Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a game machine that includes a turning unit for presenting a course of a game to a player.

Background Art

[0002] There has been well known a game machine in which stations providing locations where players participate in a game are provided around a center unit, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied in a basic game executed in any one of the stations, a special game such as a bonus game using the center unit is executed. As this type of game machine, there has been known a game machine in which a turning unit including a device for presenting a course of a special game such as a monitor and a drawing mechanism is provided as at least a part of the center unit, and the turning unit is turned so as to face the station serving as a target of the special game (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

[0003] Patent Literature 1 : Japanese Patent No. 4331173.

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0004] In the game machine according to the prior art mentioned above, it is necessary to provide a control mechanism which detects a position (a rotation position) of the turning unit in a rotation direction and stops the turning unit at a target position corresponding to a target unit. However, in such a control mechanism, due to fault or the like of a position detecting sensor, there may occur a state in which the turning unit cannot be accurately located to the target station, that is, the station serving as the target for providing the special game. In that case, if an error processing is performed to stop the game machine for restoration, it may result in disadvantages such as decrease in an operating ratio of the game machine or motivation of the player.

[0005] Thus, the present invention is directed to provide a game machine and the like capable of decreasing frequency of error processing due to position control of the turning unit.

Solution to Problem

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game machine which includes: a turning unit that is provided so as to be turnable around a predetermined turning axis and that presents a course of a game to a player; a plurality of stations that are arranged along a periphery of the turning unit and provide locations at which players participate in the game; a position detecting device for detecting a position of the turning unit around the turning axis by an angular interval that is smaller than that of the stations around the turning axis; a position control device for controlling a turning operation of the turning unit based on the position that is detected by the position detecting device so that the turning unit is stopped toward one station selected as a target station from the stations; and a game control device that continues the game when the position control device stops the turning unit in a state of facing the target station, and stops the game when the position control device cannot stop the turning unit in the state of facing the target station, wherein the position control device is provided with a first positioning device for controlling the turning operation of the turning unit so that the turning unit is stopped at a target position facing the target station, and a second positioning device for controlling the turning operation so that the turning unit is stopped in a permissible range adjacent to the target position in a circumferential direction around the turning axis when the turning unit cannot be stopped at the target position, and wherein the game control device continues the game when the turning unit can be stopped by the first or second positioning device, and stops the game when the turning unit cannot be stopped by either of the first and second positioning device.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method of a game machine comprising a turning unit that is provided so as to be turnable around a predetermined turning axis and that presents a course of a game to a player, a plurality of stations that are arranged along a periphery of the turning unit and that provide locations at which players participate in the game, and a position detecting device for detecting a position of the turning unit around the turning axis by an angular interval that is smaller than that of the stations around the turning axis, the control method comprises: a step of controlling a turning operation of the turning unit based on the position detected by the position detecting device so that the turning unit is stopped toward one station that is selected as a target station from the stations; and a step of continuing the game when the turning unit can be stopped in a state of facing the target station, and of stopping the game when the turning unit cannot be stopped in the state of facing the target station, the step of controlling the turning operation includes a first positioning step of controlling the turning operation of the turning unit so that the turning unit is stopped at a target position facing the target station, and a second positioning step of controlling the turning operation so that the turning unit is stopped in a permissible range adjacent to the target position in a circumferential direction around the turning axis when the turning unit cannot be stopped at the target position, and the step of continuing or stopping the game is configured so as to continue the game when the turning unit can be stopped by the first or second positioning step, and to stop the game when the turning unit cannot be stopped by either of the first and second positioning step.

[0008] According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for a game machine, which comprises a turning unit that is provided so as to be turnable around a predetermined turning axis and that presents a course of a game to a player, a plurality of stations that are arranged along a periphery of the turning unit and that provide locations at which players participate in the game, and a position detecting device for detecting a position of the turning unit around the turning axis by an angular interval that is smaller than that of the stations around the turning axis, the computer program is configured so as to make a computer of the game machine serve as: a position control device for controlling a turning operation of the turning unit based on the position detected by the position detecting device so that the turning unit is stopped toward one station that is selected as a target station from the stations; and a game control device that continues the game when the position control device stops the turning unit in a state of facing the target station, and stops the game when the position control device cannot stop the turning unit in the state of facing the target station, the position control device includes a first positioning device for controlling the turning operation of the turning unit so that the turning unit is stopped at a target position facing the target station, and a second positioning device for controlling the turning operation so that the turning unit is stopped in a permissible range adjacent to the target position in a circumferential direction around the turning axis when the turning unit cannot be stopped at the target position, and the game control device continues the game when the turning unit can be stopped by the first or second positioning device, and stops the game when the turning unit cannot be stopped by either of the first and second positioning device.

