14 replies to this topic

[bladefan2]

Hi y'all

I recently purchased from an amusement arcade Barcrest's Rich & Famous (5p / £5 JP) fruit machine, but for some reason it keeps offering JP's a lot as well as a lot of wins which is annoying me as it is clearly not playing to its percentage payout.

I've even twiddled with the DIP switches to set it to its lowest payout (70%) but it's still paying out a lot (about £8 per £1 put in).

I've worked out what the percentage is (be dividing 100 by the Amount In, then multiplying this total by the Amount Out) which is 75.86%.

I can't find a percentage key on the side of the fruit machine at all and the machine is not in any test mode (where the machine gives loads of wins for demo purposes).

Has anybody else had this problem with their fruit machine ?

The program is 'Y' version which means it should be able to use the DIP switches to alter the Percentage P/O.

Hope someone can help as I clearly can't play the fruit machine properly whilst this problem is occurring.

thanks

Jay

[Bencrest]

I know when I first put my Spiker in on £25 JP it:

Paid out 1x IM giving Hi-Lo Notes for £45
Then a NON IM Board giving 2xJackpot [T-skill repeat] £50
and then ANOTHER JP £25

£120 total
all within £5 :D


Check the VTP setting on the machine - which means opening a door on the machine....then hit the start button to get into demo mode, and then put in the refill key and turn. Will tell you the % in / out target % e.t.c since the Jackpot was last changed, stepping through using the start button from what I remember.

Percentage is changable using a % Key, normally a Red block with 4 white switiches sticking out of it. Should be loacated on the MPU4 or the Program Card itself inside the machine - and should be fairly easy to spot. Just [with a door open] keep flicking those backwards and forwards and see what the % on the display changes to. If you do not have a RED block with 4 switches then you probably have a moulded % key in which case you can't change it without getting a new key - I recommend the Variable % keys, should only be a couple of quid either from eBay, or www.CMJSleisure.co.uk

BarcrestBenito

[bladefan2]

thanks for that BarcrestBenito !

I've got a refill key on order at the moment - should be here anyday. :roll:

Once I get this key - I'll see what it says.

I can't find a moulded key on the inside (9 pin) or a red block with changeable DIP switches I'm afraid. There are 2 banks of 8 DIP switches (which I've even tried using a different DIP switch to pay out all wins instead of banking them, which does not seem to work either) :?

Be interesting to see what the refill key tells me once it arrives !!!

I've been at a point where I've put £80 in the tubes and just kept winning my money back (which has I've said isn't that hard a task to do) using a few quids and then replenishing the tubes in an attempt to up the 'out money' meter. :evil:

BTW, do you know if the 'out money' meter has any influence over how the machine plays - i.e., I know this is just an output meter, but does this inadvertently affect the CPU / program (i.e., acts as an input to the machine's program?) :?:

It's funny that our fruit machines would leave the amusement arcade (or wherever you've bought yours from) in this kind of state !!!!

How did you manage to sort out your problem ? Does is play well now ?

kindest regards



Jay

[Bencrest]

I think that mine was jusy playing like that because once the blokes had workshopped it they decided to 'test' it by bunging about £200 in :)

I've noticed that when I change stake/prize, the machine performs a basic software reset, clearing meters e.t.c.

It then seems to play at about 110% for the first 50>100 quid say, and then suck for ages before streaking, and then it balances out at the require percentage. Perhaps thats why machines, when they get put into new pubs, play so well for a start. Maybe they are programmed to play well to get people addicted to them, they then THEMSELVES [i.e not due to bar staff with keys] lower payout back to what it should be.

Hopefully the refill key will let you see what percentage it is running at....don't worry if it is quite high, it will even itself out - even if that means using money from the tubes to play through the weird period :)

b.t.w I am not entirely sure about the Percentage Key as I haven't had an MPU4 machine before, but sure someone else out there knows :)

BarcrestBenito

[bladefan2]

Thanks BarcrestBenito

I agree with you - that's what I keep doing although it seems that it will never end with the payouts !!! It doesn't seem to be 'even-ing' itself out as yet.

I'll wait for the refill key and see what happens. Thanks once again for your prompt post.


On another note:

Does anybody know how to remove the reels as some of the prize money bulbs need replacing (i.e., 40p, 2.00, 5.00). I can't get to these bulbs without removing the whole reel assembly as they are below the reels. If anyone knows, please let me know how this can be achieved.

Cheers

Jay

[bladefan2]

Hi There

I received the refill key and hoping for it to tell me what the Percentage Payout is (so I can see just how high it's set) it does not tell me anything on the display except 'Cash Refill'.

When I click on any button, or even try putting the fruit machine into 'Test' mode, nothing's happening. I can't even get to a 'Percentage Actual' screen or anything similar.

I'm still in the dark why this is happening - anyone got any suggestions please?

