Convert S+ to S2000?

[Paladin]

I was curious if it would be possible to convert an S+ to an S2000.  I did a search and didn't find any information on it, so I'm guessing it's possible but not worth it.

I recently came into slots via the video arcade game hobby.  I'm wondering if a slot conversion would be similar to my experiences in that hobby. 
The JAMMA standard was created so that all that was needed to change one arcade game to another was so swap game boards, artwork and maybe add a button or two.  From what I'm reading here, this is just like when you buy a 'kit' for your slot machine. 

The other example is doing a full arcade restoration job, like I've done to Tempest arcade games that had been converted to other games.  In this case I have to buy the original wiring harness, power supply, specialized monitor and spinner unit - as well as the game boards and artwork. 

Although the feeling of restoring a 'classic' arcade game back to it's original condition is priceless, the actual amount of money I spent was more than it would have cost me to buy a working original game.  I've since restored a couple more because I enjoyed the project, and since making connections in the hobby I was able to buy the parts I needed at lower prices than before.

I assume that converting an S+ to an S2000 would be similar to the arcade restoration, where it's easier to just buy an S2000 to begin with.  Is that right?  Has anyone done a conversion just for the heck of it, or are there some obstacles that would prevent it from even being possible?

[rickhunter]

I suppose anything is possible, but in order to make sure everything fits nicely, you would have to do some major metal work done inside the S+ cabinet in order for the new hardware layout to fit correctly, and then there's the matter of the door, you would probably have to modify the door extensively in order to fit the correct hardware on it too.  I was going to try the conversion just for the challenge of it all, but in the end with prices of S2000's down to where they are at, it's not worth the $200 to $300 in savings.

[Railroad94]

Whats nice about the S-2000 is that you can still use all your S+ games

[stayouttadabunker]

Nothing is impossible I would say....
why?
I converted a Bally EM into an fully operational S+ 2 years ago.
In other words, I ripped out the guts of a Bally EM and stuck in a complete IGT S+ !
So, with that in mind,
I see no reason for it to be impossible to convert an S+ into an S2000 cabinet,
or vice versa...

In the end, I agree with Rick Hunter's statement...
It's quite a bit of work and challenging...
Plus, the open market is getting saturated with S2000's
to the point where prices continue to eke downwards
for these aging platforms.

[jay]

There are a number of older machines that may actually have Bally and IGT on them and/or a Summit plate.

In the old days - IGT used to trade in competitors machines and deliver the S and S+ platform's. The old machines were then converted to IGT guts and resold.

At the end of the day the cabinet is just a cabinet. The rachet arm is just a switch so technically you can rip the guts out and put in the parts from an S2000.

Starting with an empty cabinet is not going to be that hard of a job as the glass is the same size. Just don't expect to be able to use any aspect of the S+
This includes the reel shelf, harnesses, power supply, etc. Even the bill validator will use different software so you might have to replace that too.

Given the effort involved..... I personally would rather have 2 working machines than one semi-functinal frankenstien ... and I know there is a subculture who enjoy pain with their pleasure.....
Worst case sell the S+ and use the proceeds towards a S2000.....

Just as a quick obersvation of the industry:

It would have been nice if IGT had created a easy upgrade kit. I think this would have helped maintain market share which they do appear to be losing.

I remember the old days when Novell made the upgrade from 3 to 4 such a beast that it was easier to do a fork-lift upgrade (replace everything)
And if I was doing a replacement it gave me pause to also look at other platforms such as Baynan Vines and Windows NT.

What we have today is a Microsoft world......

This is also happening in reverse - so many PCs are not hardware upgradeable from XP to Vista..... 1gb ram and a DVD drive is the getting in point.... Ouch.
If I have to buy a new machine it gives me pause to say ..... what does Apple have to offer...... guess what .... 75% of all NorthAmerican cities now have Mac centers in their malls .... 3 years ago pre-vista ... it wasn't there.

[ROCKET]

Nothing is impossible I would say....
why?
I converted a Bally EM into an fully operational S+ 2 years ago.
In other words, I ripped out the guts of a Bally EM and stuck in a complete IGT S+ !
So, with that in mind,
I see no reason for it to be impossible to convert an S+ into an S2000 cabinet,
or vice versa...

In the end, I agree with Rick Hunter's statement...
It's quite a bit of work and challenging...
Plus, the open market is getting saturated with S2000's
to the point where prices continue to eke downwards
for these aging platforms.

AS THE  BUNKER MOLE SAYS NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE .. -- NOW AS JAY, SAID MANY MACHINES HAD BEEN CONVERTED ..

I PERSONALLY HAVE DONE THE SAME AS STAYOUTOF BUNKER .. TOOK A BALLY CABINET OR ANY CABINET AT THE END OF DAY IS CABINET ..WE CAN AGREE ON THIS .. I HOPE WITHOUT SKYROCKETS BEING SENT OVER ..

BUT SINCE MYSELF AS MANY DEALERS PICK OUT THE CREAM OF CROP AND REBUILD RESTORE RE-SELL ..THE ONES THAT ARE DROPPED OR CRUSHED ON ONE SIDE FROM A FORKLIFT DRIVER DOING HIS BEST TO HIT THE OAK PALLET BUT GETS THE LOWER BELLY GLASS AND HOPPER TO PICK UP A FEW .. IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO MACHINES IN ALL DIFF STAGES OF REPAIR IT IS CERTAINLY VERY EASILY DONE TO TURN A S-PLUS INTO A S-2000.. IS IT ORIGINAL ??

NO ITS NOT !! BUT WAS THE AIR YOU FIRST PUT IN THE NEW TIRE MOUNTED .. THE SAME ORIGINAL AIR THAT CAME OUT ?

