What is your favorite slot machine manufacturer: WMS, IGT, BALLY?

[cfh]

I absolutely HATE igt S+ machines.
They are all the same. the same stupid mono-tone
"music" (if you can call it that). and totally unimaginative
titles and themes. what's differnt about them? nudge?
big deal. haywire? give me a break. they all suck!

if you want a real slot machine, get a williams.
they are FAR more fun and actually have some
imagination, with great sound (many actually talk)
and interesting bonus rounds. And as long as they are
running a computer ATX power supply, they are extremely
reliable.

The only reason people "like" IGT is because they
had the mass market share during the 1990s, so that's
what you saw mostly in the casinos. but now the tides
have turned and Wms bluebirds and 550's are
the slots to have (if you have the $).

Here's info on Wms slots:
http://marvin3m.com/arcade/wmsslot.htm

[PWRSTROKE]

Well, Clay I have to disagree with you on your opinion.  There is a lot of people that like the s+ and can make them do diff. things.  I do not have any more because the s-2000 is where it is at.  You can do almost anything with one as far as conversions and transfusions goes.  I have a williams big bang piggy-dotmation and it is a blast.  They were way ahead of their time when they came out.  I have had mine going on 2-yrs. and have NO plans of getting rid of it!!.  Mid jan. I am picking a few more williams games up for my collection.  The s+ is affordable and fun for peoples game rooms not to mention exceptionaly durable as is the s-2000.  I have 18 working slots in my game room I play around with.  I plan to add a williams stampede and maybey a reel'em in.  All my games are round tops with the exception of the Top Dollar-Now there is a FUN s+ based/barcrest game!!.. 

[jdkmunch]

I would love to get a wms piggy or jackpot party machine. I always thought that they were much more expensive. My s-plus is going to run me $600 and a 12 hour drive. How much do those wms machines go for?

[a69mopar]

I like all of the machines I have, the Bally Gamemaker beats either of my dotomation games hands down for variety.  Someone here always wants to play it.  I love the Big Bang Piggy Bankin' that I got for my wife (My Grandaughter loves it too), I like the sound on the Bally S6000s  that I have ,especially with the top box speakers and pro sound, but for a spinning reel slot, My IGT S-Plus Sizzling 7 3 coin is my favorite, I used to play this machine when I was at the casino and used to sit there thinking about buying it while it was still in the casino.  It's the one that isn't for sale (oh, and the wifes also, she would kill me).  This hobby fills my spare time and keeps my mind busy, I always enjoy the rest of the members here also.

Thanks,
Wayne

[PWRSTROKE]

As a reply to jdkmunch,  Have you bought your game yet?  if not you should chk with jim at blue-ridge here.  He has some good games not to mention had or still has a few Top Dollars at a hell of deal if you ask me.  I do not know exactly what all he has left but just about any barcrest s+ is a feather in your cap to your or anyone's collection in my opinion.  I do not think he is to terribly far from you as well- .  Thanks B.

[cfh]

I would love to get a wms piggy or jackpot party machine. I always thought that they were much more expensive. My s-plus is going to run me $600 and a 12 hour drive. How much do those wms machines go for?

Williams games are about the same price as an S+.
Maybe cheaper or more $, it just depends who is selling.
I don't have a JP Stampede or JP Stampede Deluxe or Big Bang
ready, but maybe next week. I have to sell the 3 i now have
ready first, because i don't have the room to bring any more home.
Does anyone want a Reel Em In or Jitterbug or Magic Lamp for
a nice price? I'm near detroit if that helps, and i can put them
on a pallet and ship for reasonable. email me for details.
cfh@provide.net

I don't find S2000 slots to be really any better than S+.
Still the same crappy music (unless you have a sound card
installed). I have a visions s2000 and it blows chunks.
i mean who the hell wrote this software? some corporate
tight-ass with no imagination? the bonus round (if you can
call it that) just sucks. (RW&B visions.)

[brichter]

One button and 10 Neons, 4 slots and a pinball all come on with a loud crack.

Do the neighbors' lights go dim when you push that button, Jay?

[PWRSTROKE]

Clay,  Why not just post the prices here?.  That would probably peak more interest-Just a thought on my part I could be wrong.  Thanks B.

