This Arcade Game is a SCAM (I have proof)

Mark Rober
3 Jan 201807:09

TLDRThe video script narrates the creator's journey in designing a machine to win jackpots at arcade games, aiming to expose the illusion of skill in these games. The machine, using a photo resistor and a solenoid plunger, was meticulously tested and found to be extremely precise, yet inconsistent jackpot wins suggested the games might be rigged. Further investigation revealed that arcade game owners can manipulate the frequency of jackpots, revealing the games as a gamble rather than a test of skill, exploiting the 'near miss effect' to encourage more spending.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŽฎ The speaker designed a machine to win jackpots in arcade games that require pressing a button at the right moment.
  • ๐Ÿค– The machine uses a photo resistor to sense the light and a pre-programmed delay before the plunger hits the button.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ The machine was built using CAD for design, 3D printing for the base, and a combination of a photo resistor, solenoid, and Arduino board.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ It is powered by 20 volts worth of AA batteries, the same power pack used to trigger a Super Soaker.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ A custom app allows for adjusting the delay between light sensing and plunger action, which is critical for the machine's operation.
  • ๐ŸŽ’ The machine is disguised as a backpack to avoid suspicion, with a hole for the plunger to press the button on the arcade game.
  • ๐Ÿ” Initial testing showed inconsistent results, winning jackpots only about every 30 tries, which led to further investigation.
  • ๐Ÿค” The speaker suspected that either the machine had errors or the game itself was rigged, leading to a systematic troubleshooting process.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Tests showed that the machine's components were precise, with results accurate to within one millisecond.
  • ๐ŸŽฐ Further investigation revealed that arcade game owners can set the frequency of jackpots, indicating that the games are not purely skill-based but also rely on chance.
  • ๐Ÿšซ The speaker concludes that the arcade game is misleading as it presents itself as a game of skill but is essentially a rigged game that exploits the 'near miss effect' in gambling psychology.

Q & A

  • What was the initial intention behind designing the machine?

    -The initial intention behind designing the machine was to win the jackpot every time on arcade games and become a hero among friends, giving out free tickets to kids.

  • How does the machine determine the right moment to hit the button?

    -The machine uses a photo resistor that senses the light five or six lights upstream of where the button needs to be hit to win a jackpot. After a pre-programmed delay, the plunger comes down and hits the button.

  • What components were used to build the machine?

    -The machine was built using a main base designed in CAD and 3D printed, a photo resistor, an articulating arm, a solenoid with a plunger, 20 volts worth of AA batteries, and a wireless Arduino board that connects to a custom app.

  • How was the machine disguised during testing?

    -The machine was disguised as a backpack with a hole cut in the bottom to allow the plunger to access the button on the arcade game.

  • What was the result of the first real-world test of the machine?

    -The first real-world test resulted in winning jackpots but only about every 30 tries, which was disappointing considering the machine's precision.

  • What were the potential sources of variability error in the machine?

    -The potential sources of variability error in the machine were the photo resistor, the solenoid, the Arduino, and external light pollution from the arcade's flashing lights.

  • How did the creator test the precision of the machine's components?

    -The precision of the machine's components was tested using an app that flashed a white screen and started a stopwatch at the exact same time, with the trigger set for exactly one second later, achieving results with one millisecond precision.

  • What discovery did the creator make about the arcade game after reviewing a 25-year-old manual?

    -The creator discovered that the machine owner could specify how often a jackpot should be won, indicating that the game's outcome could be manipulated and was not solely based on skill.

  • What is the 'near miss effect' in gambling psychology mentioned in the script?

    -The 'near miss effect' in gambling psychology refers to the tendency of people to spend more money trying to win after they almost succeed, believing their chances of winning are higher on the next attempt.

  • What advice does the creator give to those playing arcade games?

    -The creator advises saving tokens for skee ball, implying that games like the one tested are not genuinely based on skill but rather on chance and are designed to make the arcade owner more money.

  • How does the creator respond to the accusation of cheating?

