There are a lot of crane games out there trying to steal your money. The difference here in Japan from the machines in the West is that the game isnt (entirely) shenanigans, and the prizes arent all as lame as something like over-stocked Bart Simpson dolls. Play the game right and youll win some dope prizes, or at least new-found confidence in your claw play. Play it wrong and the game plays you.
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Everyones good at something. In sports some people are great at soccer, but couldnt hit a baseball to save their life. UFO catchers (or crane games) are no different. Look around in a game station at all the different prizes and youll see dozens of different ways to win. Some prizes youll have to push or pull, others you have to nudge or slide multiple times until you win, dropping ¥100 at every turn. Youll learn pretty quickly what you suck at. Some games just demand high accuracy in and a lot of skill. Be perceptive. Just because its looks easy doesnt mean it is. If a prize doesnt budge after one or two wasted coins, consider playing something else.
The gamblers fallacy is a pretty well known trope, but its worth remembering. That plastic Goku figure is not worth ¥2,000, and there is absolutely no guarantee that youre going to win it. I dont care if hes dressed in the shirt from the filler episodes where he and Piccolo are trying to get their drivers license. Just walk away. The teeter-totter like games in particular will mess with your head as that Yoshi doll moves back and forth, back and forth. ¥1,800 in and you have no idea if it is any closer to dropping or not. Really consider if that green dinosaur is worth two hours pay. Some places even let you use your Suica or Pasmo card to play. Yikes!
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All these machines are designed to steal your money, but you can spot the difference between the machines with expensive looking giant Olafs at Round One and the sketchy catchers with He-Man pez dispensers amidst a haze of cigarette smoke. Places like Taito* game stations want you to win because they want you to keep playing. Not too often, but enough to feel good about yourself over a Pikachu doll. That being said, if a game feels like a rip, it probably is. If the claw feels weak, pick a different one. Giant claw games are especially sketchy because theyre meant to attract dudes trying to impress their lady. They usually cost more than ¥100 a turn, with claws daintier than your grandmothers toes. Youll lose money and look like a chump in the process.
*Note: The famous Taito arcade at Nishi-Shinjuku Station is closing in March 21, . However, there are still other branches around Tokyo.
It goes without saying that most of the figmas, trinkets and plush dolls in UFO catchers can be found online and in shops for under ¥2,000 or less. Giant plushies and limited edition Pokemon merch might be different story, but theyre probably still out there. While its more about playing and the thrill of winning than the actual prize, if it does happen to be a prize that you really want like a character figma, theres a good chance youll find it in a bargain bin at Tsutaya, Animate or one of the countless shops in Akihabara or Nakano Broadway. Nakano Broadway in particular has tons of shops with crane game figmas available for purchase for cheap. Besides, theyre not exactly works of art. Diehard figma collectors spend around ¥20,000 or more for handcrafted figures, and the kind found in crane games are considered knockoffs.
Resetto is most important word for the UFO catcher enthusiast. If you need a mulligan, or it looks like a prize is a lost cause, ask the staff to reset it. Want an even better tip? Ask the opposite sex to do it. Ive had a lot of Japanese girls tell me the same thing too. Sometimes the staff will just take pity on you after watching you fail 15 times, setting it up so that the tiniest nudge will result in a win. However, Ive also had staff (always a dude) just wedge the prize in a vice grip without even looking at me. You can also ask for tips. Even if you cant speak Japanese, just say dou (how?) in a cute what am I doing here way, and maybe throw in a wink. Theyll start giving you tactics and gestures on how to win or where to aim. Or theyll just think youre a huge creep. I know I would.
Normally, the small prizes next to the entrance offer the best chances to wini.e., small prizes hugging the edge. This is particularly true for the big places like Taito or Sega game stations. They want people to be seen winning and having fun at the entrance to their den of lies.
Claw machines and pinchers are a mixed bag in terms of easily winnable and easily pissing you off. Some require the old-school method of picking up a prize and holding your breath, while others use the claw to flip or knock the prize towards the edge, or push the prize through a wedge. In regards to the latter, and despite what tips you read online, I highly recommended that you ask the staff where to aim for each individual prize. In most cases youll use the hook of the claw to push and budge, but it never hurts to ask first. Youll probably have to spend a turn testing the length of an open claw too, or better yet, watch someone else do it for free. Otherwise youre going to overshoot the prize.
Single claw games often offer some of the most high-value prizes. They are almost always attached to rings hanging from a large plastic ball. This plastic ball is your enemy. You cannot actually lift the prize, so you need to teeter-totter the ring left and right until you knock it off. Hitting the ball is almost always an automatic fail, but when the prize is on the very edge, try to use the claw to punch that ball right in its stupid face. You should be able to bend or knock it enough to score a win.
Some Japanese peeps absolutely murder UFO catchers and have whole YouTube accounts dedicated to prize-catching whoop ass with tips and tricks. If you cant be bothered to Google, try watching other players for a few minutes. Study their techniques and failures, or do what I do and swoop in and steal their half-won prize while they run off to get change.
String games and other high-accuracy games are pretty straight forward. Just walk away and theyll spare your wallet. Just walk away and theyll give you a safe passageway in the game station. Just walk away and there will be an end to the horror.
Tom Foolerys Adventure Park has many crane games that guests of all ages can choose from!
My two young daughters have a love/ hate relationship with them. They enjoy the thrill of winning those fun license plush, like Paw Patrol, and/or generic prizes, including those tiny Crocs giblets!
Most parents know what I mean when I say love/hate because if we didnt win we are trying our best, repeatedly, to turn that frown upside down!
Crane games, also known as claw machines, are popular arcade games that challenge players to maneuver a claw and pick up a prize. While they may seem simple, they can be quite difficult to win. But don't let that discourage you or the kiddos!
With these five tips, you can increase your chances of success and bring home the prize!
1. Watch the machine
Before you start playing, take a moment to observe the machine and its behavior. Take note of the crane's movements and how it interacts with the prizes inside. This will give you a better understanding of the machine's capabilities and limitations and allow you to make more informed decisions when you start playing.
2. Choose the right claw machine
For more information, please visit Claw Crane Machine.
Not all arcade crane machines are created equal, so it's important to choose the right one. Look for machines that have prizes that are loosely packed or not tightly packed together, as these will be easier to grab with the crane. Machines that have fewer prizes in them are also better, as they will provide you with more room to maneuver the crane.
3. Use precision
When operating the crane, aim for precision. Move slowly and steadily, and try to aim for a specific toy. The more precise you are, the better your chances of success will be.
4. Timing is key
Pay close attention to the timing of the crane's movements, and try to drop the claw at the right moment to maximize your chances of grabbing the prize. A well-timed drop can make all the difference between success and failure.
5. Practice, practice & practice!
Like with any skill, practicing can improve your crane game skills. Play a few rounds to get a feel for the machine and how it operates, and see if you can identify any patterns or tendencies that you can use to your advantage.
Tom Foolerys have over 250 arcades
Remember, crane games can be challenging, so there is no guarantee that these strategies will work every time. However, by following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and make the game more fun and challenging.
So the next time you find yourself at an arcade or at Tom Foolerys Adventure Park, give one of our crane games a try and see if you can come away with a prize.
Good luck!
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