Strange holes in Battlezone cabinet

[sg6970]

I thought this mystery was already put to rest, from a verbal account from one of the ex-engineers. See post #442.

Strange holes in Battlezone cabinet

I don't think we'll ever get the full story, but I reckon it goes something like this: 1. Battlezone starts being manufactured. 2. Noises are made about the ability of other players not being able to watch the game being played. 3. Suggestion put forward that a second monitor could be mounted...

forums.arcade-museum.com

You are correct sir the main mystery hole portion of this tale has been sol-ved. It's just that it would be nice to see everything else in play that led up to project and how or why it ended.

 

[TheArcadeSavior]

My battlezone has no mystery holes and is serial number 31 with periscope

 

[sg6970]

Updated today as of 3/28/24, There are 30 confirmed BZ cabinets with the mystery holes and 5 unconfirmed BZ cabinets with the mystery holes for a potential total of 35 units that were selected for the external monitor program. There are 3 units within the serial block that "DO NOT" have the mystery holes. Unless other wise noted the list below are confirmed full upright periscope versions and open face BZ cabinets that were selected for the external monitor program (Mystery Holes) but never came to fruition. The "No Holes" serial numbers are just a reference frame to show where the project may have started. There are several cabinets in the mystery holes serial block that actually don't have mystery holes which must mean the cabinets were randomly chosen early on in BZ production. However, it is still not known how and when this project was decided by Atari and why it was ended before it barely got started. Or even what tools were involved to create the holes. At this time there is no documentation or parts literature to further examine the history and though the mystery of the holes have been solved there is still yet more to be uncovered. Those that retain a BZ cabinet with the holes may not think any of the wiser to their existence, but it is certainly a reminder that they hold a special place in Battlezone lore.

0009 - no holes (KLOV Owner "TonyH")
0031 - no holes (KLOV Owner "TheArcadeSavior"
0069 - no holes (Open Face Battlezone) (Destroyed)
0181 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Dialsoft")
0272 - no holes
0314 - no holes (KLOV Owner "ForkPrefect")
0373 - no holes (Seen on eBay by seller "mensch*attglobal.net" located in Massachusetts)
0378 - no holes
0473 - no holes (KLOV Owner "p1001")
0481 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Gremlin75)
0527 - no holes
0571 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Vectordreams")
0658 - no holes
0819 - no holes (The last known Pre-Hole Battlezone Cabinet)

0977 - mystery holes (lowest serial number cabinet with mystery holes currently on record)
1186 - mystery holes
1234 - mystery holes (No tipping sticker present) (KLOV Owner "sg6970")
1329 - mystery holes (1st Open Face Battlezone with mystery holes. Seen on ebay.)
1341 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Eigenvector")
1374 - mystery holes
1411 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "pacmandan")
1415 - mystery holes (2nd Open Face Battlezone with mystery holes, KLOV Owner "tprentice22")
1445 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1587 - mystery holes
1612 - no holes (First Open Face Battlezone without mystery holes) (KLOV Owner "andrewb")
1623 - mystery holes
1657 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Jerilock tempest")
1729 - mystery holes
1753 - mystery holes
1830 - mystery holes
1846 - mystery holes Seen On eBay 10/11/19 (eBay seller david.countryman) Marietta Georgia
1894 - mystery holes
1929 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1956 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1978 - mystery holes
2022 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "coinopper")
2046 - mystery holes
2051 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "PacDan")
2196 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Coindork")
2211 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Nils Streedain")
2212 - mystery holes
2226 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "zed7")
2250 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
2450 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Jeff F")
2453 - no holes (New owner is in Leesburg Va)
2478 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Gregolso")
5148 - mystery holes Seen On eBay (Highest recorded serial with mystery holes. eBayer "2000"
???? - mystery holes (Last Owner "Parabolic" Unit 1 "Capped Holes" Serial # Unable to confirm)
???? - mystery holes (Last Owner "Parabolic" Unit 2 "Exposed Holes" Serial # Unable to confirm)
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Seller did not want to share serial number.
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Sold on eBay in the state of Oregon. Unable to help with serial
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Seller "hardeightshawn" Did not want to share serial number.

 

[sg6970]

My battlezone has no mystery holes and is serial number 31 with periscope View attachment 731221

Got it Thanks!

