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Presentation forProfessor Sergiu Dascalu

IGT: The Company and Its Products

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80960 Products• Video Games (Video Slots, Video Pokers, Multigames)

– Uses a touch screen

• Stepper Games (Physical Spinning Reels)– S/2000 (Traditional Spinning Reels)– Vision Games

• Stepper base• PC with flat screen in the top box• A (video) bonus game plays out on the PC screen

• Programmed in “C”• Object-oriented features include class hierarchy and

encapsulation

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PC-Based Products - 1

• First release to the field was earlier this year

• Has an ergonomic cabinet

• PC Technology is the adoption of Best of Breed Technologies

• Uses an industrial PC design that is not software proprietary, but custom industrial design with many common PC electronics

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PC-Based Products - 2

• Use the best proven software and hardware technologies– C++– OpenGL for graphics– RTOS for performance– UNIX-like architecture– High speed networking (TCP\IP over Ethernet)– USB peripherals (Universal Serial Bus)

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Coding 80960 Games - 1

• Use coding techniques that avoid bugs (code assertions, reuse code that works)

• Use a library of object code files (files that are common to all games)

• Unique files for a game are made “local”, overriding the library copies of the same files

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Coding 80960 Games - 2

• 80960 is coded in “C”, but emulates object oriented features (class hierarchies, data hiding)

• IGT uses the GNU “C” compiler

• Game executable is built on a PC but run on an 80960 box

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Coding 80960 Games - 3

• For initial development and for debugging a finished game, a PC-based Borland version of a game can be created

• Better for stepping through code

• Better for debugging

• Better for watching variables

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Coding 80960 Games - 4

• GNU version is harder to work with (must use Printf() calls for debugging)

• The GNU version of a game is the only way to integrate graphics, sounds and peripherals

• All critical testing must be done on the real platform (power hits, bill/ticket acceptance, top box performance, graphics and sound play)

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Coding 80960 Games – 5

• Resources for IGT games consist of graphics, sounds, peripherals (mechanical resources)

• Peripherals include1. Touch screen2. Bill validator3. Top box4. Ticket printer

• The game programmer must integrate all of the above

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For the Game Programmer - 1

• First rule: your code must work, i.e., the game must play as designed (even if the design is only in someone’s mind)

• Game frequently changed, by the powers that be, both before and after release to the jurisdictions

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For the Game Programmer – 2

• Seeing is believing, when you are finished, your game will be played, critiqued and changes will be mandated by the Product Development Department

• Top-to-bottom rewrites of finished games are not uncommon– Programmer frustration may result

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For the Game Programmer – 3

• Your game must exist in a harsh environment

1. Static guns are used for electrical testing

2. Surviving a power hit is a basic requirement

3. Anti-cheating is a major design concern

• Before release to the jurisdictions, every game must pass all tests

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Game Submission - 1

• The Product Assurance and Electrical Engineering departments thoroughly test each game prior to release

• Any firmware problems (e.g., bill-stealing, credit loss, graphics problems, failed game play, crashing game) will be addressed before the game is submitted for jurisdictional approval

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Game Submission – 2

• When all issues have been resolved, a game is submitted to one or more jurisdictions

• Each jurisdiction can approve or deny sale of the game

• Denials can be based on local morality (i.e. certain themes not accepted) or technical reasons

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Games in the Field

• After a game is approved in a jurisdiction, it can be sold there

• Field bugs, when discovered, are addressed quickly

• Updated programs, providing new features, are constantly being developed

• Sometimes firmware fixes are required to compensate for hardware issues

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For Potential Engineers - 1

• Firmware engineers must be intimately familiar with the C programming language

• Take as many hardware classes as you can (the microprocessor course is important)

• Learn to work with as many tools as you can– Oscilloscope– Network (protocol) analyzer

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For Potential Engineers - 2

• Try to get experience working with a large code base– the 80960 code base is about 1 million lines– most of the code you deal with will not have

been written by you– you are expected to be able to maintain and

extend it

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For Potential Engineers - 2

• While you are in school, take as many computer classes in each of the following subjects as you are able to:– Communications (especially serial)– C/C++ programming– Microprocessors (as much as you can take)– Software Development

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IGT Contacts

• IGT.COM

• IGT Human Resources– 775 - 448 - 0350