Bitcoin Forum

Hey everyone,

Just thought I would write-up one of my side projects I received a very positive response about it at CoinFestUK. I purchased and converted (With financial help from Scott at BittyBot (http://bittybot.co/uk/)) an arcade claw machine to accept Bitcoin payments and I am working with The Bitcoin Store (https://allthingsdecentral.com/) to stock (and keep stocked!) the machine with Bitcoin merchandise (T-shirts, hats, caps and socks). The machine had an awesome response at CoinFestUK with many attendees playing (and winning) the machine.

I have attached some photos to give you an idea of what the machine looks like but we have some professional photos on the way so they'll be posted when they arrive. I did have the RaspberryPi installed into the box you can see on the front of the machine but accidentally installed the screen the wrong way and fried the Pi. I had the machine graphics re-done (From the original claw graphics) by the awesome Lee Holland! (https://twitter.com/LeeDRHolland (https://twitter.com/LeeDRHolland)) they fit well and everyone liked them.

I have created a twitter account @bitcoingrabber (https://twitter.com/bitcoingrabber) to post updates on the machine as we have had interest on hosting the machine at other events. I will soon be working on posting on Reddit and getting a website set up.


Adam - CryptoBatesGroup

 ;D ;D

Firsthand Experience. I played on it several times when i visited CoinFestUK (and also let the TheBitcoinRat play on behalf as you can see from the first link), and i must say it is awesome and fun.

Well its the same retro grabber, still when you integrate something with bitcoin is suddenly becomes exciting, atleast for me.

I would recommend any event organizers to rent this machine, trust me it will be worth it.

BONUS: Every few minutes it plays a song which just pulls your attention.

Wow that is impressive indeed!
How come this is your side project when you can actually dedicate yourself and make some good money from it ? Japan does have automated vending machines which sell fancy stuff for bitcoins but don't they will be your competition in the United Kingdom!
Maybe a take video to demonstrate how it works ?

Just curious : How long does one has to wait for the bot to start working after sending bitcoins ? It needs some confirmations right ? If not,how can it stand against double spend attacks ?

 ;D

Thanks bud and thanks for supporting me at CoinFest!!

Thanks. It was a side project while I was dedicated to planning CoinFestUK, I've had a lot of interest with the machine and just bought a small change machine to convert that aswell.

Yes thanks, I have a friend who is a pro-video guy once I clean the machine up a little I'll be getting some videos done.

When I was showing it at CoinFestUK I placed it at 0 confirmations as I got an alert everytime someone paid, so I would start a conversation with them about the machine and project. There are a few things I need to iron out (and I'll be adding a GPS aswell) to ensure the machine runs fine on its own and no-one try's to dupe it

Cheers bud

It looks really nice on the photos, and the possible prize you can get is really awesome too, but something in this machine is worrying me.
Is the only thing we can win in there, are t-shirts and other clothing with bitcoin?
Because if yes, then they should make the offer wider than only clothing, putting some paper addresses would be a nice idea :)
Obviously, im talking about small stakes of bitcoin, nothing big- who would expect to get a big prize from bitcoin claw machine?

Im believing that this machine isn't cheating as most of the claw machines I have seen and played :D

Thanks. Yes at the moment it's got tshirts, beanie hats, caps and socks but I'm talking to some engrave specialists (like John at http://bitcoin-engrave.com) <--- awesome guy, I met him at CoinFest! about some custom QRs/wallets but I'm working on the best way for the claw to grab the wallets (I may need to put them into something a little bigger)

I've got some other ideas aswell for goods in the machine and will post about them when I've worked a little more out on the idea.

It is cheating at all as all the socks, some shirts and caps and beanie hats wouldn't have been won! I would have liked a pair of them socks myself lol.

We had some great feedback on this project and thank everyone for their support! I am re-jigging slightly how the front screen works following feedback from CoinFestUK but I am looking forward to seeing the grabber machine at some future bitcoin/fintech events.

It's really nice to see people actually spending time for such things, but it'd be better if we could promote Bitcoin further in non Bitcoin related public places, maybe something similar but then if people playing and win they could get bitcoins instead.

I'd suggest someone planning a program to ask top 5 mining companies-pools to donate 0.5% of the bitcoins in each block they mine to do things like this and further spread awareness, we're here aren't we? well others need to first know and hear about Bitcoin and I'm sure they'll love it just like we do.

I am actually reaching out to working spaces that are tech related about having this machine in their common areas, the aim - to raise awareness of Bitcoin from a tech perspective.

Great idea and the product looks sleek!! Keep up the good work spreading Bitcoin to the masses..

https://i.imgur.com/dHtbkWE.png

Thanks! Hopefully I'll have some higher resolution photos of it soon! Then I'll find a good spot to film it and get them uploaded.

Exciting.

You could add some more "exciting" things as well to the inventory.

Things like pay-pass protected wallets, HW wallets, physical coins...etc.

