During my trip to Japan, I came across various claw machines to grab plush toys, especially anime figures, everywhere. The arcade stores were crowded, and there were stores solely with claw machines and similar ones. In this article, we'll talk a bit about these claw machines that in Brazil we know as grua or bear-catching machines. In Japan, these machines are called UFO CATCHER.
The claw machines in Japan offer various prizes beyond plush toys. There you can find figures from anime and mangas, bags, clothes, chocolates, and even ice creams. These machines usually cost 100 yen or 6 tries for 500 yen. In Japan, we find people of all ages playing these prize machines, and they always manage to grab the desired prizes without spending hundreds of yen. So I came to the conclusion that these claws are not games of chance, they only require skill.
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Types of claw machines - UFO Catcher
There are several types of claw and also other machines with the same proposal. Let's see some of them below:
The tweezers - This claw has only 2 arms that close in a pinching motion. The machines with claws have prizes of all values. As expected, the strength of the arms is very weak and the claws have no grip, which makes it difficult to grab the prize.
Single finger - This claw has only one finger and works in the same way as the tongs. To grab the prizes, you need to fit this single claw into a ring to hold and lift the object.
Suspended awards - Some machines have suspended prizes in various ways. Some are hanging from a rod and you can try to grab them, push them, and knock them down. Others are on top of a platform and your goal is to try to cut a ribbon or fit a geometric shape into the perfect space for the prize to fall. There are various types of claw machines and different games. There are other types of machines where the prizes are... inside capsules.
My experience with these machines
My experience with UFO catcher machines in Japan was not very good. Walking through the neighborhood of Nipponbashi Denden Town in Osaka (equivalent to Akihabara), I came across several stores of this type, and in all of them, there was a cute girl dressed as a schoolgirl to attract customers. One of them caught me handing out that little card that I didn't know you had to use to play. During this game, I ended up using my beloved coins in yen. I was trying harder, but the girl with that voice saying Ganbatte made me spend 3,000 yen.
I had gone a little to the claw machine and saw that it was complicated. Then she took me to a machine that seemed easier; I had to fit something into a circle, but it was not easy at all. In the end, I couldn't get the figure of Sinon from Sword Art Online. And to be more ironic, she let me take a test once, and during that test, I managed to get it on the first try. Stay away from these machines; they are addictive, although I only kept playing because of the girl.
If the person has the skill, it is not difficult to win from these machines or take a figure without spending a lot. In these stores I went to, the girl gave me the option to choose the prize, so she put it inside the machine herself. I really wanted to get that figure.
Tips to beat UFO Catcher machines
Look for easy machines. - Many people end up trying to get the prize but give up just when it is dangling close to falling. Look for those machines that are easier to win from; even if you spend a little trying, it will be much more advantageous than trying to push a prize from the start.
Keep an eye on employees. - Employees always keep an eye on the machines; if they see that a machine has already generated many gains, they change the difficulty or place a prize in an easy position. Keep an eye on the employees to get the best machine.
Analyze the awards. - You need to keep an eye on the size and shape of the prizes. Ask yourself: is this prize too big or heavy for this claw? Is this prize too small for the claw to grab? Can I use the claw to push the prize instead of grabbing it?
Watch someone playing first. - Keep an eye on someone else's game to know if that machine is right for you. Observe and ask yourself: How fast does the claw move? When does the claw stop grabbing? Does the claw change position? By paying attention to other people's games, you can come up with your own strategy.
What is the goal of the UFO Catcher?
I think everyone should know that these pet-catching machines are made to make a profit. The chances of winning are practically impossible, the claws never act the way we want or they just don't have enough strength to grab the prizes.
However, the employees like it when we win and some are nice. If you say: iten wo toriyasui basho ni oitekure masuka? they might place the prize in an easier position. Most people play on these cranes just for fun. If you want to play on this UFO Catcher just think about the fun, forget that you will spend money, and bring a predetermined amount.
If you've ever had the experience of playing on these machines, we'd love to see your comments. We thank you for reading and sharing. We hope you enjoyed this article. We'll finish by leaving a video to motivate you to not play!
