Quiz Machine Route

[JamieKiernan]

Hi guys, great site. As a happy lurker I just wondered if there were people like me on this site who play for small financial gain, or if you are all serial pro's. If you fall into the latter, I was wondering if anyone had a set route they religiously followed on attacking the SWP's (I hope I haven't done a Fruit Chat Faux Pas and used the wrong acronym there!)

I understand there are many pro’s on here - although I was sceptical this was possible on Quiz Machines, some of you turned my view – and personally play for entertainment during an evening beverage. However, I do seem to have a ‘route’ for want of a better word, and wondered if anyone had the same strategy.

I think I have two:

If I am short on cash, I tend to open up Hex, Shooting Stars (Previously) Spot the Difference, Battleships and Pub Quiz, hoping to add a few extra quid to the pot, before attacking Monopoly, Deal or No Deal and Caesars’ Palace for bigger wins. A successful stint on this will see me have a dabble with Nuts, Monsters Cash and Fantasy Football and a few others I have not played on in a while.

If I have plenty of cash, I pretty much do the reverse. After frequenting the site, I notice a lot of people attacking the word games and I have to say I do not see the attraction … I feel this may be because of my limited Barnsley dialect!

I am also guessing it is not possible to force a machine, more catch it at the right time? As for the defensive amongst you, I am not asking for all your trade secret gaming techniques, just a general view of how you approach them etc.

Would pro’s see my as a person who loads the machines for them to take the prizes, is there anyone else who plays to pass the time, or does anyone have set ‘route’ when playing Quiz Machines?

[QuizMaster]

It's all about horse for courses and each to his own.

Being a semi professional player these days (i.e it's about winning money rather than entertainment), I would see you as a talented amateur who if he can turn his £2-£3 into £6-7 then good luck to you.

I am currently playing three games. I only play these three games. The only time I ever play anything else is in my locals when I am a/ playing for entertainment and b/investing money into other games which may have a payoff if I get good enough.

[JamieKiernan]

It's all about horse for courses and each to his own.

Being a semi professional player these days (i.e it's about winning money rather than entertainment), I would see you as a talented amateur who if he can turn his £2-£3 into £6-7 then good luck to you.

I am currently playing three games. I only play these three games. The only time I ever play anything else is in my locals when I am a/ playing for entertainment and b/investing money into other games which may have a payoff if I get good enough.

Yeah, I can appreciate that. If my winnings cover my beer expenses, it's a good evening out for me, if not ... there is always next time.

This may come across as a cheeky question and feel free to tell me to do one, but if I am happy turning out a few quid to cover the cost of a few pints, at what point are you happy with your winnings and walk away? I am guessing the three games you play, you win with minimal expense and then do you move on to the next machine, generally touring pubs?

Sorry if that comes across as personal question, I am genuinely curious as to how a pro would operate. When I played fruities alot, I would move around pubs local to me, but wouldn't really leave Barnsley, would I be right in thinking you tour a City, or even a County?

I am also guessing the monotony of playing the same three games is not an issue when it's generating cash!

[QuizMaster]

Winning never gets boring.

[grecian]

Hi Jamie.

I'm not a pro. I'd put myself in the category of "talented amateur". In lean times (i.e. when the pervading games selection of the day is poor), I can generally emerge a few quid up (but generally play for the enjoyment). In good times, I can win decent sums (and therefore try to play more, and visit more new locations). We're living in good times at the moment, I'd say. I don't think there's that many true pros on this site, although I would have thought there are at least three or four posters who are professional in that they are able to support themselves from their SWP income.

As for my 'route', I nearly always make sure I have a good supply of cash, because otherwise one feels one cannot take the calculated gambles that I believe are necessary to win decent sums (for true pros, I doubt they need to take many risks). On a machine I haven't visited recently, I'll begin by playing my favourite games of the moment - for example, I was playing a lot of Great Pretender on the ItBox until it was removed (a sad day). I'll play each of those games until I feel the game is unlikely to pay any more. That could be the first 50p if someone else good has visited the machine - most games have 'tells' which suggest either that they are or aren't paying. Once I've played those favourites I'll usually spend a little more on some of the more long-standing games which I am not focusing on especially but which are usually well-played and therefore often have a bit of cash. An example is Deal or No Deal. Personally I only play quiz games, but as you note a lot of posters here are very proficient at both word and skill-based games. Whatever floats your boat really. After I've played those games I'd generally move on (either home, to the next pub, or back to the office!)