Personally, I would not give up my lovely BTCs for a baseball cap hehe

Thanks, that's what I am thinking. I have worked with BitStashers.com before and I am thinking of some custom engraved wallets (Password protected by Helio Pay) aswell as some other funky engraved stuff they do with BTC addresses on them like the wallet sets with bottle openers etc.

I have actually got a few unique bitcoin related goods to test to see if the machine can pick them up as is or if I need something to hold them.

Also I've had a few people suggest the machine accepting other cryptocurrencies aswell as Bitcoin, what do you guys reckon? 

I get what you mean by more exciting but i think it depends on how much you pay.

For eg. A cap costs around 0.03 BTC and you pay 0.005 for 5 chances to try pick it, would you do that or no?


so if you want to put in high value products in there... the playing price increases as well... 

Something that would make this VERY interesting, is if you place a "golden ticket" / paper wallet with a big "money" prize in the machine. I can

see people scrambling to try and win the "golden ticket" .... It will have to be in some item that would be possible to be picked up.  ::) I would

like to see some more of these machines in the arcades.  ;D

I like that idea! One of my ideas was to host a BTC address on the front of the machine (Or even use the generated QR code address) and have that wallet in the machine to be won - so the user can win all the BTC paid to play the machine - after its won the QR is generated again

Yes i told him the same... make get the arcade back..make it cool again...



On this topic, i just got an idea. @batesresearch message me when your free.






Oh that is a very good idea.. just image 100 people playing and the wallet has around 1 bitcoin oO that would be like soooooo much.. xD

It should have very very hard to pick.

Very cool project,

how do you protect against double spend attack ? Do you wait until a confirmation before giving out the credits ?

Thanks

Working on some ideas at the minute, during CoinFestUK when we previewed it the machine was set to 0 confirms.

Seems the professional photographer caught a few people playing our CryptoGrabber. No wonder we need to stock up!

https://twitter.com/coinfestuk/status/854783808960421889

This is great and just a glimpse into the future where arcade machines will have bitcoin as a payment option so we no longer have to carry around tons of change.

Thanks. I'm hoping to acquire some more machines in the near future to work on.

I support the idea of adapting altcoins too. I look forward to paying in an altcoin and picking up a BTC wallet.

Exchange in the fun way ;)

Also, I look forward to seeing the expansion of the machine's item-portfolio.

I think multi-currency is the way forward it opens a few issues for me to implement but worthy of a challenge

:)

Following feedback received from the CoinFestUK event we have updated our QR code to dynamically include (and update) the BTC cost per play - The QR will be updated every 30 minutes

Thanks for your input  ;D - Much appreciated.

An iPhone sounds like an interesting idea! - I know someone who might give me a few for some promo!

Hey there! So happy to see that these types of ideas come out from CoinFest (which I as usual unfortunately can never be around to visit!).

Clawgrabbers are cool anyway if you're into kitsch, but a bitcoin-powered one with Bitcoin merchandise?

You know there are a couple of trading card style crypto projects in here like Age of Chains - add them into the mix, perhaps even rare ones only found in the grabbers and you'll get quite a bit of interest if that particular gaming community finds out about it.

It is, he is in need of alot of promo (and he is soon accepting Bitcoin :)) - So needs all the promo he can (For the both of us really)



 ;D

Thanks. I was looking forward to seeing the reaction from everyone at CoinFest and I was very happy with the response!

I like the idea of the crypto-trading cards! Thanks!

Placed a website up at : http://cryptograbber.co.uk.

Will keep it posted with developments and ideas, will also be adding some photos of the converted coinmech and development process.

That's really cool. Pay Bitcoin to play a Bitcoin game and win Bitcoin things. The Bitcoin game is the claw game a game we all know. Nice idea. Never even thought of it. Now you can spread Bitcoin awareness through awesome gifts that advertise for themselves. So a claw device like this doibkes up as a fun game and education tool. Good stuff. We need more of this.

The website is very basic, but a good idea to get the marketing going for your ideas. Have you ever considered making a whole fleet of these

machines and hiring them to Bitcoin meetups? There are many Bitcoin meetups with people who would like to play that machine. {novelty}

It will also be ideal, because Bitcoin owners are your primary target market.  ;)

Thanks. Got more stuff lined up to be added as prizes following feedback at CoinFest and on here, just talk to the respective companies.

Thanks. I wasn't thinking of a OTT website, plain with photos and basic info.

Yes, actually in the process. Had multiple requests for the machine to be hosted at various working spaces so need to clone the machine, just finalizing the code after improvements were added - I'm thinking on the bitcoin meetup front aswell - just need to work on logistics back/forth etc.

Hey batesresearch.

I have just been reading through the whole post.
I am having a customized arcade-game-machine, which is part of a site-specific performance (site-specific = a performance you can take to whatever location you wish, but not on a conventional stage.)

I really want this machine to be able to accept Bitcoins (or other crypto-currencies like DAHS/LTC).

