Williams Dotmation game familiy

[rokgpsman]

Hello All!

Just stumbled across this website, tons of info here & I haven't read it all yet, so I may have missed the answer to my questions, if so just point me in the right direction. I did try using the search feature, it yielded a library's worth of info that will take me some time to sift thru, so thought I'd simply pose my question:

On the Williams dotmation family of slot machines (Big Bang Piggy Bankin, etc) can they be converted from one game theme to another just by glass & eprom replacement? (if so, what is the list of dotmation game choices). When I've walked thru various casinos I've noticed a striking similarity between several different games (especially IGT), as if the outside was merely decorative and the electronics/mechanicals inside were the basically the same. Would make sense from the manufacturing standpoint to offer many different cosmetic games for player variety, once they have spent all the effort & cost for the base game's development. Each new theme would not cost that much more to add, compared to the base machines hardware <I think>.

What I'm thinking is that if a person was looking to buy one of these older dotmation slots and their favorite game was not available, they could obtain another one in the same dotmation family and convert it, if the parts for conversion were out there. Is this a good strategy? And is there a list or Bible of the Williams Dotmation machines and their ability to be converted from one game theme to another? I would imagine the Williams production factory or employees that worked there back then would have this info, maybe it has been published somewhere?

Thanks for any forthcoming answers!

[Jeff]

Hi rokgpsman, and welcome to N.L.G. here's a link to a site you can check out.
it has the most photos, and videos of the games actually being played.
The games can be converted. You would need the upper and lower glass,
the reel strips and the eproms, and clear chip. The kits are very hard to find since Williams no longer
supports wms 400's. There's 1 payline and 5 payline games, all of which can be converted
if you can find the kits. IGT on the other hand is much easier to find kits for. I'm sure
they'll be other members to chime in to give you move information.

http://marvin3m.com/arcade/wmsslot.htm

Regards, Jeff

[knagl]

Hello and welcome to NLG!  You've found a great source of information for home slot ownership.

As Jeff said, you are correct -- you can swap out the glass/reel strips/chips and change a game's "theme".  Clay's site which he linked to in the post above mine is the most comprehensive list of WMS 400 (Dotmation and non-dot) games out there.

As Jeff said, the kits are getting harder and harder to find, but not impossible.  They pop up on eBay from time to time, and sometimes the vendors who frequent the site here have them available for sale if you ask.

I own one Dotmation machine and currently have five different kits that I've aquired over the years so I can swap them out and change the game.

As Jeff said, the IGT S+ and S2000 line of slots have a lot more glass/reel strips/chips available on the market as there were simply more of those machines made, installed, and removed from casino floors.  As such, the IGT kits tend to be cheaper and easier to find.  Most of the Dotmation kits, however, are more fun to play (in my opinion) due to the addition of the bonus rounds and graphics on the Dotmation display.

[rokgpsman]

My thanks to you & Jeff for the replies. My wife and I have enjoyed our twice-yearly trips to LV for quite a few years now and we've sadly watched as some of our favorite slots slowly went away. When we first started vacationing there the dotmation machines were easy to find and we both thought they were terrific fun to play. Seems like they are sometimes still on the floor in smaller out of the way places, Vegas Club had a couple of them last year (Stampede & Big Bang PB). We miss not having them around, hence my looking into possibly getting one of our own. It occurred to me that it might be easier/better to get any dotmation machine that's in good condition even if it didn't have the desired theme and then convert it to what we want. Her alltime favorite is the Big Bang PB so that's what I looking into but I didn't know what other games could be converted.

From reading your post it sounds like there are at least 5 dotmations game themes that can be converted as long as the parts are available. Would you mind listing those 5 games for me, as well as any others you are aware of that are in this family? I guess what I am wanting is a list of all the dotmation-type games that could be converted to a Big Bang PB or Stampede machine. Did Williams publish a catalog or booklet covering this topic?

I visited the website Jeff gave the link for, that fellow put together some history and seems to have a soft-spot for Williams! (I like him for that!) Maybe we are all just a little nostalgic for the good things from years gone away. I have seen lots of IGT machines available and many of them are attractive, but somehow the Williams machines have my eye.

A related question- we've all been warned about buying used cars that have come up from the deep south due to extensive flooding from hurricanes the past few years. Is there any danger of buying a used slot machine that could have water damage from the Gulf Coast casinos? Has anyone heard or seen this? I know they had some bad flooding in those places and it wouldn't surprise me if someone tried to sell salvaged machines.

