Former player says self-control holds the key to masterful displays

People wanting to learn how to master the toy claw machines should have good self-control, according to former player Guo Tao, 32.

"Beginners are unlikely to spend much money, but once you've learned a little about it, you'll feel the desire to practice, and eventually accumulate loads of stuffed toys at home," said Guo, who works in a factory in Beijing.

He said some machine owners adjust the strength of a claw to reduce the chances of players grabbing toys, but he always finds a way to deal with this.