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How to Win at Claw Machine Games

The infamous "Claw Machine" lurks at nearly every restaurant, store and arcade. Most of us have tried to beat it at some point or another, and many of us may have felt cheated when we lost repeatedly. Sometimes the game itself seems designed to make players fail, an appearance which has some basis in fact. Often the toys are packed too tightly or the grip setting on the claw is set loosely, making it nearly impossible to grab that adorable stuffed animal you have your eyes on. However, you can take steps to increase your chances of winning at the claw machine.

Things You'll Need

Lots of quarters
Paper
Pen

Instructions

- 1
  Find out when the maintenance man refills the claw machine. You have a better chance at winning a stuffed animal right after he re-stocks the machine, because the stuffed toys at the top of the machine are not as tightly packed as the ones on the bottom. This makes them easier for the claw to grasp and hold.
- 2
  Study the machine and its players for a while. A timer in the machine determines when prizes are "due"; it provides the claw with a stronger grip than usual during that play. The specific times vary by machine. Sometimes, the timer may make one out of five plays a winner or one out of ten plays a winner. Once you spot a winner, write down "win" on a piece of paper. Continue to observe the machine and its players. Count how many plays miss between wins. Now you have obtained the timer's sequence which will enhance your chances of winning a stuffed animal out of the crane machine.
- 3
  Insert a quarter on the winning sequence you have noted on paper. To do this, you must wait until other people try and fail until reaching the "winning" try. Move the crane over a loosely packed stuffed animal, making sure that sits comparatively unencumbered on top of other toys. Do not try for a toy that has a leg, arm or other part covered by toys.
- 4
  Drop the crane using the button on the joystick. With practice, observance and luck you will see that toy fall into the prize box.

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