I saw an Inde:go at the weekend in a very out of the way pub in a poorer suburb of London - first one I've seen for about nine months, I think, so they've not done well in terms of penetrating the market. Totally agree with Cool that they do look very swish, though.
On Opens, I disagree with Cool: I agree the method of games selection is annoyingly cumbersome but provided they keep the main punter favourites (DOND etc.) on the main screen I don't think that would be a particular problem in terms of taking cash (I'm assuming SWP manufacturers don't rely on pro cash for their takings!) That of course means there'll be umpteen games that get no or hardly any play but presumably their financial model is able to cope with this. I think the problem might be a long term one that unless the landlord takes an active interest the games will never get updated (unlike remote updates for ItBoxes or (I guess) engineer updates for Paragons / GamesNets / Ind:es). That might not be a problem in the short-term but in a few years un-updated Opens would look pretty sorry and pretty dated. AFAIK, none of the central London Opens that I know of have been updated since they were installed.
I don't think any Opens would have Jiggy Bank yet: as far as I can recall, I don't think any of them have the old Ant and Dec game either.
Lost my OPEN virginity
Fatspanner were really helpful when I contacted them.
They even let me drive over to their premises yesterday to collect the open terminal and I had a good look around their offices.
All the staff were friendly and helpful and there seemed to be a lot of activity going on in the offices and the workshop - good signs all round.
I had cause to telephone them on my return because I was struggling floating the machine - no premium nembers and was talked thru the process in 2 minutes.
Have to agree about the menu system - and some of the games are confusing - ie there are 2 Golden balls - one being Jasper Moleshooter off the tv and another one thats kinda like bagatelle/pinball with questions.
There is a Frogger with questions game appeared on the new games menu today when i switched it on that I think is from Konami?
Dave
They even let me drive over to their premises yesterday to collect the open terminal and I had a good look around their offices.
All the staff were friendly and helpful and there seemed to be a lot of activity going on in the offices and the workshop - good signs all round.
I had cause to telephone them on my return because I was struggling floating the machine - no premium nembers and was talked thru the process in 2 minutes.
Have to agree about the menu system - and some of the games are confusing - ie there are 2 Golden balls - one being Jasper Moleshooter off the tv and another one thats kinda like bagatelle/pinball with questions.
There is a Frogger with questions game appeared on the new games menu today when i switched it on that I think is from Konami?
Dave
Hi
Well I spent most of last night stood next to the machine showing people how to set up their own accounts - they were really impressed but couldn't understand why they can't access ALL games ALL of the time.
The bloody thing crashed twice last night as well - during 2 games of pub quiz - one didn't start and went back to menu screen and one game was halfway through and again reverted to menu screen - luckily I was on hand and just threw a couple of pound extra credits into it for them - but have to admit I was a bit disappointed and if this trend continues then I can see it putting some people off playing it.
I think the need for updates is crucial and obviously will stay on top of this - as its my machine I will hopefully get the updates the day they are released so have no need to await an operator to come and do it for me - if they can be bothered sending anybody out that is.
Its obviously new and still a talking point in the pub - will be interesting to see long term appeal - the screen has a countdown on it that says " X Days To New Games" X being the no of days between now and saturday as the games change every saturday - I think thats a good thing.
That Goldenballs game with the pinball/bagatelle table where you fire the ball to get points and then answer questions was popular last night - as well as the tv game !
Dave
Well I spent most of last night stood next to the machine showing people how to set up their own accounts - they were really impressed but couldn't understand why they can't access ALL games ALL of the time.
The bloody thing crashed twice last night as well - during 2 games of pub quiz - one didn't start and went back to menu screen and one game was halfway through and again reverted to menu screen - luckily I was on hand and just threw a couple of pound extra credits into it for them - but have to admit I was a bit disappointed and if this trend continues then I can see it putting some people off playing it.
I think the need for updates is crucial and obviously will stay on top of this - as its my machine I will hopefully get the updates the day they are released so have no need to await an operator to come and do it for me - if they can be bothered sending anybody out that is.
Its obviously new and still a talking point in the pub - will be interesting to see long term appeal - the screen has a countdown on it that says " X Days To New Games" X being the no of days between now and saturday as the games change every saturday - I think thats a good thing.
That Goldenballs game with the pinball/bagatelle table where you fire the ball to get points and then answer questions was popular last night - as well as the tv game !
Dave
Hi Grecian
Well it was explained to me that out of a possible 100 games on the machine - the games which have been played most will be on the splash screen in attract mode - but every Saturday the least played games will be removed from the attract screen when you pres the "new games" button on the openeing screen a whole new list of games will appear here.
Are you saying this is not the case?
I have been into the operators menu with my keys and it lists ALL 100 Games and next to each game is the number of times that game has been played and also what percentage of the overall plays that game has contributed to the overall machines profitability - did that make sense?
There are many many games on the operators screen that I have NOT seen on the main screen at all and have never been offered as similar games at this point.
So I would imagine that it will look like say 20 NEW Games will have been added on Saturday - even though they were just "hidden" away on the machine.
If you mean "updates" being the 3/4 monthly update cd/dvd's that Fatspanner issue then that maybe the case that they have not been updated with them.
My machine has the latest open release Texas Hold Em £50, Spinner Takes All , Legends Of Darts Round The Clock etc - are you saying the Opens you have seen do not have those games on?