[cfh]

Clay,  Why not just post the prices here?.  That would probably peak more interest-Just a thought on my part I could be wrong.  Thanks B.

jitterbug $350: http://www.pinrepair.com/slots/wms/jitterbug1.jpg
reel em in $500: http://www.pinrepair.com/temp/reelem1s.jpg
magic lamp $450(a couple missing DMD lines): http://www.pinrepair.com/temp/maglamp1.jpg
all plug and play. I'm open to offers too if those prices don't suit ya.

[PWRSTROKE]

Clay,  Two things.  First thanks for the list on games and prices.  Are these rnd top,etc.  can you post pic's of them?.  Second I see you edited your post and now bad-mouthing the s-2000's.  What your problem is as far as those go you have not gotten or built the rite ones!.  You based your opinion on some very generic games.  I would suggest sticking to williams and stop putting the old s+ down and most of important of all the s-2000 series.   Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,  This is mine and that is yours-again you are a full blown williams fella with no experience with all the games out there.  Thanks B.

[PWRSTROKE]

  Thought I would start a new thread from another.  I do not know how many folks have been to the casino lately-myself about 2-months ago.  My point is IGT still can kick butt because I end up playing the double/triple top dollar reel games, Red Hottie-Which I would love to have one those, WOF and etc. .  That is my experience everytime.  I play all the others and end up on mainly those BECAUSE THEY PAY and are a blast to play.  I could go to casinos daily if I wanted but we keep that in chk. from over aprox. 32 to choose from.  There are so many games out there that are fun and also fun to own.  Williams has some good stuff as well but myself I seam to end up on the igt's High-Denom and getting PAID.  I have all the data on the companies and waht their status is etc. so it would be a mood point to bring all that up.  I just look at the real world and what is fun and works in casinos (not homes).  This may seem to be a strange post but I do not like IGT bashers as they pretty much started the modern slots we deal with and will continue to do so.  Just my opinion.  Thanks B.  As a note I like ALL slot makers and games if they are fun and neat to me.  Williams I will never bad-mouth or any other.

[Foster]

I agree 100%.

The only issue I have with IGT, Bally, Williams is their lack of support for us, the home game owner.

They all should try to get slots, video poker, etc fully legal for home use in every state.

[blueridgeslots]

Buy a new one for 12-16 K  or a refurbished one for 8-9 K from them and they will give a 30-90 day warranty and a password to their site, and the privilege to pay full retail for parts, like 2500 bucks for a set of software or 700 bucks for a Glass Kit/Strips, do you really think they care about a machine they no longer make or someone who buys just a few machines?

[Neonkiss]

do you really think they care about a machine they no longer make or someone who buys just a few machines?

Exactly, I was thinking the same thing when I was reading the above post.
As for the first modern day slot machine?
I think Bally may have that one. Correct me if I'm wrong but the early Bally E-series was the first to put in electronic boards that started to have game specific info on an EPRON chips.
Getting that past the gaming commission was a major accomplishment.

[cfh]

i did post pictures of the wms games. just click on the links
in my post above.

i've had lots of S+ slots and a few s2000 slots.
i think they are over rated crap. i now have one
of each because i need a test platform for repairs.
but that's the only reason i have them. i would
sell them in a second but i need them to test
parts for other people. again i have a haywire dlx
and a rw&b visions. if i can't get any sleep i go
play those, as they always make me snore.

[OhioGaming]

A good chuckle can be had reading this thread ...

BTW .. BreatheRight will help with the snoring!

In case I don't get to post before Christmas .. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all of you.

[Neonkiss]

NOW, NOW... It's Christmas time.
Can't we all just get along....
I mean some guys like Latino women others like Italian women. But we can all have a beer   and talk about their differences.

[a69mopar]

A good chuckle can be had reading this thread ...

BTW .. BreatheRight will help with the snoring!

In case I don't get to post before Christmas .. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all of you.

A merry Christmas to you too Ken, oh yeah and a happy New Year too.

Thanks,
Wayne

[cfh]

IGT has lost their way. They are a very conservative company,
and they have fired the one guy that got them going in a
more liberal and fun direction (Joe Kamikow). So all that is
left to IGT's development area is basically LED Gaming.

