Pacer Poker© machine by Digital Controls

[pookdolie]

Has anyone ever seen one of these? Or, better yet, own one?

Just got this machine. The way the game uses the card flipping is (to me, anyhow) ingenius. In addition to the cards, the flipping panes also tell you about bonuses, winnings, and all sorts of things. It's called a "game of skill" because you can stop the cards from flipping to attempt to get the ones you want/need (good luck - your eyes & brain had better be lightning fast).

The machine itself has lights under each of the square panel buttons you see, which strobe during attract mode and indicate what to press during game play. Each card slot has its own light, and there's a "jackpot" light on the top of the machine. The LED displays show important game info like high scores (including names), the game designer (Michael Pace), and what looks like a customizable message for whichever bar the machine was sitting in. It'll also put you down if you make a dumb bet ("That was not smart.") A lot of fun to play.

Other details:

*Displays "Version Jul 8 86" on startup
*Coin counter, volume control, and button on back...which doesn't seem to do anything.
*Coin slot on side (set for free play, but machine coins up, too)

So, here's where my questions begin:

*Digital Controls in Atlanta was co-founded by Michael Pace, father of the Little Casino, Pace-O-Matic, and Pot O' Gold pull-tab machines. Through an article, I even found the name of the likely technician behind this Pacer Poker© machine. But damned if I can find any other information on it at all. Does anyone have any details about this unit?

*The machine is randomly resetting itself. Sometimes this is in attract mode, sometimes during gameplay. Sometimes it'll reset twice within 10-15 seconds, sometimes it'll go 15 minutes without resetting. What's that all about?

*Is anyone familiar with the buttons the machine uses (via the pictures) and whether or not I might be able to replace lights? The "Player One" button light is out. Also the bulb on Card #3 is out. (Once I open it up, I'll take more pictures)

 

[pookdolie]

**bump**

Still seeing if anyone knows this machine! It's now NW, though...

 

[Krusher]

I read

I read about these a lonngg time ago..
don't remember much though.
Awesome machine, id stay start poking at it mabey you will get it to work again!!
How much you get it for?.
looks totaly cool!

**bump**

Still seeing if anyone knows this machine! It's now NW, though...

 

[pookdolie]

I read about these a lonngg time ago..
don't remember much though.
Awesome machine, id stay start poking at it mabey you will get it to work again!!
How much you get it for?.
looks totaly cool!

Ha - actually, poking at it was what caused it to break! I replaced all of the light bulbs inside (successfully) but pulled one of the wires out of a tiny molex-type connector which powers the fourth reel (boo!) Tried soldering, but it's way too small. Can't get the wire back in the connector, or pull out the metal part to put the wire back in, etc. Someone's gonna have to fix it for me.

Maybe I can get them to upgrade components on the power supply while they're at it...

I think it was $200 or so on fleabay...

 

[Krusher]

wow.

200 outta my legue lol.
but as for the molex should be able to use a small screw driver to get it out.

Ha - actually, poking at it was what caused it to break! I replaced all of the light bulbs inside (successfully) but pulled one of the wires out of a tiny molex-type connector which powers the fourth reel (boo!) Tried soldering, but it's way too small. Can't get the wire back in the connector, or pull out the metal part to put the wire back in, etc. Someone's gonna have to fix it for me.

Maybe I can get them to upgrade components on the power supply while they're at it...

I think it was $200 or so on fleabay...

 

[pookdolie]

200 outta my legue lol.
but as for the molex should be able to use a small screw driver to get it out.

I tried and failed miserably.

To get an idea of the size: think of a stick of gum. Then think of maybe 1 and 1 half the thickness. The end of the stick is the approx. size of the connector, and the little metal pieces inside are about the width of a small sewing pin. I lack the dexterity...

 

[Hyde]

Now that is awesome! Much more cool than those tabletop video-poker machines.

 

[Krusher]

well.

Well I can try ,
I dont know when i will be oc soon, as im not commuting there daily
as of now.

