When I was around thirteen or so I loved to play the claw machine. For 50 cents I could almost always win a stuffed animal. Before I was even born, when my mom was out truck driving and came to a truck stop, she would win so many times she brought back garbage bags full of stuffed animals for my cousins. Ah, the good old days of truthful games of skill and chance.
But now? Every time I see a claw machine I frown. I know it isn't worth it anymore. Sure, it's still only 50 cents but you win a lot less often. And I mean a lot less often. Every time, these past two years, I have tried my hand at any claw machine, I have noticed something. The claws don't close like they are supposed to.
No, I'm not just saying that because I'm no good at these games. I'm saying that because it's true. The claw opens, sinks over the prize, closes perfectly around the colorful animal...and doesn't lock around it. Comes right back up, as if there was nothing there, dashing hopes and dreams in the process. Well, maybe not hopes and dreams...
But really, all it is is the owners wanting money. Someone fails, frowns, tries again until they realize it's absolutely pointless. In fact, almost every single animal/character in two of the machines at Wal-Mart are still there. It's a shame really...
So I guess, when it comes down to it, people have simply gotten greedy.