[0009] According to the present invention, when the target station is selected, the turning operation of the turning unit is controlled so that the turning unit is stopped at the target position facing the target station by the first positioning device. Even when the turning unit cannot be stopped at the target position for some reason, the game control device does not immediately stop the game. In this case, the turning operation of the turning unit is controlled by the second positioning device so that the turning unit is stopped in the permissible range adjacent to the target position. Moreover, if the turning unit is stopped at the target position or in the permissible range adjacent thereto, the game is continued, and when none of the stop at the target position and the stop in the permissible range is possible, the game is stopped.

[0010] The target position in the position control of the turning unit is commonly set so that the course of the game using the turning unit is viewed in front of the player of the target station. However, even when the stop position of the turning unit slightly deviates from the front of the player, if the turning unit substantially faces the target station, it is possible to sufficiently present the course of the game to the player visually. The position detecting device is provided to detect the position of the turning station at the angular interval that is smaller than that of the stations. Accordingly, if the angular interval is suitably and finely set, the permissible range can be set so that there is no difficulty in visually recognizing the course of the game. Accordingly, it is possible to decrease the frequency of the error processing caused by failure in the position control of the turning unit, without substantially affecting the visual recognition of the turning unit. Brief Description of Drawings

[0011] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a perspective view that illustrates a part of the game machine in a disassembled manner.

[0013] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the game machine.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a lottery unit serving as a turning unit and a support unit thereto.

[0015] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the lottery unit serving as the turning unit and the support unit thereto.

[0016] Fig. 6 is a plan view of the support unit.

[0017] Fig.7 is a diagram that illustrates a relationship between detection signals that are output from sensors and a rotation position of the lottery unit.

[0018] Fig. 8 is a block diagram of a major part in a control system of the game machine.

[0019] Fig. 9 is a flow chart that illustrates a sequence of a lottery unit position control process executed by a unit position control portion.

Description of Embodiments

[0020] Hereinafter, a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a game machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a center unit 2, and a plurality (eight in an illustrated example of Fig. 3) of stations 3 placed around the center unit 2. The center unit 2 includes an outer housing 4 and a lottery unit 5 that is accommodated inside the outer housing 4. The outer housing 4 is configured as a substantially cylindrical housing when viewed from above, and serves as a case that covers the lottery unit 5 so as to prevent access from the outside thereof. The stations 3 are arranged at a fixed angular interval a (see Fig. 3, herein, a = 45°) along an outer periphery of the center unit 2. Each of the stations 3 provides a player with a location at which the player participates in the game. As an example, each station 3 is provided as a game terminal device that allows the player to play a slot game or the like as a basic game in exchange for consumption of a predetermined amount of coinage. Each station 3 is configured as a unit that can be separated from the center unit 2. However, the station 3 may be integrated with the outer housing 4 of the center unit 2 and may be provided as a part of the outer housing 4.

[0021] Each of the stations 3 is provided with a station monitor 6 as a display device that displays a game screen or the like, and a control panel 7 that is placed below the station monitor 6. The station monitor 6 is provided so as to face the outside in a radial direction with respect to a center line CL (see Figs. 2 and 3) of the center unit 2 when the game machine 1 is viewed from above. However, the directions of the station 3 may be suitably changed. For example, the station monitor 6 may face a circumferential direction of the center unit 2. The control panel 7 is provided with various input devices and output devices to be required to play the game, such as an insertion port 8 of a coin and an operation device 9. The operation device 9 includes, as an example, operation members such as button switches for performing various operations such as a betting operation and the like. A coin withdrawal port 10 is provided below the control panel 7.

[0022] The lottery unit 5 is provided as a unit that executes a lottery game as a further special game when a predetermined condition is established in the basic game to be played in each of the stations 3. For example, when a special award such as a jackpot win occurs in a slot game in the station 3, as a special game for deciding a dividend of the award, a special game using the lottery unit 5 is executed. The game to be executed by the game machine 1 includes the basic game in the station 3 and the special game using the lottery unit 5 as components thereof. The lottery unit 5 includes a lottery ring 11 and a center monitor 12 as measures for presenting the course of the special game to the player. The lottery ring 11 is capable of rotating around an imaginary rotation axis AX (see Fig. 2) that is set to be obliquely tilted to the center line CL of the center unit 2.

