1 hour ago, Naazon said:

Just gonna leave this one here...

I've seen Rober's video, and its a great analysis. I find the word 'scam' to be a little distasteful in the scheme of what he explains, but his findings are accurate.

If you go to play the carnival basketball game and expect to hit every shot like you do from the free throw line, you're not thinking clearly and need to have a lie down. When I said 'they aren't rigged', I didn't mean to imply there isn't any 'deception' as such - obviously if it were just an ordinary basketball hoop, then basketball masters would clean out the operators on every visit. Much like a casino, the odds are in favour of the house.

What i meant by using the term 'rigged' is that they aren't 'impossible' to win. Things that require skill (like - get a ball to land in a barrel, basketball hoop, etc) can be done with the correct method (or luck). The unstable ladder is a great example of that.

Then there are 'luck' based games - like laughing clowns, or landing a ring around the neck of a bottle, and that is hard, but it is doable. Then you have multiplayer games - like the water gun races, where there's always a winner based on the number of players essentially 'paying' for the prize each game.

The only ones i'd steer clear of are those where the operator can truly manipulate the winners is things with electronic elements - such as the high-striker 'strongman' hammer, which can be digitally manipulated to adjust the strength required to win (and the heat of the day affects these too - it is better to play this during the day when the sun is on the air hose than at night when it is cold). That sort of game also has multiple start buttons for the operator so that they can reduce the strength required for a win for kids (or just not let anyone win until they want someone to).

Back to the 'skill' based games, as I said, anyone can do it with the right method or lots of practice - which is why attendants will usually demonstrate how 'easy' it is to do it - because they have lots of practice. Watch these attendants very closely for the secret to how things are done, and you too can win.

(ekka showies hate me, by the way)

 

To be clear I wasn't implying they were bad. Like was said by others, incorporate well and things are good. I personally like the ones at MovieWorld, particularly the multiplayer ones where there is always a winner. I find there is a lot of buzz around those when the games are going. People just love competition.

Movieworlds problem is down that end of the park, apart from WWF there isn't a whole lot to do so foot traffic is limited. They need an entrance to a major ride down there, possibly using that grassed area BOH behind the showcase / near Arkham (unless its marked for a dueling coaster coming 2023 *fingers crossed*).

Edited October 26, 20205 yr by Naazon

Here is a quick video of some of the work Skylighter and High Impact Lighting have created at Dreamworld.

https://www.facebook.com/SkylighterfireworksAUS/videos/862636074272423

If they incorporated DW relative merch/prizes (wiggles,abc,Dreamworks,tiger island etc) they’d look much better incorporated overall and less plunked

I know it doesn't seem like it, but the skill game prizes vs. merch cost is very different.

If you watched Rober's video above, you'll know the prizes themselves cost very little - they aren't the greatest quality to begin with. Putting licensed, or merch product there instantly tips the scales on costs - which generally means the odds need to be stacked higher to make it profitable.

Some photos of Happy Halloween from last Friday