UFO Catchers in Japan!

6 January 2014

 

DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert in UFO catchers. Just here sharing my own experiences with them after spending quite a sum gaining experiences. The anticipation, disappointment, excitement and the satisfaction!

 

There are many types of machines with different prizes from different companies. For example, Banpresto has a presence in many of the amusement centres in Japan with its CRANEKING brand delivering prizes that you can only get by playing their machines. The figurines under CRANEKING are so awesome (or chooooo kawaii for the KyunChara series) that you'll immediately start digging out all the ¥100 coins you have to play.

 

Very often, the prize one wins at the machine aren't exchangeable for other types of prize at the same machine after winning. For example, there are 2 types of towels in this machine. You only want Design A but Design B is placed as a prize at that moment and is already in such a manner that you think you'll get it within a few tries. But after you get Design B, unlike in Singapore, you aren't allowed to change to Design A. So I'm always stuck with this dilemma, whether to request the game center person to change to Design A from the beginning or get Design B first and hypnotize myself into liking it. Hahaha...

 

Ok, less talk and LET'S PLAY!!

 

Type 1: The Traditional 3-hand claw 

 

This type has a few versions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) Claws that have rubber at the ends (see picture) which in turn means better grip on the prize but often involve a plastic wall taller than the prize itself so dragging the prize into the outlet is impossible. In this machine, you lower your claws and grab the prize within, which will then automatically raise it midair, move towards the chute and drop the prize. This is the ideal scenario of course. The fact that you can even see the claws raise the prize midair is seductive enough for you to drop a few more ¥100 coins to try even if you fail.

 

2) Claws without rubber at the ends but its plus point is that it doesn't have a plastic wall and you can win with a combination of catching, dragging, or even flip the prize so that it will “jump” into the outlet.

 

3) Claws with rubber at the ends and no plastic wall but each try would then be more pricey, around ¥200 per try.

 

 

Type 2: The Pincher

 

This two-armed catcher is used in many of the machines in the game centre that I frequent and it really pinches my heart and stomach HARD when I feel that I'm sooooo near in winning that prize but I just didn't. ARGH THAT FEEL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are mini machines which have mini toys that are piled and squeezed into a machine and the pinchers can only move backwards and then sideways (either right or left side depending on the orientation of the machine). The pincher then opens up and lowers itself into the prize and closes. Request to reposition the prize and exchange of prize for other types within same machine is not allowed so one just have to keep playing to get the one one wants. The pincher isn't strong so one can't possibly use it to pinch the prize (like how you pick up food with chopsticks) then drop it off at the chute. This normally requires one to “claw” the prize into the outlet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These often include attractive prizes like figurines, super big anime blankets or even jumbo-size japanese snacks that are tied to a ring with a rubber band then suspended from a rod. First, the pincher moves sideways then backwards then open its claws. Request to change the prize item suspended is allowed but this will normally mean that the ring is then placed back to the default position >.< If the ring is placed pretty near the end of the rod, there's a chance to win by using the claw to drag the ring off the rod. Alternatively, one can also win by turning the ring till it drops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This I would say is pretty difficult and you need precision and accuracy, definitely not something you would want to try if you are sleepy. First, the pincher moves sideways then backwards then opens up. You aim to get the claw within the ring and then pull the prize into the outlet. There is also a chance that the prize will get pushed further in when the claw opens up but it is possible to request for reposition of prize back to its default position. As difficult as it may be, the prizes are rewarding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are quite easy at times. First, the pincher moves sideways then backwards, opens up then lowers automatically. Using the photo as shown above, the left side of the claw closes at a slightly later timing so it returns the prize back to the original position. If item is heavy, one can win when the claw that closes later lifts it up and the item is rocked out of balance and drops. If item is pretty light like the one above, by using the hand that closes earlier to push it outwards and reposition the prize in a way that it is not perpendicular to the machine anymore and after a few more tries of agitating the prize, a win is guaranteed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are easy at times and I would say one will win by being patient and letting others invest a few hundred yen to move the prize first before attempting the machine. The claw moves sideways, backwards then automatically opens up and lowers on the prize then closes. To win, the prize will have to slip through the space and drop. Proximity of the prizes may sometimes be a disadvantage as it hinders the movement and closing of the pinchers but on the flipside, it may also be advantageous as it may move the desired prize (won once by this).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The prize doesn't really attract me that much so I just waited around for others to attempt this machine. Firstly, the pincher moves sideways then backwards, then opens up and lowers on the prize. To win, one would just need to roll the prize off the platform.

 

This list for the UFO catchers in Japan isn't complete (of course) as the Japanese always have unlimited ideas to let you part with your money willingly. I always feel guilty of splurging my money on these machines but really, nothing can quite beat the satisfaction of leaving the arcade with bags of wins. =DDD