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- Duration: 5:58
- Published: 04 Apr 2010
- Uploaded: 26 Aug 2010
- Author: MarkTheTechGuy
Image link | |
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Designer | James Iocco |
Manufacturer | Creative Engineering, Inc. |
Years | 1971-present |
Ages |
Whac-A-Mole is an arcade redemption game. A typical Whac-A-Mole machine consists of a large, waist-level cabinet with five holes in its top and a large, soft, black mallet. Each hole contains a single plastic mole and the machinery necessary to move it up and down. Once the game starts, the moles will begin to pop up from their holes at random. The object of the game is to force the individual moles back into their holes by hitting them directly on the head with the mallet, thereby adding to the player's score. The more quickly this is done the higher the final score will be.
Current versions of the Whac-A-Mole include three displays for Bonus Score, High Score as well as current game score. Home versions as distributed by Bobs Space Racers, include one display to show the current score.
If the player does not strike a mole within a certain time or with enough force, it will eventually sink back into its hole with no score. Although gameplay starts out slow enough for most people to hit all of the moles that rise, it gradually increases in speed, with each mole spending less time above the hole and with more moles outside of their holes at the same time. After a designated time limit, the game ends, regardless of the skill of the player. The final score is based upon the number of moles that the player struck.
In addition to the single-player game described above, there is a multi-player game, most often found at amusement parks. In this version, there is a large bank of individual Whac-A-Mole games linked together, and the goal is to be the first player to reach a designated score, rather than hit the most moles within a certain time. In most versions, striking a mole is worth ten points, and the winner is the first player to reach a score of 150 (i.e. 15 moles). The winner receives a prize, typically a small stuffed animal, which can be traded up for a larger stuffed animal should the player win again.
Game play options have become more adjustable allowing the operator and or owner to selectively alter the high score, hits points, rate of progressive speed as well as the game time.
Inventor Tim Hunkin installed a "Whack a Banker" machine at Southwold Pier in England made from parts of a previous "Whack a Warden" machine.
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