Aight maggots. It’s time to edumacate you in the fine art of UFO catching. I’m about to present to you tips on how to net yourself a cute stuff j-character without spending a lot of moolah. Koichi spent ¥5,000 figuring out the tricks of the trade so the lot of us wouldn’t have to. But before I indulge you with such delicious tips, I’ll bore you with some background information on these arcade machines (sorry, nothing is free!).
In the US (and maybe Canada?), you may be familiar with its cousin generically named the claw vending machines. Typically the claws are three to four prongs and have ridiculous low gripping power. Prizes are positioned in the prize area in such a way that the only way of succeeding is to grab onto the object and hope that the prong latches onto something or its sad gripping power is just barely enough to carry it to the outlet.
So what makes the US version different from the Japanese? Not much. There is still the weak gripping power. However, the first thing you’ll probably notice is the two-prong claw. TWO-PRONG?!?!?! How the hell are you suppose to grip around an object with just two prongs? Well, you don’t for the most part. Here is where the main difference lies: Majority of the time when looking at the sea of prizes in the casing you’ll find the “winnable” prize sitting almost right next to the exit hole at a higher elevated position. This is done on purpose. The Japanese arcade peons like to give you a chance of winning. They WANT you to win. All that is required is to understand the mechanics of the two-prong claw.
The trick is the utilization of the force from the prongs when it open/closes/descends and the use of gravity. The claw typically opens up midway descension and closes before it ascends back on. You’ll also notice that the claw has a wide range in the open position. The use of the claw depends on the positioning of the object. Sometimes you’ll need to pull the prize towards the hole by either latching a prong to some opening on the object or position it over the object by some offset amount so that when the claw closes it’ll push the object towards the exit . Or you’ll have the descending prong push straight down on the objects side so the weight gets shifted, letting gravity do its job.
Check out this video for more information:
Games typically run at ¥100-¥500 for one to three plays, depending what is at stake.
Oh, one more thing. Don’t bother with the UFO catchers with AV DVDs (READ: Mystery person pictured above). You are better off saving the yen and purchasing them at a “DVD/CD/本屋” (you’ll know what I mean if you ever attempt to visit one).
November 26th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
I resent that picture, Viet.
I WAS NOT PLAYING IT!
November 26th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
We’re sorry, this video is no longer available.
=[ That’s what I said.
I wonder, what happens if the ‘close to the exit/right prize’ has already been picked up and offered to a good home? Are they quickly replaced? Is there no other method to the madness!?
I’ll try these out some time! Now if we only had a couple Japanese vending machines around… -wanders off-
November 26th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
@Eevee
Generally the staff will replace it immediately (from our experience). If not, you can always ask them.
The coolest moment I’ve had with these machines was when I won two prizes back to back. After winning the first prize, the arcade peon went in to set up another prize. Bad mistake on his part since I still had two tries left on my credit :)
November 27th, 2007 at 12:02 am
@Eevee
Ah, lame-o on the video problem. I can watch it just fine, it must still be processing.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:05 am
@Erin
You’re right. It was Koichi playing it.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:13 am
@Viet
I dunno, I think the picture above is more definitive evidence than anything I’ve seen so far…
Also, video should work now. I accidentally set it to “private”
November 27th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
lmao, the first picture hahah
November 27th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
I like how the third picture still has the censor on it! HAHA. Nice… I now know how to win one and will hopefully be able to use this knowledge next summer! This was a good, fun article. Good job Viet! And good job with the vid Koichi, hope you feel better. Erin, good job with the other articles! Whatever happened to Lee?
November 27th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
@fredy
Thanks for the compliments. This article was definitely a team effort.
Fixed the image.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Fredy:
Thanks, and Lee’s whereabouts are confidential.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
My younger sister is definitely addicted to American claw machines… I’d hate to think about what would happen if she should ever go to Japan and sees the UFO catchers with cute critters like those stuffed dogs. I don’t think I’d ever see her again unless I visited an arcade.
Really great article, pictures, and video, you guys! (:
November 27th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
you can win porno? wow
November 28th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I forgot what city I was in , maybe Asakusa, but the arcade employee was watching me play, and after every failure, he opened up the case, and moved the prize closer and closer to the exit hole. After about five tries, I finally got it!
I then saw another couple try right after me, and he did the same thing.
November 28th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
“you can win porno? wow”
japan = horniest race ever? lol :p
November 28th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Howard and Kevin:
I honestly don’t think you can win the AVs. To do so, you’d have to get it perfectly balanced on the claw, lift it, and move it over to the drop slot without them falling off. Which is not to say that these machines don’t make a lot of money, haha. Still, I think your efforts would be much better spent trying to win a stuffed animal or phone strap.
November 29th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
OH MY GOD!!! I want that gloomy bear!!!! SO UBER CUTE!!! ::SIGH::
I never knew these things about UFO catchers, never even had heard the term before.
When I go to Japan I defiantly see another obsession in my future!!!! THANKS for the great article!!!
