Getting Started With WMS

[MikeC]

Hi Folks,

I'm a noob on this site, but I've owned an IGT S+ for several years.  Lately, my favorite casino games are ALL from WMS - in particular their latest G+ series.

I'm sure that it's impossible to actually buy a BlueBird (or is it? ), but I've read on this site that the older 550's can be upgraded to NXT series - so I have a few questions.

• Do the G+ series games run on NXT, or do they require NXT2?
• Do the 'Innovation' series games (e.g. Blazing Phoenix, Dean Martin, Great Eagle, etc.) run on NXT, or do they require NXT2?
• Can a 550 be upgraded to NXT2?
• How hard is it to get the game software?  Any idea on the average cost for a single game?
• NXT uses CF disks instead of EPROMS, is that right?  That should be sweet, no more yanking the motherboard and swapping game/reel EPROMS.
• Can an NXT or NXT2 series machine run the older 550 games as well?

Sorry for all the questions guys.  I'm trying to come up to speed on this as quickly as possible.  If it's doable, I'd like to retire my IGT S+ and replace it with a G+ capable WMS sometime in the near future.

If it's not doable (or affordable!), well.... at least I could stop dreaming.   

-MC

[jay]

Welcome to the site,

No one retires their slots they just add more..... the older ones are the most collectable..... albiet S+ isn't really that old so you need to wait until it increases in value.... at least that is what I tell the wife.

[MikeC]

Hi Jay,

True.  I just wish when I had designed my bar/home theater I allowed space for more than one slot machine.  I was stupid, it didn't occur to me that I'd ever want MORE than 1.   

The S+ will probably go into the unfinished storage area. 

-MC

[Hokiehog]

Do the G+ series games run on NXT, or do they require NXT2?

NXT is fine

 Do the 'Innovation' series games (e.g. Blazing Phoenix, Dean Martin, Great Eagle, etc.) run on NXT, or do they require NXT2?

NXT is also fine

 Can a 550 be upgraded to NXT2?

You'll never get a board today

 How hard is it to get the game software?  Any idea on the average cost for a single game?

Very Very Hard - Average cost on eBay is around $100

 NXT uses CF disks instead of EPROMS, is that right?  That should be sweet, no more yanking the motherboard and swapping game/reel EPROMS.
Sandisk CF's - and they must be original Sandisk - More pirated CF's than originals these days

 Can an NXT or NXT2 series machine run the older 550 games as well?

Only if the game was made for the NXT platform

[blueridgeslots]

How hard is it to get the game software?  Any idea on the average cost for a single game?

Very Very Hard - Average cost on eBay is around $100



Well if anybody wants some original WMS Software I have some this week, and less than that price

[stayouttadabunker]

How good is that guy, Blueridge?

Very,very good!

Why do I like this website?

Cause of guys like him...

[Hokiehog]

How hard is it to get the game software?  Any idea on the average cost for a single game?

Very Very Hard - Average cost on eBay is around $100

OK We will all bite... What you got?



Well if anybody wants some original WMS Software I have some this week, and less than that price

[Slotmaster]

Hi Folks,

I'm a noob on this site, but I've owned an IGT S+ for several years.  Lately, my favorite casino games are ALL from WMS - in particular their latest G+ series.

I'm sure that it's impossible to actually buy a BlueBird (or is it? ), but I've read on this site that the older 550's can be upgraded to NXT series - so I have a few questions.

• Do the G+ series games run on NXT, or do they require NXT2?
• Do the 'Innovation' series games (e.g. Blazing Phoenix, Dean Martin, Great Eagle, etc.) run on NXT, or do they require NXT2?
• Can a 550 be upgraded to NXT2?
• How hard is it to get the game software?  Any idea on the average cost for a single game?
• NXT uses CF disks instead of EPROMS, is that right?  That should be sweet, no more yanking the motherboard and swapping game/reel EPROMS.
• Can an NXT or NXT2 series machine run the older 550 games as well?

Sorry for all the questions guys.  I'm trying to come up to speed on this as quickly as possible.  If it's doable, I'd like to retire my IGT S+ and replace it with a G+ capable WMS sometime in the near future.

If it's not doable (or affordable!), well.... at least I could stop dreaming.  

-MC

All non leased themes that do not require special tops will work on the NXT1 platform.   Games like Top Gun only work on the NXT2 platform.   Some of the newer titles that you pointed out will work on the NXT2 platform however all of the titles work on the NXT1 as well.   In the future they might release titles that only support the NXT2 but as of today there are much fewer titles that work on the 2 VS the 1. 

The one issue with upgrading the 550 to an NXT is finding the board and when you do it will be aleast $1600 + / -

G+ is a name WMS gave to games that the bonus modes require little interaction.  Just respins where you sit back and count the winnings.   All G+ games run on NXT1 or NXT2 (On NXT2 it has to have the newer OS)

The 550 1.5+ games will not work on the NXT however they ported the popular titles to NXT so you are in luck.   

Hope that helps!

[MikeC]

The 550 1.5+ games will not work on the NXT however they ported the popular titles to NXT so you are in luck. 

Thanks for ALL of the great information guys, I really appreciate it.   

So it looks like the 550 games will not run on the NXT, but some of the 550 titles were ported to NXT versions - did I get that right?

Does anyone have a link or list showing which games run on NXT, and/or which 550 games were ported to NXT?  I haven't had much luck finding this type of info in the "public" areas of the WMS website, and since I'm not in the industry I can't get an account to login and do my own research (IGT's site was a bit more useful in this respect).   

-MC

[rickhunter]

I don't think there's an "official" list.  Most information gathered by us is truly based on a try as you go basis. 

As a general rule of thumb, if the game:

1.  Has a progressive, or
2.  Has game tracking features (Star Trek), or
3.  Has the "extra bet" button that turns on special features like "Hot, Hot, Pennies", Goldfish, Sheeploads of Cash.
4.  Community gaming titles that belong to a "bank" system like Monopoly community game, Instant winner bonus bank, etc.

These will not work on NXT conversions.

All G+ games I've come accross have worked flawlessly on NXT conversions, except one title called Game of Dragons II which I'm told from more than once source times out during load on a 550NXT conversion.

All Innovation series I've seen work fine on NXT conversions.

As far as 550 games ported over to NXT, these are usually called the "classic" series and off the top of my head they include:

Jackpot Party Classic, Life of Luxury I and II, Reel 'em In Classic, Money to Burn Classic, Instant Winner Classic, Winning Bid Classic.

[tacman]

I have seen a bank of Bluebirds running Aztec Adventure, but it is unknown if it is a CF version or that daughterboard eprom setup. It was at an Indian Casino in Oklahoma.

 Dan (tacman)

[rickhunter]

I have seen bluebird cabinets running legacy software on Eproms.  There exists an MPU board that fits bluebird cabinets that are eprom based.  Aztec Adventures is a legacy title only.