Many people have stuffed countless coins into claw machines and have never experienced the joy of winning their favorite doll or plush toy, yet they refuse to stop, believing that “next time will be different.” The result is an addictive cycle of repeated failed attempts.
Why is it so difficult to win plush toys? Are there any tricks we can use to grab the stuffed animals, dolls, or prizes in these machines?
Why are claw machines so difficult?
Today, let’s explore this “mysterious machine” that has become so addictive.
How Did Claw Machines Become So Popular and Addictive?
The claw machine originated as a candy vending machine from the United States.
In 1965, Japan replicated this concept to create the first similar products. Since then, a vast number of claw machines have appeared in game halls and shopping centers, with an astonishing increase in both quantity and variety. The prizes inside range from luxury toys to the most mundane items like snacks, lipsticks, and even tech gadgets. In some places, there are even claw machines for seafood like crabs and lobsters, and the lucky players can cook them right after winning. From scattered appearances, they gradually evolved into specialized stores and then into widespread business models.
However, they all share a common characteristic: a low success rate. If you are an experienced claw machine player, you likely have had many painful experiences, spending money but never managing to grab a plush toy.
In reality, there are secrets behind claw machines that keep people trying and failing.
A child playing with a claw machine.
Claw Machines Are Manually Adjustable Devices
To understand why we often fail to grab a doll or plush toy, we must discuss the mechanical structure and operating principles of these machines.
It is evident that the most crucial component of the claw machine is its grabbing claws. The claws (usually three) open and close using a lever principle. When they come into contact with a plush toy, they generate a force to hold the weight of the object and signal the system to recognize the grip.
A claw from a plush toy claw machine.
With only two claws, it is very difficult to keep the plush toy stable. The contact points of three claws form an equilateral triangle, creating a stable structure that ensures they are secure enough to hold the plush toy or item.
The success rate of grabbing a plush toy is significantly related to the strength of these claws. They are composed of three mechanical arms with adjustable durability, and their movement and operation are controlled by the output voltage of the motor drive circuit.
The internal mechanical structure of a claw machine.
However, many people do not realize that shop owners can “control” these settings. Merchants adjust the intensity of the magnetic field of the claws by modifying the voltage and current, thereby controlling the grip strength. The typical voltage adjustment for claw machines ranges from 10 to 30V. The power can be divided into strong grip power and weak grip power. The greater the pressure, the higher the friction. If the friction generated by the grip strength is insufficient to support the weight of the plush toy, it will easily fall.
Moreover, the gripping of plush toys is divided into two processes: grabbing and transporting. Sellers periodically change the “grip strength” of the claws. Generally, it is set to “strong grip” when grabbing plush toys and “weak grip” when transporting the toy. The specific working performance allows for a grip, but it will drop the toy as soon as it starts moving.
Grabbing and transporting plush toys are two distinct processes.
Not only can merchants set the strength of the grip and weak hold, but they can also set the time and frequency of these conditions. This is known as the “manual probability settings for grabs.” How it is set depends on the merchant’s conscience.
For example, if the seller sets the probability to 1/20, a strong grip will occur every 20 attempts.
The probability of “slipping” works like this.
Thus, we sometimes see a doll or plush toy suddenly fall during the transport process, which is a result of the seller’s programming. To successfully transport it to the hole in one go, the player’s luck must be extremely high.
So how can we differentiate between a “conscientious” claw machine and a less fair one? There are a few ways!
The first is to try a pay-per-play method. Simply give it a shot. If you encounter a “weak machine” that drops the plush toy immediately when the claws move up or is too weak to hold the toy, change to another machine immediately! If you see someone failing to grab a toy after several attempts, it’s a good idea to try your luck there. The success rate will be higher. However, of course, if the grab setting probability is 1%, it will continue to miss for dozens of attempts.
The second method is to watch others play and observe the grip ability of the claws. Don’t try machines with seemingly weak arms; you wouldn’t want to be taxed on your IQ!
Watch others play and observe the grip ability of the claws.
Techniques for Winning Plush Toys
To successfully grab a plush toy, the claws must hold onto the entire item or at least part of it. Therefore, selecting the right toy is crucial. It is best to choose plush toys with relatively large heads, relatively small and long necks, or dolls with sharp edges and multiple points for the claws to latch onto.
Soft plush toys are also easier to grip than hard ones, as in this case, the three claws will penetrate deeper, increasing friction and reducing the chance of dropping during transport.
Soft plush toys are easier to grip than hard ones.
The position of the plush toy is also very important. Choose toys that are close to the hole, with a center of gravity higher than the hole and no other plush toys nearby. This type is the best to grab.
If the plush toy is near the entrance of the hole and positioned relatively high, it can still fall into the hole if the claws loosen during transport. If the target toy is surrounded by a group of others, it will be difficult to grasp and may be blocked by the surrounding toys just as it is about to move up.
After pressing the start button, continuously shake the control button up and down and side to side to make the claws sway left and right. When it gets directly above the target, time it well and press the down button. At this moment, the claws are still shaking, and the best time to drop is when the claws are bent back in, grabbing the target. Try to ensure the claws penetrate deep enough into the plush toy to maximize the grip area. Then lift it straight up. Due to the angle formed between the claws and the string, the plush toy will be thrown toward the hole, as illustrated below.
Try to ensure the claws penetrate deep enough into the plush toy to maximize the grip area.
Many people think that after pressing the grab down button, they can only stand and watch. However, in reality, we can still perform one final step by pressing the grab button again. The claws will unexpectedly tighten a bit more, and the pulling force will increase.
In fact, winning plush toys is also a skillful task, as the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” More practice and experience accumulation through practice are essential. If you become a “master of clawing plush toys,” you will enjoy carrying home large bags and even pushing a cart full of plush toys.
