New Life Games LLC
**Video Poker, Keno, Slots, 21** Gaming machines => VLC Machines => Topic started by: verbob on August 08, 2017, 05:38:43 AM
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Just picked up this old white beast for super cheap. Just going to be a man-cave machine...
Powered up and get error 96.
Would love to know where to get a manual for this. Info on this machine is extremely scarce.
I did fix the lines in the screen since I took the pictures by adjusting the CRT. And this is a Canadian machine, but I assume not much difference than the american as thats where they most likely were manufactured anyway.
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I was thinking those "Video Lotto" machines were just computer terminals, they have to be connected to a network server that actually runs the game? Have you looked inside, take a photo of the main logic circuit board, see if it has game software stored in eprom? I'm not familiar with your particular machine so this is just a guess.
Also, you didn't say what brand or the name of the company that made it. Look for an idplate or something that says the manufacturer and model name.
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I was thinking those "Video Lotto" machines were just computer terminals, they have to be connected to a network server that actually runs the game? Have you looked inside, take a photo of the main logic circuit board, see if it has game software stored in eprom? I'm not familiar with your particular machine so this is just a guess.
in the back there are quite a few circuit boards. This is dated dec 1992, so I'd be 100% certain they didn't run from a network server, but yes, there is a modem plug, ...these units should run mostly stand-alone and connectivity simply for some type of validation check I would believe. Modem LOL...imagine how long it would take to load a game? or the time it takes between spins?
I will however take a few pics of the internal circuitry and post. This may be a simply issue of a previous owner playing with the dip switches and messing it up, which is where a manual would come in handy...
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Are you sure it is a modem (telephone) connector, and not a network connector? They are similar looking, but the network connector is wider.
A telephone/modem connector has 6 positions for wires, the network connector has 8 positions for wires.
(https://s26.postimg.org/5v5lpub89/rj11_rj45.jpg)
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OOOPS, yea forgot to add this earlier. I'll take pics of the internal circuits in a bit. Thanks.
Also, these units were in almost every corner store around here in the mid to late 90's, so I'd doubt that every store was equipped with broadband internet as it was a rarity for most people to have at that time (dial-up was the norm). So I'd be very confident in saying yes to modem. But will double check (this machine is in my friends garage at the moment, but I'll be over there later today and I'll snap some pics)
...and yes, I am aware of the difference between modem and ethernet... been in IT for almost 3 decades :)
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If it is a modem connection then it was probably just used to send in financial info concerning machine play, report stats required by the regulators like amount of coin-in, winnings paid, etc.
When you are looking at the circuit boards one of them (probably the main control board) may have a battery that is used to keep certain data intact in case of power loss or if the machine is shut down. On some machines if the battery has gone dead then the machine will halt operation. Something to check.
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I did notice the battery(AA) with soldered wires on an add-in/daughter/riser (whatever its referred to as) board. When going through the menu screen with the key turned, I see that the battery is keeping the time/date properly, although it's possible that particular battery has a different purpose.
I'll probably try connecting another AA in parallel and see if it helps, as I've read there may be issues completely disconnecting the existing battery on different model machines.
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It looks like the Video Lottery Consultants company is still around, their phone number is (406)-585-6600 and (406) 585-6617, you could try contacting them to see about getting a manual or other support. Worth a try.
They may now be part of a company called Powerhouse Technologies now. Here is some of the company history:
http://www.company-histories.com/Powerhouse-Technologies-Inc-Company-History.html (http://www.company-histories.com/Powerhouse-Technologies-Inc-Company-History.html)
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It looks like the Video Lottery Consultants company is still around, their phone number is 406-585-6600, you could try contacting them to see about getting a manual or other support. Worth a try.
Thanks! Certainly an option. I just got a line on a (relatively) local person that had some experience with these back when they were in service. I'll give that a try first :)
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Here's some more pics
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Was the local person that is familiar with this model machine of any help?
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Still waiting on him to get back to me... preliminary contact made and he did indicate he *may* be able to help.... still open to suggestions in the meantime :)
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Question - did you ever resolve the issues with the VLC?
Appears you may have the early model? smaller chips for those ones...
You do not need to be hooked up to a telephone line.
There will operate as a stand alone machine. The games are on each board.
The telephone line connection was for monitoring payouts etc....
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Actually ended up selling the terminal without resolution... didn't have room to store it :(
Thanks everyone for your input.