Jay

[Bencrest]

Hi Jay,

Sorry, seems I may have given you the wrong info - you need the BACK door open, I think I said the cashdoor [sorry :(]

Basically, just turn the machine on, and open the back door. It'll say something like INIT RFxx0.2 or something, and then flicker between

XX.XXC XXP PLAY
which is the amount the Jackpot is set to, and the price per play, and
DOOR XXX.0
which shows the back door is open, and the %age tha machine is SET TO, i.e 78%

Now put in the Refill Key, and it will say VTP followed by about 4 digits. Just use the start button to scroll through various bits of info, including :

Percentage [that which it is PLAYING AT, not what it is set to!]
5/10/20/50/£1/£2 coins in
5/10/20/50/£1/£2 coins out
5/10/20/50/£1/£2 coins ref [refilled]

I think thats about all useful stuff it does - sorry for taking so long to reply and don't forget to let us know whats happening :)

BarcrestBenito

[bladefan2]

Hi BarcrestBenito

Thanks for your reply

I did as you said, but my fruit machine is having none of it I'm afraid. :evil:

Instead of seeing the percentage, all I get is the 'sound change' options as shown in the attached jpeg. The Start button does not work to change onto another mode (the only options are hi and lo (to make it loud or quiet), the 3 Hold buttons to change the sound and the Collect button to hear the changed sound).

I've even tried it with both doors open including the test mode but it will not show the Percentage. I either have it showing the 'sound change' option or the 'Cash Refill' option (depending if door is open or not).

Any other suggestions please? :?

Incidentally there's no raised 9-pin slots inside the machine, it's just two banks of dip switches which don't seem to work.

This is a really tricky one to answer I think !

Jay

Attached Files

•  100_0080.jpg   853.48KB   29 downloads

[Bencrest]

...and you are only opening the Back Door, and then inserting the key and turning it?

Lordy, I'm all out of ideas...seems like very weird behaviour indeed!!

BarcrestBenito

[Bencrest]

Oh...is isn't what I thought it was.

I assumed it was a straight clone of Winner Takes All - but its a BWB Rebuild...hmm....

Would still expect it to work the same way but will try find out why it isn't for you.

BarcrestBenito

[Bencrest]

Sorted [hopefully!!]

Open Back door, with machine on. Let the reels spin off, until it starts flashing DOOR on the display, along with stake and prize.

Press the test button until it gives you 20 credits, it will either be one or two presses - can't remember which!

When you have the 20 credits in Test mode, insert Refill Key and turn. That should now take you to the VTP display!

Phew - HOPEFULLY we got there in the end!!

Good Luck,

BarcrestBenito

[Closed - Adam]

Hi BarcrestBenito

Thanks for your reply

I did as you said, but my fruit machine is having none of it I'm afraid. :evil:

Instead of seeing the percentage, all I get is the 'sound change' options as shown in the attached jpeg. The Start button does not work to change onto another mode (the only options are hi and lo (to make it loud or quiet), the 3 Hold buttons to change the sound and the Collect button to hear the changed sound).

I've even tried it with both doors open including the test mode but it will not show the Percentage. I either have it showing the 'sound change' option or the 'Cash Refill' option (depending if door is open or not).

Any other suggestions please? :?

Incidentally there's no raised 9-pin slots inside the machine, it's just two banks of dip switches which don't seem to work.

This is a really tricky one to answer I think !

Jay

Try doing a RAM clear, then play it. You may find the person who had it before, over filled it (or kept playing it and losing on purpus), so its proberly playing at 110%

[bladefan2]

Guys

thanks for your help - the 20 credits mode has indeed worked with the refill key, but some very interesting points came from the readouts -

01 VTP 4198993
02 PERCENT 654.3
03 TOK PER 193.6
04 TARGET 70.00
05 10P IN 8130176
06 20P IN 9665658
07 50P IN 4197973
08 PND IN 8130981
09 CASH IN 9666549
10 20P OUT 4199023
11 PND OUT 8141557
12 CASH OUT 9678020
13 TOKEN IN 4197965
14 TOKN OUT 8130123
15 PRIZ OUT 9665536
16 TOKN REF 4197961

01 VTP L8131167
02 GAMES L9667560
03 PERCENT L 337.9
04 CASH IN L8131164
05 CASHOUT L9678020
06 TOKEN INL4197989
07 TOKN OUTL8130147
08 PRIZ OUTL9665536
09 TOKN REFL4197985
10 TOKN BALL 265827
11 CASH REFL9667526

ALARM LOG ...

Could that be correct when it says 654.3 percent ? It seems right the way it plays !!!

I put in £1 and on a typical play with this pound I seem to win back £14.20 !!!!


TV-AM - you say you can reset the RAM - how is it possible to achieve this please !!

Well, the future's certainly looking a bit better anyway !!


Hopefully we'll come up with a solution !

Cheers everyone for your continued support...

Jay

[Bencrest]

Looks to me like the RAM has corrupted - is that possible?
Those values are totally insane and I don't see how they could be real!

BarcrestBenito

[bladefan2]

yes BarcrestBenito

I suppose the RAM values have got screwed up somehow - perhaps an electrical discharge or something similar has done something to the RAM (cos' sometimes it forgets how many credits there are / bank winnings when switch off and switch back on) - perhaps the backup battery needs recharging or whatever.

I need to know how it's possible to clear the RAM then restart again perhaps

Looks like Adam's post may reveal some solution - Adam are you there ?

cheers everyone

Jay