We’ve all seen those claw machines at restaurants, and in bars, stores and arcades. You know, the ones where you use a joystick to move around a little steel claw in an attempt to win a stuffed animal. And we’ve all seen people slide their hard-earned greenbacks into its greedy mouth, carefully navigating the steel hand over a target, and confidently pressing the large, shiny button. The claw lands right on target, its shimmering aluminum fingers close around the prize. But the stuffed animal inevitably slips through its grasp, and the player walks away another of life’s losers. And that’s usually the end of it, right? Wrong.
Even people, who swear they will only give it one play, invariably dig back into their pocket for another dollar bill. Before they know it, they have sunk enough money into the machine to have paid for the furry hunk of junk 10 times over. But, alas, the weak mechanical fingers have all the effectiveness of a baby trying to pry the lid off a beer bottle, and the consumer leaves, usually bitter and cursing.
But somebody has to be winning these games, right? Well, it depends whom you ask.
Some avid players say that it’s all about how the prizes are packed. If they are tightly squeezed into their glass prisons, pulling them out is difficult. Others will tell you that it depends on the angle at which the prize is sitting. This puts a premium on selecting the right target. There are even conspiracy theories asserting that there’s a clear lubricant on the claw of some machines, making it impossible to get the necessary grip to hoist an object.
It’s hard to believe this is such a popular subject, but it is. There are an abundance of web sites and blogs where techniques to beat these machines are discussed ad nauseum.
One thing is certain -- beating these claw machines does require some navigational skill, but it sometimes requires more of the kind of luck you need when you play a slot machine.
Like the one-armed bandits, some claw machines are set to pay out only every so often. In fact, a simple Google search will reveal videos of inner workings of the machine, where a dial is set for the amount of strength in the claw hand. Each time the machine is activated and fails, the claw increases in strength. This continues on a cycle.
So, in order to win, you would need to lurk around the machine, counting the number of plays between wins. As creepy as it sounds, according to this theory, that is the only true way to win on a consistent basis.
Skee-ball anyone?
Claw Machine Tips:
Four-Pronged Claw
The four-pronged claw is ideal for picking up larger objects. Try to position it over a stuffed animal that is either on its back or stomach. The player should then try to get the claw to grab around the torso, with two claws above the arm and two claws below. This gives the best chance of success.
Three-Pronged Claw
The three-pronged claw is ideal for picking up round prizes like balls or grasping a stuffed toy by the head. The key is to center the claw over the prize, providing the best possible grip.
Time Limit
For machines with a time limit, the two-person method can be used. This way, one person can control the claw and look at the angle straight on, while the other can get a cross-angle and help guide the claw verbally. The only problem is deciding who keeps the prize if you win.