[0023] The lottery ring 11 is provided with a number of pockets 11 a on the outer periphery thereof at constant intervals in a circumferential direction. The center monitor 12 includes a vertically elongated center display 12a placed in a center thereof, and a pair of side displays 12b and 12c placed at both left and right sides of the center display 12a. A height of the upper end of each of the side displays 12b and 12c coincides with that of the upper end of the center display 12a, and the lower end of each of the side displays 12b and 12c is located above the lower end of the center display 12a. The center monitor 12 is provided so as to cover and hide the upper portion of the lottery ring 11 , and an image which represents the hidden portion of the lottery ring 11 is displayed on the screen thereof. As shown in Fig. 3, when the lottery unit 5 is viewed from the direction of the center line CL, a direction of the rotation axis AX of the lottery unit 5 coincides with a direction (a direction indicated by an arrow A) in which the center monitor 12 faces. The direction in which the center monitor 12 faces is a front direction of the lottery unit 5.

[0024] The lottery unit 5 further includes a ball throw mechanism 14. The ball throw mechanism 14 shoots a ball 15 as a physical medium to an outer periphery of the lottery ring 11. A ball guide 16 that guides the ball 15 is provided on the outer periphery of the lottery ring 11. At the time of the lottery processing using the lottery unit 5, the lottery ring 11 is rotated around the rotation axis AX, and the ball 15 is thrown from the ball throw mechanism 14 toward the outer periphery of the lottery ring 11. The thrown ball 15 is gradually decelerated while shaking left and right along the ball guide 16, and finally enters any one of the pockets 11a. Properties (for example, a dividend magnification and a dividend value) are set in each pocket 11a, and the dividend to the player in the special game is decided depending on the properties of the pocket 1 la in which the ball 15 enters. In this manner, the lottery unit 5 is configured as a physical lottery mechanism that executes the lottery game using the physical ring 11 and the ball 15.

[0025] The lottery using the lottery unit 5 is executed for one station 3 as a target in which a predetermined condition is established (that is, a special award occurs) among the stations 3. If the station 3 serving as the target of the lottery is the target station, the lottery unit 5 turns around the center line CL so that the lottery ring 11 and the center monitor 12 face the target station in order to present the course of the lottery game to the player of the target station. That is, in the present embodiment, the entire lottery unit 5 corresponds to the turning unit, and the center line CL of the center unit 2 corresponds to the turning axis of the turning unit.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, in order to perform the turning operation of the lottery unit 5, a support unit 20 is provided in a lower part of the center unit 2. The support unit 20 includes a base 21 and a turn table 22 placed in an upper end of the base 21. The turn table 22 is mounted on the base 21 in a state capable of turning around the center line CL of the center unit 2. Rollers 23 are mounted on the upper surface of the base 21 so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction of the center unit 2 in a state in which the rotation axis of each roller 23 is directed to the radial direction of the center unit 2. The turn table 22 is supported from the downside by the rollers 23. On the base 21, there is further mounted a turning drive device 24 which performs the turning driving of the turn table 22 around the center line CL. The turning drive device 24 decelerates the rotary motion of an electric motor 25 and transmits the rotary motion to an output shaft 26. The output shaft 26 is placed coaxially with the center line CL, and the upper end thereof is connected to the turn table 22 via a flange 27. The entire lottery unit 5 is loaded on the turn table 22. Accordingly, the lottery unit 5 turns around the center line CL by the operation of the turning drive device 24.

[0027] In order to detect the position (a rotation position) around the center line CL of the lottery unit 5, the support unit 20 is provided with a rotation position detection mechanism 30. The rotation position detection mechanism 30 includes a number of orientation sensors 31 and a single discrimination sensor 32 mounted on the upper surface of the base 21, a pair of blocks 33 A and 33B fixed on a lower surface side of the turn table 22, and a plate 34 that is similarly fixed on the lower surface side of the turn table 22. A combination of the orientation sensors 31 and the discrimination sensor 32 corresponds to the rotation position detection device. The detection principle of the orientation sensors 31 and the discrimination sensor 32 may be suitable. For example, the sensors 31 and 32 may be non-contact-type sensors using an optical, magnetic or electromagnetic principle, and may be mechanical sensors that detect the detection target using physical contact.

