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FreeAssHat9 karma

I worked group games at NYC street festivals for a couple years.

The newer watergun games aren't really rigged. On older models there are ways for the game agent to adjust the pressure to slow people down. (The guy who trained me would use this to help little kids win and douchey assholes lose. Carnies love justice.)

Keep in mind that on group games (waterguns, wac-a-mole, roll-a-ball) there can be good lanes and bad lanes. (Lanes are the numbered stations you play at i.e. your watergun.) So some guns have better pressure, some of the relays respond quicker, etc. It really depends on how well the games are maintained. (There are some really shitty carnivals in NYC and they don't have the same regulation as state fairs do. Stay away from food stands at NYC fairs too.) Watch people play a couple of rounds, if you notice a certain number lane tends to win, there is probably a reason. I always hated when people would figure out a good lane. (Once I had to shut down a lane because it always won and people fought over it.)

Rather than putting an out-of-order sign on a shitty/broken lane, a game agent will tell you so and move you to a working lane. If they don't like you they might move you to a shitty lane without you know until it is too late.

The best strategy to win water gun games is to quickly get your stream of water to hit your target and hold it there steady until the game ends. This goes for most group games: just pay attention to your own lane. If you take time to check on your competition most likely you will screw up, won't have time to recover and you'll lose.

I worked a balloon pop watergun game. Primary colors tend to pop quicker IMO and the smaller/newer balloons pop easier as opposed to the stretched out one, but most people notice the latter anyway.

Almost all group games have a counter that knows how many games were played to ensure the agent isn't skimming off the gross or giving away free games. Don't try to haggle or get a deal at these games, either pay up or don't play.

FreeAssHat4 karma

Indeed. Loved taking their money in the process.