Or another member here may have a idea of this machine.

anyone seen these? Ive heard of them and remember them from another forum just don't remember where,

I tried and failed miserably.

To get an idea of the size: think of a stick of gum. Then think of maybe 1 and 1 half the thickness. The end of the stick is the approx. size of the connector, and the little metal pieces inside are about the width of a small sewing pin. I lack the dexterity...

 

[Doughbroz]

To remove those pins from the connector I usually straighten a small paper clip, hammer one end (about a quarter inch or so) flat enough to fit in the connector and clip it off straight. Grab it with small visegrips just far enough from the flat end so I can insert it on the side of the pin that has the locking tab and jam it in there. Then pull the pin out of the connector. This usually leaves the locking tab flattened down, so before reinserting the pin you have to use something thin enough to fit in the pin and raise that tab back up so it will lock in place when you reinsert it. A sewing needle or x-acto knife works for me. Those bulbs are usually #194 I think. I replace them with #658, which are not quite as bright and run cooler, so they won't warp the buttons if left on for a long time.

 

[pookdolie]

To remove those pins from the connector I usually straighten a small paper clip, hammer one end (about a quarter inch or so) flat enough to fit in the connector and clip it off straight. Grab it with small visegrips just far enough from the flat end so I can insert it on the side of the pin that has the locking tab and jam it in there. Then pull the pin out of the connector. This usually leaves the locking tab flattened down, so before reinserting the pin you have to use something thin enough to fit in the pin and raise that tab back up so it will lock in place when you reinsert it. A sewing needle or x-acto knife works for me. Those bulbs are usually #194 I think. I replace them with #658, which are not quite as bright and run cooler, so they won't warp the buttons if left on for a long time.

Thanks for the heads-up on the bulb; it's the only one I haven't been able to find so far!

Per your advice on the connector: it's just too small for me to work with, but someone else might be able to. I'll see if I can get some pictures up...

 

[pookdolie]

Fun picture update to this thread. I'll post some details on the n00b once I'm done playing with it.

 

[Silverunicorn]

Where did you find these? They are way cool. I'd love to have one!

Chris

 

[pookdolie]

Where did you find these? They are way cool. I'd love to have one!

Chris

I got one on eBay; the other was sold to me by a member on here who saw I had one already.

For right now, my plans are to swap the good reels in the black unit with the broken reels in the red unit, and have a working machine. We'll see how it goes.

There are some notable differences in the games, or at least the program running. This black unit almost looks like a prototype...

 

[pookdolie]

Update: swapped the flip card wheel motors into the red machine, which seems to run a much more sophisticated software routine. Machine is now working, except that it occasionally resets (which it did before, though it seems to perform better after being plugged in awhile) and the top light doesn't work `cause I snapped the wires by accident. Disconnected it.

This thing is remarkably sophisticated. Some of the quirky things it can do:

*If you give up good cards, it'll say "THAT WAS NOT SMART" on the LED display.

*There are two light bulbs per card (pain in the ass to replace them, by the way - when I did, I broke a wire). They cycle in a nifty little routine in attract mode.

*The lighted buttons also do a neat cycle in attract mode. One bulb is out, and I think it's gonna be a b*tch to find.

*High score save and name entry for five names. Even when it wasn't working, it saved them, so maybe a NVRAM or a battery that somehow is still working.

*It censors some names. If you enter a swear, your name becomes "CENSORED". Haven't figured out all the bad words it knows yet...

*You can write a customizable message for the LED displays to say when it's in attract mode. Since I'm *very* limited on space in my place, it currently welcomes patrons to my closet.

*In addition to giving you instructions on the LED display and special sounds, the flip cards tell you what your payout and bonuses are.

 

[klorvinborno]

I've seen something similar to this at:

http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=2203.0

but I think yours is much newer

 

[pookdolie]

I've seen something similar to this at:

http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?topic=2203.0

but I think yours is much newer

Cool - thanks for the link! That looks like the same mechanism, to be sure.

These Pacer Poker machines are circa mid 80s.