US20090267302A1

US20090267302A1 - Gift acquisition game machine

Info

Publication number: US20090267302A1
Application number: US12/096,354
Authority: US
Inventors: Mitsuharu Fukazawa; Hideki Watanabe; Takashi Nakajima; Kouki Takasugi; Junichi Murakami; Junichi Miyaki
Original assignee: Sega Corp
Current assignee: Sega Corp
Priority date: 2005-12-09
Filing date: 2006-12-11
Publication date: 2009-10-29
Also published as: JP2007159677A; JP5017852B2; WO2007066802A1

Abstract

A gift acquisition game machine 1 is provided with gift acquiring machines 34 each operated by a player to acquire a gift and carry the gift to a gift receiver 44. The gift acquisition game machine 1 has a central unit 2 disposed substantially in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine 1 and including an image display device and such, and plural satellite units 3 arranged in a ring around the central unit 2. A gift exhibiting space A having a shape resembling a rectangular solid is combined with each satellite unit 3. The gift receiver 44 is formed in the bottom of the gift receiving space B adjacent to either of the right and the left side of the gift exhibiting space A having a shape resembling a rectangular solid. An overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machine 30 is disposed in a top part of the gift exhibiting space A. Movable longitudinal guide rails 32 included respectively in the overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machines of adjacent ones of the satellite units 3 are disposed so as not to interfere with each other.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gift acquisition game machine capable of being operated by a player to display an image indicating a gift acquisition condition.

BACKGROUND ART

Known gift acquisition game machines have a gift gripping means for gripping a gift, which gripping means is provided with a camera, and an electronic display means for displaying an image provided by the camera (see patent documents 1 and 2).
Also known is a gift acquisition game machine disclosed in patent document 3, which machine is built by closely arranging plural overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machines on the floor. Each of the overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machines has a player-operated gift gripping means capable of being operated to grip a gift placed in a gift exhibiting space and of carrying the gripped gift to a gift outlet.
Patent document 1: JP 3404774 B
Patent document 2: JP 3477273 B
Patent document 3: JP H11-192375 A

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Underlying Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the gift acquisition game machines disclosed in patent documents 1 and 2, the display means displays an image of a gift gripped by the gripping means provided by the camera combined with the gift gripping means. However, the player cannot see a countenance put on by the player when the gripping means succeeds or fails in gripping a gift. Therefore, the player cannot have a feeling of full content.
Since images taken and recorded by selectively using the plurality of cameras are not displayed on the display means, the image lacks punch, a game does not come alive and the player cannot feel satisfaction.
Any monitor is not installed in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine disclosed in patent document 3, built by closely arranging plural overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machines on the floor. Therefore, the gift acquisition game machine lacks demonstrative effect.
The gift acquisition game machine disclosed in patent document 3 is not installed with any camera for photographing a player who succeeded in the game and with any monitor provided with a display means for displaying an image provided by the camera, in the center of the group of the satellite units, so that the countenance of a player who succeeded in the game is not displayed. Therefore, the player cannot have a feeling of full satisfaction when succeeded in the game.
The gift acquisition game machine disclosed in patent document 3 has four satellite units. If five or more satellite units are installed in this gift acquisition game machine, respective longitudinal guide rails of the adjacent overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machines interfere with each other and a sufficiently large gift exhibiting space is not available.
The present invention relates to an improvement of a gift acquisition game machine, which is free from the foregoing problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a gift acquisition game machine including a central unit, and plural gift acquiring units arranged around the central unit, and capable of fully satisfying the player.

