Custom Slot Kits Showcase

[angryninjas]

Heard back from Bunker.  Not possible to change the sounds.  On the S Plus and most S2000's, the code is embedded in the reel chips, and encoded by a secret IGT algorithm only known by the IGT program designers, so we can't dump the sounds, change them, and then upload them back to the chip.  The only exception is some of the S2000 Vision games, which use an SD card.

Hey, it was worth a shot.  I can still add sounds using my "piggyback" method, but they just add-on to the existing sound scheme, not replace it.  Also, the triggers for those sound effects are pretty limited.  I can also do "on demand" sounds with a few push buttons mounted in the player tracking bar.  Nice if you are showing off for example our Big Bang Theory or Breaking Bad kit, and you push a button on the tracking bar and hear the theme music to the show.  Right now the cost of these type of sound kits is higher than I would want to charge anyone, so they arn't for sale yet, until I find a cheaper method of implementing them.  I have some hardware on the way that might be more cost effective, and I'm going to install it in my Breaking Bad kit here at the house, with 4 different on demand push button sounds... we'll see if that will be a possible cost effective option for adding sound add-on kits to our custom designed kits for our customers.

By the way, I didn't have someone order one yet, but someone suggested in a PM that there may be public interest in a Walking Dead kit.  Would anyone be interested?  If so, I'll design one and let it go for the cheaper "pre-made" $199 price instead of the usual "custom design" $249 price, if you allow me to re-use the design for others.  

[TZtech]

Your custom kits look really cool - K+ for sharing.
Saw this today in a industry newsletter
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5L-49WLx-Oc&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5L-49WLx-Oc&rel=0</a>

[angryninjas]

Very nice.  Obviously my kits would be for S Plus and S2000, so no video slot or anything as fancy as theirs, but good to know that I'm thinking along the same lines as the marketing people at Aristocrat 

[angryninjas]

I just sold a machine with Breaking Bad kit preinstalled to Bryan Cranston (Walter White from Breaking Bad) and his assistant Taryn.  How cool is that!  I didn't even reach out to them, they found me.  And no, it's not a copyright sting, lol.  I guess that's about the highest form of flattery possible on my custom kits, when the person pictured in the kit wants to buy one from you  

[cowboygames]

Good job! I hope you're going to deliver that personally and post pictures for us

[angryninjas]

Lol, I tried to deliver personally... they re in MA doing a play until mid October, which is only 2 hours away from me, and although the machine won't be ready by then, I asked his assistant Taryn if she could arrange a 5 minute meet and greet to have him sign my top slot glass for my own personal machine.  She said with their schedule, there's no way she could do that, since they are doing 8 shows a week, and things are way too hectic (really, for a 3-5 minute meet and greet?).  Anyways, she is getting me a signed headshot, where he'll personally thank me for the slot.  Better than nothing I guess    At first she mentioned that I could send my slot glass to their hotel and he would sign that, if I included a sharpie, return packaging and postage... but then she learned it was glass and 20", and she said she would prefer not to mess with that    That's ok, I'll hang the picture of him thanking me for the slot kit next to the slot.

[CVslots]

So are they picking up the machine during the stay in MA or are you shipping it? Are they based in CA?

[cowboygames]

Not knowing how you're setting it up for them as far as coin/cash options I'd suggest a Tito system with the printer set up so the tickets say Breaking Bad on them and maybe have a bumper sticker made up for the door to go next to the BV bezel. It could say something like "Breaking Bad and Bills $1-$100" with an arrow pointing at the bezel

[rickhunter]

That is so cool, but I'm wondering about the copyright police here, theoretically when using the images for your own stuff, it could fall under fair use, but when you sell it.....

[angryninjas]

Not a bad idea.  I still have to get the donor machine, so that's definitely an option.  It will be setup for tokens, without the ability to readily change to currency, and include 500 tokens (that I have left over from my pachislo skill stop days), since the tokens say "no cash value" right on them.  Ticket printer is a good idea though, especially with "Breaking Bad" coded as the casino name, or whatever they want.  Love the bumper sticker idea too for the bill validator  

[angryninjas]

That is so cool, but I'm wondering about the copyright police here, theoretically when using the images for your own stuff, it could fall under fair use, but when you sell it.....

Depends.  Over 80% of the artwork is original work, so I think I'm ok there... and fine print on the bottom of the glass states "This slot and included components are in no way endorsed nor affiliated with Breaking Bad, AMC, or any of their affiliates".  Plus it wouldn't be Bryan Cranston and his assistant going after me for copyright issues... it would be the producer and/or their legal team.  Plus they wouldn't need to buy one, they would send me a cease and desist notice, whether they had one in their hands or not.

[CVslots]

Wouldn't using the name and characters be enough? I dont know what sets the copyright police into action, but I know if you put my pic, my business name, whatever, on something without my permission and were offering them for sale, I'd, well, lets just say there'd be a problem...even if I thought what you did was super cool! I'd def buy one, just to prove you were profiting off of it.

