Arcade Games Versus Slot Machines
Posted on September 2, 2007 - Filed Under Games, Tangents
When I say arcade games in this instance I’m not talking about home video games or pc games. I’m talking about the real original arcade games at the beach or amusement park, right next to the skee-ball machines. The ones with names like Pac-Man, Centipede, Galaga, Beer Tapper, Space Invaders. You know the ones.
Whenever given the chance to either play an arcade game or gamble on a slot machine, I would probably choose the arcade game. It’s all skill versus luck, after all.
With an arcade game and some experience at playing you can win additional lives and continue playing longer. With a slot machine, whether you win or not all rests with the luck of the draw. You get to play again only if you still have money to feed the machine.
Your odds improve for winning when you play an arcade game because you gain skill and get better at playing it. You can improve your hand-eye coordination and reaction time. With a slot machine, you only need to know how to stick money in and how to push a button. You cannot get better at it - the odds are the same each time you play - slim.
When you used to “beat” an arcade game the only thing you got were the bragging rights and your initials on the high scorer’s screen (if you didn’t mess up and put in someone else’s initials by mistake or totally mess up by leaving it “AAA” - how humiliating). As soon as you stepped away from that machine, someone was wanting to jump right on it and try to beat your score, because once you’ve beaten it, it was like a standing challenge for the next person in line. When you beat a slot machine, you get bells, whistles, and money. You’re getting rewarded for being in the right place at the right time. Nothing more. Nobody wants to play that slot machine again right away because they figure the chances of it giving another payout right away have got to be slim.
Now I’m not going to say that I wouldn’t like to win some money for just being in the right place at the right time. Who wouldn’t? I’m not THAT crazy. But it just somehow seems more virtuous to me that the arcade game required some skill and you didn’t do it for the money because there wasn’t any to be won from it. It just seems like beating the arcade game should be worth more respect. I mean, anyone could be at the right slot machine at the right time but not just anyone could beat the arcade game.
So if you happen to win a lot of money on the slot machines, I don’t want to hear about it. You didn’t earn it. You were just lucky - just in the right place at the right time. This one-time reigning champ of Centipede doesn’t need you rubbing it in my face or trying to make me jealous! LOL
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I agree the slots are more about luck not skill. I was champion on centipede. I know now they reward kids for playing arcade games at Chuck E. Cheese depending on how well they do they will receive more tickets.
Of course you have your rule benders (I was going to write cheaters) you know the type that stand on to of the basketball machine so they can directly put the basketball into the hoop.
Yeah, I saw quite a few “rule benders” at Chuck E. Cheese. They sure got a lot of tickets that way and yes the parents in many cases was helping them, loll
Yay - a fellow Centipede champion!!! LOL - I’m sure it must be hard for parents to allow their kids to lose or to go home empty-handed but I’m glad I won’t be there to see those kids when they learn that “sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.” Yikes.
Totally. I love playing the slots, but after I won a few thousand dollars once, all the attendants at the casino started saying “Congrats, great job! Nicely done!” Now, the congrats I can see, but sitting at this machine and pushing buttons clearly did not require any skill whatsoever!
See? You knew what I meant and didn’t take offense. Congratulations on being in the right place at the right time. I’m sure it could not have happened to a nicer person.
Good to have you, Rosiebell!
I LOVE video game machines! Haven’t played one in a while tho…I loved Pac-Man and Mrs. Pac-Man! The others, too, but the Pac-Man Family had me at “hello” haha
I Like how there are people out there that are devoted to preserving and restoring these games. When I am out in an arcade I love playing the “Classic” games like Pac-man, Ms Pac-man, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, etc…. I could play all day. And don’t forget, everyone all had their “pattern”. The “Pattern” was their tried and true method of getting through the screens without dying and getting maximum points and you NEVER shared your pattern.
Ah, yes - how could I have forgotten to mention ‘the pattern!’ TGH and I went to an amusement park Sunday and we played Bubble Bobble - I still love that game too, and it definitely reminded me of the patterns but I’ve always had to play it two-player with another person to get by one of the screens. As I recall there was one where it was easier when one person made bubbles and the other one jumped on top of them to get by that screen. Sadly TGH and I did not make it that far on Sunday - we are out of practice. LOL
Does anyone remember the absurd episode of Seinfled where the character George had gotten into playing on a “Frogger” arcade machine, then decided to buy it and had to somehow get it across a busy street(without unplugging it, as THAT would erase his HIGH score)..lol.
I hate slot machines.
I know we are shortly going to be in the city of slot machines but I don’t gamble so will ignore them..lol.
From what I hear there is plenty to do besides gamble, Merri - you will have fun. I didn’t see that episode of Seinfeld but TGH did and he filled me in once I made this post. Too funny.
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