[0028] Each of the orientation sensors 31 outputs a predetermined detection signal when facing the blocks 33A and 33B. The orientation sensors 31 are provided at constant angular intervals β (see Fig. 6) in a range of turning halfway around the center line CL. In the present example, sixteen orientation sensors 31 are provided at β = 11.25°. The blocks 33A and 33B are provided at intervals of 180° in a circumferential direction of the turn table 22. The discrimination sensor 32 outputs a predetermined detection signal when facing the plate 34. The plate 34 extends in a circular arc shape so as to turn halfway around the turntable 22. The plate 34 is provided just within the range of a line b-b in Fig. 6. Incidentally, a corresponding relationship between the positions of the orientation sensors 31 and the position of the station 3 is set so that one of the orientation sensors 31 is located on an imaginary line Lv (see Fig. 3) when the imaginary line Lv is drawn in a radial direction from the center line CL of the center unit 2 toward the center of the station 3. That is, when the center monitor 12 of the lottery unit 5 is viewed right in front of the station 3, the detection signal of the block 33 A or 33B is output from any one of orientation sensors 31.

[0029] In the rotation position detection mechanism 30 mentioned above, when the lottery unit 5 rotates 360° around the center line CL, two detection signals are output from each of the orientation sensors 31 in response to the pair of blocks 33 A and 33B. Furthermore, the discrimination sensor 32 consecutively outputs the detection signal when the lottery unit 5 turns halfway around the center line CL, and does not output the detection signal when the lottery unit 5 is moved on the remaining half circumference. An interrelationship between the detection signals of each sensor 31 and 32 is illustrated in Fig. 7. In Fig. 7, sensors #1 to #16 are the orientation sensors 31, and the numbers #1 to #16 indicate the numbers of each orientation sensor from the orientation sensor 31 of #1 when one end of the orientation sensors 31 in an arrangement direction of the orientation sensors 31 is set as #1. A state in which each of the sensors 31 and 32 output the detection signals is indicated by "ON," and a state in which each of the sensors 31 and 32 do not output the detection signals is indicated by "OFF." In regard to the rotation position of the lottery unit 5, a suitable position on a rotation range, herein, a position at which the detection signal of the discrimination sensor 32 is changed from OFF to ON, is set as a starting point (0° position), and the rotation position is indicated by the rotation angle from the starting point.

[0030] As will be apparent from Fig. 7, while the lottery unit 5 rotates 360°, the detection signals are output from the orientation sensors 31 for every angle β (β=11.25°, as described above) equal to the intervals of the sensors 31. One orientation sensor 31 outputs the detection signals sequentially in response to the pair of blocks 33A and 33B while the lottery unit 5 rotates 360°. However, when detecting one block 33A, the detection signal of the plate 34 is output from the discrimination sensor 32, and when detecting the other block 33B, the detection signal is not output from the discrimination sensor 32. That is, it is specified with which of the blocks 33 A and 33B the orientation sensor 31 reacts by referring to the output of the discrimination sensor 32, and thus it is possible to detect the rotation position of the lottery unit 5 by the angular interval β of the orientation sensor 31. Incidentally, it is possible to distinguish the detection signals from each of the orientation sensors 31.

[0031] Next, a configuration of the control system of the game machine 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The game machine 1 is provided with a station control unit 50 and a center control unit 60. The station control unit 50 is provided in each of eight stations 3 as a computer unit that controls the station 3. Incidentally, Fig. 8 illustrates only the station control unit 50 of one station 3. The center control unit 60 is provided in the center unit 2 as a computer unit that controls the center unit 2. The center control unit 60 and each of the station control units 50 are connected to each other so as to allow the transmission and the reception of information.

[0032] In addition to the station monitor 6 and the operation device 9 mentioned above, an external memory device 51, a coin insertion device 52, and a withdrawal device 53 are connected to the station control unit 50. The external memory device 51 stores a program PGs of the basic game to be executed by the station control unit 50. The station control unit 50 controls the basic game such as a slot game according to the program PGs. The coin insertion device 52 determines whether or not the coin inserted from the insertion port 8 is genuine, and outputs the insertion signal if the coin is genuine. The withdrawal device 53 executes the withdrawal of the coin to the withdrawal port 10 according to the instruction from the station control unit 50.