LED is Larry Demar and Duncan Brown and Scott the Dot.
These are ex-williams pinball guys, and they know their
stuff!  All the good IGT games are designed by these boys.
Then they sell the design to IGT who re-programs it in their
platform and makes/markets the games.

IGT had all this market share and they basically ruined it.
When Wms entered the "spinning reel" slot market in 1995,
IGT sued them left and right. (mostly over the Telneas patent.)
This forced Wms into the video slot area, where the Telneas
patent did not apply. The end effect was that Williams exceled
at video slots, and stole a CRAPLOAD of market share from IGT.

The end result is IGT is trying to wipe Wms' butt, and they
can't even get it up. They have lost market share big time, and
they have no development area left. LED is their only hope.

http://www.ledgaming.com/

[jdkmunch]

I do find this very interesting.   I do understand that everyone has their favorite game.   I am very fond of the Wild Cherry - an IGT  and the Piggy - wms.  What I was most concerned about was the durability of these machines in the home.   From what I am reading I understand that these machines are exactly the same and require some sort of chip replacement for one error or another.   What I am concerned about is if I open the machine up and move a reel will I need a to extract a chip / replace / boot / replace to get it back running again.   


I can tell everyone that after I pick up my S-Plus my next machine will be a gimmick slot like the Pig or Jackpot Party.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!!!! We should give thanks that we can enjoy this hobby and have as much enjoyment with it and on this forum as possible! 

Thanks again to everyone. I really appreciate it... and I enjoy reading everyone opinions. 

[cfh]

first slots are *not* designed for home use.
second whatever you do to a slot at home is nothing
compared to what it went through in a casino.

these miniature ATMs with spinning reels are not
user friendly at all. IGT S+ is the classic example
of "f*cked up user interface".  Talk about confusing.
The hell one is put through when the damn battery
dies is enough to convince anyone of that.

Wms is far more user friendly (because it has
actual english error codes.) But that is only marginally
more friendly than IGT. Again these aren't made to
be easy to work on. There's a reason slot techs are
hard to come by, and that they don't talk much.
Wms model 40x "ram clear" (required when the battery
dies or game title is changed) is a lot more straight
forward than IGT too.

Again i don't understand why anyone would want a S+.
if you get an S+ and a Wms dotmation, you'll understand,
and will probably do what i did. That is, buy more Dotmations
and sell all your boring "put me to sleep" S+ slots!

[Foster]

I had already figured the machines and parts are expensive direct from them.
I don't know what their profit margin is. I know they are hurting right now.
I wonder how many used machines are in homes? 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 or ??
I am sure their are a few on here that might cough up the money for a rare game or parts that they want and can not get easily.
They could offer to allow home users access to their secure sites for a small fee.

[cfh]

I am very fond of the Wild Cherry - an IGT  and the Piggy - wms. 

Though Piggy is a very good title, i personally don't think it's Williams
best dotmation. The ladies however really "dig the pig". (the game
even sings that phrase.)  I think JP Party, JP Limbo, Perfect Match
(with "Phil Hopper"), Money to Burn, Stroke of Luck and Mermaids
Gold/Treasure are the best titles (because the bonus modes require
user interface.)  Piggy is a "sit and watch" bonus mode. It's good
entertainment for sure, but i like the ones better that get me involved.
Perfect Match just kills me too.

[blueridgeslots]

If you find it difficult to replace a battery on a S+ then how in the hell can you you work on a WMS, there is no comparison on the quality or the simplicity on a S+ to a 400/401 in durability, you will soon see after the people you sell those 400/401's to call you back and you beat your head with a stick on why you sold them so cheap, and how hard is it to convert an error code to english when the code is inside every door, on the S-2000 you just have a lazy theme, if you were to get a better theme I am sure you would like better, the WMS are cool when you have the proper theme, but compare apples to apples, a wild n loose is the same theme as a wild cherry,who copied who when the WC was an S platform game in the 80"s, now how can you say it is a better game?

[blueridgeslots]

If you get the access for a "small fee" I will pay it for you, if you get one person past the operator I will give you 100 bucks, just get all the names so I can confirm