I don't have the abilities to force jackpots out of machines, but I think it probably can be done on certain games and at certain times by people who are good enough. A guy I know was able to do this on the old game Big Match - you can read all about that on here should you wish. No doubt others are able to do it on other games, but have (more wisely) kept schtum about it. I play a wider range of games than QuizMaster, but that's to be expected - pros want to achieve excellence at a few games rather than quite-goodness at a wider number (which is good enough for an amateur like me). For me, just playing the same old few games *would* get boring, even if I was winning loads.

Locationally, I suspect the true pros move over quite a wide area, and leave a long gap between re-visiting sites. As an amateur, I don't have the time to do that. I generally play in central / north / north-west London unless I happen to be out of town on other business and have a brief opportunity to play an SWP locally. I'm quite happy to visit the same pubs quite regularly - if I do so I will usually focus on the things like DOND which are likely to have been played most in the interim. You might not win loads re-visiting pubs, but I find it's good practice just in terms of learning new questions.

[Istenem]

welcome to the board Jamie. i can't speak for quiz machine gurus but to my mind there is a certain pleasure in a pint and some SWPing, like you, i'm happy to cover beer money. there are a number of very strong players in central London so i shy away from Q&A games unless i'm in some sleepy backwater where everyone has the same surname.

my route used to be WU with occasional forays to hoover up the free money on hangman clones. i am a sucker for inconsequential but pleasing quirks so i do play monster cash, monopoly, hells bells (if sound is on), nuts...

these days (assuming titbox) : one go of scrabble, japseye, soccer2006, cryptic clues, light relief with monopoly, a cheeky go on DONDNQ because i can't resist, aimlessly tap the screen for a bit because there is nothing i actually want to play left then i'll end up with TSpool / monster cash / FFQ or, heaven forfend, froggy lilypads. although the scales have fallen from my eyes re. WWTBAM as of yesterday so i might give that a go in future. then it is onwards to another pub.
don't want to harp on but WU/soup going has made the bottom fall out of my world. boo-hoo.

on a paragon i'll probably play WU if it is there followed by PMP then a dance around the menu because, to my mind, they are more playable as games.

* except DOND and megatouch dross and south park which has taken a turn for the meaner.

anyway welcome along, enjoy your stay on the board

[JamieKiernan]

Hi Grecian, thank you for taking the time to reply.

Damn SWP and AWP, I knew I should have stuck with the safe ‘Quiz Machines’!

I never enjoyed the Great Pretender, but as mentioned earlier – it’s horses for courses. I do tend to stick to a set style and never enjoy the Bingo, DONDNQ et al, and tend to stick to the games that show a bit of playability for my 50p. Games such as Monopoly, Deal or No Deal and Monsters Cash, I have also found the variety of Caesars’ Palace to be a breath of fresh air. But I also put this down to the fact I have never watched ‘Great Pretender’ or ‘The Grid’ and I refuse to pay £1 for the new WWTBAM, with the extra hassle to actually get the winnings.

In relation to ‘tells’, I tend to think I know when it is going to give a win, but this then results in me putting a few more quid in to prove my gut instinct … and then it is still wrong! I also understand why people wouldn’t share this information, but I tend to go by the rule of thumb that if Monopoly is around 5000, Deal or No Deal in and around the 20,000 and Caesars’’ Palace is giving keys galore and ‘level ups’ that I should stick with that game for a while.

I find it interesting you mention re-visiting sites, as I tend to go to three different pubs a week, but follow the same route each week, I wonder if that is an acceptable amount of time to leave between sessions.

[JamieKiernan]

Thanks Istenem, after lurking on the site for a while, it’s quite nice to see people in a similar position to me. When reading some posts it seemed like I was the only person playing Quiz Machines for light entertainment and minimal profit. Whilst I am rather jealous of people being able to make money out of something that – let’s face it – has probably cost me more, than I have won in the general scale of things, it’s a bonus to see similar playing styles.

It’s interesting to see your view on Paragon machines too, as I tend to stick to IT Boxes, a few Gamestation and Paragons boxes have been popping up on my pub tour. The Paragon machines always tend to be a disappointment for me, mostly for reasons similar to yours.

One question I have always wanting answering is, does the game itself payout, or the machine. Maybe I should rephrase that slightly, if the box itself hits £250 (For a figure) does that mean the machine is more likely to payout, or is it when Monopoly (for example) hits £100 and then it becomes more friendly? I have taken interest in many threads, but never really seen that one discussed. I was also curious as to the issue updates, and if they were slightly regimented. I remember it being around once every month, but it seems to be rather irregular.

[Northern Monkey]

The payouts are game specific. As a not too talented amateur the only way I can normally do reasonably well on one particular unit is to hoover up a number of £3-10 prizes.