[ashyron]

I personally know of at least 4 different games for WMS.   We have the Jackpot Stampede Deluxe (my favorite game), Jackpot Party, Jackpot Limbo and Big Bang Piggy Bankin (second favorite) games.  I believe there is something called Magic Lamp too .  I recently found out it isn't hard to switch between games as long as you have the stuff to do it and have a little time.  Also, I pretty much like the WMS games better than the IGT S+ machines but the S2000 and S2000 vision games are pretty fun and easy to exchange games too.  I would say if you find a good looking, working and inexpensive games, you should pick it up and just buy the kits for it.  Personally I prefer the games instead of the kits but that doesn't mean I don't have kits

[Slotmaster]

Here is a quick list of WMS DOTS

Jackpot Party (A few versions like Country and Beach)

Big Bang

Jackpot Limbo

Palace of Riches

Perfect Match

River Belle

Stroke of Luck

Stampede Deluxe

Winning Streak

Piggy Bankin

X-Factor

Safe Cracker

Magic Lamp

Pharaohs Fortune

Mermaids Gold

Mega Multiplier

Mermaid's Treasure

Money to Burn

Shopping Spree

Monopoly (different themes that all require special tops)

[kenokarz]

add safe cracker to that, also cfh should be able to finsh the list 

[Slotmaster]

I updated the list with all the matches from the WMS book of Dots.

[rokgpsman]

That's quite a list, didn't imagine it would be that many.


My Thanks to All! 

[cfh]

you can see a full list of the Dotmation games WITH pictures
AND video of each here:
http://marvin3m.com/arcade/wmsslot.htm

[rokgpsman]

I looked that over and it was very enjoyable, a thorough compilation. Appears that your understanding of the Williams machines is impressive.  Good job!

Are you the ancient tech I am hearing about? (and I ask that in a respectful way !)   

Only been here a few days but it seems like the knowledge among the regulars is impressive, as if many have been/still are in the industry itself, either as a repair/service person or sales.


Is this site where old gaming techs go after retirement, like that mythical elephant graveyard the Tarzan movies talked about? 

 

[jay]

This site is just about 4 years old. How time flys..... this is where private owners come to ask questions without getting snotty responses ....

The reason for this place existing is that many of the other sites on the web do not welcome the participation of those who are not in the gaming industry. If you got a response it would be something along the lines of...... what back water casino are you working in running that old.... blah blah blah.... you should be talking to your IGT/Bally/Aristocrat rep blah blah blah. My response would be... That backwater you speak of is my home, and I am trying to get this OLD machine working to amuse me and my friends.... and that would be the last we would ever hear.

As far as information sharing goes there is nothing taboo here, ask a question and if it can be answered someone will jump in.
The hard and fast rule is that we do not permit the sale, trade or offer of machine binaries - what you do via email off site is your own business but not here.
We know that some of the gaming manufactures monitor this site and we don't want to get shut down as they have corporate lawyers, we don't.

We are honored to have some great people who also are casino techs and a lot of techs who like working on casino machines. If you don't get a response right away don't be discouraged have some patience as not everyone logs on every day. If it sits for a while just post back with some ??? and it will get some more attention. We also appreciate that if you do get resolution to your problem that you post back and let everyone know what the resolution was. Pictures are always great.... and if you do feel a sense of appreciation please donate to the site as every cent goes to pay the hosting bill.

[rokgpsman]

Thanks for the comments getting me up to speed on the site. I saw something about to the "old site", did the previous existence crash/go private/otherwise?

People sharing their knowledge and their experience tips is wonderful, I've run into my share of those that protect what they know as if it is sacred or they are scared to allow others in.

I understand about the legal stuff with regard to software rights and the need to protect things here, will comply. I found newlifegames while researching the possibility of privately owning a real slot machine, and got intrigued by the hobbyist aspect of tinkering/repairing/updating them as I read some of the discussions here. The info and depth of detail makes interesting reading to me, better than most of the tv shows I could be watching. Hate to be just a lurker but I'm still figuring out the lay of the land so to speak, I'll probably be in the background most of the time when I'm here.

Am happy to be vacationing for a few days in Las Vegas soon, looking forward to that!

[jay]

When we upgraded the Forum software it was one of those "Fork Lift" upgrades and unfortuantely we could not simply just import the legacy posts.
Many of the moderators and more than a few helping hands did their best to copy as many of the informative threads as possible before the other software was retired.
So when you hear of people speaking about the "old site" this is what they were referring too. There was more than a few good posts lost. On the home page you will see a poll on
what people think of the "New Forum Software".

When we first started the forum we used to have a downloads section that we kept manuals in but after a few complaints that we were re-publishing copyrighted works we retired this.
We still have a uploads area which people can use to upload files too large to email, in order that they can help other members. This is allowed under the FAIR-USE provisions. We wipe this area every few days.

[Buzz]

rokgpsman  If your in the market for a Williams Dotmation and your going to be in Las Vegas for a few days take a trip down to Bullhead City and see Joey at New Life Games Slot Sales address is at top of this page,  The 4 of July I saw at least 5 for sale. Tell Joey you are a member and you will get the delux tour.  ( he is the owner )  Buzz

[rokgpsman]

Thanks Buzz!  We were thinking about renting a car for couple of days for some off-strip stuff, will see about doing that as a side-trip. If I had now all the money we've put into slot machines over the years in casinos I could probably buy a few of them immediately, but that's probably a familiar thought here!