Code generator is a calculator shaped tool in companion with IGS GP1 board, for monitoring bookkeeping info, defusing the time bomb and adjusting RNG parameters, by deciphering the password generated by the RNG and generating new passwords for setting it up.
This kind of device is mostly found in C/S series slot machines, but apprantally IGS GP1 is also using them.
Each code generator is bind to a range of serial code of IGS GP1 board, thus it's only partially interchangeable between differnet boards.
Obviously, games that aren't slot machine/redemption games won't make use of this device even if running on the GP1 board.
**Note: the following content is based on how code generator works on C/S series slot machine. IGS GP1 may not use all the features, or use them in different ways.**
The owner of the machine could set a time bomb to be triggered after the machine has been running for a certain time period. When the time bomb is triggered, the machine will run into a lockdown state, with warning message "time extension required" displayed. To defuse this state, a "time extension" or "bookkeping report" command is required to be executed from the test menu.
When executing these commands, a set of credential will be displayed and the machine will require a defuse password to be typed in. These credentials has to be typed into the code generator, which is kept by the owner rather than given to the tenant. After typing in the credential, the code generator deciphers bookkeeping infomation from the credential, and displays the revenue during this time period and password for defusing the time bomb.
The tenant will only receive the password after his share is paid. After the correct password is typed in, the machine will turn back to its normal state.
The test menu of IGS GP1 based slot machine (or at least for some games that make use of code generator) only displays current settings, but the settings cannot be changed on the machine.
To change the settings, the serial number of the board has to be typed into the code generator, then parameters including coin to credit ratio, [RTP% & PARS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slot_machine#Payout_percentage), time period for time bomb, etc. could be set up on it.
After settings has been done, a password encrypted with current settings will be generated. This password has to be typed into the machine to update the parameters of the RNG.
Sometimes a code generator will have functionalities to manipulate the RNG, including sudden tightening/loosing of RTP%, spiking/smoothing PARS, deterministic results, or executing other OEM predefined RNG routines.
Just like adjusting RNG parameters, these functionalities are also sent to the RNG as passwords typed in from the machine.
Despite these functionalities showing up on most of the code generators, whether the command will be accepted and executed successfully is determined by the game/RNG.