For example

Lunch today DOND- £7 first go; Trivia for Dummies 2* £2 first 3 goes; Bully double money £6. Subtract price of Bombardier and move on.

[ROSSKEEN]

I have definitely lost more on machines than I've won.

If I had a routine I'd say it was:

Change a tenner. Maybe twenty if I'm feeling flush.

Drink and play. (The only time Ive JP'd Deal or No Deal I was drunk as a skunk).

Then pretty much play until I lose it all. Might sound a foolish strategy but I play for enjoyment, and any wins along the way are nice.

As the old saying goes, I dont play what I cant afford to lose. Have done in £20 in a fruity in a matter of minutes many times but with a quiz machine I can get long periods of entertainment.

However - after say an hour or so if I'm levelish, I'll prob walk away.


In terms of games played, I like Monopoly. End game 1 in about 10 so poor in that respect, but when its playing and offering GO game and waterworks etc, I find it a good lark.

Also enjoy Caesars Palace, Saturday Night Take Away and Nuts. And there'll always be a place for Hex.

[nw6]

....

[grecian]

if Monopoly is around 5000, Deal or No Deal in and around the 20,000 and Caesars’’ Palace is giving keys galore and ‘level ups’ that I should stick with that game for a while.

I find it interesting you mention re-visiting sites, as I tend to go to three different pubs a week, but follow the same route each week, I wonder if that is an acceptable amount of time to leave between sessions.

It probably wouldn't be for a true pro, but it would be for me, and I should think it's probably acceptable for your purposes as well. Always worth branching out and having an explore for new venues though.

As for tells, I've long given up on Monopoly so couldn't comment. On DOND, the points total is important but not the only factor I think. I reckon the key tell is whether spoilers start appearing on the later rounds. If they do, I tend to walk away, even if the targets are low. Even 28k or whatever is difficult if you have to navigate two or three total guesses to make it there, and the endgame prize will be crap even if you manage it.

[Northern Monkey]

Re DOND precisley Grecian. When it first appeared, an initial endgame target of 36,000 almost always spelled disaster.

Now I have noticed that initial target can be in the mid 20ks, kill you with spoilers and stay in the 20s/30s for a couple of games before showing its true colours with a 64k the next round.

As soon as you get "Who died first in this year type shit" walk away.

As Grecian says, even if you hack through to a tough target the prizes will be shit.

Monopoly i still have a go at- the tell is easy to read on this, if you get through to the target first go without losing a life then its ready for it.

[Nil Satis]

I always give any new games a go to see what they are like but 90% of them soon get discarded - due mainly to lack of time I tend only to play games that I think will be profitable rather than those I find entertaining, with the only exception being Word Up (= Word Soup for those who are also happy to call Opal Fruits ... uugghh ... "Starburst" ) where I am not good enough to win big but where do I enjoy the intellectual challenge.

This all means that I have a list of say 5 or 6 games at any one time that I try to play if they are available on a machine - there will be more games in good times (like now) and fewer in bad times - at one stage a year a so ago the set of games available on the ItBox in particular was so poor that I virtually gave up playing.

In terms of travelling, again lack of free time prevents me from trekking too far on a regular basis but like grecian I will also see what is around if I am in a strange town for work or social reasons.

As for forcing the games, I have played the games virtually since the beginning in the mid 80s and there has only ever been a handful where it has been realistically possible to win repeated large prizes consistently but obviously as with most things in life the more you play, the better you get, and as long as you concentrate on the games you find you have an aptitude for and, at least as importantly, avoid the dross you should find you can continue to win free beer money at least.

[Istenem]

On the Itbox I generally play a game or two of Scrabble, FFQ, and the "Hangman clones" (Cryptic Clues, Soccer, Hex, SFTS, & That's allegedly Entertainment). Hangman is a Q&A Game not a hangman game strangely enough, so I avoid it. I also play one other skill-based game which I won't mention for now. I'm pretty good at most of these games now (there's a neat trick to FFQ...)

That's usually enough for me to feel I've outstayed my welcome so I jog on to the next place.

Presumably a pro would specialise in much the same way as I do, but on the more profitable (Q&A) games and at a higher level. I mean, I put no effort into memorising answers anymore. It's no fun...

The main reason I couldn't do it is that whenever I go on a day long professional-minded tour I'm sick of the things by the end of the day, and all the crap that goes with them (coffees, cokes, misaligned screens, depressing pubs, old issues, money getting stuck in payout chutes etc). But fair play to those who can

DMAC, are you me?