Oh, I have played these machines a few times, and one particular time was just like a scene of one of George Harrison's "I've Got My Mind Set On You" videos-- although it was a stuffed (cuddly toy) dog instead of a ballerina figurine, and it was in the exit of a warehouse-type grocery store. My wife got it all the same :)
But seeing Sega doing this also makes me sad. These aren't high class-- although the antique versions are quite quaint. This particular version might be a little funkier and jazzy than the versions I often see in grocery stores, bars, and the like, but Sega has a much more respected gaming history than this.
I'm totally addicted to claw machines. Whenever I go past one, I have to stop and see if there are any plushies within reach. If there are, all the change in my purse and/or pockets vanishes within seconds.
* The machine repeats a video demonstrating how easy it is, but the targets are set up and are on a raised Plexiglas platform. (Fraud, IMHO) * These machines can be programmed with a payout percentage, which makes them illegal gambling machines in my book.
A friend of mine applied similar statistical probability to nickel slot machines. The ratio of losses to wins was larger and had to be applied to the whole group of machines, but it was very similar research; you just watched for the machine that hadn't hit a jackpot for a while.
* These machines can be programmed with a payout percentage, which makes them illegal gambling machines in my book.
I'm not certain what aspect of them you define as illegal, although I very much agree that they are gambling machines. They certainly aren't covered by gambling laws that I know of, however, and I do believe that it would be prudent for state legislature and state courts to start considering them under such.
But it's not exactly cut and dried, as you're probably familiar with the "Play 'Til You Win" versions that just pay out candy, or the Rube Goldstein-ish gumball machines that pay out an extra gumball if you manage to get the falling one into the hole.
Comments
But seeing Sega doing this also makes me sad. These aren't high class-- although the antique versions are quite quaint. This particular version might be a little funkier and jazzy than the versions I often see in grocery stores, bars, and the like, but Sega has a much more respected gaming history than this.
Check out the video I just added.
Too bad you can't declare shenanigans on the operators!
* These machines can be programmed with a payout percentage, which makes them illegal gambling machines in my book.
I'm not certain what aspect of them you define as illegal, although I very much agree that they are gambling machines. They certainly aren't covered by gambling laws that I know of, however, and I do believe that it would be prudent for state legislature and state courts to start considering them under such.
But it's not exactly cut and dried, as you're probably familiar with the "Play 'Til You Win" versions that just pay out candy, or the Rube Goldstein-ish gumball machines that pay out an extra gumball if you manage to get the falling one into the hole.