Fruit Tale of Woe

[reelskill]

Well not that bad, but pretty bad considering I was supposed to be playing 'properly' and hit what I thought were some decent machines. Still it was interesting to see how these machines play, which was predictibly and well for the most part. I spent the afternoon missioning around a town centre visiting practically every pub looking for nice machines to have a bash at. Most pubs were full of BFMs, Mazoomas, and lots and lots of Reds which I just don't dare play (Top Giza's mostly). Early on though I found a Top Gear and decided to force it out. All the cash and feature lights were out which didn't really bother me, it was playing well from the off, offering super cash shots early on and took about £20/£25 for a £30 Speed Streak which was a little dissapointing but to be expected on 70%. Afters were alright, I could have done a little better if I'd kept a mental note of where I'd reached cash/features wise in absence of lights. I estimate I left even at this point. Then I found a £25 Spiker The Biker in a pub that looked a bit of a dive, the locals didn't seem to friendly but didn't seem to interested in the machine either. Pumped £10 though and it wasn't backing, took about £20 to offer anything over £2 and from then on it got progressively happier. I think it was about £25 light which suggests someone got a JP and walked. Since I was so far into it I decided just to force and hope for the best, this worked out OK despite running out of pound coins and having to change my stash of £2s at the bar because it wouldn't take them (first time I've had that problem). Hi/Lo notes (with upgrade) went for £40 which I was happy with. Shoved in another £5 and got this back but didn't seem to want to offer much more so walked about £15 down. Then I found a Mega Zone and a Yabba Dabba Darts in a bar, both were more than £10 light so I guessed these had been done recently. Mega Zone wasn't happy, and neither was the Yabba Dabba Darts but did give me the tripple values on the board and 5 or so shots for about £13 after about £20 though. I estimate I lost about £20 on both these machines. Then I found another Yabba Dabba Darts in a Weatherspoons later on and forced this since it was backing and seemed to be playing well, but took about £55 for a £43 Darts Marathon, didn't think it'd give any more from that but hoped it'd IM afterwards or something, which it didn't, promptly taking about £15 for a £2 board, and then another £5 or so to give a decent board from which I took a £10 cashpot to claw some cash back. I could have had either the cashpot or Shanghi Surprise, I wonder if I should have taken this instead? I hate the word 'surprise' where fruitys are concerned as it usually means shit.

So £60 down on the whole day, noooooooo. I reacon I should have left the Top Gear after the £30 top feature, fucked off the £25 Spiker after £10 with no wins and since it wasn't backing. Hit the Mega Zone and both Yabba Dabba Darts at a better time ...

So what do you guys reacon? Any tips on how I could have come off a little better? Do you reacon it's worth hitting these on Fri/Sat/Sun when they're going have been filled up?

[Xuenilom]

It all depends on when 'Refill Day' is, I know round here it's Monday midmorning, so I know not to bother with the m/c's till at least Thursday afternoon.

[jjh]

Well, you said you put £20 in Yabba Darts to collect £13? That doesn't make sense, what is the point in that? Once offering £13 after only £20 in, then a jp or DM wasn't too far away with perhaps a little bit of afters to be had.

You could have left Mega Zone out completely as this machine is poor profit wise at the best of times, especially if trying to force it.

And then on the next Yabba, you say you got a £10 board after sticking another £20 in? You may as well forced another DM out to see if it would have been better this time. It is difficult sometimes, it's easy to get involved with a machine and end up chasing losses, you just got to try and learn from your mistakes...