[0033] Meanwhile, in addition to the center monitor 12, the ball throw mechanism 14, the turning drive device 24, the orientation sensors 31 and the discrimination sensor 32 that are described above, an external memory device 61, a ball detection sensor 62, and a lottery ring drive device 63 are connected to the center control unit 60. The external memory device 61 stores a program PGc. The ball detection sensor 62 is a sensor that outputs a signal for discriminating the pocket 11a where the ball 15 enters. The lottery ring drive device 63 rotatably drives the lottery ring 11 around the rotation axis AX using a drive source such as an electric motor. By making a hardware resource of the center control unit 60 and the program PGc cooperate with each other, the center control unit 60 serves as various logical devices to be required for realizing the lottery processing or the like of the lottery unit 5. As the logical device related to the lottery processing using the lottery unit 5, the center control unit 60 is provided with a lottery control portion 65 and a unit position control portion 66.

[0034] When the lottery control potion 65 receives a request of the lottery from the station control unit 50, the lottery control portion 65 designates the station 3 in which the unit 50 is present as the target station and instructs the turning operation of the lottery unit 5 to the unit position control portion 66 to carry out processing as a part of the processing related to the lottery game. The unit position control portion 66 controls the operation of the turning drive device 24 with reference to the output signals of the sensors 31 and 32 so that the lottery unit 5 faces the station 3 (as an example, a station denoted by reference sign 3A in Fig. 3) serving as the target station. When the lottery unit 5 faces the target station, a predetermined turning completion signal is output from the position control portion 66 to the lottery control portion 65. The lottery control portion 65 receives the turning completion signal, continues the processing of the lottery game, and controls the operation of the center monitor 12, the ball throw mechanism 14, and the lottery ring drive device 63 to execute a predetermined lottery game. Meanwhile, when it is difficult to stop the lottery unit 5 at a position facing the target station, the unit position control portion 66 outputs a predetermined error signal to the lottery control portion 65. When receiving the error signal, the lottery control portion 65 stops the processing related to the lottery game and executes predetermined error processing. By such processing, the lottery control portion 65 serves as the game control device of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 9 illustrates a sequence of the lottery unit position control processing to be executed by the unit position control portion 66. The processing of Fig. 9 is processing to be started by the unit position control portion 66 in response to the instruction from the lottery control portion 65, when the lottery processing is required for the center control unit 60 by the station control unit 50 of any one of the stations 3. By executing the processing of Fig. 9, the unit position control portion 66 serves as the position control device of the present invention. When starting the lottery unit position control processing, the unit position control portion 66 discriminates the current position of the lottery unit 5 stored in the previous processing (step Sl l), and then discriminates the target position designated by the lottery control portion 65 (step SI 2). The target position mentioned herein is a position at which a display surface of the center monitor 12 of the lottery unit 5 is viewed in front of the target station. In other words, the target position is a position at which the front direction of the lottery unit 5 correctly faces the target station 3. The position of the station 3 may be presented by an angle from a suitable reference position as shown in an example of Fig. 7. As shown by sensor numbers #1 to #16 in Fig. 7, when the orientation sensors 31 can be distinguished from each other by the sensor number or the like, the rotation position of the lottery unit 5 may be presented by associating number of the orientation sensor 31 with ON or OFF of the detection signal of the discrimination sensor 32.

[0036] Next, the unit position control portion 66 starts the turning drive device 24 to thereby making the lottery unit 5 turn to the target position (step SI 3), and then discriminates whether or not the lottery unit 5 reaches the target position with reference to the outputs of the orientation sensors 31 and the discrimination sensor 32 (step SI 4). In this case, the unit position control portion 66 discriminates whether or not the lottery unit 5 reaches the target position, by discriminating whether or not the detection signal is output from the orientation sensor 31 corresponding to the target position and the output of the discrimination sensor 32 is in a state corresponding to the target position. If the lottery unit 5 does not reach the target position, in other words, if the detection signal is not output from the orientation sensor 31 corresponding to the target position, the unit position control portion 66 discriminates whether or not a failure occurs in the orientation sensor 31 corresponding to the target position (step SI 5).