This project would bring the prospect of Bitcoin out to the masses.
You can watch a video here: https://vimeo.com/181320853 (https://vimeo.com/181320853)

https://vimeo.com/195213213 (https://vimeo.com/195213213) <--- This one has some danish text. Never-mind that. I think you get the point.


Can you help?  :o

Hey,

Your project looks awesome.  Yes I am very happy to help, drop me a PM with some more details.

I am currently finalizing the road-map with this machine and will hopefully have it set up for public access in the coming months.

Hey guys,

Still working away on the machine, I have recently added a GPS so we can share the machines location with our partners and for security.

I am working on the idea of offering having the machine accept another crypto aswell as Bitcoin - Something with fast confirmation times like DigiByte

They should make an entire video game arcade exclusively accepting bitcoins. The thing is will you be forced to wait for the confirm ? Also with these high fees will it be worth it ? Playing a game costs s few cents so how would that work ?

The whole arcade old school style accepting bitcoins will be great. and i am pretty sure Adam will think about this.
about the other thing you said, i think its the issue for every transactions now a days but it will be better in coming time with the segwit maybe. and on the other hand.. if the stakes are higher so will the prize, that thing can be balanced as such.

Yep - a bitcoin/crypto arcade is one of my long-term goals! Confirmations is the issue - Zero was set at CoinFestUK - We had alot of feedback from the event about the machine, with many suggesting offering another crypto all-in-all to combat the confirmation issue.

.....Thanks aizzaku

WOW!! Things like that are the proof that Bitcoin isnt a bubble

I was thinking it doesn't matter of the transactions take long because you will be at the arcade for several hours they will go through by the time you leave of ever there is an issue the owner simply bans that wallet.

Indeed, several hours hopefully. Confirmation takes any more (a few days!) they get locked in lol

Not posted here in awhile but I’m still working on this machine. Adding multiple currencies to the system (As I can’t have someone waiting for 30 minutes to play when they pay with BTC!).

Zero confirms on BTC payment while I host it at CoinFestUK is fine as a “Proof of concept” showing the machine working but expanding to multiple currencies is the best way forward.

We were partnered with The Bitcoin Store but this has since ceased as we haven’t heard anything back off them regarding more stock, I have followed some of the things that have changed with the store but the guy I speak to hasn’t got back in touch. This will make us form a new partnership with another company for our apparel and get the grabber graphics redesigned but hey that’s how things go.

Due to the above about the stock the machine wasn’t present at the two events I just co-organised as I had little stock for the machine and not enough time to arrange it myself. Either way the machine will be back at CoinFestUK2018 😎

I also want to get my danceOmatic to CoinFestUK2018! :P
I cannot PM you anymore since there has been added this new option about NOT ACCEPTING PM's FROM NEWBIES. Can you switch that off so we can continue our dialogue? -(and PM me when you have done so. Thanks!)
Also witch currency would be the best to perform this fast micro transactions atm. Digibyte?

Best regards!

I love this idea.

 ;D

I didn't know of that feature, my apologies. This has been switched off.

There are many but Digibyte is a very good one.
 

This machine accepting bitcoin payment is used for what utility? Or does it function as a
blockchain extender platform or it is designed specifically for payment of certain service?
Is this machine also scalable for any expansion of some sort?

This machine accepting bitcoin payment is used for what utility? Or does it function as a
blockchain extender platform or it is designed specifically for payment of certain service?
Is this machine also scalable for any expansion of some sort?

It is to show people how digital currencies can blend into the real-world via physical interaction.  

It is to show people how digital currencies can blend into the real-world via physical interaction.  
[/quote]

Word up! So important, and the same reason why I want to implement it.

This is a very interesting idea! So many people love arcades as well so you'd be Bitcoin balling in no time. I think you should aim to make the arcades more secure than the current ones so then people aren't able to scam the system or attempt to steal Bitcoins from the machine.

Also a lighting node on it :D

Posting some updates here of the project, a lot has happened over the past year! CryptoGrabber now takes MonetaryUnit (MUE), DigiByte (DGB) and Litecoin (LTC) and we have formed new merchandise partnerships for crypto socks, tshirts, hats and accessories wristbands, paperwallets aswell as collectable coins and badges. 

I have recently been making some short (Not very professional) videos and posting them via the CryptoGrabber Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitcoinGrabber (https://twitter.com/BitcoinGrabber)

We have been testing the speed of the various altcoins, here is the short MUE video:

MUE Payment testing: https://twitter.com/BitcoinGrabber/status/1085525115218153472 (https://twitter.com/BitcoinGrabber/status/1085525115218153472)

Here is a video of me finally grabbing and winning some  Kryptoez Socks! : https://twitter.com/BitcoinGrabber/status/1086685945880039425 (https://twitter.com/BitcoinGrabber/status/1086685945880039425)

The machine will feature at CoinFestUK 2019, we will have a pro video team on hand so some professional videos will be put together.

Website: http://cryptograbber.co.uk