 

[sg6970]

Updated today as of 7/10/24, There are 31 confirmed BZ cabinets with the mystery holes and 5 unconfirmed BZ cabinets with the mystery holes for a potential total of 36 units that were selected for the external monitor program. There are now 4 units within the serial block that "DO NOT" have the mystery holes. Unless other wise noted the list below are confirmed full upright periscope versions and open face BZ cabinets that were selected for the external monitor program (Mystery Holes) but never came to fruition. The "No Holes" serial numbers are just a reference frame to show where the project may have started. There are several cabinets in the mystery holes serial block that actually don't have mystery holes which must mean the cabinets were randomly chosen early on in BZ production. However, it is still not known how and when this project was decided by Atari and why it was ended before it barely got started. Or even what tools were involved to create the holes. At this time there is no documentation or parts literature to further examine the history and though the mystery of the holes has been solved there is still yet more to be uncovered. Those that retain a BZ cabinet with the holes may not think any of the wiser to their existence, but it is certainly a reminder that they hold a special place in Battlezone lore.

0009 - no holes (KLOV Owner "TonyH")
0031 - no holes (KLOV Owner "TheArcadeSavior"
0069 - no holes (Open Face Battlezone) (Destroyed)
0181 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Dialsoft")
0272 - no holes
0314 - no holes (KLOV Owner "ForkPrefect")
0373 - no holes (Seen on eBay by seller "mensch*attglobal.net" located in Massachusetts)
0378 - no holes
0473 - no holes (KLOV Owner "p1001")
0481 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Gremlin75)
0527 - no holes
0571 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Vectordreams")
0658 - no holes
0819 - no holes (The last known Pre-Hole Battlezone Cabinet)

0977 - mystery holes (lowest serial number cabinet with mystery holes currently on record)
1186 - mystery holes
1234 - mystery holes (No tipping sticker present) (KLOV Owner "sg6970")
1329 - mystery holes (1st Open Face Battlezone with mystery holes. Seen on ebay.)
1341 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Eigenvector")
1374 - mystery holes
1411 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "pacmandan")
1415 - mystery holes (2nd Open Face Battlezone with mystery holes, KLOV Owner "tprentice22")
1445 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1448 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Erock75")
1587 - mystery holes
1612 - no holes (First Open Face Battlezone without mystery holes) (KLOV Owner "andrewb")
1623 - mystery holes
1657 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Jerilock tempest")
1729 - mystery holes
1753 - mystery holes
1798 - mystery holes
1830 - mystery holes
1846 - mystery holes Seen On eBay 10/11/19 (eBay seller david.countryman) Marietta Georgia
1894 - mystery holes
1929 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1956 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1978 - mystery holes
2022 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "coinopper")
2046 - mystery holes
2051 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "PacDan")
2196 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Coindork")
2211 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Nils Streedain")
2212 - mystery holes
2226 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "zed7")
2250 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
2450 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Jeff F")
2453 - no holes (New owner is in Leesburg Va)
2478 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Gregolso")
5148 - mystery holes Seen On eBay (Highest recorded serial with mystery holes. eBayer "2000"
???? - mystery holes (Last Owner "Parabolic" Unit 1 "Capped Holes" Serial # Unable to confirm)
???? - mystery holes (Last Owner "Parabolic" Unit 2 "Exposed Holes" Serial # Unable to confirm)
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Seller did not want to share serial number.
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Sold on eBay in the state of Oregon. Unable to help with serial
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Seller "hardeightshawn" Did not want to share serial number.

 

[sg6970]

Hey guys, just noticed something looking over these numbers for the mystery holed cabinets. It appears they were taking three samples out of each block number reference. A low, middle and high. For example,
13XX = 1329, 1341, 1374
14XX = 1411, 1415, 1445
17XX = 1729, 1753, 1798
18XX = 1830, 1846, 1894
19XX = 1929, 1956, 1978
20XX = 2022, 2046, 2051

In the 22XX block they took four samples.
2211, 2212, 2226, 2250

If my 3-sample theory is correct there should be the following mystery holed cabinets left that have yet to be recorded. If they still exist. This is just a curious observation if it means anything.
X2 in the 09XX block
X2 in the 11XX block
X2 in the 12XX block
X2 in the 15XX block
X2 in the 21XX block
X3 in the 23XX block
X2 in the 24XX block

The highest recorded mystery holed cabinet is 5148. Which could either mean there are a lot of unrecorded mystery holed cabinets between 24XX and 51XX block (Aprox 81 units) or simply none at all. We certainly do not see any more samples after 5148 so that must mean that's where they ended it or somewhere in the 51XX block range.

