Since the early days of coin-operated amusement, arcade games that you can find at Casumo NZ and other casinos have been crafted to extract as many quarters as possible from eager players. Game designers go to great lengths to ensure the odds are stacked against players winning easily or getting more value than they put in. However, where there’s a will to game the system, there’s often a way. A few clever gamers have managed to beat arcade machines at their own game with some ingenious tricks and exploits.
Getting the High Score for Free
One of the best-known arcade exploits involved getting unlimited plays to achieve the highest scores. Back in the 1980s, two gamers named Tim McVey and Dwayne Richard figured out a little timing trick on the game Centipede. By precisely blocking the spider enemy and letting the last centipede segment go toward the bottom of the screen, they could “stop the clock” indefinitely before the euteller kasinot game started the next level.
During this paused state, they discovered that hitting the player start button caused the game to think another quarter had been inserted. McVey and Richard could then simply play on for free for as long as they wanted. They used this trick to post record high scores while only needing to pay for one game.
Hacking for Free Plays
Some innovators have taken things further by physically hacking arcade cabinets for credits. One computing expert named Scott Safran manipulated the circuitry in a Star Castle machine to receive free plays. Safran added a makeshift button and rewired it to mimic signals that came from the coin slot, fooling the game into dispensing unlimited plays.
Other hobbyists discovered how to hack the memory storage and modify play count data. By attaching cables to a motherboard and altering values with a computer, the machine’s internal play counter could be changed. Gamers used this technique to play titles like NBA Jam endlessly without feeding more money.
Table 1: Notable Arcade Game Hacks
Game Title | Hack/Exploit Method | Result |
Centipede | Timing manipulation to pause level and activate free plays | Unlimited plays to achieve high scores |
Star Castle | Hardware manipulation with added button to mimic coin slot signals | Unlimited free plays |
NBA Jam | External memory modification editing internal playcount value | Unlimited free plays bypassing payment |
Getting Unfair Advantages
While some only sought free games, other clever gamers wanted further advantages. In fighting titles like Street Fighter II, experienced players knew combos and special moves that gave them a huge edge. Some wanted a way to activate these easily without needing to learn complex inputs.
Engineer Drew Baglino took things into his own hands as a young teen. When visiting an arcade in 1992, he noticed that a Street Fighter II: Champion Edition cabinet had the back door open. He snuck inside and attached a switch to bypass the complex joystick motions for specials. By flicking the switch, he could pull off moves like Guile’s Flash Kick and Sonic Boom easily. Baglino could trounce his opponents with overpowered abilities at will, though he admitted feeling guilty about cheating others.
Getting One Over on Claw Machines
Arcade exploits aren’t just limited to video games, however. A popular choice for ticket redemption arcades, claw or crane games seem simple – maneuver the claw to lower and grab prizes. However, they are notoriously difficult, designed to only have a loose grip. But some skilled players can capture even heavy items through skill or slight physical manipulation.
By delicately nudging the machine to sway the hanging claw ever so slightly, prizes can sometimes be inched just enough to grab. Other expert crane gamers study machine models to spot design weaknesses that make captures easier depending on claw type and size. Getting consistent wins takes some work, but clever and careful play leads to stuffed animal hauls.
While beating the odds to get an unfair edge may seem unscrupulous to some, it demonstrates human ingenuity. Arcade owners continue working to eliminate exploits, but crafty gamers persist in their quest for high scores, free plays, or skill machine mastery. These modern-day arcade anarchists keep designers on their toes and exemplify how rules exist to be broken. Their legacy lives on today as speed runners and competitive gamers seek new ways to beat games in unintended ways. Deep down, we all have a bit of admiration seeing those clever enough to creatively outmaneuver challenges.