Rumble at the D & B

Sorry I have no photos to accompany this segment but it was an interesting one to say the least.  There is always a joke that one day I'll be "black-listed" at the Dave and Busters like they do Sharks in Vegas.  It seems that might not one day be a joke.

Last Wednesday I went to D & B to collect some winnings.  It was packed full of people because of Christmas break.  I scoped out the claw machines and . ..  . .they weren't there.  They were replaced by a whole other machine.  I started to look around and saw the claw machines had been switched to the far wall.  No big deal, at first I thought but then I noticed the claw machines are now closer to the office.  Coincidence?  Or is it so they can keep a better eye on me?

I walked over and began to check them out.  The animals were loose because of the kids playing.  I decided to play my favorite machine and then this referee looking asshole shoots in front of me, opens up the machine and begins to stuff the animals down right in front of me.  THE NERVE OF THIS GUY!!!   Because of his red hair and crew cut, I named him Opie

I backed off while he did this.  When he was done, he gave me a such a glare.  A literal "looks could kill" situation.  I was like, "What?"  He said nothing and walked away. 

Did he rig it so I couldn't play?  Hard to say but I played anyway.  I didn't win as much as I could have but I won some.  Check below for the results.

Oh, yeah and when I was done, I caught him opening up the claw machine and stuffing the animals in the holes I made.  GEEZ!!!

See Opie?

You cannot stop me

The Yogi Bears

Just took this in passing out the theater.  I did bother to try once and YES, it;s still rigged.  But the claw machine owners have to keep up with movie trends, don't they? :)

The Hippo Dive

I had to do a double take myself to see if I even captured the moment and I did.  Check it out, the pale yellow hippo is mid-dive down the pit! hahahahah!

Merry Christmas, Toys for Tots

I dropped them off Wednesday morning.  Goodbye, guys.  I hope whatever children recieve you, you bring a smile to their face on Christmas morning.

Oh, what the hell . . .

Just to document it for my website, i decided to try the candy machine.  What you do is you use the scooper claws there (much more effective than that shit hole Stars & Stripes), and then it dumps the candy into that white platform on the left.  A constant moving bag pushes it forward and . . . . .

It's rigged.

Here's the thing.  There is a trap door above the pit area.  Which means that's NOT going to slid down, unless a pound of candy falls on it.  At most, you might get two or three pieces. 

How cruel is that?

They still Hate me

They still stuff the animals at the Discover Mills claw machine so I went for the Bling Machine.  Look what I got. :)

Thank you, generous hosts!  at least I was able to turn these around into Christmas Presents.

The Claw Machines at The Stars & Stripes Bowling Alley

My manager told me of the claw machines at the Stars & Stripes bowling alley.  I had a free Saturday so I figured I'd go check it out.  After getting a card and putting some money on it, I began to play.  I decided to try the big claw machine first because that's the one he mentioned.  Sadly, when I started to play it, the claw was so loose it couldn't grab anything.  Plus, I went for the ball first.  THAT'S ALWAYS THE EASIEST.  However, this one is rigged so I tried the others.  Let me give you a heads up; it didn't go well.

The Candy Claw Machine

I tried the first claw machine at Stars And Stripes simply because of it's size.  I mean, look at all that candy!  I gave it a shot and . . . . it's rigged.

Who the hell would rigg a CANDY claw machine????

Seriously, guys, that's just cruel

The Second Claw Machine at Stars & Stripes

This is their version of the bling machine.  Plus it's got mp3 players.  I already know it's very near impossible to get those so I went for the jewelery boxes.  Came pretty close too but it's rigged.  You can pick them up but the claw is just loose enough to drop them the moment it's picked up.,

when you go to Stars and Stripes, don't go for the claw machine.  Go for the bowling.

The last Claw machine and it's rigged . . . . .oh, I'm so sad

Of all the claw machines I didn't want to be rigged, it was this one.  I mean, click on the photo for a higher resolution of all the cool stuff.

They got water bottles, super heroes, toys, squeezey balls, mugs, coffee mugs, and various stuffed animals.  This sucked!  Not only was it rigged, it was pretty damn obvious about it.  Check out the video below for proof.

It's OBVIOUSLY RIGGED!!!!

Look at the video closely.  It was a loose cowboy-toy of some kind.  Notice the claw lands on it PERFECTLY and then . . . . . it slides up, THEN closes and returns to the pit. 

don't believe me?  Watch the video again

The Claw Machine at the WalMart in Lilburn

Looked like a bunch of Domus, and those enviormental guys.  Oh, yeah, plus one Shrek in armor.

Also did you notice the pit is visible?  Been quite some time since I've seen a claw machine this neglected.  Well, I play a few rounds and it's rigged.  It's got that sensor in the middle where if it doesn't connect to the animal the first try, the claw locks up and doesn't close.  I did manage to get one Domu right on the nose.  Check below for the victory photo

Domu is going to eat you!

