nor did Steven Roach, because they worked together at some point. My dad's name was Sam David. He was from Illinois. I think he told people about the game sometime in 1994, on Usenet.
Now, you will immediately ask - so, show us the game. The problem is that I have never run it. I am not an arcade aficionado, nor do I own any hardware to run it on. So, the only thing I have is the physical circuit itself. It has a paper sticker on it, with "POLYBIUS" written in a black marker. This is the same sticker I've seen as a kid, nothing changed. But I don't know if one can even run it. What if you need more specialized hardware?
Either way, the game is real. If there is any way I can prove it, tell me how. Ask questions. I am ready to oblige.
Kim David.
+Anonymous B — 5.5 years ago, 1 hour later[T] [B] #592,170
@OP
Dick size and girth?
Dick size and girth?
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.5 years ago, 11 hours later, 12 hours after the original post[T] [B] #592,185
I know there was a guy online claiming to be Steven Roach and I don't know whether he is the real guy or not, but I remember the name from my childhood, my parents mentioning the name quite often for a while.
+Anonymous C — 5.5 years ago, 23 minutes later, 12 hours after the original post[T] [B] #592,186
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.4 years ago, 2 days later, 3 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,274
Yeah, it' funny to read when I actually own the cartridge. But hey, anybody can edit Wikipedia, you can't trust it, can you
+Anonymous D — 5.4 years ago, 28 minutes later, 3 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,276
@previous (buoyancy)
> Yeah, it' funny to read when I actually own the cartridge. But hey, anybody can edit Wikipedia, you can't trust it, can you
You cannot actually see the code on the cartridge, so you for all you know its code for Space Invaders or Pong.
> Yeah, it' funny to read when I actually own the cartridge. But hey, anybody can edit Wikipedia, you can't trust it, can you
You cannot actually see the code on the cartridge, so you for all you know its code for Space Invaders or Pong.
+Anonymous E — 5.4 years ago, 12 hours later, 3 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,299
Dump the rom or gtfo
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.4 years ago, 6 hours later, 4 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,306
@592,276 (D)
> > Yeah, it' funny to read when I actually own the cartridge. But hey, anybody can edit Wikipedia, you can't trust it, can you
>
> You cannot actually see the code on the cartridge, so you for all you know its code for Space Invaders or Pong.
Right. But the sign of "Polybius" was there before the alleged urban myth. Therefore, I think I can safely assume this is it.
Having said that, what would be the best way to test it?
> > Yeah, it' funny to read when I actually own the cartridge. But hey, anybody can edit Wikipedia, you can't trust it, can you
>
> You cannot actually see the code on the cartridge, so you for all you know its code for Space Invaders or Pong.
Right. But the sign of "Polybius" was there before the alleged urban myth. Therefore, I think I can safely assume this is it.
Having said that, what would be the best way to test it?
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.4 years ago, 20 seconds later, 4 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,307
·Idea anon — 5.4 years ago, 2 hours later, 4 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,312
@previous (buoyancy)Old magnetic tape can be read with visual device to see the magnetic state. Slow and arduous, you can map out the bit states of the code.
A large notebook to write down the states and then you compile by hand.
You can make your own device with a can/jar of fine ground iron powder.
(Edited 43 seconds later.)
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.4 years ago, 2 hours later, 4 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,320
Perhaps, I can do it. I have googled how to do numbers in binary and then perhaps I can actually write it out this way. I am attaching a cheat sheet that I made for myself. Tell me if you think I am working in the right direction.·Idea anon — 5.4 years ago, 41 minutes later, 4 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,327
@previous (buoyancy)On the right track however remember those bits = a word/words, So you need to look at digital languages used back then and with trial and error string digital words so you end up with a line of code to start with. Now how you take one line of test code and find out if it will run hardware that apparently does not exist? You can spend years on this project and discover someone for fun marked your ROM with " "POLYBIUS" written in a black marker."
For all we know your ROM is for Pong. You of course can just load your ROM into Pong and quickly find out.
OR You can do this - Spend time searching for her.
+Anonymous F — 5.4 years ago, 6 hours later, 4 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,346
Best thing to do would be to contact a specialist, maybe a old gaming enthusiast, to analyze the rom for you, would really minimize the risk of damaging it.
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.4 years ago, 9 hours later, 5 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,354
@previous (F)
> Best thing to do would be to contact a specialist, maybe a old gaming enthusiast, to analyze the rom for you, would really minimize the risk of damaging it.
Can you suggest anyone?
> Best thing to do would be to contact a specialist, maybe a old gaming enthusiast, to analyze the rom for you, would really minimize the risk of damaging it.
Can you suggest anyone?
+TGM — 5.4 years ago, 16 hours later, 5 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,415
@previous (buoyancy)
Maybe Ben Hecks? He specializes in old games and is an electronics engineer, so he would know how to treat the rom. Tho, your best bet would be to search someone on within your state. Research a little about the old gaming scenario and collectors and electronic engineers near you.
Maybe Ben Hecks? He specializes in old games and is an electronics engineer, so he would know how to treat the rom. Tho, your best bet would be to search someone on within your state. Research a little about the old gaming scenario and collectors and electronic engineers near you.
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.4 years ago, 2 hours later, 5 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,429
Just contacted him. Waiting for a reply!+Anonymous H — 5.4 years ago, 1 day later, 6 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,536
> >1
So you are the champion now?
So you are the champion now?
·buoyancy (OP) — 5.4 years ago, 1 hour later, 6 days after the original post[T] [B] #592,541
@previous (H)
> > >1
>
> So you are the champion now?
Are you asking me? I don't understand the question.
> > >1
>
> So you are the champion now?
Are you asking me? I don't understand the question.
(Edited 8 seconds later.)
Start a new topic to continue this conversation.
Or browse the latest topics.