    -The creator argues that it's not cheating but rather using an advantage created by himself, as the machine's design and functionality were developed by him.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŽฎ Arcade Game Jackpot Scam Exposure

The paragraph discusses the creator's journey in designing a machine to win jackpots in arcade games. Initially, the intention was to become a hero by giving out free tickets to kids, but the experiment led to the discovery that arcade games are rigged. The creator explains how the machine, built with a photo resistor and a solenoid, works by detecting light and pressing a button at the right moment. Despite the machine's precision, the results were inconsistent, leading to the conclusion that the games randomly distribute jackpots. The creator's systematic troubleshooting process, inspired by Carl Sagan's view on science, confirms the suspicion that the games are scams, presenting themselves as winnable when they are actually heavily stacked against the player.

05:01

๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™‚๏ธ Uncovering the Truth Behind Arcade Games

This paragraph delves deeper into the creator's investigation of the arcade game's mechanics, revealing that the games are programmed to randomly award jackpots. The creator finds a 25-year-old manual that confirms the machine owner can set the frequency of jackpots, which aligns with their testing experience of winning immediately and then experiencing a dry spell. The creator argues that the game falsely presents itself as a game of skill, exploiting the gambling psychology of 'near miss effect' to encourage players to keep trying. The video ends with a warning to viewers to save their tokens for games like skee ball, as the tested arcade game is revealed to be the highest earning redemption game, preying on players' overestimation of their chances of winning.

Mindmap

Heroic aspirations
Robin Hood analogy
Initial disappointment in results
Creator's Intent
Photo resistor and light sensing
Pre-programmed delay and plunger mechanism
CAD design and 3D printing
Arduino board and wifi connectivity
Adjustable delay for precision
Machine Design and Functionality
Inconsistent jackpot wins
Investigation of machine error
Precision confirmed through tests
Discovery of game's rigged nature
Testing and Results
The illusion of skill versus randomness
The near miss effect in gambling psychology
Arcade game as a high-earning scam
Underlying Messages and Themes
Main Theme: Arcade Game Mechanics and Deception
Building the machine
Troubleshooting variability
Light pollution investigation
Engineering Challenges
Science as a way of thinking
Systematic detective work
Acceptance of game's true nature
Self-Reflection and Realization
SubthemeA: The Creator's Journey
Frustration with inconsistent results
Overestimation of winning chances
The allure of near wins
Player Experience
Encouragement to continue playing
The trap of the near miss effect
Exploitation of player psychology by game designers
Psychological Effects
SubthemeB: The Impact on Players
Arcade Game Rigging and Perception
Alert

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กArcade Games

Arcade games are electronic games typically found in public spaces such as arcades, where players can interact with the game by pressing buttons or moving joysticks. In the context of the video, the focus is on a specific type of arcade game that challenges players to press a button at the exact moment a light passes, under the impression that skill is the key to winning. However, the video reveals that these games may not be as skill-based as they appear, challenging the traditional view of arcade games as fair tests of player ability.

๐Ÿ’กJackpot

A jackpot refers to the largest prize that can be won in a game, especially in gambling or arcade games. In the video, the jackpot is the ultimate goal for players of the arcade game, leading them to believe that their skill in timing the button press will result in winning. However, the video's investigation uncovers that winning a jackpot may not be solely determined by player skill, but rather by the game's programmed settings, thus questioning the integrity of the jackpot as a reward for skillful play.

๐Ÿ’กPhoto Resistor

A photo resistor is a type of sensor whose resistance changes with the amount of light falling on it. In the video, the photo resistor is a critical component of the machine designed to win the arcade game. It senses the light a few lights upstream and signals when the button should be pressed to win the jackpot. The precision of the photo resistor is essential for the machine's operation and is later tested for variability to determine if the machine or the game itself is causing inconsistent results.

๐Ÿ’กSolenoid

A solenoid is a coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when an electric current is applied, which can then move a plunger or other mechanical device. In the context of the video, a solenoid with a plunger is used as the actuator in the machine, simulating the action of a player pressing the button to play the arcade game. The solenoid's role is to provide the mechanical force needed to press the button with the exactness required to win the jackpot.