Vicious looking little turd, isn't he?

Season Claw Machines at the Golden Corral

"All lady, I ain't here for the buffett, I'm here for the claw machines, get yer'big ass outta my way."


Once the huge lady with her cell phone got into the door and out of my way, I tackled the claw machines.  There are two within the entrance.  The one on the left is the photo up top.  It's REALLY rigged.  It was the kind that went down, then came up to close the claw an inch above the prize.  The one on the right is the bottom photo and believe it or not, it's not fully rigged.  I won two animals on the first try.  Tried it again but I couldn't get any more because the animals weren't loose.  I would have kept playing had I had more money on me. :)

They've stacked the Desk Against Me

You know the old vegas saying, "The House always wins."  Well, today I felt that way.  They had packed the stuffed animals in there so tightly, I could barely grab anything.  Once I knew I wasn't going to win, I went to play with the bigger claw machine.  Managed to score another Wicked Witch and a red Turtle.  Then I went to the Bling Machine.  I got a watch, some necklaces and the Dollar Sign chain.  I have NO IDEA who would want that. 

I felt pretty bumped.  I recorded a video to prove how tightly the animals were packed.  I may have been down but I wasn't out.  I wasn't going to let this get the better of me.  I decided to make a trip to the Other Dave and Busters near Steve Reynolds; and Gwinett Place.  It's where I use to go all the time until the one at teh mall was closer. 
I want sixty toys for the Toys for Tots and I will not stop until I do.

Look at This crap

See?  They are REALLY tightly packed in there.  There was no way I was going to grab any of that

You're coming with me, Frosty!

Yes! Fortune smiles on me again.  The Other Dave and Busters had rigged claw machines but this time, it worked in my favor.  Something must have been up with this machine because the items seemed like they were thrown in there in a hurry. 

AS IN, they are VERY loose.

One by one, I started to grab them all.  I kept grabbing them until I couldn't get any more.  I';m so happy I made the decision to go to the other d & b

That's what I'm talking about

Ya see?  I just had to be patient.  It was definitely a good call to visit the Other D & B across town.  Now I am able to work toward a productive means to finish my goal for Toys for Tots

It's Jammed!!

There are so many I can't get the door up in the pit.  I had to remove them periodically so it didn't get clogged.

SUCCESS!!!!!!

I managed to win 30 stuffed animals.  That brings my total up to 65.  I've met my goal. 

Now I can finally donate these to Toys for Tots.  Sixty toys for sixty childen.  I want to thank Louise, Deborah, Sandi and Kame Jo for their contributions to this fund.  I'm so happy for what I have achieved. 

Every kid deserves toys for Christmas

The Fortune Teller

"Yes . . .  .. yes, I can see in your fue-char!  I can see . . .you vill vin LOTS of stuffed animals from De Claw Machine."

Return to the scene of The Crime

Since it was on my way back from my Christmas shopping, I decided to head to Wal-Mart and tackle the Junk Claw Machine again.  Normally, it would be known as a Bling Machine but take another look.  Does it look like there is any bling in here?  That Batman Beyond DVD has been in there since this machine was stationed there.

I wanted one of the Freakazoid lizards.  It would have been the perfect addition to my desk.  But I put in my money and dropped it several times.  The claw is just loosened enough for this to not work.  I thought I could get it hooked under it's legs or arms.  It just won't work.

By fun circumstance, I thought I might have won a pack of Spider Man cards.  It turned out to be something vastly different.  Look below

What . . . .the . . . hell?

Oh, look, Spider Man candy sticks with complimentary tattoo inside. 

After all that struggle and the only thing I walk away with is CANDY?  I'm fairly certain I'm not coming back to this machine every again.  I left behind the spider-sticks on the machine.  Let some kid enjoy them.  Although I doubt they'll be eaten because there is no telling how long this "candy" has actually been in the machine

The Five Dollar Challenge

Decided to take a five dollar challenge from a fellow claw machine enthusiast. Looks like my score is 3. :) Sorry the video goes over into the other collumn but it doesn't look like I can make it any smaller.

The Big Choice Claw Machine at the D & B near Gwinnett Place

I haven't been back to this Dave and Busters since the one at the mall nearest to me is better.  I traveled back yesterday to see what the status of the claw machine is.  Sadly, it's still rigged. Well . . . mostly.

It's a three tier machine.  The items are slightly loose but not loose enough.  Plus the claws have no gripping power.  Except the one on the left.  It's got enough grip to pick up something.  I didn't bother to clean it out because I'm waiting for half price wednesday

The Giant Claw Machine at the D & B near Gwinnett Place

Rigged but with special stipulations.