Dave
Well it was explained to me that out of a possible 100 games on the machine - the games which have been played most will be on the splash screen in attract mode - but every Saturday the least played games will be removed from the attract screen when you pres the "new games" button on the openeing screen a whole new list of games will appear here.
Are you saying this is not the case?
I have been into the operators menu with my keys and it lists ALL 100 Games and next to each game is the number of times that game has been played and also what percentage of the overall plays that game has contributed to the overall machines profitability - did that make sense?
There are many many games on the operators screen that I have NOT seen on the main screen at all and have never been offered as similar games at this point.
So I would imagine that it will look like say 20 NEW Games will have been added on Saturday - even though they were just "hidden" away on the machine.
If you mean "updates" being the 3/4 monthly update cd/dvd's that Fatspanner issue then that maybe the case that they have not been updated with them.
My machine has the latest open release Texas Hold Em £50, Spinner Takes All , Legends Of Darts Round The Clock etc - are you saying the Opens you have seen do not have those games on?
Dave
I'll need to check more carefully White Swan! I'm pretty sure than on my local one the top menu (i.e. the very main one on the front screen) has stayed the same forever, but it could well be that the row of games along the bottom has changed from time to time (is that what you mean by the "splash screen"?) That's interesting there's as many as 100 games on there - suggests to me that maybe there have been lurkers on my local one that have just never come up. Let me know whether and how yours does change this coming weekend.
I confirm I've not seen any of the titles you mention on any of the London Opens. About the most recent title I can think of which has made its way onto them is Blockbusters Super Gold Run (or whatever it's called).
I confirm I've not seen any of the titles you mention on any of the London Opens. About the most recent title I can think of which has made its way onto them is Blockbusters Super Gold Run (or whatever it's called).
I definitely would! Does it give percentage payout information as well?whiteswan wrote:Just as a quick aside.............
I will be checking every Monday morning just what games have been played and how much - I know its only a localised snapshot of whats popular but I could post say the Top 5 games played that week on here if anybody would be interested?
Dave
Hi
Yes it does - it gives you the hopper (£70) and then money taken in and money paid out.
This information is given on the "life" of the machine - ie not on a week to week basis but since the machine was first switched on from day 1 to now..........
Its a 365 day game card in these - ie its not a number of plays like the Paragons - so on July 28th next year I need to purchase a new gamecard to keep the machine active - but in that 12 months it can use as many credits as it likes.
Dave
Yes it does - it gives you the hopper (£70) and then money taken in and money paid out.
This information is given on the "life" of the machine - ie not on a week to week basis but since the machine was first switched on from day 1 to now..........
Its a 365 day game card in these - ie its not a number of plays like the Paragons - so on July 28th next year I need to purchase a new gamecard to keep the machine active - but in that 12 months it can use as many credits as it likes.
Dave
Hi
The prices of the machines are on Fat Spanners website - bear in mind I went for a reconditioned machine but it seemed brand new to me.
The only problem I have had is that Pub Quiz kept crashing - so I have had to remove that game from the available games which you can do in the engineer/operator menus.
Okay as promised here are the top games for the last 5 days - ie since it was installed
Goldenballs 13% (the pinball one)
Goldenballs Quiz 13%
Bullseye SSG 11%
Deal Or No Deal 8%
Deal Or No Deal BIG REDS 5%
Blockbusters Super Gold Run 4%
Fantasy Football
Take It Or Leave It
Hot Property
Word Soup
The percentages are how many games have been played of that particular game of the overall games played.
Obviously there are loads of games with 1 and 2 percent.............
I have a couple of regulars who love the Goldenballs pinball game with questions - but I assume the popularity of these games will begin to cycle as they tire of one game and then move onto another.
With 100 games available and only approx 25 on the splash screen at any one time it could take them a while to find em all!
As for percantage the pub hoped to get I have no idea - only time will tell - but its my machine - not rented from a company so my plan of action is to replace the money it cost me to buy it asap then I am in profit from that day.
If you mean what is the percentage payout - then after 5 days play its showing as 28%.
Hope that helps............
Dave
The prices of the machines are on Fat Spanners website - bear in mind I went for a reconditioned machine but it seemed brand new to me.
The only problem I have had is that Pub Quiz kept crashing - so I have had to remove that game from the available games which you can do in the engineer/operator menus.
Okay as promised here are the top games for the last 5 days - ie since it was installed
Goldenballs 13% (the pinball one)
Goldenballs Quiz 13%
Bullseye SSG 11%
Deal Or No Deal 8%
Deal Or No Deal BIG REDS 5%
Blockbusters Super Gold Run 4%
Fantasy Football
Take It Or Leave It
Hot Property
Word Soup
The percentages are how many games have been played of that particular game of the overall games played.
Obviously there are loads of games with 1 and 2 percent.............
I have a couple of regulars who love the Goldenballs pinball game with questions - but I assume the popularity of these games will begin to cycle as they tire of one game and then move onto another.
With 100 games available and only approx 25 on the splash screen at any one time it could take them a while to find em all!
As for percantage the pub hoped to get I have no idea - only time will tell - but its my machine - not rented from a company so my plan of action is to replace the money it cost me to buy it asap then I am in profit from that day.
If you mean what is the percentage payout - then after 5 days play its showing as 28%.
Hope that helps............
Dave