Top Ten Myths in Video Games

While playing our favorite video games, the extra enjoyment in finding Easter eggs and hidden secrets are endless. A rumor is shouted here, a tip is given there, and along the way we as players have tried to discover certain urban legends in video games. Although some are simple and easily obtainable, others offer a more difficult challenge to witness through the player's eyes. However, there are some moments in the video game world that aren't conclusive in the overall delivery that the game is trying to go for. What do some of these mysteries represent? Are they actually in the game? How much is true and how much is still unknown? This list will look at ten myths in the video game realm.

10. The Suicidal Photographer in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The Grand Theft Auto series has been extremely famous for sprinkling tons of hidden Easter eggs throughout their highly popular saga. Things such as telling players that they weren't suppose to reach this area of the game, to finding the infamous leatherface character from the popular horror film, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the hidden secrets are endless throughout the GTA games. However, the myth of the hour comes from the game, GTA: San Andreas. In this video game, there is a lone photographer, next to a river, that appears to commit suicide, by walking into the body of water. The photographer can be found near Flint County in the game. He is seen taking a few pictures with his camera, then getting up, and casually walking in the river. Some people are skeptical, saying that this is merely a glitch in the game and Rockstar wouldn't slip this kind of disturbing image in the game, and the glitch is part of an outplacement of the character. This theory is understandable, as this happens a lot in video games. As others claim that it is part of the photographer's M.O. Watch the video on youtube and judge for yourself.

9. Release of Duke Nukem Forever

The thirteen year stretch, dating back to 1997, of the anticipated sequel to the Duke Nukem 3D video game, Duke Nukem Forever, will finally be released in 2011. This is on the list, simply because of the repeated rumored announcements of the video game's release, by the company, 3D Realms. This has got to be one of (if not the number one) most awaited game in the history of the business. The sequel is now in final stages of completion and will be released sometime next month -- hopefully --

8. The Atari Dump

This is a myth that is more true then false. In 1983, Atari was reported to have placed truckloads of unsold video game cartridges at a landfill in Alamogordo, New Mexico. There is a main belief that the majority of the cartridges being trashed was the unpopular game, E.T., and the story doesn't conclude whether another title was dumped along with it. Furthermore, the story also states that a layer of concrete was poured over the crushed games, which people aren't sure this occurred in the dumping process.

7. Being Able to Jump Over the Poles in SMB

In the very popular Super Mario Bros. video game from 1985, there is a castle at the end of every level, and a flagpole in front of the bricked structure, in where the iconic plumber, Mario, has to first grab onto before entering the castle and completing the level. Just about everyone who has played this game has had the notion to say to themselves, "I wonder if I can jump over that thing?" Many have tried to jump over the flagpole and prove this myth true. However, the effort was swatted away by test jumpers, and Mario was stopped in his tracks by the pole. There have been rumors of people being able to jump over the pole in World 3-3, but this is a rare occurrence. Some players claim that those that can jump over the pole in certain levels are using a cheat code to the Game Genie.

6. Tails Doll Strikes!

One of the creepiest myths in video game history, comes to us from one of the Sonic games, Sonic R, in where players who have played the game as the unlockable character, Tails Doll, have reported that after playing the character, they were later cursed. This included some horror stories from players that felt they were effected after playing as the character.

5. Golden Warthog in Halo 2

Easter eggs and myths have been a common trait for the Halo franchise. However, the one myth that makes the list is the ability to find a golden warthog in Halo 2. Supposedly, the urban legend is that when playing Halo 2, in the city of New Mombasa, at Headlong, a player can find a special golden warthog there. This was a task many tried to achieve, but were unsuccessful in finding. Although an unique golden warthog, with no turret, wasn't discovered, a golden warthog was eventually revealed, by changing the color of an original warthog.

4. The Cow has a Secret in Diablo

So the myth has been told, and passed down from steer to steer, that if you believe hard enough, and play your steaks right, that the dairy gates of time will open up to a glorious milk utopia, where players can roam free like mighty cattle! In the 1997 game, Diablo, created by Blizzard, there was a myth about a random cow in the game that would unlock a passage to a secret cow level. This was a strong myth that was believed to have been a reality during the late nineties. Blizzard did happen to catch wind of this urban legend, and decided to place a secret level in the Diablo II game as a result.

3. Obtaining the Triforce in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

This myth is common in the realm of video games and Legend of Zelda fans alike. The ability to actually obtain the Triforce in the game as an object. Some believing that it would give you special powers once received. Since the series is based around the prestigious item, it is no wonder that some players believed the golden symbol could be taken and put into inventory. OOT had a video of a beta version, where in the video, there was an image of Link standing in front of a treasure chest and the Triforce comes out. This fueled the myth further, as this is what happens when an item is being received by Link. Although a myth throughout the gaming world, there have been fixed videos of people actually obtaining the item.

2. Polybius

Another myth that isn't just about what happens on the television screen, but here in the real world. The myth of Polybius is about an arcade game that was created in the early eighties and was distributed in the town of Portland, OR. As the tale goes, the game was highly additive, creating a greatly favorable respond from the people waiting to play it. The arcade game, once played, created mental illnesses in the player.

1. L is Real 2401

Without a doubt, the most well-known myth in gaming history. This is the king of kings when it comes to the rumor mill in video games. In the very popular video game, Super Mario 64, a statue can be found with a big star atop of it, in the courtyard of Princess Peach's castle. On the statue is a plaque, with a very hard to read text engraved on the surface. This writing has been viewed to most to read, "L is Real 2401." A myth that was later believed to contain a secret message about the brother of Mario, Luigi. Once thought to be a hidden gesture that the green plumber can be found in the game. The same plaque shows up in Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Some people have been skeptical of the text being nothing more then just scribble. However, it has been stated that the text was placed on two separate sheets of images, to give it a blurry appearance. If this is true, why go to the trouble of doing this for a pointless scribble? Some have even analyzed the very tiny text (second line) of the plaque as reading, "Bowser." Other players to this myth says the plaque says "Eternal Star." Either way, this myth truly deserves the number one spot for having the longevity for these many years.