The claw lowers and then onces it surrounds an item, it KEEPS lowering.  It lays on it's side for 3 seconds then raises up to close the claw.  Sometimes that works with an item that's loose, like for instance that pink dolphin on the far left.  But it's near something that may not get the claw up all the way, you'll miss your opportunity.  However, there is one things that works all the time; those big beach balls.  They are big enough and LIGHT enough to allow the claw machine to close it's torgue around it.  It picks up practically all the time.

See below for the result.

See? Easy Peasy

I gave it to a kid nearby.  Needless to say, he was happy

The Claw Machine at the Kroger on Grayson Hwy

Yeah . . . . it's rigged.

It's the kind that spins upon descent and then if the claw touches something; it locks up and thus . . . picks up nothing. 

For Once, I raided the Big Claw Machine

Walked away with three things.  Not bad considering I haven't been able to break one in one sitting, since 2002.

Normally, I don't play the big machine unless I see a sure-fire win.  This time I had to because those morons at D & B rigged the machine.  I tried to bring up something but the claw kept slipping off of them.  It was because of the fact that they stuffed the animals all together.  When they are wedged in like that, it's practically hopeless.  Pan down to see what I did manage to win.

My goal was to contribute these stuffed animals to Toys For Tots.  These three did not go.  Why?  Because I want to give something to as many kids as possible.  These would be THREE kids only.  And the other toys are regular sized so it keeps everybody even.  The Wicked Witch when to Lynn, who will use it next year as a Halloween decoration.  Kobe Bear-ant went to Dan, who I hadn't had the chance to give something to him, so he could give it to his daughter.  And Big Orange Cat found a home with Fiona. 

This is all I got

One dolphin, two bull frogs and a turtle.  That brings my Toys for Tots pile to 33.  Still very shy from my goal.  I can only hope they don't rig it like they did this time.

No, really, THEY DID rig it.  They saw me walk out with a trash bag full of these things and then pushed all the animals further down together so the claw couldn't grab them.  The only reason I got these was because they were loose. 

Stuffed Animals: a Portrait

I took a second photo because, as I was positioning them and taking the first photo . . . . these animals do actually look like they are posing!  How funny is that?

I mean, don't they seem like they are looking at the camera?

Bling from the Bling Machine

This stuff is actually kinda hard to give away.  Thankfully, there are plenty of ladies at my work place that need some kind of jewerly. 

Glow Balls in Plastic Eggs

C'mon, lady, who are you kidding?

First off, the glow balls are hard to get anyway.  It's because they are smaller than what the claw can pick up.  Second, she placed them in those slick plastic egg shaped containers.  That doesn't make it easier; that makes it WORSE!!!

These will be here for a long time.

Crazy Corn

It looks like some kind of freaky corn stalk.  Who thinks of this stuff?




No seriously, WHO thinks of this stuff?

From The Pit

I thought this would be a fun angle to record video.  I placed my camera down in the bottom of the claw machine pit so you could see where the animals fall down from the claw above.  It's not that good of a video so I'll try again another time.

What is that?

What in the hell is that????

It looks like . . . . . .some kind of a goblin . . . . . .with boxing gloves???


Makes you wonder who thought that one up

Claw Machine at Kroger in Duluth

Made a stop by the Kroger on the way home to test it claw machine.  Sure enough it's rigged.  It's the classic loosened claw so it can't pick up anything. 
If you see above, you'll notice I did take a particular interested in one of those objects.

Claw Machine at Steak & Shake on Pleasant Hill

During Black Friday, I stopped by for a bite to eat.  Had to play the claw machine AND . . . .it's rigged.  The claw machine as the delayed sensor effect.  If it comes down and DOESN'T touch the object directly, it'll just lock up and won't bring anything up with it. 

don't waste your money

An Antique in the Claw Machine?

Check this out.  Once I cleared the pit, I saw this guy at the bottom of it.  I pulled him out with ease because I was interested in his tag.  See the tag?  This guy is a bona fide Beanie Babie.  His tag called him Strut the Rooster and his marker left it at March of 1996.  Hmmm.

so I looked him up and turns out, he's worth a little bit of money.  He's worth ten bucks normally and 15 bucks in mint condition.  How about that?  I wonder if he got put into the claw machine by mistake? 

I guess I should put him on eBay.  :)

Toys for Tots

So total tally is 29 animals.  Thirty if you counted the monkey.  Not a bad haul, all in all.

This is a good start to my donation to the Toys For Tots I do every year.  However, it is just that.  A START.  I know I can do better that 29 animals.  So I'm going to hold onto these guys and next Wednesday, I'm goin to go back to D & B and get 30 more animals.  I think Sixty is a better donation number.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody

A Winning Video

I showcased a lot fo videos where I was losing.  I figured it was high time you guys saw a video of me winning. :)

Floppy Orange Monkey

I won this guy out of the giant claw machine.  You remember how I said it was impossible to win a floppy big stuffed animal?  Well . . .  .I won one.  :)

This was a combination of skill and luck.  It was half price Wednesdays so I figured I'd try the machine out.  There were no other loose animals except this guy.  He was also the cloest to the pit.  So, I manuevered the claw over and missed him the first two tries.  He was nearest to the pit so I knew I could get him.  I shifted the claw over and then finally grabbed the one thing that wasn't floppy; HIS HEAD!!!  ahahahha.  And he came away with me.