November 30th, 2007 at 11:43 am
they’re so much cuter than the ones in america.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
We have them at the local Gameworks (which is owned by Sega) and it is ran the same way it is in Japan. They refill it after you win something and they make it pretty easy to win. I have won tons of prizes from these machines but I have also lost alot of money as well.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
@Zaakro
They have these at my local Gameworks (Seattle) also. But every time I’ve visited there the prizes don’t seem winnable.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
In America, it’s not called UFO Catcher. I take it you were in Japan when Viet caught that stuffed animal. It just LOOKS like a Japanese icon. But I’ve won plenty of 3-4 prong ones in America. I do agree that the ones with like jewlry in boxes and stuff is soooo hard to get, but for the candy ones, they’re awesomly easy. (That’s cause they WANT you to win)
December 2nd, 2007 at 1:36 pm
This was quite the fun article!
Sadly, here in Canada, we don’t have anything as cute as UFO catchers, nor are the American claw machines very popular here. I think I’ve only really seen one in the city I live in, and the store it’s located in is being demolished soon. Hah. Shady indeed. In the machines you do find have prizes so lame and so ugly, they’re soooo not worth the money. >_>;
I want a stuffed Kapibara. D:
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Helpful article!
I’ll remember this when I go Slime Hunting in Japan.
Thank you!
December 4th, 2007 at 1:50 am
the UFO catchers in Japan are ALOT better
December 4th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
U know whut, I don’t know ’cause i’ve never been to japan but the 1’s in america are pretty bad…not pretty bad, really bad although almost every time i win
December 5th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Weak prongs; The reason why everyone should head to Rhode Island. While there once on summer vacation I won five stuffed animals from a claw machine, and only spent $6. Haven’t been back since, but still. Definitely worth it, I think the owners wanted me gone from the store. xD
If I ever get to visit Japan I’m definitely trying every UFO Catcher I find out. I wanna come home with 50+ toys, just to see the expression on the airplane staffs’ faces. xDD
December 11th, 2007 at 8:08 am
Y’know, I thought it would be too cheeky to actually ask the staff to make it easier, but my friend went ahead and asked them! It was something like…
“Sumimasen… nankai mo yatta kedo, torenai n desu. Toreru you ni shite kudasai…”
Something like that. Anyway, he moved it a bit closer to the exit (well, practically balanced it over the edge for me), and I won on my next turn!
December 11th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
@Ste
Awesome! I’m glad the tips worked out for you.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:03 am
I haven’t been here in so long…but I have time now.
Loved this one…now I know! I never tried them before because I was so deathly afraid of the black holes. I’m excited to obtain a new addiction! ^_^
December 17th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Thanks, Viet! I won again today, a big ol’ Rirakkuma! :D
But! I had one credit left and nothing else was ‘winnable’, so I left it and walked once around the game center to see if the guy would set something else up… but he didn’t! And not only that, but he pressed the button to waste my last credit! :O
I was kindof annoyed and this is the only place I could turn. :P
December 31st, 2007 at 5:54 pm
very interesting article.
wish there were such ufo catchers in wisconsin rather than the crappy ones here that have glas plates around the hole to prevent the pushing of objects in. :(
the video was awesome too :)
January 14th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Must remember this when I go to Japan this summer :). I’m going to write it down into a notebook for memory XD. Although, looking at the little claw-machine games in America, I don’t think that we Americans understand the concept of gravity, therefore they do not set up the prizes like that :X. But my friend has won A LOT of stuff from using that little metal claw to grab things.
January 21st, 2008 at 5:21 am
Hey, nice video and nice explanations. I actually never thought anyone could win a single thing from these machines, but you proved me wrong. :) Guess I’ll keep my eyes open the next time my girlfriends drags me to a purikura machine or however those are called. Would be the greatest thing of the evening to give her one of those cute animal thingies. ^^
January 21st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Great article!
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQE1RdOTBNY&feature=related
March 8th, 2008 at 11:01 am
wow this site is awesome it makes me want to go to japan more cuz America is so boring and ive never seen or hear of ufo catching but i want to try it out
March 8th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Hi Asian Kid
Welcome to the site. I’m glad you are enjoying out content ;)
March 24th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I SAW YOUR VIDEO AND YOU SAID A GUY WITH THOSE WEIRD PANTS AND BAG YEA? I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THEM IS THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY IN JAPAN?
March 29th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Wow i wanna go to japan!! my cousin is going not me -_T arrggh i’m gonna send her this video so i can get a cute stuffed animal ^_~ yay! lol xD
April 2nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I just wanted to say thanks for the “tips” lol, when we went to Florida I tried and I got 4 different stuffed animals ON A ROW!, for just 50 cents ^_^
May 5th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Well i want to go to Japan and play UFO CATCHERS T^T but the sad reason is that my mom and dad and sisters and me don’t know how to speak Japanese and anyways its expensive. Stupid parents…
May 6th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Very cool. I don’t know anyone who has won the U.S. type, but whenever I get over there, I’ll try the Japanese versions. thanks for the fun tip!
May 26th, 2008 at 10:46 am
WOW! Well now I have another reason to want to go to Japan. What arcades were you guys playing at? Do some of the machines have those stupid plastic barriers (like ALL of them do in the U.S.)?
June 20th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I hate these ufo catcher things. Your video was cool and funny but i suck at them.
I never ever win. But the next time i go somewhere with those, I WILL use your tips. maybe they will work .
oh, and now i want to go to japan even more then i use to.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I wish I could win on something like this
June 20th, 2008 at 11:55 am
There are only stuffed Animals or hats like your panda hat too?