๐Ÿ’กArduino

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that consists of both hardware and software. It is designed to be easily used by hobbyists, students, and professionals alike for building interactive projects. In the video, the Arduino serves as the 'brain' of the machine, controlling the timing and sequence of events based on the input from the photo resistor. It is connected wirelessly to an app, allowing for adjustments in the delay between sensing the light and triggering the plunger, which is crucial for the machine's accuracy and effectiveness.

๐Ÿ’กRigged

The term 'rigged' refers to something being manipulated or fixed in a way that prevents a fair outcome. In the context of the video, the creator suspects that the arcade game is rigged, meaning that the game's design and programming do not allow for a win based purely on skill, but rather on predetermined settings controlled by the machine owner. This challenges the notion of the game as a fair test of skill and highlights the potential for exploitation of players' trust and expectations.

๐Ÿ’กCarnival Games

Carnival games are amusements found at fairs, carnivals, and other public events, where players can win prizes by participating in various activities that are often presented as tests of skill. In the video, the creator draws a parallel between the arcade game and rigged carnival games, suggesting that both exploit players' overestimation of their chances of winning, thus encouraging them to continue playing and spending money. The comparison serves to emphasize the deceptive nature of such games and to caution viewers about their true odds.

๐Ÿ’กGambling Psychology

Gambling psychology refers to the mental and emotional processes that influence how individuals engage in games of chance and risk-taking behaviors. In the video, the concept of the 'near miss effect' from gambling psychology is mentioned, which describes the tendency for people to continue playing and spending money after close, but unsuccessful, attempts at winning. This psychological phenomenon is exploited by certain arcade games to keep players engaged, hoping that they are 'almost there' and will win on the next try.

๐Ÿ’กRedemption Arcade Game

A redemption arcade game is a type of arcade game where players can win tickets or other forms of in-game currency, which can then be exchanged for prizes. The term 'redemption' refers to the process of exchanging these earned rewards for actual prizes. In the video, the creator identifies the specific game being tested as a highly profitable redemption game, but one that may not deliver on the promise of redemption through skillful play due to its potentially rigged nature.

๐Ÿ’กLight Pollution

Light pollution refers to the excessive or misdirected artificial light that can interfere with the visibility of stars and other celestial objects in the sky, as well as disrupt ecosystems and human sleep patterns. In the context of the video, light pollution is considered as a potential source of error for the photo resistor in the machine, as the flashing lights in the arcade could potentially overwhelm the sensor and affect its accuracy. However, the creator's tests showed that light pollution was not affecting the machine's performance.

๐Ÿ’กSkee Ball

Skee Ball is a classic arcade game where players roll balls up a ramp and attempt to land them in holes with different point values to win tickets. In the video, Skee Ball is suggested as a more skill-based alternative to the tested arcade game. The creator advises viewers to save their tokens for Skee Ball, implying that it offers a fairer and more genuine test of skill compared to the game that is potentially rigged.

Highlights

The machine was designed to win the jackpot every time on arcade games.

The initial plan was to become a hero by giving out free tickets to kids, like a modern Robin Hood.

The testing process revealed that arcade games might not be as skill-based as they seem.

The machine uses a photo resistor to sense the light and a pre-programmed delay to hit the button.

The main base of the machine was designed in CAD and 3D printed for precision.

The machine is powered by a 20-volt battery pack, similar to one used for a Super Soaker.

A wireless Arduino board serves as the brain of the operation, connected via Wi-Fi to a custom app.

The app allows for fine-tuning the delay between light sensing and plunger action.

Disguising the machine in a backpack with a hole for the plunger to access the button was an effective strategy.

Initial tests were disappointing, with jackpots occurring only every 30 attempts despite precise timing.

The machine's hardware components were tested for variability and found to be precise to the millisecond.

Light pollution from arcade lights was ruled out as a source of error.

A 25-year-old manual for the cyclone arcade game revealed that the owner can set the jackpot frequency.

The game is designed to give the illusion of skill, but it's essentially a rigged random event.

The near miss effect in gambling psychology is exploited by these games to encourage more spending.

The machine's success rate is far superior to human reaction times, even with the aid of timer apps.

Skee ball is recommended as a more legitimate game of skill compared to the tested arcade game.

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