Since video games were invented they have become progressively more sophisticated, as have the players.  Video game developers have always placed hidden items, sometimes referred to as “Easter eggs”, teasers and other hints about the true meaning behind the game or its characters in their games.

This, in turn, has led to many legends and controversies about the games themselves.  Here are my top five gaming controversies and legends:

Number 1- The great Pokémon War

There is a conspiracy that before the Pokémon TV show and their booming series of games, there was a huge war between trainer and Pokémon, and there is a lot to support this. Ash’s dad isn’t around because he was killed in the war, Gary, your rival, is an orphan for the same reason. There are hospitals and care facilities everywhere. Also Lt. Surge, the gym leader in Vermilion City said that an electric type Pokémon saved his life during the war.

Number 2- Ben Drowned

There is a story floating around the internet about a copy of the game The Legend of Zelda, Majora’s Mask. According to legend, the cartridge has 2 save files one named been and the other named drowned. Upon loading the saves the game immediately becomes creepy. It seems to communicate with the player by displaying the text incorrectly with phrases like “Ben is getting lonely” and “you’ve meet with a terrible fate haven’t you.” This suggests that the game is haunted by a little boy named Ben who died in a drowning accident. The game also sets Link on fire, makes him fall through the world, and fall over, all of which kill the character.

Number 3- Animal Crossing is a cult

There is a game called Animal Crossing in which the player moves into a new town full of random animals. It may seem harmless but there is talk of the game resembling a child abducting cult. The reason people think this is because when you move in you have a debt that you have to pay off by doing chores for the other residents. However even when you pay it off, the debt reappears.  This suggests that the animals are just in it for the free labor. The game also has no objectives and seemingly never ends.

Number 4- Mt. Gordo Poltergeist

In Grand Theft Auto V there is a Mountain in the game called Mt. Gordo and it is also the smallest peak in Blane County. Between the hours of 23:00 and 0:00 (or 11:00pm to 12:00 Midnight) you can find the ghost of Jolene Cranley-Evans. If you approach her she will fade leaving the word “Jock” written in blood where she once stood. The suspected story behind this is that her husband Jock Evans shoved her off the submit of the mountain killing her. He then moved on to run for governor of San Andreas. This information can be backed up by the many radio stations in the game running “Vote For Jock” ads and news about the disappearance of Jolene Cranley-Evans.

And Number 5- Lavender Town Syndrome

In Pokémon Red and Blue versions, there is a legend that a certain frequency of note in the Lavender Town music in the Eastern versions could drive children to self-inflicted wounds and even suicide. Lavender town is already sort of dark because it is the burial ground of Pokémon who have died, their final resting place is as an unobtainable ghost in the Pokémon Tower. This is also the same place where you battle Gary, your rival. Before this you battle Gary on a ship named the SS Anne. His team includes a level 19 Pidgeotto, a level 16 Raticate, a level 18 Kadabra, and a level 20 version of his starter Pokémon. However when you fight at Pokémon Tower in Lavender town he does not use Raticate. This suggests that when you fought him on the SS Anne he could not find a Pokémon center to heal Raticate fast enough and it died. Then you find him at Pokémon Tower paying his respects to his dead Pokémon.