Means for Solving the Problem

A gift acquisition game machine in a first aspect of the present invention has a gift acquiring machine disposed in a gift exhibiting space to be operated by a player and driven for acquiring a gift to carry the gift to a gift outlet, the gift acquisition game machine comprising: a gift acquiring condition monitoring camera for providing an image representing a gift acquiring condition; a player monitoring camera for providing an image of the player; image recording means for recording images provided by at least one of said cameras; and an image display device for displaying images provided by said cameras or images recorded by the image recording means.
The gift acquisition game machine in the first aspect of the present invention may further comprises a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting acquisition of a gift, and a controller; wherein the controller is operative to cause the player monitoring camera to provide an image of the player upon detection of a gift by the gift acquisition detecting means, to cause the image recording means to record the image of the player, and to cause the display means to display the image of the player recorded by the image recording means.
A gift acquisition game machine in a second aspect of the present invention has a gift acquiring machine disposed in a gift exhibiting space to be operated by a player and driven for acquiring a gift to carry the gift to a gift outlet, the gift acquisition game machine comprising: a first camera combined with the gift acquiring machine; a second camera for providing an image showing the condition of the gift exhibiting space; a third camera for providing an image of the player; image recording means for recording images provided by at least one of the cameras; and an image display device for displaying images provided by the cameras or the images recorded by the image recording means.
The gift acquisition game machine in the second aspect of the present invention may further comprise a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting acquisition of a gift; and a controller; wherein the controller is operative to cause the third camera to provide an image of the player upon the detection of a gift by the gift acquisition detecting means, to cause the image recording means to record the image of the player, and to cause the display device to display the image of the player recorded by the image recording means.
A gift acquisition game machine in a third aspect of the present invention has gift acquiring machines disposed respectively in gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for acquiring gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets, the gift acquisition game machine comprising: a central unit disposed substantially in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine and including a rotary unit capable of turning in a horizontal plane; plural satellite units arranged in a ring around the central unit and each having a gift exhibiting space in which gifts are placed; each of said satellite units having an operating unit disposed such that a player can operate the operating unit to operate the associated gift acquiring machine looking at the gifts placed in the associated gift exhibiting space, a gift receiver for receiving a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine, a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine to drop the gift through the gift receiver; and a controller for turning the rotary unit of the central unit upon detection of successful gift acquisition through detection of a gift dropping through the gift receiver.
A gift acquisition game machine in a fourth aspect of the present invention has gift gripping machines disposed respectively in gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for gripping gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets, the gift acquisition game machine comprising: a central unit disposed substantially in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine and including a rotary unit capable of turning in a horizontal plane, an image display device placed in the rotary unit, and a player monitoring camera for providing an image of a player; plural satellite units arranged in a ring around the central unit; and a controller; wherein the player monitoring camera is disposed to photograph a player confronting one of the satellite units, each of the satellite units has a gift exhibiting space for exhibiting gifts and includes an operating unit disposed such that the player can operate the operating unit looking at gifts placed in the gift exhibiting space, a gift acquiring machine driven by the operating unit, a gift receiver for receiving a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine, and a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine and passing through the gift receiver, and wherein the controller is operative to turn the rotary unit of the central unit upon detection of successful gift acquisition through detection of a gift dropping through the gift receiver, and the controller is operative to locate the image display device of the central unit so as to face the satellite unit where a player succeeded in acquiring a gift, to cause the player monitoring camera to photograph the player who succeeded in acquiring a gift at the same satellite unit, and to cause the image display device to display an image of the player who succeeded in acquiring the gift.
A gift acquisition game machine in a fifth aspect of the present invention has gift gripping machines disposed respectively in gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for gripping gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets, the gift acquisition game machine comprising: a central unit disposed substantially in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine and including a gift support unit and an image display device; and plural satellite units arranged in a ring around the central unit; wherein each of the satellite units has a box-shaped gift exhibiting space, a gift receiving space is provided adjacent to one of a right and a left side of the associated gift exhibiting space, a gift receiver is formed in the gift receiving space, an overhead traveling crane type gift acquisition machine is disposed in a top part of the associated gift exhibiting space, and the overhead traveling crane type gift acquisition machine includes a fixed transverse guide rail extended substantially parallel to an outer wall defining the gift exhibiting space, a movable longitudinal guide rail supported on the fixed transverse guide rail so as to be transversely movable, a lifting device held on the movable longitudinal guide rail so as to be longitudinally movable, and a gift gripping device held on the lifting device to grip a gift.
The gift acquisition game machine in the fifth aspect of the present invention may further comprise a door provided with a transparent plate and disposed on an outer surface of each of the gift exhibiting spaces so as to be transversely movable, and a locking device for locking the door so as to seal up an outer side of the gift exhibiting space.
In the gift acquisition game machine in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the door may be movable not only to the gift receiver attached to each of the satellite units, but also to a gift receiver attached to the satellite unit adjacent to the associated satellite unit.
A gift acquisition game machine in a sixth aspect of the present invention has a gift acquiring machine disposed in a gift exhibiting space to be operated by a player and driven for acquiring a gift to carry the gift to a gift outlet, the gift acquisition game machine comprising: a first camera combined with the gift acquiring machine; a second camera for monitoring a condition of the gift exhibiting space; an image recording means for recording images provided by the first and the second camera; an image display device for displaying an image; and a controller for controlling the first camera, the second camera and the image recording means to make the image display device display an image; and wherein the controller is operative to make the image display device display a live image of a scenery viewed from the gift acquiring machine provided by the first camera, a live image of the gift exhibiting space provided by the second camera, or an image recorded by the image recording means selectively according the progress of a game.
A gift acquisition game machine in a seventh aspect of the present invention comprises a central unit; plural satellite units arranged around the central unit, each having a gift exhibiting space; and gift acquiring machines disposed respectively in the gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for acquiring gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets; wherein the central unit is provided with an image display device turnable by a moving device so as to face each of the satellite units, each satellite unit is provided with at least one camera for photographing the gift exhibiting space; and wherein a controller is provided to control the moving device, the image display device and each camera so as to turn the image display device according to progress of a game in each satellite unit to locate the image display device to face desired one of the satellite units and to make the image display device display an image provided by the camera of the same satellite unit.
In the gift acquisition game machine in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the controller may be operative to choose a satellite unit in which the game is at a most advanced stage, and to turn the image display device to locate the same to face the same satellite unit.
In the gift acquisition game machine in the seventh aspect of the present invention, each satellite unit may be provided with an image recording means for recording an image provided by the camera, and the controller may be operative to make the image display device display a live image provided by the camera or an image recorded by the image recording means.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

