I don’t know what it is with claw cranes at arcades. Some say they’re rigged to keep anyone from winning anything – either drop whatever it grasps or just have a really lousy grip. Others say there’s a fixed success rate with these things; that if you’re persistent enough, you’ll catch something after a predetermined number of games. Maybe it is random luck after all.
I’ve never beaten a claw crane. I tend to aim well and be wary with my choice of item, but I’ve got no wins so far. That’s probably why I think one does not beat the claw with pure skill. As in all things, chance can sometimes have the upper hand. By the time you lose all your tokens (and perhaps your marbles), you still find yourself empty-handed.
On occasion I would choose the atrocious Barney toy or the ugliest Angry Bird plushie just because they seem the easiest to catch. I am a strategist but sometimes frustration breeds mediocrity in me. Yes, a shame and yes, I can do so much better. I lose my games because the grips are flimsy, I take bad aims, hesitate at times or become careless. For the most part I lose because I’m not supposed to win yet.
Someday I shall conquer the pesky toy catcher. With flawless gameplay and auspicious timing, I must put an end to this cruelty of fates. I will win that elusive stuffed toy and I tell you it’s not going to be a purple dinosaur.
UnSolicited 