quick question is there any particular crane games i should avoid during my stay here in japan cause we stumbled one that has a prize of a scooter, so basically we spent like 8000 maybe and we gave up

18 comments

1. are we just bad at this game or is it rigged??

2. Avoid all crane games. Avoid gachapon.

   Just buy the prize from a store that sells it.

3. The only way the crane game operators can make money is if the expected number of plays to win a particular item x the value of each play is more than the cost of the item.

   Of course, they also need to make sure that people win enough that they keep coming back, so presumably most crane games are theoretical winnable.

4. They’re not rigged, I’ve won plenty, and people saying otherwise just suck at games lol. Obviously the higher the prize the more attempts it takes tho. The more attempts, the higher the likelihood of the claw not weakening, basic stuff. You probably would have had to spend twice that to even have a chance at an electric scooter.

5. Avoid all crane games unless you don’t expect to win and find the game itself fun.

6. I love them but never really play to win. Went to Fukuoka, won a bunch of plushies and a Nintendo Switch. Avoid Tokyo crane games and popular arcades for sure

7. They’re not rigged, I’ve won a few prizes. But don’t go all in expecting you’ll get that one thing you want. 9/10 you won’t.

8. All of them.

9. Why did your mum not stop giving you cash after the first ¥500?

10. I found out after losing like 2000Y trying to get a pack of cards, you can tell the person working there you want it and they will position the item for you so it’s easier to get. I’ve seen them do it for kids too. Idk if it’s only for lower stakes items, kids, or if it was just the location we were at

11. Games are set up for you to win, but not usually fast. Mini cranes can be one in a single play. Thongs like figures are 2000-4000 yen targets. If you mess up, use a sumimasen!

    EDIT: Note things like figures can be bought at some point directly. I play mainly for the fun and winning vs buying. Winning it gives me entertainment for the price of winning

12. That one time I threw away 4,600 yen for a remote-controlled GTR (R35) パトカー only to realise it wasn’t worth even 460 yen for how bad it lacked on terms of quality 😭

13. I believe that any food is easier to get but maybe its my luck. Also, I’d avoid Tokyo and try in smaller cities.

14. I have quiet a bit of experience (i’ve gone to A LOT of different arcades over the years), so here’s a quick rundown:

    as a beginner:

    * avoid gacha machines with big prizes (this are usually the ones with black balls)
    * avoid machines that require you to push or pull something (most of the time these are the cranes with only one arm or ones with poles where the thing has to fall through, very “popular” in most big arcades but you need to know what you’re doing, otherwise you’ll move it and it falls in such a way that it can never be won)
    * avoid barber-cut machines
    * avoid all machines that charge more than 100yen per try

    When you get more experience you can test some machines (even the list above, although not the gacha ones) and you’ll get a feeling how much you would need to spend (minimum) and can decide if it’s worth it.

    In any case be prepared to pay a “fun”-charge (Very rarely will you get something for the same or cheaper price than buying it from re-sellers)

    You’ll get the most fun out of it if you look for “unusual” machines and just play a bit to see how it works instead of playing to win. (Some can look really jank, like, with wires going all over the place and stuff)

    Final tips:

    – Beware of the sunken cost fallacy. It’s a real thing and you dont always notice it. Seriously, set yourself a budget per machine or per arcade and try to stick to it. You’lll be way happier leaving the arcade with “Aw, i only got Z but i wanted K” or “Damn, none of the machines were ‘hot'” instead of “oh boy…did i really just spend XXXX yen for that thing?”.

    – Let the staff help you. In good arcades the staff will come to you if they see you struggling for a bit and make it easier. Or you can call a staff member and they’ll do the same. But don’t let that pressure you into “now i’ll have to play until i get it”.

15. You can buy the prizes in second hand stores like mandarake often for less than you would win it for

16. The machines are programmed to generate a specific profit, so they won’t pay out prizes if they are behind quota. This is adjustable by the operator, so it may vary from machine to machine (and obviously venue to venue). With this in mind, look for machines that have had several plays but no payout. You’ll usually have a better chance with them. You’ll still need a little skill to position the claw, but the machine will be more likely to provide increased downwards force and upwards tension/grip. Good luck!

17. Watch some of this youtuber’s videos:

    [https://www.youtube.com/@clawmaster7196](https://www.youtube.com/@clawmaster7196)

    I usually avoid the super big prize machine and the tiny dinky ones. I go for the ones in a box, or a plush that I want. There’s a general method for the different types of machine, you try to follow that method, be patient and you’ll get it. If you’re super stuck, politely ask for help, and usually they’ll help you if they’ve seen you trying for a while.

    A general rule I follow is the max I’ll spend is however much I’d approximately expect to pay for such a plush, and if I’m getting close to that mark, ask for help.

18. I won a Nintendo switch for $2. It was a game here you pick up the key that’s attached to a tag. Flipped it for $200 a week later. Then probably paid back the $200 overtime to the machines