Lonnie K.
Yelp
I don't know if it's just me but I feel like the claw machines have gotten more difficult to play and the claw itself is looser compared to when I was here on grand opening day from last year. They sell fried chicken sandwiches, fruit teas, fries, popcorn chicken, and other snacks on the menu. I didn't buy anything to eat or drink as I'd just had dinner right across the street. I came directly for the plushies in claw machines.
Ambiance wise is supposed to resemble the night markets in Taiwan with the various neon-colored LED lights attracting people to go inside, play the claw machines and have the chance of winning and bringing your favorite stuffed animal home. The LED lights can make very instaworthy photo opps for night photography.
There're two token exchange kiosks at two separate corners of the arcade place. I didn't like how they would require customers to put in the exact change/money amount, otherwise you'll NOT be able to get your change back. So, please BEWARE & read all the instructions carefully before taking any action/putting in any money into the machine!!!!!
Anyway, most of these claw machines require 2 tokens per play (equivalent to $2) for the smaller and medium sized plushies. The bigger plushies require you to put in 3 tokens per play (equivalent to $3). For the bigger plushies like my favorite Totoro, you're supposed to grab the ball in the middle, bring it over and drop it into the slot with the claw. Call the staff over to give them the ball and choose the prize/plushie that you want.
You think it's an easy process right?!? Nope. The hardest thing, the ball would keep hitting the roof and bouncing back against the hard plastic every time the claw would reach up to the top. Then, the claw slips open when it's almost fallen in. Luckily, the nice and friendly staff would offer to rearrange the smaller and medium sized plushies when they see that you're having a hard time grabbing it. Or you can request/ask them during the struggle of fishing it out. Nevertheless, I've failed at that game numerous times over and over again. Still grateful for staff's attempted help and tips.
For the hand-sized plushies in the smaller claw machines, I tend to think that the claw in there had gotten looser than I'd remembered to be in the past. The claw kept slipping while trying to aim and grab the plush at the body but ended up failing miserably when the claw had opened up at the last minute. After several failed attempts, the staff came over to stack up the small Totoros and moved one of them very close to the prize slot hole.
Therefore, you would only need to swing and knock the claw against the side of the targeted plush very gently at your next turn and it shall tumble & fall into your possession. Another key and the most important part, just as the claw tries to grab your prize, you should ideally press the same claw button again in order to securely grab the toy and hold it in place when it goes up in the air.
It would even have these tips plastered everywhere on the side of these claw machines. Besides having a little luck on your side, the outcome would also depend on your skills/techniques as in how well you can aim the claw at a certain angle and how tight you can have the claw secure the toy without losing its grip.
Overall, your wallet would definitely agree with you that the arcade is indeed a dangerous and addicting place for both adults and kids alike. Alas, you might even end up spending the entire day here if you keep on exchanging your money for tokens. Lastly, it is very important to understand and have enough self control limiting yourself on how much money you actually plan on spending. After all, it's too easy and too fast to lose $20 in a matter of 5 minutes.