In the first aspect of the present invention, an image showing a gift acquiring condition provided by the gift acquiring condition monitoring camera and an image of the player provided by the player monitoring camera are displayed by the image display device. The images recorded by the image recording means for recording images provided by either or both of those cameras are displayed. Therefore, the player can see the gift acquiring condition and the player's countenance during and after the game, which enhances interest in the game.
In the preferred gift acquisition game machine in the first aspect of the present invention, the player's delighted or satisfied countenance is displayed by the image display means after the player has succeeded in acquiring a gift. Thus not only the player but also the audience of the game can see the player's countenance.
In the second aspect of the present invention, an image representing the condition of the gift exhibiting space provided by the first camera, an image representing the vicinity of the gift acquiring machine provided by the second camera, and an image of the player provided by the third camera are displayed by the display device. Since images provided by one or all of those cameras and recorded by the image recording means are displayed, the player can know the gift acquisition condition during and after the game, which enhances interest in the game still further.
In the preferred gift acquisition game machine in the second aspect of the present invention, the player's delighted or satisfied countenance is displayed by the image display means after the player has succeeded in acquiring a gift. Thus not only the player but also the audience of the game can see the player's countenance.
In the third aspect of the present invention, the turntable of the central unit turns and gifts loaded on the turntable, the display means turn together with the turntable when the player succeeds in acquiring a gift. Therefore, the player facing any one of the satellite units can see those things, which improves the effect of exhibition.
A gift can be acquired not only by gripping the gift but also by scooping, pulling up or dragging the gift.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the turntable of the central unit is turned when the player succeeds in acquiring a gift to locate the image display device of the central unit right opposite to the satellite unit where the player succeeded in acquiring the gift, an image of the player who succeeded in acquiring the gift is displayed by the image display means, and the player and persons around the player can see the countenance of the delighted or satisfied player.
In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the player can make the gift acquiring machine grip a gift in the gift exhibiting space by moving the gift acquiring machine all over the box-shaped gift exhibiting space, and carry the gift to the gift receiver in the gift receiving space adjacent to the gift exhibiting space.
In the preferred gift acquisition game machine in the fifth aspect of the present invention, gifts can be freely put into and taken out from the gift exhibiting space by moving the door provided with the transparent plate to the right or to the left into the gift receiving space adjacent to the gift exhibiting space along the outer surface of the gift exhibiting space after disengaging the locking device. The gift exhibiting space can be sealed up so that the gift exhibiting space cannot be opened by returning the door to its original closing position and engaging the locking device after completing putting gifts into or taking gifts out from the gift exhibiting space.
In the preferred gift acquisition game machine in the fifth aspect of the present invention, each of the contiguously arranged n gift exhibiting spaces having a shape resembling a rectangular solid has right and left end surface including an angle of 360°/n and a sectorial cross section, the door can be moved into either of the two adjacent ones of the gift exhibiting spaces, and a gift can be easily put into and taken out from the gift exhibiting space through either of the right or the left end side of the gift exhibiting space.
In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the live image taken from the side of the gift acquiring machine and provided by the first camera, the live image of the gift exhibiting space provided by the second camera and the images recorded by the image recording means are selectively displayed by the display means according to the progress of the game. Therefore, the live images provided by the cameras are properly selectively displayed during the progress of the game and the recorded live images are displayed again when the player succeeds in acquiring a gift. Thus the images can be made to appeal strongly, the game can be livened and the player can be greatly satisfied.
In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the image display device is moved according to the progress of the games in the satellite units to locate the image display device right opposite to the desired satellite unit, and the image display device displays the image provided by the camera of the same satellite unit. Thus the image display device can be located right opposite to the satellite unit where the game is in the most interesting state and a live image of the most interesting state can be displayed to satisfy the player playing at the same satellite unit greatly.
In the gift acquisition game machine in the sevens aspect of the present invention, the satellite unit in which the game is at the most advanced stage is chosen and the image display device is moved and located right opposite to the same satellite unit. Thus the image display device can be located right opposite to the satellite unit in the most exciting gift acquisition state and a powerful live image of the same satellite unit can be displayed to satisfy the player greatly.
Since the live image provided by the camera or the image recorded by the image recording means is displayed, the recorded image can be displayed to give a feeling of satisfaction to the player even if the image display device is located at the satellite unit after a gift has been already acquired in the satellite unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gift acquisition game machine;

