Plinko game question

Can the Plinko game be made to reproduce the same result every time using this size board without any further alterations except more rigid material. In other words, if you drop it from the same place it falls in the same slot. I assume this board has some irregularities such as slightly flexing posts. But maybe not? I don't know. Does anyone know?

In theory, if you drop the same chip in the same orientation from exactly the same spot each time, it should land in the same slot at the bottom every time. However, you don't drop the same chip more than once, and "the same spot" and "1 millimeter away from the previous spot" are two different things.

Somebody once started a rumor: if you put the chip in the center of the circle where the two legs of the L in the logo meet, you will get it in the center pretty much every time. Actually, the one time I saw somebody try this was one of the few times anybody got it in the center more than once.

I think the pegs are somewhat flexible.

On today's show the lady playing dropped the chip from the far left side of the board (as far left as you can go, past the P).

It moved to the center and landed in the $10,000 spot. She went as far left as possible again after that and it landed in the $500 spot.

Quote: ThatDonGuy

if you put the chip in the center of the circle where the two legs of the L in the logo meet, you will get it in the center pretty much every time.

One of the local casinos has a somewhat smaller pinboard for dropping pucks for promos.

Yes, there's a sweet spot.

The hard part is that they don't let you practice, and one promo drop per person per week makes it a pain to find experimentally.

Isn't it just Pascal's triangle and you should drop it as close to the middle as possible every time?

Quote: slyther

Isn't it just Pascal's triangle and you should drop it as close to the middle as possible every time?

You'd think so, but you gotta remember that it's just a stage prop built by some union carpenter. There going to be little variances that throw things off. You can be sure this thing wasn't tested by GLI...

Quote: slyther

Isn't it just Pascal's triangle and you should drop it as close to the middle as possible every time?

There are a number of playings of Plinko on YouTube; you should see some of the strange things the chips can do.

Agree with the first response. In theory, it's 100% repeatable. It doesn't matter if there's a bow, or how the metal nails flex, etc. If you drop it from EXACTLY the same spot, it will have EXACTLY the same result. The problem is dropping it from EXACTLY the same spot is very, very difficult and more than likely won't happen.

What are the discs made of? I wonder if they are a consistent weight?

Quote: Ayecarumba

What are the discs made of? I wonder if they are a consistent weight?

Variations in the weight, diameter, roundness, elasticity and balance (or center of mass) of the discs could all have an effect on where they land. Precision manufacturing could control all of those parameters (as is presumably done with dice) but I kinda doubt the physical properties of the discs are controlled tightly.

Quote: Romes

Agree with the first response. In theory, it's 100% repeatable. It doesn't matter if there's a bow, or how the metal nails flex, etc. If you drop it from EXACTLY the same spot, it will have EXACTLY the same result. The problem is dropping it from EXACTLY the same spot is very, very difficult and more than likely won't happen.

It would have to hit every peg in exactly the same spot. If any of the pegs hit on the first drop wind up with even the slightest wear and tear, it will affect the next drop.

Quote: Romes

Agree with the first response. In theory, it's 100% repeatable. It doesn't matter if there's a bow, or how the metal nails flex, etc. If you drop it from EXACTLY the same spot, it will have EXACTLY the same result. The problem is dropping it from EXACTLY the same spot is very, very difficult and more than likely won't happen.

I'm not sure what it takes to affect the puck as it falls, temperature, air current etc, so even if you placed the puck in the exact position, is there enough forgiveness to land in the same spot?

If one was given the opportunity to test the performance of the Plinko equipment, how many test drops would you need to establish that it was operating in a fair manner?

Assume:
a) you drop the puck from approximately the same spot in the center 1,000 times. Would the expected landing pattern of the discs be a bell curve?

b) you drop the puck from a different spot each time, moving across the face of the playfield, so that no one "chute" sees more drops than any other. Would the expected landing pattern be a box, with each landing spot getting approximately the same number of pucks?

Quote: Romes

Agree with the first response. In theory, it's 100% repeatable. It doesn't matter if there's a bow, or how the metal nails flex, etc. If you drop it from EXACTLY the same spot, it will have EXACTLY the same result. The problem is dropping it from EXACTLY the same spot is very, very difficult and more than likely won't happen.

This sounds like a job for "Mythbusters." I think there is even more to it. For one, how you release your hand and there will always be some randomness. Sure, you can influence a result like if you throw-------------------no, not going to say it. But as it hits the pegs even a slight difference will change things.

Quote: Ayecarumba

If one was given the opportunity to test the performance of the Plinko equipment, how many test drops would you need to establish that it was operating in a fair manner?

Assume:
a) you drop the puck from approximately the same spot in the center 1,000 times. Would the expected landing pattern of the discs be a bell curve?

b) you drop the puck from a different spot each time, moving across the face of the playfield, so that no one "chute" sees more drops than any other. Would the expected landing pattern be a box, with each landing spot getting approximately the same number of pucks?

Great we will soon have PI's. When everyone fails after taking PI classes. The biased puck crowd will come out.

I agree with the other posts that the peg would have to be dropped in EXACTLY the same spot. Even then, minute by minute temperature changes might change where the peg ends up.

My advice for this game is to drop the chip in the middle.

Quote: Wizard

I agree with the other posts that the peg would have to be dropped in EXACTLY the same spot. Even then, minute by minute temperature changes might change where the peg ends up.

My advice for this game is to drop the chip in the middle.

Not only that, but then there is also the question of the dynamics of the, "Drop," itself. Even infinitesimal changes in pressure could create enough of a variation to make uniformity of results unlikely. I guess what I mean is making sure that the release takes place with the same amount of pressure on the puck prior to and during release.

I would suggest, with hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of drops from different positions, keeping the dynamics of each position as uniform as possible, it might be possible to declare one spot, "Better," than the others in terms of average $$$ value, or just in terms of hitting the big one.

I look at it like a bigger scale version of the, "Drop the quarter," games where you win a free Whopper at Burger King or stuffed Mega Burrito-Thing (Whatever the heck it's called) at Taco Bell, you can certainly influence the quarter and the spinners on that. I consistently manage to get one in about three-four quarters on the bottom platform, so I pay between $0.75-$1.00 for a $2.99 Whopper. I'd do that every day, but I don't want to die of a heart attack before I even reach my 40's.

They should have a Drop the Quarter game at the Japanese Steakhouse to win sushi...I'd be there every day!

Quote: getwork

This game is lame, I liked (inappropriate link removed by mod) much more

What the hell? Dude come on and give us an NSFW on this!!!!

Flag innapropriate posts, especially the first post of a new user on an inactive thread.

Quote: Mission146

"Drop the quarter," games where you win a free Whopper at Burger King or stuffed Mega Burrito-Thing

I don't consider Plinko (or any puck-pinboard type game) to be even close to "Drop the Quarter".

Drop the quarter allows (requires!) post-release manipulation to even have a chance. It is almost entirely a game of skill, and that skill is very hard to develop.

No post-release manipulation is possible in a puck drop game - it's almost entirely about the release.

Quote: Dieter

I don't consider Plinko (or any puck-pinboard type game) to be even close to "Drop the Quarter".

Drop the quarter allows (requires!) post-release manipulation to even have a chance. It is almost entirely a game of skill, and that skill is very hard to develop.

No post-release manipulation is possible in a puck drop game - it's almost entirely about the release.

Your points are well-taken, but I felt it was a reasonable comparison. Certainly the amount of trials to find the sweet spot with no possibility of post-release manipulation is much higher with Plinko, assuming it is even possible to achieve consistent uniformity of release.