[0037] In step S15, as an example, if the detection signal is output from the next orientation sensors 31 adjacent to left and right of the orientation sensor 31 of the target position, despite that the detection signal is not output from the orientation sensor 31 of the target position during turning operation of the lottery unit 5, it is possible to determine that a failure occurs in the orientation sensor 31 of the target position. Alternatively, an output number of the detection signals of the orientation sensors 31 to be detected until reaching the target position may be calculated based on a deviation amount (deviation angle) between the current position and the target position, the time until the detection signal of the orientation sensor 31 of the target position is output may be predicted based on the calculated number and the rotation speed of the lottery unit 5, and when the detection signal is not output from the orientation sensor 31 after the predicted time elapses, it may be determined that the failure occurs. Furthermore, when it is found in advance that the failure occurs in the orientation sensor 31 corresponding to the target position before the processing of Fig. 9, it may be determined that the failure occurs in step S 15 using the result thereof. Incidentally, the failure mentioned herein refers to a state in which the detection signal from the orientation sensor 31 is not obtained for some reason, which includes various states such as a fault including disconnection of the sensor 31 as well as a trouble due to a deviation of an attachment position of the sensor 31 or the like to the extent that the detection signal is not able to be confirmed.

[0038] When it is determined that the failure does not occur in step SI 5, the unit position control portion 66 repeats the determination of step S 14. Moreover, when it is determined that the lottery unit reaches the target position, the unit position control portion 66 stops the turning drive by the turning drive device 24 (step SI 6). Thereafter, the unit position control portion 66 outputs the turning completion signal to the lottery control portion 65 on an assumption that the lottery unit 5 stops at the target position (step SI 7). Meanwhile, when it is determined that the failure occurs in step SI 5, the unit position control portion 66 determines that it is difficult to stop the lottery unit 5 at the target position and operates the turning drive device 24 so that the lottery unit 5 turns to an adjacent position, that is, a position of the orientation sensor 31 adjacent to the target position (step S21). Since the adjacent orientation sensors 31 are present at both sides at an angle β with respect to the orientation sensor 31 of the target position, the lottery unit 5 may turn to the position of the orientation sensor 31 of any one side. That is, in the game machine 1, the range up to the orientation sensors 31 corresponding to the target position and the other orientation sensors 31 adjacent to the orientation sensor 31 is set as a permissible range in the present invention.

[0039] Next, the unit position control portion 66 determines whether or not the lottery unit 5 reaches the adjacent position in reference to the output of the orientation sensors 31 and the discrimination sensor 32 (step S22). In this case, the unit position control portion 66 determines whether the lottery unit 5 reaches the adjacent position by discriminating whether or not the detection signal is output from any one of the orientation sensors 31 corresponding to the adjacent position and the output of the discrimination sensor 32 is in a state corresponding to the adjacent position. When the lottery unit 5 does not reach the adjacent position, in other words, when the detection signal is not output from the orientation sensor 31 corresponding to the adjacent position, the unit position control portion 66 discriminates whether or not the failure occurs in the orientation sensor 31 corresponding to the adjacent position (step S23). If the failure does not occur, the determination of step S22 is repeated.

[0040] When it is determined that the lottery unit 5 reaches the adjacent position in step S22, the unit position control portion 66 proceeds to step SI 6. Accordingly, even when the lottery unit 5 cannot be stopped at the target position, if the lottery unit 5 can be stopped at the adjacent position, the turning completion signal is output to the lottery control portion 65. That is, when it is possible to detect that the lottery unit 5 reaches the adjacent position, the unit position control portion 66 determines that the lottery unit 5 can be stopped in the permissible range to the target position, and the processing proceeds to processing for continuing the lottery game. [0041] When the lottery unit 5 is stopped at the adjacent position, as shown by an imaginary line in Fig. 3, the front direction of the lottery unit 5 is shifted from the target station 3A by the angle β in comparison with a case of being stopped at the target position. However, the angle β serving as a position detection unit of the orientation sensors 31 is 11.25° and is sufficiently smaller than the angular interval a (45°) of the stations 3. Within such angular range, it is possible to visually recognize the lottery processing easily using the lottery unit 5 from the player of the target station 3A. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the error processing from occurring for the only reason that it is impossible to stop the lottery unit 5 in a state of facing the front of the target station 3A, although the player of the target station can visually recognize the lottery course. Thus, the robustness of the game machine 1 with respect to the position control of the lottery unit 5 is increased, providing an effect or advantage such that an operating ratio of the game machine 1 is improved or decrease in motivation of the player due to the error occurrence is prevented.

