Arcade Games

I hung out with my two oldest nieces yesterday, since they had a break from school.  We headed to their favorite spot for lunch, which happened to be located in a local mall.  After lunch, they wanted to explore some of the arcade games in the food area.  So, I thought, why not.

Each girl (age 10 and 8 respectively) brought her own purse - with, little did I know, a wad of change.  Not enough to buy the mall out, or anything like that.  Nonetheless, each girl definitely felt the need to spend her quarters trying out a claw game.  The oldest tried the claw game twice, and spent a dollar in an effort to grab a sparkly, light-up, water ball toy.  I know, oooooooohhhhh and aaaaahhhhhhh!  She was ready to fork out another dollar, when her sister decided she needed to give it a try.

I said she could give it one try - worth 50 cents - and then we were moving on to other mall looking ventures.  So, younger sis gave it a go - with the same result - no toy prize.  Each girl was hooked now.  "Can we each try it again?"  I said, nope, you girls have given this game enough of your money.  One girl replied, "I know I can get it, if I try one more time!"

I talked to them about the game.  I said that people put these games here so they can make money from them -- your money.  I also said, if the game gave you a prize, would the person who owns the game make any money?  No, they agreed, probably not.  Then they said, "But this is not fair!  The game should let you get a prize, if you try really hard!"  Yup, that would be nice, I said, however, then the person who owns the game would not make money.  So, we walked on.

As we left the game area, we passed another game - a wind making machine.  This game cost $2 per try.  Could each girl try that game?  *Sigh* it was going to be a long, learning-filled afternoon!