Changing Game King 4.3 game chips

[smoothgrh]

Hi,
Thank you for being such a great resource, and apologies for my newbie question!


I have an IGT Game King 4.3 with the 837 base chip. I recently bought a new software chip set that has 40+ video poker games, but when I installed it, I still have the exact same 12 games I originally had. (The seller hasn't responded to my questions.)


I'm wondering: Do I need something like a key chip to activate the new games? Did I probably have all those games in the first place, and didn't realize it? (The numbering on the chip labels are exactly the same!)


Thank you for any help! (It would be so nice just to play Jacks or Better on my machine!)
G.

[Tilt]

Hi G,

Welcome to  .    Attached is a PSR for your M0000837 base chip which shows the games you have available on it.   You can select up to 12 per denomination.  It sounds like you have a "default" installation.  If you want to change games/payouts then you will need a keychip to do it.  Key 17 is the one you need for GK 4.3.  Key 22 and 40 will also work, but you may have to completely clear everything to change a setting, which isn't real convenient.  Make sure you don't have any credits on the machine when you key it.  First step will be to get the keychip if you don't already have one


<mod edit to remove name at request of smoothgrh>

[smoothgrh]

Thank you very much for your reply!


I also received a reply from the seller, and was told the keychip is different depending on the monitor? I have a 13-inch monitor. Does that make a difference?


In any case, I'll ask for chip 17.


Much appreciated!

[Tilt]

No, the monitor size doesn't make any difference as far as what keychip to use.  What GME (G000XXXX) chips do you have with your base chip? 

[knagl]

I'm wondering: Do I need something like a key chip to activate the new games? Did I probably have all those games in the first place, and didn't realize it? (The numbering on the chip labels are exactly the same!)

Yes, and yes.

Of note, you can only have a maximum of 12 games to choose from per denomination, so when you do the keychip process you'll want to set up multiple denominations in order to be able as a player to easily access all of the available games.

For example, on my Game King I have penny denomination set up with all of the slot games, plus one or two video poker games.  $0.02 has all of the keno games, $0.05, $0.25, and $1 all are set up with video poker games.  I think I also included blackjack on the $1 denomination.

In summary, you can (and for home use, in my opinion, should) have all 40 games available for regular play -- you just need to spread them over multiple denominations to be able to access them all from the menu as a player, since the maximum number of icons (games) for any one denomination is 12.

[smoothgrh]

I have the G0002142 GME chips. Is that a common set?


Again, thank you for your guidance, everyone! I'll let you know the results!


G.

[Tilt]

Yeah, that's a pretty common one.  Here's the PSR for it.

[smoothgrh]

Kevin,


Thanks for the tips on distributing the games over denominations! My machine actually has 12 (!) denominations, from $0.01 to $20/credit! What enables these denomination options? Software, hardware, or a combination? I'll definitely spread out the games over these denominations!


(As an aside, the easiest way I've found to clear out my credits is playing 9 lines at $20/line on Lion Fish for a $180 spin—can you imagine doing that with real money? Well, I could too, but that'd be insane!)


G.

[nateccnn]

Kevin,


Thanks for the tips on distributing the games over denominations! My machine actually has 12 (!) denominations, from $0.01 to $20/credit! What enables these denomination options? Software, hardware, or a combination? I'll definitely spread out the games over these denominations!


(As an aside, the easiest way I've found to clear out my credits is playing 9 lines at $20/line on Lion Fish for a $180 spin—can you imagine doing that with real money? Well, I could too, but that'd be insane!)


G.

The denominations are options in the key chip menu.  You chose them.  But choice is based on the hopper denomination if you use coins.  I use a 25 cent hopper...therefore I cannot chose a denomination that is not divisible by 25 cents.  I cannot chose a denomination less than 25 cents.  If I want to chose a denomination of 1 penny I have to set my hopper denomination as 1 penny.  Make sense?