IT DEPENDS ON ONES AVAILABILITY TO USED CABINETS AND USED PARTS .. NEVER SAY ITS NOT THE SAME OR NOT POSSIBLE .. TO MAKE IT HUMAN AND RETURN TO CASINO AND HIDE FOR YOU TO COME IN AND TAKE COMMANDS TO WIN WHEN YOUR PLAYING IT .. YA THATS FAR OUT THERE ..

MANY BALLY CABINETS -- HAVE BEEN USED TO BECOME S-PLUS UPRIGHTS .. SINCE THE POST I MADE LAST WEEK OF THE MEMBER WHO WANTED TO CONVERT 9-INCH TOP OR 16-INCH TOP OF IGT S-PLUS UPRIGHT INTO A ROUND TOP ..

A BALLY ROUND TOP TAKES THE GLASS FINE AS LONG AS YOU USE A HIGHER  PLAYER TRACKING PIECE INBETWEEN BOTTOM OF TOP GLASS AND CABINET AND A DAP OF CLEAR SILICONE CLEARS UP THE OOPS OF THE RATTLE AND IGT GLASS FALLING OUT ..

I HATE THE WORDS IT CANT BE DONE !! THAT TELLS ME THE PERSON IS NOT OPEN MINDED .. THAT IS NOT DIRECTED TO ANY MEMBER ..

Rocket

[ROCKET]

AS FAR AS MIDWAY TOUCHMASTER VIDEO GAMES ..  THEY ACTUALLY MAKE A MANUAL HOW TO PULL THE GUTS OUT OF A MERIT MACHINE AND TURN A OUTDATED MERIT INTO A LATER MODEL TOUCHMASTER VIDEO GAME THATS  BEEN AROUND FOR YRS NOT IN USE .

ITS ALL RELATIVE .. I HAD THAT OFFER FROM JVL CO. OF CANADA IN 2008 ON MY EXPERIENCE CONVERTING
THERE OLD

JVL -1

JVL-2

JVL-3

ALL THE WAY UP TO JVL -JVL-8's

that the early ones had the CRT ==CATHODE  RAY -TUBE --3-M TOUCH SCREEN

TO TURN THE EARLY ONES INTO ANY YEAR SOFTWARE FROM JVL-1--8 USING A LCD SCREEN --INPLACE OF THE CRT -TUBE TOUCH SCREEN .

RETRO FIT KIT
THAT I HAD DEVELOPED FOR UNDER 200.00 U.S. DOLLARS ..


 I NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THERE OFFER DUE TO A SUDDEN FAMILY DEATH AT THE TIME --THEN SUBSEQUENT HEALTH TROUBLE AFTER THAT


JVL WERE LIKE A HUNGRY DOG ON A MEAT WAGON   TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION I HAD DESIGNED TO MAKE A COST AFFORDABLE RETRO FIT KIT FOR ALL THE OLD MACHINES JUST SITTING ..


THE DEAL ALSO INCLUDED RETRO FITTING THE OLD MERIT TOUCH SCREEN GAMES THAT HAD THE OLD 260 BOARD IN THEM JUST RIP OUT THE GUTS LEAVE THE CRT TUBE IN THAT CASE AND TURN IT TO JVL 1-8  USING MERITS  CATHODE RAY TUBE .. OF WHATEVER MAKER THEY PURCHASED FROM AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE --ORION --CHUGUNGHWA <,lol --HITACHI-- ETC

i think i should drop those boys a hello some time lol .. i could use a retirement package besides the NO GOOD ONE THE U.S GOV. GIVES OUT ..

[brichter]

I remember the old days when Novell made the upgrade from 3 to 4 such a beast that it was easier to do a fork-lift upgrade (replace everything)

Geez, I did a ton of those...

[stayouttadabunker]

I remember the old days when Novell made the upgrade from 3 to 4 such a beast that it was easier to do a fork-lift upgrade (replace everything)

Geez, I did a ton of those...

I hope you got paid well....

[rickhunter]

Whenever I did those, I would just just setup on a separate server and move the stuff over to a fresh 4.x install and create the NDS based on the old bindery information.  What was great about the netware days, is that you could pre-install the hard drive at your premises and then you install the new drive on any computer while the transfers were taking place, and then move the drive into the original server when done, none of this PnP configurations or anything.  It was fast, efficient, and took less manual labor to do it.  Back then 2 or 3 GB arrays were VERY LARGE installs for your typical small business.

[brichter]

I hope you got paid well....

As I remember telling my wife back then after a pretty messed up printer driver issue that kept me all night (as the network couldn't be touched during business hours and since it was a CPA company and this was in March, printer support for doing clients' taxes was mandatory), "There's no amount of money worth this job!"

And, being a financial firm, it was run by the bean counters, and every dime spent was well-scrutinized and hardware upgrades were out of the question. I brought up to them at the outset of the job that their timing was less than optimal, but they insisted.

[RickJ]

 

I know quite a bit about converting S+ and S2K slot machines..I can tell ya that it is not possible to convert S+ to S2000. The S+ uses a direct I/O interface, light for light, switch for switch, etc. (except for the bill acceptor, which is ID-023) while the S2000 uses serial I/O (called SENET) for EVERYTHING. IGT uses a proprietary communication called NETPLEX to communicate with the control panel, displays, hopper, networking, bill acceptor, in other words, the whole game! I have successfully converted both types of these games to new games, but converting  S+ to S2000 is not possible for me...YET!!

[brichter]

Holy dead thread revival, Batman! 

As already stated, you just need to gut the cabinet and stuff ALL the internals from the S2k in there (with mods to the cabinet to get it all to mount up). 

It'll look great until you open the door. 

[RickJ]

I'd love to see what you did.. I convert S+ games to all new games and I am starting to do the same to the S2000.

This is what I do. (See attached pic)