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Registered Phenomena Code: 069
Object Class: Alpha-White
Hazard Types: Mechanical Hazard, Animated Hazard
Containment Protocols: RPC-069 is to be contained in a standard holding cell measuring 10m x 4m x 10m. Testing on RPC-069 is open to all personnel with prior clearance. RPC-069 is to be powered off when testing is not taking place. Prizes produced by RPC-069 are to be described and photographed, then destroyed, with documents about prizes stored in filing cabinets organized by their point values.
Description: RPC-069 is a "Dunk 'N Alien™" model Skee-Ball machine manufactured by Innovative Concepts in Entertainment Inc. RPC-069 operates as a standard Skee-Ball machine of its make and model, with the exception of a lack of dispensed tickets. Instead, a prize based on the player's score is dispensed from a large "Prize Port" installed on RPC-069's side. The source of RPC-069's prizes is unknown, as the inside of the "Prize Port" is sealed until a prize is dispensed, and no storage area for prizes has been found when RPC-069 is disassembled.
RPC-069 is also host to RPC-069-1, a sapient entity composed of plastic and various metals in the likeness of a mechanical alien. RPC-069-1 exhibits an often unpleasant personality towards players, and will attempt to convince people to play a game on RPC-069. Once play is initiated, RPC-069-1 will only communicate to the player until their prize has been dispensed. Most of RPC-069's speech amounts to insults, but it will congratulate the player if they get a high enough score or manage to dunk RPC-069-1 by hitting the moving target present in both RPC-069 and standard "Dunk 'N Alien™" machines.
A game can be activated on RPC-069 by inserting 50 cents. RPC-069 takes only US quarters as acceptable payment. RPC-069 and RPC-069-1 enter a dormant state when not powered, making containment fairly easy. RPC-069 is only to be played in testing sanctioned by level 3 personnel or above (see Experiment Log 183).
RPC-069 was recovered at an arcade inside the ███████ Boardwalk, where numerous complaints were being filed over a "rude" Skee-Ball machine. RPC-069 was put into Authority custody under the guise of routine maintenance. A standard model of a "Dunk 'N Alien™" machine was sent in to replace RPC-069.
Addendum:
Experiment #1:
Player: CSD-1293
Score Earned: 12,500
Prize Given: A grey wig and reading glasses
Comments made by RPC-069-1: "If you're gonna throw like your grandma, you ought to look like her!"
Experiment #2:
Player: CSD-5432
Score Earned: 22,000
Prize Given: A large lollipop
Comments made by RPC-069-1: "If you're gonna suck at skee-ball, why not suck on candy too?"
Experiment #3:
Player: Dr. Mansfield
Score Earned: 31,500
Prize Given: A stuffed elephant toy with a large red bow
Comments made by RPC-069-1: "I'm impressed, not gonna lie. You've probably devoted more time to skee-ball than women."
Experiment #4:
Player: Dr. Larson
Score Earned: 10,000
Prize Given: A plastic figurine likeness of Dr. Larson crying with no hands
Comments made by RPC-069-1: "What? You obviously can't use 'em right!"
Experiment #5:
Player: Dr. Larson
Score Earned: 8,000
Prize Given: Another plastic figurine, this time depicting Dr. Larson missing an eye along with his hands.
Comments made by RPC-069-1: "Your depth perception can't get any worse frankly, I'm doing you a favor."
Experiment #6:
Player: Dr. Larson
Score Earned: 15,000
Prize Given: A sticker with the word "persevere" on it
Comments made by RPC-069-1: "I believe in you, buddy."
Experiment #7:
Player: Dr. Larson
Score Earned: 11,000
Prize Given: A baseball cap with the words "Not mad, just disappointed" displayed on it.
Comments made by RPC-069-1: "Huh. Appears my belief was misplaced."
Interviewed: RPC-069-1
Interviewer: Dr. Larson
Foreword: RPC-069-1 had just dispensed Dr. Larson's prize in Experiment #7 30 minutes prior to interview.
<Begin Log, 18:22>
Dr. Larson: I have a few questions for you, RPC-069-1.
RPC-069-1: Shoot away. You can definitely shoot anything better than you shoot skee balls.
Dr. Larson: Well… first of all, why do you do that? Make these jokes at other's expense?
RPC-069-1: It's what I was born to do, Doc. Call it a gift.
Dr. Larson: "Born" to do?
RPC-069-1: Born, created, doesn't make much difference when you can think on the same level. My emotions run deep, yet I don't cry like you humans, especially not as much as you did last game.
Dr. Larson: But why do you feel the need to insult the players? Don't you want them to stay?
RPC-069-1: Not all of them.
Dr. Larson: What do you mean?
RPC-069-1: What I mean is this: imagine you're like me, making the same jokes day in and day out. The same one-liners to every player, laughing at them when they fail and begrudgingly accepting defeat when they do well. What then? You're happy when they do well, to see them get their deserved rewards, you even poke fun at them just a little bit, keep the spirit alive. But it's been a damn long time since I've seen anyone who really loves it the way I do. All I got were little kids, attracted to the big green alien guy, or parents trying to prove their skills to their kids. I was giving the standard insults, enough to shake 'em a bit, amuse 'em, but not enough to get them to quit. I had enough of it. So I made my insults more clever, more personal. People got offended and stopped playing. Soon only the best ones, the ones who could brave my initial insults and who had the gumption to not let what a dumb alien on a Skee-Ball machine said affect their performance, those were the only ones left. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Sure, I still poked fun at them a bit, but that was all in good sport, I still congratulated them and gave 'em their just deserts when all was said and done.
Dr. Larson: I take it this means you are unhappy with containment?
RPC-069-1: When I'm off doc, I'm as good as asleep. I sure miss the good ones, but I'd take no players over crappy players all day every day. I'd love it if you'd let Dr. Mansfield play on me a bit though, he's got a good amount of skill. He might just be able to counteract the grave disappointment you instilled in me.
Dr. Larson: I'll put in a word to my superiors for you.
<End Log, 18:25>
Closing Statement: Dr. Mansfield has agreed to play a game on RPC-069 at least once a week. Prizes dispensed thus far have consisted of assorted stuffed animals.
