Battlezone competition.

[Vocelli]

Ok. Back in the day Atari had a contest with Battlezone. You had to play Battlezone, take a photo and submit a high score. So this is my story. My friend had an Atari and if you flcked the reset switch real fast crazy things would happen to the games. Well in Battlezone if I flicked the switch real fast I got unlimited lives. Go figure. Well, being a young teen and wanting to win something ( I don't remember what), I submitted a score of 999,999. I believe that was it. I took pics, got them developed, and sent in the score. Weeks later Atari ( or reps for Atari ) called me up and said they were coming to my house to watch me play Battlezone. I was a contest finalist. Well knowing that I cheated, I said okay. 5 days later and blisters on my hand( no kidding) a man and a woman showed up and said I had 15 minutes to play and that would be my score ( that was time I remember 15 minutes ). Well not being too good at the game I lost all my lives in 8 minutes. They took photos of my Tv and left. They said I would get a certificate in the mail. Well, I never heard back from them. Now that I look back and now that I play Atari again, I wish I had received that certificate. True story. Had to share it finally. Questions. Can anyone give details on this competition? Also, who won? What score? Is there a list of names? Who were those people? Am I going to hell for cheating?

[Rex Dart]

Hah, I had to re-read that. Misread it as "they took my TV and left" at first.

 

Those people were Ted diHavilland and June Monsanto. They were scoping out your place to rob it later. I guess they didn't see anything they wanted.

[Vocelli]

Ok.that tells me nothing.

[AtariLeaf]

That story sounds like something from an 80's sitcom. Wacky hijinks ensue.

[Vocelli]

Well. It has been one week and no answers. I did find the Atariage Magazine with Battlezone on it. Still have to read it.

[Master Phruby]

Never heard of that contest. You sure it wasn't a dream?

[Vocelli]

Check the old Atari Age magazines. Battlezone was one of the competitions the magazine offered. I just read about the competition. It seems I was suppose to receive some certificate. Anyways, it was something I will always remember. I just wish I could find out if they completed this contest or not. It was strange that I never heard from them again.

[jhd]

According to the magazine, when was this competition held? What was the ending date? (Does this match your memories of when you were involved with it?)

 

Some of these contests (most famously the Swordquest series) were cancelled due to companies poor financial positions. The earlier it ended, say 1982 or 1983, the better the chances that it was completed and a prize was awarded.

[Cebus Capucinis]

It was strange that I never heard from them again.

 

Let me get this straight, you cheated on a contest, submitted what amounts to an impossible high score, someone came out to verify your score and learned in 8 minutes that you had obviously cheated, and you're surprised they didn't contact you again? LOL

[Vocelli]

It was the last Atari Age magazine to come out. 1984. It was part of the 'Masters' competition. It was also the last of three games in the 'Masters' competition. Now I assume it was canceled because in that magazine they were advertising the Waterworld game. Also, my score was not unusual. 999,999 was the Max score you can achieve. Most likely several people then and now can achieve that score. I just cheated by getting unlimited lives. I still wish I could find a list of final scores or really find out if it was canceled. That day I will always remember.