A crane machine is an arcade game that is mostly found in restaurant buffets, arcades, movie theaters, and pretty much anywhere crowds are (for instance, airports and shopping malls). Crane machines have various types of items in them. Some games have plush (which are the most common type of items found in these games) and some have jewelry.
Apparently, some people (including parents), often find these machines a waste of time and money. In some cases it's true but not always. The following will show you some tips on how to win a crane machine, or if you are really good at them, you can read this to help improve your skills.
Step 1
Glance through the machine and see which toys are capable of grabbing.
Step 2
Insert your cash. (Machines usually accept quarters and bills only.)
Step 3
Push the joystick up, down, left or right to move the crane. (If you push the joystick up, then the crane will go back. If you push the joystick down, it will go towards the front. It will go left if you push the joystick left, and right if you push the joystick right.)
Step 4
If you see a button on the game, it's probably the control to drop the claw. After you have properly positioned the crane over the desired prize, push the drop button. Note: Some games will allow you to "nudge" the claw so you can get the claw on the toy right. Also, you will no longer have control of the claw after you drop it on some games.
Step 5
If you win, there is usually a door at the bottom left corner of the machine to claim your prize.
Tips
- Have some of your friends around to help you! It can be easier to determine if you're above your target.
- Don't be discouraged if you lose. It's just a game.
- Think before you play! Do you really need to play for a stuffed toy that's probably worth less than the cost to play?
- Be confident.
- Watch someone else play! This is easy to find out how the claw works before you play!
Warnings
- Crane machines are not rigged. They are just set to payout after so many plays. There is a computer program in each machine that may tell the claw to grab the toy and then drop once the claw is at the top.
- The claw can probably pick up 30 pounds. The owner sets the crane to where the claw is too weak to grab that much weight.
- Don't obsess over the game. Playing a crane machine is very similar to gambling. Keep that in mind as you play.
- Never keep playing and throwing away your money on a game. If the machine looks like it will not payout for awhile, quit playing.
- Crane machines are sometimes addictive to some people. Try not to be too obsessed!
- Most of the toys in a crane machine are wedged together so the claw cannot grab the toys as easily.
- Hats or baseball caps are almost impossible to grab because the material is paper-thin.
Things You'll Need
- A claw machine
- Money
- Friends to help you