[smoothgrh]

Makes total sense! My machine has neither a hopper nor a TITO interface. My guess is that it was at a place like the Gold 'N Silver Inn—a restaurant in Reno—where you play, then cash out by receiving money from the restaurant cashier, who then resets the credits.

[nateccnn]

Gold N Silver Inn...over by Gold Dust West, right?  Same systems used in most bars.  No tickets...no coins.  Hit cash out and a pretty lady hands you your winnings.

So you can chose any denominations you want.

Nate

[smoothgrh]

Nate,


That's correct! On the west side of Reno. Before I visited that restaurant, I had never seen upright machines with that kind of cash-out system, though my guess is that gas stations and convenience stores probably have the same system? (I don't play in those places!)


G.

[DanTheMan]

I posted some detailed spreadsheets for a few Game King 4.3 chip sets that I've tried out.
http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=10176.0


Look for M0000837 in the attachments. It's probably got more information than you really want to know, unless you're a video poker fan and really study the paytables. Also for the Keno games, it gives some good insight into the payout percentage depending on the number of spots selected. Some plays are definitely better than others.


I agree with everybody to use Key 17 and set up many denominations, so you can play all kinds of different games at any time.


I also documented a couple Game King 4.0 chipsets, which actually have a bit more variety (fewer poker games, but plenty of them and a lot more slot & Keno games.)
http://newlifegames.com/nlg/index.php?topic=10766.0

[brianfink]

You can set your machine to hand pay by setting your hopper limit to zero. Go to Machine options, credit style setup or limits depending on the software.

[knagl]

But choice is based on the hopper denomination if you use coins.  I use a 25 cent hopper...therefore I cannot chose a denomination that is not divisible by 25 cents.  I cannot chose a denomination less than 25 cents.  If I want to chose a denomination of 1 penny I have to set my hopper denomination as 1 penny.

Are you sure about that?  I swear that on my machine the coin denomination is set to $0.25, but I have available denominations that are less than $0.25.  I've got over $1,000 on the credit meter right now, so I don't feel like testing what happens if I try to cash out $0.24.

[sirius7]

But choice is based on the hopper denomination if you use coins.  I use a 25 cent hopper...therefore I cannot chose a denomination that is not divisible by 25 cents.  I cannot chose a denomination less than 25 cents.  If I want to chose a denomination of 1 penny I have to set my hopper denomination as 1 penny.

Are you sure about that?  I swear that on my machine the coin denomination is set to $0.25, but I have available denominations that are less than $0.25.  I've got over $1,000 on the credit meter right now, so I don't feel like testing what happens if I try to cash out $0.24.

My hopper denomination is $0.05 and I use the $0.01/$0.02 denominations all the time with various games.  The only caveat is I can't cash out a value less than $0.05 without the ticket printer.

[brianfink]

If your printer is enabled it will not work, you would have to use the key chip to disable the printer first. If you are going to disable the printer you could also just disable the hopper. Machine options, cashout devices or peripheral devices. In either case you have to have zero credits before you can do the key chip or change the limits.

[smoothgrh]

I'm happy to report that the 17 key chip worked! I now have a variety of poker games—yippee!!


I followed the installation instructions for the 22 key chip found elsewhere on this site, and the one big difference I saw was that when I installed the key chip and turned on the machine, all I got was a purple screen. I did the "turn attendant key, then press the test button—then repeat process three times" procedure anyway—not sure if that actually did anything. In any case, when I turned on the power again with the base ROM, I got the glorious Key Chip Menu!


One suggestion to other first-time game changers, REMEMBER: DO NOT let the machine sit idle for 1 minute! I had to do that IC swap twice! I prefer not doing that!


 

[Tilt]

Glad to hear you got it setup the way you wanted  .  Key 17 doesn't have a menu feature like 22 and 40 do, so you don't need to push the button or turn the key switch with it.  With the keychip installed watch the end two amber lights on the MPU board when you turn it on.  When they light you can turn the machine off, re-install the base chip, and the machine should boot to the keychip menu.  If it doesn't make sure there are no credits on the machine.  Thanks for the follow up post!