There is this arcade game called Stacker. It pays out very expensive prizes, like Wiis and XBoxes. For this reason, I would like to figure out how to beat it.
To get a feel for what it is, watch this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-a6kU7oukwk If you try pausing the video at the right time, it's almost like playing the game.
I have found a manual of the game online:
http://www.shafferdistributing.com/manuals/lai_Stacker_SKILL_1st-Ed_manual.pdf
The manual explains that the payout is regulated, such that the minimum payout is 1 win out of every 800 games. But it also says it is a game of skill. Some people claim that at the top row, the piece will intentionally move an extra space. There are many videos on Youtube of people playing the game. Is there a way we can map the sound of the button press to the location of the block to determine if, in fact, the game is rigged?
If we can determine it is not rigged, would it be unreasonable to build a device to beat the game? I'm imagining a laptop with a webcam that analyzes data on-the-fly, and then triggers a piston to push the button.
I would like to get this community's thoughts on the game.
