12 replies to this topic

[GallagherLad]

Am I right in thinking that fruit machine manufacturers dislike FME?

The reason being is that if someone bought a second hand machine (JPM for example) and emulated it online (play for real), would this be allowed? or do JPM own the rights to the machine, even though you have bought it?

I find this a hard one to grasp???

Any ideas anyone

Cheers

[Sandoran]

Only old machines with old technology are emulated. There are no new games on any site anywhere (As far as i'm aware) becuase they would be shut down, and the owners would be in trouble!

I don't know precisely what the manufacturers views to emulation are but I would be ok with it if i were them. People get to play and learn old machines for free and think they know them - but if they try and apply the same knowledge to machines in arcades now they'd almost certainly fail because the machines have moved onwards and upwards and are smarter than they were to our little tricks! Ergo the manufacturers rake it in, in theory at least...

Hope that makes sense...

[Bencrest]

I don't think that emulation is illegal, although I believe that, as with SNES emulation, unless you own the original machine you are supposed to destroy any ROMs e.t.c within 24 hours. Having said that, keeping video recordings for more than something like 60 days is illegal, but it is so minor that nobody cares.

It is up to the fruit machine manufacturers - if they explicitly state that emulation is illegal and threaten to close the scene down e.t.c. then we would have to follow that, or the scene could move underground which would be funny :)

The manufacturers have been realy useful and don't seem to mind the emulation of out of date techs at the moment, although the JPM Impact situation has to be controlled with a 3 year or older only rule, so any machines since 2000 should'nt really be emulated. Basically we can't afford to annoy the manufacturers.

To emulate an out of date tech is about preserving memories e.t.c only, and perhaps the manufacturers feel humbled by the fact that people are willing to emulate some of their early machines. That could change though, if people start emulating modern machines, and then turning around to the manufacturers saying

"I CAN PROVE THAT YOUR MACHINES ARE PLAYING UNFAIRLY!"

And it is that sort of comment that could cause problems. By sticking to out of date techs we are not affecting the current operations that the manufacturers are working on, and so while they have the right to close us down, there isn't any point.

BarcrestBenito

Another 'Long Ramble Reply' Production 2004!

P.S] I was typing this when the above reply was posted :)

[Sandoran]

P.S] I was typing this when the above reply was posted

I knew you'd be about somewhere BB lol

[GallagherLad]

Thanks for the reply chaps.....

To emulate (as I understand it) you require 3 things:

1. Emulator - (who owns that then????)

2. Roms (if over 3 years old) - do manufacturers own the rights, even though you bought the machine?

3. Layout - whoever designed it!

So if you had all three's permission, you could simulate actual "retro" fruit machines online? Because the one's currently available are crap William Hill progressive jackpot ones and I want to relive my Youth on the classics...........

Anyone else feel the same?

[Bencrest]

Uhh....don't quite understand that post...
...haven't you noticed the 450odd fruit machines we have emulated here?

BarcrestBenito

[Zoltar]

If I remember correctly, someone created a Sony Playstation emulator for the PC and Sony filed a lawsuit. If I also remember correctly, Sony lost as it came to light that emulation is not illegal.

If you use an emulator, and emulation isn't illegal, then it would be safe to say that you can use a Sony Playstation emulator and run games on it providing you run the origional games themselves and not copies or rom files of games.

Fruit machine emulators under the same rules would be totally legal. Just that we use artwork and copied roms which are copyright so thats the bit thats sort of 'undesirable' as far as the manufacturers are concerned.

Compost

[ady]

Roms (if over 3 years old) - do manufacturers own the rights, even though you bought the machine?

These will always belong to the manufacturers, as do records to the label--unless those rights are sold. The only way those righst could be owned by you or me is if we bought them outright...or a 51% majority and gave our permission for them to be used. BB's reply hit's the nail on the head I think....better letting sleeping dog's.........

If you buy a record, Video or DVD, It say's it wont be copied lent etc....but machines DO carry a patient!!!!

[GallagherLad]

Sorry BB

What i am saying is why cant we play these emulated machines for real money £££

You pay via credit card or debit card, pay pal etc.

Surley it would catch on???????????

Obviously the manufacturers require a cut, but it would bring back some of the old boys and make some £££

I would want to be able to do this, would anyone else???

[hurtand165]

why would anybody want to risk their money to play an old fruit machine online that you could play for free without risk on the emulator?

i know i wouldn't.

[GallagherLad]

Because they are a gambler????

I can see your point.

But because new machines are so boring, you might get your 'fix' from gambling for real, online on machines you used to play as a kid. It is fantasitic being able to play for fun, but what I am saying is that if people are prepared to play crap machines for real money www.willhill.com), why not machines that are fun and you have had many years of fun playing.


The technology is available and I know I would want to play the old £6, £8 machines for real online......Much better than a £50 000 jackpot on William Hill and I can play small stakes.

Or is it just me?

[Scmooster]

You can never win!! Not continually, it's mostly down to luck, and a tiny tiny smidge of skill that may give you a small advantage from time to time. Play the emulator and see the pattern. :wink: you soon lose the urge to throw real money in them, if your brain works!

[Sandoran]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Agreed. I've been continually playing Excalibur in the hope of finding a way of regularly winning soemthing so I can go to my local pizza place and win some dosh...not working well though. Keep putting about £300 in and always end up with around about £280ish out. No matter how long I play i'm always that little bit down....that's good design for ya...

Still the quest goes on.