First impressions owning a G20

[sftechgeek]

I thought I would put down on paper/screen my thoughts of having just bought my 3rd slot machine, the IGT G20. Originally, I was holding out for a G23 because I heard the advantage of the larger screen, however, I picked up a G23 that was in great shape with all the OLED buttons functioning and within driving distance of my house. I wheeled it into the house and played the limited Game King selections along with some slot, keno, and blackjack games.

The first thing I had to figure out was how to adjust the volume. So after poking around with the diagnostic tool, I figured I needed to use the EKEY. After figuring that out, it was time to add and remove some of the games. Here are some general points:

1. These machines are basically computers with I/O devices. Why are they so slow? I think many of the tinkers of slots are mechanically/electrically inclined and I'm sure many are technicians like myself. I'm always amazed at how slow these things are and how long it takes to install software and reboot. I know most of these machines weren't meant to be loaded up with so many apps and used for the home. But engineers and programmers don't always think about these things in development.

2. Looking at the hardware, I would think the designers could make better use of the graphics? Seems like many of the themes are somewhat, cartoonish. I like Lucky Larry's Lobstermania, there's something about the games themselves that could better take advantage of the sound and graphics. I know these are 10 year old games but am I the only one that doesn't see much creativity in these games? Perhaps that's why there are new machines with better graphics and sound out there now. Maybe I'm just being critical and technology changes like cellular phones.

3. So is this why IGT has given way to Aristocrat, Ainsworth, Konami, WMS/SG, etc.?
I know the Tribal Gaming in California have gone to the huge display slots. Is IGT the bargain brand?

4. I know it sounds like I'm complaining, I'm not. Or I'm injecting some observations and opinions based on my new machine which I am totally happy with. I have been told the G20 is an excellent machine to tinker with and get familiar with loading games. In that regard, it's been a great machine for me but I see myself already outgrowing this model.

I'm really thinking of a WMS Blade next or should I go with an Aristocrat?

[Rob in AK]

Consider a IGT Crystal with AVP 4.0 and family 20 games. I have a G23 I like it. I also have a Crystal Dual 23 and I like it too. Both machines use the ekey which is nice. They do use  different diag's but thats not a big deal. You can have a BUNCH of games installed at once on either machine. 

[sftechgeek]

That Curve must have cost a fortune to have shipped to Alaska? Do you mind if I ask where you purchased the machine from? Those run $6-$7K, don't they? And I imagine those are Fam20 games?

Looking for another affordable slot machine I can tinker with. Appears most machine are single game or not as easily expandable as the IGT AVP systems.

[Rob in AK]

That Curve must have cost a fortune to have shipped to Alaska? Do you mind if I ask where you purchased the machine from? Those run $6-$7K, don't they? And I imagine those are Fam20 games?

Looking for another affordable slot machine I can tinker with. Appears most machine are single game or not as easily expandable as the IGT AVP systems.

My Crystal is not a curve its a Dual 23. The curves do cost more for sure. They make a Dual 23, Dual 27 & Curve. They all run Family 20 games however The Dual and Curves run different game packages. I got my machine from Joe Burton at JLB Games. Yes shipping to AK is not cheap. Average cost is 1,200-1,400 to get a machine up here. I like the fact with an AVP how you can have a lot of games and its easy and affordable. I would say however the games I see for other game cabinets look awesome and fun. But like you said its one game or maybe a few games at a time and the cost to obtain more games seems a lot more expensive. Member RB here on NLG can set you up with a library of games for Family 14 or Family 20 for a very reasonable cost. If you are interested in jumping to a Crystal. I'd contact him for a list of games he has and then search on Utube for game play videos to see if those games are what you like.
   

[sftechgeek]

Ahh, yes, I see the difference in the Crystal series. Basically the Crystal Dual looks like the G23 but runs Fam20 games? Did they do away with most of the physical buttons? So the screens are 27" and the topper can be a 3rd monitor?

That's quite a bit of $$$ to have a machine shipped up North. From Ohio to California it would cost me $400 for a pallet to be shipped.

Already received my HDD from RB which is a must have if you want those Fam14 resources.

Though the wife ain't too happy with my new found hobby, she's really going to flip when another machine ends up in the living room...

Thanks for sharing...

[Rob in AK]

Ahh, yes, I see the difference in the Crystal series. Basically the Crystal Dual looks like the G23 but runs Fam20 games? Did they do away with most of the physical buttons? So the screens are 27" and the topper can be a 3rd monitor?

Crystal dual 23 is 23" screens. Dual 27 is 27". I have a dual 23. Its big enough for me. The 27 looks sweet but it also costs more. Yes they run Fam20 games. The button deck is a touch screen. Ive seen them with either one large spin button on the right side of the screen or two (one on each side). Mine has just one button. Yes the topper is a monitor. So it changes with what game is loaded. Most games it will have video topper action. Some games its just displays a static image on the topper. The topper is 24". It was made for a 27 or curve. But it mounts right up to the 23". They didn't make a video topper for the 23". The cabinet itself has led lighting along the sides that changes colors with game play. The topper also has edge lighting around it.

As far as costs goes. Yea its not cheap to ship stuff up here but it is what it is. Far cheaper to have a machine in my game room than flying to Vegas and feeding the machines in the casinos lol.

[Retro tech repair]

They are computers yes but they are old computers computers with very low specs. On top of that the machine is constantly reading and writing to the nvram on the pci card and the 2 cabinet memory chips on the back plane. Its also constantly accessing all the cabinet io