Game machine using object pieces suspended in liquid

Abstract

A game machine has an input section through which a player inputs various instructions necessary for the play. The input section also displays various kinds of game information and performs computation of the score. The machine also has a mechanical section which includes a tank having a transparent wall and filled with water, a plurality of balls suspended in the water, a central tubular structure for creating a central upward flow of water, a liquid supply portion including a nozzle under the tubular structure, and an information reading unit disposed in a peripheral region of the tank through which the balls fall down due to, for example, difference in the specific gravity between the ball and the water. A rotary guide rail is disposed in the peripheral region so as to catch the falling balls. Any ball which leaves the lower end of the guide rail is received by the information reading unit, on condition that the lower end of the guide rail opposes the information reading unit at the very moment at which the ball leaves the lower end of the guide rail. Specific information peculiar to the ball is read by the information reading unit which has a magnetic sensor. The player is allowed to visually observe the state of shuffling of the ball by the circulating water, as well as the state of the balls entering the information reading unit.