With this information I'm going out on a limb here. I'm going to suggest the total amount of mystery holed cabinets Atari selected for the external monitor program is 132 units based on the 3-sample block counts all the way to our last known serial number of 5148.
Of the following:
15 missing unit between block 09XX-24XX (If they still exist)
31 cabinets confirmed By KLOV'ers
5 Unconfirmed otherwise verbally communicated by KLOV'ers or myself.
81 Unconfirmed "Theorized" between block 25XX through block 51XX
Total of 132 units give or take a couple. So, this would mean they either exist, or they don't. Maybe the program was to be 135 at most before they decided to end the program?
Thats my guess what do you guys think?

 

[sg6970]

Updated today as of 9/25/24, There are 31 confirmed BZ cabinets with the mystery holes and 5 unconfirmed BZ cabinets with the mystery holes for a potential total of 36 units that were selected for the external monitor program. There are now 4 units within the serial block that "DO NOT" have the mystery holes. Unless other wise noted the list below are confirmed full upright periscope versions and open face BZ cabinets that were selected for the external monitor program (Mystery Holes) but never came to fruition. The "No Holes" serial numbers are just a reference frame to show where the project may have started. There are several cabinets in the mystery holes serial block that actually don't have mystery holes which must mean the cabinets were randomly chosen early on in BZ production. However, it is still not known how and when this project was decided by Atari and why it was ended before it barely got started. Or even what tools were involved to create the holes. At this time there is no documentation or parts literature to further examine the history and though the mystery of the holes has been solved there is still yet more to be uncovered. Those that retain a BZ cabinet with the holes may not think any of the wiser to their existence, but it is certainly a reminder that they hold a special place in Battlezone lore.

0009 - no holes (KLOV Owner "TonyH")
0031 - no holes (KLOV Owner "TheArcadeSavior"
0069 - no holes (Open Face Battlezone) (Destroyed)
0181 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Dialsoft")
0272 - no holes
0314 - no holes (KLOV Owner "ForkPrefect")
0373 - no holes (Seen on eBay by seller "mensch*attglobal.net" located in Massachusetts)
0378 - no holes
0473 - no holes (KLOV Owner "p1001")
0481 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Gremlin75)
0527 - no holes
0571 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Vectordreams")
0658 - no holes
0819 - no holes (The last known Pre-Hole Battlezone Cabinet)

0977 - mystery holes (lowest serial number cabinet with mystery holes currently on record)
1186 - mystery holes
1234 - mystery holes (No tipping sticker present) (KLOV Owner "sg6970")
1329 - mystery holes (1st Open Face Battlezone with mystery holes. Seen on ebay.)
1341 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Eigenvector")
1374 - mystery holes
1411 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "pacmandan")
1415 - mystery holes (2nd Open Face Battlezone with mystery holes, KLOV Owner "tprentice22")
1445 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1448 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Erock75")
1587 - mystery holes
1612 - no holes (First Open Face Battlezone without mystery holes) (KLOV Owner "andrewb")
1623 - mystery holes
1657 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Jerilock tempest")
1729 - mystery holes
1753 - mystery holes
1798 - mystery holes
1830 - mystery holes
1846 - mystery holes Seen On eBay 10/11/19 (eBay seller david.countryman) Marietta Georgia
1894 - mystery holes
1929 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1956 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
1978 - mystery holes
2022 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "coinopper")
2046 - mystery holes
2051 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "PacDan")
2196 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Coindork")
2211 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "Nils Streedain")
2212 - mystery holes
2226 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "zed7")
2250 - mystery holes Seen On eBay
2450 - no holes (KLOV Owner "Jeff F")
2453 - no holes (New owner is in Leesburg Va)
2478 - mystery holes (KLOV Owner "ComputerSpace")
5148 - mystery holes Seen On eBay (Highest recorded serial with mystery holes. eBayer "2000"
???? - mystery holes (Last Owner "Parabolic" Unit 1 "Capped Holes" Serial # Unable to confirm)
???? - mystery holes (Last Owner "Parabolic" Unit 2 "Exposed Holes" Serial # Unable to confirm)
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Seller did not want to share serial number.
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Sold on eBay in the state of Oregon. Unable to help with serial
???? - mystery holes Seen On eBay - Seller "hardeightshawn" Did not want to share serial number.

 

[DavidVideo]

Serial # 0802
No holes!