WMS Blue Bird's Models - Early BB1 to current models. - Questions for Newbies

[Shoreline Electronics]

Is there a list of the different versions of all the Blue Bird variations and what the main differences are.  BB1, BB2, BB2E? ,BB3   BB2E to BB3 conversions...Blade...Sit down versions.


Are they backwards compatible?  (BB2 will play BB1 games)  (BB3 will play BB2 games)


I have a BB1 now and can see that the BB2 or 3 seems to use a Dongle/USB stick type security device for the software to work, as where the BB1 does not.


I'll be looking at newer machine to buy soon and just want to understand my options for game compatibility.


Thanks !

[rickhunter]

BB1 games only run on BB1.

Some BB2 games will run on a BB1 (typically the earlier ones that don't use dongles and do not require a widescreen monitor).  BB2 dongle games only run on a bb2.

BB3 games (also called blade games because the bb3 cabinet is called a blade cabinet), only run on a bb3 mpu.

I would say that the most versatile cabinet is a bb2 cabinet, since you can convert it into a transmissive reel cabinet very easily and be able to play transmissive reel games which are a lot of fun.  You can also put a bb3 mpu in a bb2 cabinet, you just need an emotive controller (unless you get a bb2e cabinet that already has the emotive stuff) and an auxilliary power harness for it to work, and can run well over 90% of blade games (there are a handful of games that specifically require the higher resolution displays, but only a handful).

Blade cabinet are kind of expensive still, although they look really cool, but converting them to run anything other than video is difficult.

You can also run bb1 games on a bb2, you will need a standard button panel, a bb1 mpu, button harness to go from backplane to button panel, and a vga cable to connect the main monitor.

Some folks have upgraded their bb1 to bb2 by replacing the monitors (some modification to the door is required as well as a creative way to mount a top 22 inch monitor inside the bb1 tall box), but with the price difference now between a bb1 and abb2 cabinet being much lower, it is no longer recommended unless you already have a bb1 cabinet. 

[Shoreline Electronics]

Good info !  Thank you !