Claw Machines – UFO Catcher – Are you up for it?

During my trip to Japan, I came across various claw machines to grab stuffed animals, especially anime figures, absolutely everywhere. The arcade stores were crowded, and there were shops solely dedicated to claw machines and similar ones. In this article, we will talk a little about these claw machines that in Brazil we know as crane or teddy bear grabbing machines. In Japan, these machines are called UFO CATCHER.

The teddy bear grabbing machines in Japan have various prizes besides plush toys. There you can find anime and manga figures, 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-grabbing 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 just require skill.

Types of claw machines – UFO Catcher

There are various types of claws and also other machines with the same purpose. Let’s see some of them below:

The pincer – This claw has only 2 arms that close in a pincer motion. The machines with pincers 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 the same way as the pincer. To grab the prizes, you need to fit this single claw into a ring to hold and lift the object.

Suspended prizes – Some machines have prizes suspended in various ways. Some are hung on 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 figure into the perfect space for the prize to fall. There are various types of claws and different games. There are other types of machines where the prizes are inside capsules.

My experience with these machines

My experience with these UFO catcher machines in Japan was not very good. Walking in 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 pretty girl dressed as a schoolgirl to attract customers. One of them caught me distributing that little card that I didn’t know you had to play to get. During this fun, I ended up using my beloved yen coins. I tried harder, and the girl with that voice saying Ganbatte made me spend 3,000 yen.

I had tried a bit on the claw 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 grab the figure of Sinon from Sword Art Online. And to be more ironic, she let me do a test once, and during that test, I managed to grab it on the first try. Stay away from these machines; they are addictive, even though I only continued playing because of the girl.

If a person has skill, it is not difficult to win from these machines or grab a figure without spending much. In the store I went to, the girl gave me the option to choose the prize, and then she placed it inside the machine. I really wanted to have grabbed that figure.

Tips to win at UFO Catcher machines

Look for easy machines. – Many people end up trying to grab the prize but give up right when it is hanging close to falling. Look for those machines that are easy to grab, 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 the employees. – The employees always keep an eye on the machines; if they see that a machine has already yielded many wins, they change the difficulty or place a prize in an easy position. Keep an eye on the employees to pick the best machine.

Analyze the prizes. – You need to pay attention to 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 play first. – Keep an eye on someone else’s game to see if that machine is suitable 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 others’ games, you can devise your own strategy.

What is the goal of UFO Catchers?

I think everyone should know that these claw machines are made to generate profit. The chances of winning are practically impossible; the claws never act the way we want or simply do not 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 may leave the prize in an easier position. Most people play on these cranes just for fun. If you want to play on this UFO Catcher, think only about the fun, forget that you will spend money, and bring a predetermined amount.

If you have ever had the experience of playing on these machines, we would love to see it in the comments. We thank you for reading and sharing. I hope you enjoyed this article. Let’s finish by leaving a video to motivate you to not play!