Rigged Claw

We all know the feeling. The metal claw descends, grips the coveted plush toy perfectly, lifts it halfway to the chute, and then, inexplicably, goes limp. You didn't just lose; you almost won. This is the "e;near-miss"e; effect, and it is the meticulously programmed psychological engine driving the multi-billion-dollar arcade and amusement industry. Claw machines are not games of skill; they are...