Sega UFO Catcher
From Sonic Retro
Sega UFO Catcher is an arcade prize redemption game created by Sega. The game, known as UFO Catcher 7 overseas, is an advanced crane game made for the player and operator both. It is a two player crane machine with dual-shoveled claw heads that also model the look of a retro UFO. The player puts coins into the machine, which then allows the player to manipulate a joystick that controls the claw for a short period of time, usually 15 or 30 seconds (it is rare for a claw vending machine to offer a full minute of time). The player is able to move the claw back and forth and sideways, but not up or down.
At the end of that time (or earlier if the player presses a trigger button on the joystick), the claw drops down and makes a gripping attempt. Some machines allow the user to move the claw after it has been partially dropped. After making the gripping attempt, the claw then moves over an opening in the corner of the cage and releases whatever it holds, if it holds anything. If the player is successful, then the prize the claw is holding is dropped into the opening and dispensed through a chute to a hatched box for pickup by the player.
An alternative version of the machine popular in arcades is the "two button" version: one marked with a forward arrow, one with a right arrow. The crane starts near the front, left side of the machine and the user presses first the forward button to move the crane towards the back of the cabinet. Once the button is released the crane stops moving and the button cannot be used again, thus requiring the user to judge depth accurately in one attempt. After this, the right button becomes active in a similar way and as soon as it is released, the crane drops to a certain depth and then raises, closing its claw on the way and returning to the drop hatch in the front left corner. These versions are notoriously harder in which to catch a prize and usually have crane "grabs" that are much looser than normal and therefore make it much harder to pick up any prize that it has been placed over.
In general, while getting the claw to pick up a prize is relatively easy, having the claw hold the prize long enough to bring it to the opening is harder. Operators of the machine can tweak the claw or other settings, or change the prizes, to make it less or more difficult. The claws are usually engineered to have a low probability of a successful grab for casual players, though skilled players have a considerably higher probability of success.
The machine comes with 3 uniquely sized arms and 3 types of shovels (hooks) to accommodate almost any prize. In the United States, where the UFO Catcher line started in June 2006, Sega is offering additional options such as a 20” Media Player with Flash ROM to run customized advertisements or a fun instructional video, Plexiglass Risers to best display prizes, Dollar Bill Acceptor and a Security Bar. However, in Japan, UFO Catchers have been produced since 1985, and have expanded into several different types of prize redemption games, not just crane games.
Prizes
Traditionally, the main prizes of UFO Catchers have been plush dolls (known to collectors as UFO Catcher dolls.) These dolls are usually from a Sega franchise (such as Sonic or Virtua Fighter) or popular anime, but original dolls are also known to be available.
However, there have been a wide variety of prizes loaded into the machines, from small toys and collectible cards to cans of oden (a Japanese winter soup dish.) Live turtles to be kept as pets are also popular prizes. In China, supermarkets often have UFO Catchers with live crab or lobster in them, presumably to be eaten.
UFO Catchers which have featured Sonic series plush doll prizes
- Dream Palace
- Dream Palace 2
- Dream Throne
- New UFO Catcher (features Sonic on the flap of the redemption box)
- School Kids
- Super Guru Guru Station
- UFO Catcher 7
- UFO Catcher 800
- UFO Catcher Excellent (features Sonic on the flap of the redemption box)
- UFO Catcher Mini (features Sonic on the flap of the redemption box)
- UFO Circus Land
- UFO Prize Stage
- UFO Pusher Twin
- UFO Segasonic (features Sonic art on machine)
External Links
- Sega Prize — Official Sega of Japan site
- Sega Arcade — Official Sega of America site