Three Point Donniker

crazy horse said:
There is a big differance between a 10 cent cup of soda being sold for $4.50, opposed to a stuffed animal that cost's more than the $5 you are spending to play the game.

But that assumes you actually win that big prize. I don't see many people winning those big prizes. So if the odds of winning are small why is it OK to throw money away on a game but not OK to buy a drink?

The other thing is that *I* can buy a can of pop for about $0.30. If I want to buy one large plush, it's going to cost me about $10-$30 minimum depending on the item. Sure the park can get it for $2, but that's because they are buying them by the truckload.

Retail value is just that: RETAIL value. And that represents the intersection of what a person is willing to pay for an item, and what a supplier is willing to accept for that same item. Even in the pop threads, I don't see people saying that because a drink costs the park $0.06 they should sell it for a dime. They're saying that because the drink only costs the park $0.06 they ought to sell it for a couple of dollars. Take advantage of their immense buying power, charge a reasonable retail price for the item, and make a mint off of it.

Games pose another interesting dynamic. Where else are you going to play a midway game? This is why I never understood the appeal of video games in amusement parks, at least not the same video games I can find in my local arcade. You go to the park to have unique experiences, not to have the same experiences you have everywhere else. That's also why the funnel cakes and corndogs are so popular.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

EvilChameleon09 said: How would the state know what a rigged game looks like? Please. Don't believe me? Read this article

What a very credible source you have there :rolls eyes: The state runs the department like the Nevada Gaming Commission, they take it very seriously just as the parks in Ohio. Take a look around at the games next time you are there. Each and every game at the park has a camera above it or near by pointed at the game for cheaters or cheating employees. If the games were rigged for everyone to loose, why need the cameras? I suggest you research what the State of Ohio does in regards to 'games of skill' instead of just assuming every game is rigged because of your factual website.

That article you linked to tells me no more than what common sense does when playing a game (not that I play any). Plus some of those games are not even at Cedar Point. I will also point out that if you are at the park and want to see ANY game played and won, ask and the Games Host will show you. They CAN be won but as pointed out by Dave, it's a slim chance.

JuggaLotus said:No, that stuffed animal does not cost more than the 5 bucks for the game.

I use to think the same thing until I started going to IAAPA and noticed the prices in the plush section. Most large prizes range from $7.50 to the high $20's. Parks do pay that much for those prizes but they are not putting them at a game that's "Winner every time!". They offer them at the harder games of skill.

The comment about not being able to play a midway game somewhere else makes sense. I guess since people can't try to throw a ball into a milk can virtually anywhere else that makes it seem special so they don't mind paying for it. I must be a cheap son of a gun because I don't care how special it makes me feel - I am not throwing my money at it. I guess that is the difference between teenagers and a wise old man:)

I'm at the park and feel 3PC is fairly visible. If your looking for it, you can see it from both directions. Plus there is a new sign in front pointing to it and Lotsapaloza. There was a line of people playing it. I'll post pictures later.

I went by on Tuesday. It wasn't a completely desolate area, there were a few people playing. Even when Demon Drop was there I never saw crowds around that location like you see around the one in Frontier Town.