I decided to give him to my friend Kame for her son.  Happy Thanksgiving, Kame

Pink Duck

This was my third try.  He was hard to pull out because I had to get all the ones AROUND him to loosen him up a bit.  Plus, you can see the pit I made in the animals slightly better here.

See that Pit

I MADE THAT PIT!!!

*insert maniacal laughter*

Whew!

Sometimes it pays to go for the tag on the animal.  Seriously!  Like this one from that mouse movie, the tag was big enough for the claw machine to hold onto.  I wasn't sure for a second but sure enough it held on.  As you see, I had to give myself a thumbs up for the successful grab.

But the Winning Starts

I love Dave and Busters half price wednesdays.  :)

A great Example of the Animals being shoved Together

YOu saw it, right?  I totally had that seal!  But this was a great example of a video to show you.  They stuff the animals down within and the claw can't grab them.  Always watch out for this

WOO HOO!!!!

this is the perfect time for me to get my annual load to give to Toys For Tots.  I'll let you know how I do.

Just . . . . loose . . . .ENOUGH!

So cruel . . . . . so very, very cruel.

I decided to take this video to showcase another classic example of dangling a prize in front of some kid.  This video was my third attempt at getting that cow.  I picked it up all three times but when the claw started to move, it dropped it.  If a parent was doing this and their kid saw it, they would beg even more BECAUSE they saw their parent pick it up. 

It's at the Walmart in Lawrenceville.  Leave this machine alone and spend your money elsewhere.

Not a Total Loss

Even though the claw was loosened, I did manage to win this giant head frog and a packet of silly bands.  Now you're probably asking, "Well, if he kept dropping the cow, how did he get these two things?"  It was a mixture of luck and figureing it out. 

I picked them both up at the same time.

The claw is loosened, yes.  However, I did find something that aided in the pickup.  If you picked up two things at once, it forced a tighter claw to hold onto it LONG ENOUGH to drop it in the pit.  Trust me; the claw was aching to drop these things but it as just long enough to beat it.  Now finding two things to grab a second time?  Well . . . . .that's also incredibly difficult.  IN fact, my record holding for pick ups is three items.  I doubt I'll ever beat it. 

but never say never.  :)

I want a T-Rex!!!

Rarely do I find something I'm interested in.  But check it out in the foreground.  It's a Tyrannosaurous Rex.  It's pretty well defined too, not some mishapened cartoon variety.  My little cousin Logan would probably love it. 

It just goes to prove that the loosened claw can stop even this.  I tried it three times hoping I could hook it on it's cuvry legs and bring it out.  But no, the T-Rex was not able to be liberated.  I'll have to keep my eyes open elsewhere.

Baby Death and his Minions

I know a few "emos" at work who would love a Baby Death.  :)

There is like a ghost boy, a devil boy, an evil little girl and Baby Death.  I went for Baby Death near the pit but the claw was loosened.  He'll have to live in the confines of the Claw Machine a little bit longer.

Another Rigged Machine

I went for the balls on this one but it was way too loose.  Dropped them immediatley.  This one is located in the Walmart in Lawrenceville

Movie Theme Claw Machine

This one is located at the AMC movie theaters in the Discover Mills Mall.

and it's most defitely RIGGED.  I had just gotten done seeing Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1.  I was going to document this claw machine anyway but there was a handful of kids trying to get the Missing Links toys from Monsters VS Aliens.  The claw would slide right through them.  Yes, sadly the loosened claw seems to be the trend.  I watch them waste several chances to beat the machine but they kept getting frustrated.  I could have stepped in but these kids wouldn't have listened to me.  I know.  Because one of them dropped a coin and when I told them they dropped it, I had to repeat myself three times before she heard me.

Anyway, I knew it was rigged but It's not OFFICIALLY rigged until I try it.  I put in my dollar and went for the obvious target.  The Missing Link over toward the left, near the pit.  Of course, the claw slid right off of him. 
So if you go to the movie theater at the mall and see this machine, don't waste your time.

The Penguin Bundle

This was rigged but managable.  You just have to get it correctly.  The claw on this one is pretty cruel.  Not only is it loosened but one prong is BENT!!!  How cheap is that???  Anyway, you can snag a penguin but it's got to be loose and on top.  If you can get the claw in one of it's arms or rings, you'll grab it.

Case in point.  Look below.  :)