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Beating 5 Scam Arcade Games with Science

Mark Rober・22 minutes read

The text discusses creating backpack contraptions to dominate arcade games like Skee-Ball, basketball, Quick Drop, air hockey, and the punching bag game, with tips for winning each game and the narrator's disappointing performance despite encouraging lab results. Popular redemption games in arcades are more profitable than experience games, and investigations reveal that some games are essentially scams controlled by arcade owners, with advice to avoid digital games that can be rigged in favor of games like coin pushers for better winning odds.

Insights

  • The text delves into the intricate details of creating backpack contraptions tailored for dominating various arcade games, showcasing innovative and unconventional strategies to achieve success.
  • It sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of arcade games, revealing insights into the deceptive nature of certain popular games, the profitability of redemption games over experience-based ones, and tips for maximizing winning odds by avoiding rigged digital games and focusing on strategic targets in claw machines.

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Recent questions

  • How can I improve my chances of winning at Skee-Ball in arcades?

    To enhance your performance in Skee-Ball, aim for the 4,000-point hole and brace your leg against the machine for accuracy. Additionally, consider using a modified softball pitching machine disguised as a water bottle to load multiple balls at once, increasing your chances of scoring higher points.

  • What strategies should I employ to excel at the basketball arcade game?

    When playing the basketball arcade game, utilize a robot mechanism to continuously score points by breaking and reconnecting an infrared beam. Avoid wasting time waiting for balls and swipe cards on both games for extra balls, maximizing your opportunities to accumulate points and achieve a high score.

  • How can I increase my chances of winning the Quick Drop arcade game?

    To improve your odds of winning at Quick Drop, drop four balls in most buckets and wait for the jackpot to rise for an easier win. Utilize a piston rod controlled by an Arduino microcontroller to drop balls accurately into the buckets, increasing your chances of hitting the jackpot and securing a victory.

  • What tips can help me succeed at the air hockey arcade game?

    When playing air hockey, ensure you hold the paddle correctly, position defensively, play for possession, and mix up your shots to outmaneuver your opponent. Utilize computer vision to track the puck and move the paddle to protect the goal effectively, enhancing your defensive strategies and increasing your chances of winning the game.

  • Which arcade games offer better odds of winning tickets?

    To improve your chances of winning tickets in arcades, focus on redemption games rather than experience games like air hockey or Skee-Ball. Avoid digital games that can be rigged and opt for games like coin pushers for better odds of winning tickets and maximizing your arcade experience.

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Summary

00:00

Arcade Game Domination with Backpack Contraptions

  • The text describes creating backpack contraptions to dominate five common arcade games, including Skee-Ball, basketball, Quick Drop, air hockey, and the punching bag game.
  • The Skee-Ball backpack involves a modified softball pitching machine that releases balls one at a time, with a water bottle disguise to load multiple balls. Tips for winning include aiming for the 4,000-point hole and bracing your leg against the machine for accuracy.
  • The basketball backpack uses a robot mechanism to break and reconnect an infrared beam to score points continuously. Tips include not wasting time waiting for balls and swiping cards on both games for extra balls.
  • The Quick Drop backpack features a piston rod controlled by an Arduino microcontroller to drop balls accurately into buckets for the jackpot. Tips include dropping four balls in most buckets and waiting for the jackpot to rise for an easier win.
  • The air hockey backpack uses computer vision to track the puck and move the paddle to protect the goal. Tips for human players include holding the paddle correctly, positioning defensively, playing for possession, and mixing up shots.
  • The punching bag game involves a fake arm with spring-loaded pistons to achieve a high score. The text humorously describes a competition between the narrator and another player using the fake arm.

11:12

Arcade Games: Tricks, Scams, and Strategies

  • The tension mechanism in the punching game is released with a quick trigger, allowing precise timing for punches.
  • The rules of the game prohibit side punching, pushing, running, kicking, or headbutting, but not the use of spring-loaded piston punching gloves.
  • Despite initial encouraging results in the lab test, the narrator's performance was disappointing, achieving a score lower than desired.
  • The punching machine measures the bag's rotation speed using a beam brake sensor, calculating the force of the punch based on this data.
  • By using a PEZ dispenser and modifying an arcade card, the narrator successfully tricked the machine into registering an extremely fast punch.
  • Redemption games in arcades, focused on winning tickets, are more popular and profitable than experience games like air hockey or Skee-Ball.
  • The narrator's investigation revealed that certain popular arcade games, like Stacker and Key Master, are essentially scams controlled by arcade owners to determine jackpot wins.
  • Claw machines often have adjustable strength settings, with prizes closest to the exit hole being the best targets to minimize time held in the claws.
  • The narrator advises avoiding digital games that can be rigged in arcades, suggesting games like coin pushers for better odds of winning tickets.
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