How to Install on Your Machine
The code I write for these machines is offered free (GNU General Public License v3.0). That means you can use it however you like, including modifying it and making it your own. You can find all my code on GitHub.
But, you’re going to need hardware in order to run it. Depending on how you go, a lot of these machines can be modified for less than $100, and some can be done for less than $20.
Check out the list of current game revisions.
In that list, you’ll see that some machines can run on board revision 1, 2, 3, 4, or greater. Revision 4 is the one I’m currently installing on Bally/Stern machines. For Williams (System 4-11), you’ll want Revision 102. I’ve build all of these boards by hand (the prototypes), so I know it can be done, but I wouldn’t bother to try to build the latest revisions. Those are based on the Arduino MEGA 2560 PRO, and they required dozens of connections.
The good news is that you don’t have to build by hand. If you’re familiar with building board and you’re comfortable ordering printed circuit boards (PCBs) from places like JLCPCB, you can take the Gerber files from GitHub and order up some boards. On that GitHub link, you’ll find some basic instructions, but if you need help on any of the steps, please contact me).
There are also people who currently sell kits and plug-and-play builds 3 of the board. That will get you access to any of the Bally & Stern titles. Check out the stores for RoyGBev and Troxel on Pinside.
If you’re looking to update a Williams title, you’ll want to work with a Version 102 board. At the moment, RoyGBev sells a plug and play Version 102 board, or if you want to fabricate your own the gerber files are available.
Version 3 has drawbacks (callout lengths have to be hard-coded, it can’t boot based on Credit/Reset button, and it doesn’t have ports like i2c or WiFi), but those Gerber files are here if you want to fabricate a Version 3.
If you are comfortable with writing C code, and you want to do your own title, it’s not too hard to dive in. We have a community of people. Contact me, or leave a comment below and I’ll help you get started.
This is a hand-built Rev 1 board
Hand built RPG board for Williams