[0042] Meanwhile, in step S23, when it is determined that the failure also occurs with regard to the detection of the adjacent position, the unit position control portion 66 stops the turning operation by the turning drive device 24 (step S24), and outputs the error signal to the lottery control portion 65 (step S25). In this case, the processing related to the lottery game is stopped. After the processing of step S17 or S25, the unit position control portion 66 stores the stop position of the current lottery unit 5 (step S26). Thereafter, the unit position control portion 66 finishes the processing of Fig. 9.

[0043] In the embodiment mentioned above, the unit position control portion 66 serves as a first positioning device of the present invention by executing the processing of steps Sl l to S15 of Fig. 9, and serves as a second positioning device of the present invention by executing the processing of steps S21 to S23. [0044] The present invention can be carried out by a suitably changed or modified form without being limited to the forms mentioned above. For example, although the permissible range to the target position is set as a range up to the pair of orientation sensors 31 adjacent to the orientation sensor 31 corresponding to the target position in the circumferential direction in the form mentioned above, the permissible range may be set to a range in which the player of the target station can visually recognize the course of the game presented by the turning unit (lottery unit 5). When the angular interval of the orientation sensors 31 is set to be smaller than the angle β (11.25°) mentioned above, a plurality of orientation sensors 31 may be included in the permissible range. When the center monitor 12 is a liquid crystal monitor, the permissible range may be set in consideration of a visual field angle. When the turning unit includes the physical lottery mechanism, the permissible range may be set to a range in which the lottery course can be visually recognized by the player of the target station, depending on the configuration of the mechanism. That is, in the present invention, firstly, the target position is set so that the front direction of the turning unit can be directed to the target station, and the turning operation is attempted so that the turning unit is stopped at the target position. If it is difficult to stop the turning unit at the target position, it is attempted to stop the turning unit in a permissible range to an extent that an object of presenting the course of the game to the player by the turning unit is not substantially damaged. Moreover, if it is possible to stop the turning unit in the permissible range, the game may be continued on an assumption that the turning unit faces the target station. Incidentally, if the permissible range is extended in excess of a middle position between the target station and the station adjacent thereto, there is concern that the player may recognize the turning unit as facing the adjacent station. In order to exclude such a disadvantage, it is desirable to limit the permissible range to the range closer to the target position than the middle position between the target station and the station adjacent thereto.

[0045] The position detecting device is not limited to an example of using the orientation sensors 31 and the discrimination sensor 32, but can be suitably changed if it is possible to detect the rotation position of the turning unit by the angular interval that is smaller than the angular interval of the station. An angle detecting device having a minute resolution such as a rotary encoder or the like may be used. In that case, the restriction of the angular interval of the position detecting device related to the setting of the permissible range can be relieved, and the permissible range can be flexibly set depending on circumstances.

[0046] The selection of the target station in the present invention is not limited to an example including a condition that a predetermined condition is established in the basic game in the station. The target station may be selected from various viewpoints. For example, when a predetermined award is generated in any station, the station serving as a target of the special game is further drawn, and the turning operation of the turning unit may be controlled by setting the station selected by the lottery as the target station. The station is not limited to the station executing the basic game. For example, the station may be configured as a location in which the player bets a play value to the game using the turning unit.

[0047] The turning unit is not limited to a configuration in which the physical lottery mechanism and the monitor device are mounted so as to face the same direction. Only one of the physical lottery mechanism or the monitor device may be mounted on the turning unit. As a unit for presenting the course of the game, a plurality of physical lottery mechanisms or a plurality of monitor devices may be mounted on the turning unit facing different directions. In this case, it is possible to apply the present invention to control the turning operation of the turning unit so that any one lottery mechanism or any one monitor device faces the target station.

[0048] The turning unit may be one capable of presenting the course of the game to the player, and may be provided for the purpose of presenting information related to the game executed in the station to the player. In the form mentioned above, a plurality of stations is arranged at equal intervals on the circular arc that is concentric with the turning axis of the turning unit. However, the arrangement of the stations is not limited to such an example. The outer periphery of the center unit may be formed in non-circular forms (including an oval form, an elliptical form, polygonal form or the like), and the plurality of stations may be placed along the periphery thereof. The angular intervals between the stations may be different from each other depending on the location.