Monty by Jim Meddick for August 25, 2016

Those machines are programmed these days to only grip tight enough to hold a prize once in a while, the time period set by the owner to control his profit margins. It’s no longer a game of skill.

@ratava99 horrible, that kind of programming should be banned.

Spongebob looks so angry.. at least in the first panel!

I used to be great at this, I once, in 6 weeks filled up 3.5 large trash bags.All kinds of stuff I gave all of it away, except two of them, once I gave a full bag to the red cross donating bin.

Greg is a true professional,always honing his skills for when it really counts! Monty,not so much.

Is that Giggles the gumdrop eating bear I see? Gimme, Greg!

I thought I saw Doug in there

Sponge Bob is the all-time Zen expert on crane games. It’s only fitting to invoke his image.

I like it!

I call em “sucker machines”

When I was but a lad back in the 60’s,the local fair would come to town,and there would be a tent filled with these type of machines,but much less sophisticated. They were fashioned after a steam shovel and were filled with money.Not being programable,your chances of winning remained consistent with repeated play.I enjoyed playing these diggers,but the most I ever won was a pack of nickels worth 50 cents.Oscar the mouse was the biggest sucker attraction at the time. For that you placed your bet on a circular platform with holes all around,and when all bets were down the operator would release a live mouse,who would then scurry down one of the holes( hopefully mine ).Ah,the good old days of animal cruelty.Just kidding!

Greg is really good! And he’s not cheating, either. He just happens to be a pro who knows how to achieve results!Get me a bear, Greg!