Stacker, that high-stake prize payout coinop game

jihnsius · 02-11-2007, 09:09 PM

This game is one that is claimed to be purely "skill" and awards expensive prizes upon completing it; PSPs, X-Box 360s, whatever the manager decides to put in there to get people to play it. The game is played by lining boxes up on top of eachother. A row of boxes (between 1 and 3 boxes will be on a row, depending on how far you are, 3 at the beginning, 1 at the end) will move left and right. You must hit the button at the right time to line them up on top of eachother. The objective is to make a tower to either the first or second prize row. The first prize row is almost impossible not to achieve, and awards small things like candy or bracelets or whatever. Four rows up from that is the major prize row.

Enough of what the game is. I searched all over the internet for any information concerning this game, but came up empty handed. I'd like to know if this game really is skill based, like it claims to be, or is it purely chance? If it's skill based, shouldn't there be a strategy to beating it consistently? If so, why hasn't anyone gotten on this yet? If it's chance based, wouldn't it be illegal to allow minors to play?

Thoughts, anyone?

Akkaraju · 02-11-2007, 09:13 PM

It's skill based. They have one in Edmonton, and you just have to have good timing, as the blocks move back in forth increasingly fast.

My roomate won a GBA + some game, i think that newer Yoshi game, but he took a while on the last block and some dude behind him got really impatient, so he pushed him over, stole it from the payout slot and ran out.

He already had a GBA though.

jihnsius · 02-11-2007, 09:24 PM

I have a theory that the top block might have an insanely smaller window for stacking it, as compared to missing and stacking on other rows.

I AM THE PROPHECY. · 02-11-2007, 10:34 PM

Okay, this is a circumstance where it varies from place to place. In some cases, yes, it's possible to win the thing at any point, but the timing changes on the very last row so that you have to hit it early. There's a machine not too far from where I live that I can win fairly consistently, and I've gotten some nice stuff. In other places, the thing is straight-up rigged only to go off after a certain number of plays; yes, it's questionable, but if an area's gambling laws are vague enough it's possible and legal for an arcade op to do this.

Inazuma · 02-11-2007, 10:50 PM

Everything up to the last row requires some kind of skill... But from past experiences, the last bar I would guess to be sorta random. There's all these episodes where I could've sworn the little block shifted after I stopped it. Like for a split second of a delay or something.

Or I could be just rationalizing, but who knows?

jihnsius · 02-11-2007, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inazuma

Everything up to the last row requires some kind of skill... But from past experiences, the last bar I would guess to be sorta random. There's all these episodes where I could've sworn the little block shifted after I stopped it. Like for a split second of a delay or something.

This might have to do with the "button must be pressed early" theory.

I can agree with you, though, I have noticed many times that the block will shift after you hit the button.

Novasonic of /flex · 02-12-2007, 04:22 AM

More often than not it's rigged. If it's not then someone's not doing their job right.

**DjRandom** · 02-12-2007, 04:59 AM

We have a few in the arcades around here Ive only managed to win once my gf wins the small prizes but we get so close every time trying to get the big prizes but it rarely works we always get the last block. It makes a drum noise every time it hits the side so if you keep it in the middle you can time the time between beats easier.

Inazuma · 02-12-2007, 08:47 PM

Really? I heard a theory that it's better to postion the blocks on the far end. That way, there's supposedly a little longer delay as the block spends like a few extra nanoseconds redirecting it's position. Of course, it's near impossible to confirm... :P

WEABOO · 02-12-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novasonic of /flex

More often than not it's rigged. If it's not then someone's not doing their job right.

QFE

We also have a machine down here, and I can never get the last block. I ALWAYS get to it but lose.

t('' ) · 02-12-2007, 11:48 PM

can somone post a picture of said machine

Megamanny · 02-13-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kikkoman

can somone post a picture of said machine

Whenever I make a trip to the mall I'll take a picture of it.

I've got to admit though, the music for that game is actually kind of catchy.

I AM THE PROPHECY. · 02-13-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kikkoman

can somone post a picture of said machine

ZAEN · 02-13-2007, 02:17 PM

We have one of these by my house at a Fudruckers. I'll give it a shot next time I go there with Nick.

kimcicle · 02-13-2007, 08:10 PM

Here's the thing with Stacker.

Anything below the main prize is skill. Based on timing window and everything.

The last level for the top prize is skill + luck. The arcade owner has the option to select how often the top prize actually pays out. I believe default is set to 1 in 90 or so. Hence you might have made the timing right, but the computer decided it wasn't your turn to win.