Convert S-Plus machine to backlit reels?

[Gary]

Yesterday I bought my first slot machine. It is an IGT S-Plus "Double Rodeo" 3-reel 25 cent machine. I believe it came out of the MGM Grand and is now 25 years old.


I am curious about the feasibility of converting the 3 reels from the current "front-lit" mode to a back lit flavor. Is it possible or does that even make sense?


Gary

[rickhunter]

The S+ has no ability to control backlit reels. You would have to re-design the reel baskets to allow for a light box behind the strips.  The way the original baskets are designed, it would not allow for the reel to spin with a ligh box behind it.  As it stands, the light would have to be "projected" to backlight the strips.  Even if you were able to get passed these obstacles, the backlight would have to be an all "on" design and furthermore, only a few S+ games ever had a "backlightable" strip set, as most are not able to be backlit.  So the short answer is not worth it, just get an S2000, they are now the same price as an S+ (or an insignificant difference) if you want backlit reels.

[jay]

I created a small hack sometime ago. I hung led lights from the top of the cabinet into the open side of the reel baskets and put on a set of  backlit strips.

I tapped into the power that went to the center basket stepper motor to feed a small relay so the lights were only on during a spin.

Now I do mean hack - this was steel tape (used for sealing heat duck tape to run the wires across the top of the cabinet, and a piece of stiff electrical wire as a guide to be able to take the lights down and position them in the reel basket. The reel strips were [/size][/color]

non-matching to the theme that I had and I figured if this worked out I would have them made up.

I tapped into the power that went to the center basket stepper motor to feed a small relay so the lights were only on during a spin.


I was not overly happy with the results as the lights I had used were not bright enough, and while they came on with the spin they didn't "dance" - I think I would need to use a separate light controller for that. ie feed the light controller with power and have it perform light sequences or operate off of the sound.  I also thought it would be good to have the lights come on (and dance) during a hopper pay but the voltages for the hopper motor are quite different than a stepper motor (and I think A/C) I never got around to playing with that. 


The big thing is that there are only a few cross over themes where there are reel strips that would be compatible and while there are people who can easily print/laminate reel strips - the number of people who can do proper backlit are few and far between.


I tend to agree with the earlier recommendation - go native - don't hack the machine - buy a S2000 if you want backlit.

[Gary]

Thanks guys. I think I'll leave the backlight idea alone.




Gary

[rokgpsman]

The S+ has no ability to control backlit reels.....only a few S+ games ever had a "backlightable" strip set, as most are not able to be backlit.....

This info prompts me to ask, why did IGT produce any backlit strips for the S+ since backlighting is not available on the S+ ? Was it done for times when an S+ game kit is installed into an S2000? Or maybe did the last models of S+ built have the backlight feature?

[jay]

I don't know that any of the backlit strips were explicitly created for the S+


You have many enduring themes like double diamond .... this was created with the M machines, migrated to the S, then the S+ which used this platform to create Double Diamond Deluxe - nudge theme, and these were then moved forward to S2000 and AVP.  The nudge is really just for show - the underlying game is the same payout etc.


Slot Math and the burden to certify a game as truly random that will pay out the stated percentages is a pretty big (expensive) hurdle for the game manufacturers to endur across many different gaming jurisdictions, so they tend to reuse themes whenever they can, especially if they are popular. Then there are clone themes - same game as far as software is concerned, but different glass/reel strips. The other thing that has changed is that most everything is now patented or copyrighted. Want to create a Big Bang Theory Slot Machine ?? Chuck Lore, gets his piece of the action as would any of the actors if you used their likeness. Potsi (Aron somebody) from Happy Days sued (and won) for use of his face on lunch boxes back in the late 70's. In short ts hard to create an original theme that is both popular and available. Want to know why there are not more Wheel of Fortune style games ?? guess what - someone patented the prize wheel concept. The patents from Nortel (failed technology company in the 80's) are still being licensed and sold.     
 
Long story - but the backlit reel strips were probably made for the S2000 and are backwards compatible with the S+