Midway games always seem so ridiculously simple on the surface. And even if one fails on the first try, victory seems so within reach that it seems only logical that one or two more attempts is all that is keeping us from walking away with the stuffed teddy bear. And perhaps no game has ever looked as easy as that sinister and simple little game, Bowler Roller.

Bowling ball in hand, you eye the task in front of you - a simple little track to roll the ball down, a little hump to get over (that doesn’t seem so bad) and a little peaceful valley for the ball to rest easy in. Problem is, that valley isn’t so peaceful; in fact, it seems to detest bowling balls so much that it rejects them with prejudice. Try for a light touch and you are never getting over the hill. Try for a little more force and the valley sends the ball right back to your defeated hands. And controlling the velocity of a heavy bowling ball with pinpoint accuracy is much easier said than done. But for those who could manipulate it just right (likely after giving the carnival barker half of their paycheck in preparation) a modest gift awaited.

Created by Bob’s Space Racers, Bowler Roller was a classic redemption game, most popular during the 70s. And thanks to its highly deceptive appearance, it remains a fixture in many an arcade and carnival to this day. And the sadistic folks at Bob’s even introduced a smaller version to fluster those not old enough to finesse a full-sized ball called Kiddie Roller. Same concept, lighter ball. And in hindsight, perhaps it was good for the youngsters to learn about the unforgiving laws of physics at an early age, before they actually spent their own hard earned cash in their later years. Sometimes it's much cheaper to just buy the bear.