[angryninjas]

Wouldn't using the name and characters be enough? I dont know what sets the copyright police into action, but I know if you put my pic, my business name, whatever, on something without my permission and were offering them for sale, I'd, well, lets just say there'd be a problem...even if I thought what you did was super cool! I'd def buy one, just to prove you were profiting off of it.

Not quite.  It's a fine line with what's considered "Fair Use".  You can also use trademarks (i.e. show name/logo) as long as it falls within "fair use" and the items in question make up less than 20% of the total project.  It also must be clear that it is not sponsored, endorsed or approved by the company of the names and trademarks that you are using.  I do iPhone apps as well, and same thing applies there.  I've done apps with company permission from several large companies, but I have also done apps referencing other companies without their permission, and Apple has strict approval guidelines regarding copyright law and fair use.  Basically, they have me change the project until it falls into the above criteria (80% original, and clear that it's not issued by the company in question).  Apple has approved apps from me after reviewing copyright law for some Food Network shows and Universal Studios.  I even used some of the Universal Studios logos in parts of the app, even though they are officially trademarked, but because it made up less than 20% of the app, it was legal, allowed, and approved.

Fair Use can be argued, and is a grey area, but as long as those two criteria are met, you're pretty much covered.  In some instances, the companies may have salaried legal counsel, which can just try to throw enough stuff against the wall and see what sticks, which could tie you up in court, but when it comes down to it, the fair use act provides protection if you're careful with what you're producing.  From what I hear, IGT is one of those companies that will go after you if using their symbols or whatever, even if they believe they will lose, since it doesn't cost them anything to do so, they use it as more of a deterrent tactic.

[Buzz]

I don't know from beans about copyright, but I know Calif is a 25 year state, tokens or not I would go back and do a whole lot of editing in this thread.

[cowboygames]

Not a bad idea.  I still have to get the donor machine, so that's definitely an option.  I has just going to use a quarter setup with a token placed in the coin comparitor, and include 500 tokens (that I have left over from my pachislo skill stop days), since the tokens say "no cash value" right on them.  Ticket printer is a good idea though, especially with "Breaking Bad" coded as the casino name.  Love the bumper sticker idea too for the bill validator 

You can use it if you want, no care or copyrights here, lol

[FORDSBS]

Here is a message I got a few month ago on the reel strips I made for Hee Haw. I DID NOT SELL or advertise for sale. For my own use but I took video & posted on YouTube.

Dear FORDSBS:
We have disabled the following material as a result of a third-party notification from Grand Ole
Opry claiming that this material is infringing:
MAKING HEE HAW STRIPS
http://www.youtube.comMatch?v=Mc01 LzzOM_s
Please Note: Repeat incidents of copyright infringement will result in the deletion of your account
and all videos uploaded to that account. In order to prevent this from happening, please delete
any videos to which you do not own the rights, and refrain from uploading additional videos that
infringe on the copyrights of others. For more information about YouTube's copyright policy,
please read the Copyright Tips guide.
If one of your postings has been misidentified as infringing, you may submit a counternotification.
Information about this process is in our Help Center.
Please note that under Section 512(f) of the Copyright Act, any person who knowingly materially
misrepresents that material was disabled due to. mistake or misidentification may be liable for
damages.
Sincerely,
— The YouTube Team
Help center • Email options
©2013 YouTube, LLC 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066

[angryninjas]

Yep, thats an unofficial "Cease & Desist".  Once I get something like that, I would have to stop, otherwise they can say that you were notified but still chose to ignore them.

[rickhunter]

Didn't mean to start a copyright police discussion, but I just brought it up for angryninja's awareness of possible issues.  The last thing anybody wants is to see a good member go through legal issues, if it can be prevented.  I think it is ubber cool that Bryan Cranston wants something the angryninja created, what better form of flattery? I was just concerned about the copyright police, since they seem to be quite actively lately.

[FORDSBS]

To get back on YouTube I had to watch their videos about it & take a test. Damm, I'm 73, to old to take tests.

[cowboygames]

Ford, I think you should take a trip to Nashville or wherever the hell the Grand Ole Opry is and piss on their doorstep. But that's just me, I'm sure other people might handle it a little differently than I might. I try not to be to aggressive in my responses to unwarranted attack

[FORDSBS]

What got me was you would think bally would have said something, not the Grand Ole Opry. I'm sure Bally has the rights.

[cowboygames]

Bally bought usage rights not ownership. Kinda like IGT and WOF. They're just paying to use it and any conflict is originated by the licensor or owner of the copyright

[PLUNGER BOY]

 If you were making 100s of units and they thought it was cutting into there cash flow then legal action would be taken . Other wise a simple letter is drafted to tell you what is coming down the pipe  as in STOP making this . Even with lawyers on staff or on a retainer  legal action cost money . Don't sweat the little stuff  . Ps    Tell your client he has to sign off on the custom glass work for his personal use.   P.B.

[angryninjas]

I just had a customer for a Breaking Bad machine that you guys might recognize 
Yep, Bryan Cranston himself bought one (Walter White)

[knagl]

So cool!  Nice work, and thanks for posting the picture.