Marine Catcher Matches Claw for Claw
This is one of those coolest gadgets that just screams of irony. Yes, what you see in the photo is true: the Marine Catcher is one of those claw games that lets you catch a pair of claws. The water on the bottom isn’t there for a challenge, but to protect the prize: a lobster.
As far as I know, this Marine Catcher can only be found in Osaka, Japan’s Namba district. I’m not certain how much yen a player has to insert for this crustacean gamble.
In case you are wondering, the machine has a plastic bag in case you actually catch one of these lobsters. That’s good, because I wouldn’t want one of these lobsters squirming around in my backpack.
I can’t help if the lobsters will soon develop the same mentality of the squeeze toy aliens from Toy Story. I can just see these lobsters saying: “The claw, it moves. I have been chosen, I go away to a more buttery place.”
This is one of those times in my life where I am grateful to be human. I wouldn’t want to find myself in a trap, then in a claw game, then in a hot tub that kills me slowly as I let out a loud scream. I think the best way I can honor lobsters everywhere is not to take part in this ritual.
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Latest CG thumbnails » Coolest Gadgets Says: May 8, 2008 at 1:22 am
[...] Marine Catcher Matches Claw for Claw [...]
Atticus Says: May 8, 2008 at 8:32 am
Also, up until mid ’07 there was a machine like this at the Jacksonville Landing in Jacksonville, FL. I never took a shot at the game, but the deal was that if you caught one it was cooked for you for free at a nearby restaurant.
AS Says: May 8, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Yes, I had seen something similar like this in a bar back in Kemah, Texas (2002). It was expensive, like 3 bucks a play, but if you caught one then the kitchen would prepare the lobster right there for you; including all the fixins’.
GeekMaster Says: May 10, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Saw one in TuscaloosSA AL spring 08 at Steamers. see link (tags – AL, TUSCALOOSA).
Justin Says: August 13, 2009 at 10:52 pm
If i were u… i would spend those yens… catch all the lobbies… and throw em back into the spring or sea or ocean or wat not… thats wat i would do if i were u…
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Lawn Service Duluth Says: October 26, 2010 at 11:32 am
That’s so awesome! japanese are always coming up with innovative business ideas. any idea if that’s even legal in the U.S.?
Kevin Says: May 7, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Actually there use to be (back in 2007) a very similar machine in the J’oes Crab Shack in Orlando Florida near Disney World, it was kewl in that you could catch your dinner. Apparently Joe’s being a franchinse and the regional management disapproveing of the machine as not conforming since it didn’t deliver crabs decided it should be nixed……