FIG. 2 is a partly cutaway perspective view of the gift acquisition game machine, in which satellite units excluding one are removed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the satellite units;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, of satellite units, in which the state of an overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machine is different from that of the gift acquiring machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a locking device engaged with a lock support member;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the locking device engaged with the lock retaining member;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the locking device disengaged from the lock retaining member;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a gift gripping device;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an essential part of a control system included in the gift acquisition game machine;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of a control procedure for controlling a satellite unit and a monitor control procedure for controlling monitor display and monitor movement;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart in continuation of the flow chart shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a monitor revolution control procedure.

REFERENCE SIGNS

1 . . . Gift acquisition game machine, 2 . . . Central unit, 3 . . . Satellite unit, 4 . . . Frame having the shape of hexagonal prism, 5 . . . Base, 6 . . . Turntable (Rotary unit), 7 . . . Monitor, 8 . . . Gift basket, 9 . . . Parallel linkage, 10 . . . Gift receiving unit, 11 . . . Casing, 12 . . . Gift support plate, 13 . . . Transparent plate, 14 . . . Beam, 15 . . . Rail, 16 . . . Door, 17 . . . Frame, 18 . . . Roller, 19 . . . Transparent plate, 20 . . . Locking device, 21 . . . Lock support member, 22 . . . Lock, 23 . . . Shaft, 24 . . . Coil spring, 25 . . . Stopper, 26 . . . Click pin, 27 . . . Lever, 28 . . . Lock retaining member, 29 . . . Click pin engagement member, 30 . . . Overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machine, 31 . . . Fixed transverse guide rail, 32 . . . Movable longitudinal guide rail, 33 . . . Lifting device, 34 . . . Gift gripping device (Catcher), 35 . . . Gift acquisition monitoring camera (First camera), 36 . . . Control panel, 37 . . . Transverse movement control button, 38 . . . Longitudinal movement control button, 39 . . . Lowering control button, 40 . . . Indicator, 41 . . . Medal deposition slot, 42 . . . Gift exhibition monitoring camera (Second camera), 43 . . . Top plate, 44 . . . Gift receiver, 45 . . . Gift exit door, 46 . . . Protruding hollow structure, 47 . . . Plastic cover, 48 . . . Curved transparent plate, 49 . . . Partition plate, 50 . . . Ceiling board, 51 . . . Gift container, 52 . . . Gift containing unit, 53 . . . Gift exit door, 54 . . . Lamp, 56 . . . Player monitoring camera (Third camera), A . . . Gift exhibiting space, B . . . Gift receiving space, 200 . . . Host computer, 201 . . . Central unit driving mechanism, 202 . . . Monitor moving mechanism, 203 . . . Monitor image forming device, 204 . . . Third camera moving mechanism, 210 . . . Microcomputer, 211 . . . Catcher driving mechanism, 212 . . . First camera moving mechanism, 213 . . . Second camera moving mechanism

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gift acquisition game machine 1. FIG. 2 is a partly cutaway perspective view of the gift acquisition game machine 1, in which satellite units 3 excluding one satellite unit 3 are removed to facilitate viewing the interior of the gift acquisition game machine 1. The gift acquisition game machine 1 includes a central unit 2 having a shape resembling a hexagonal prism, six satellite units 3 arranged substantially in a ring around the central unit 2, and gift receiving units 10 each disposed between adjacent ones of the satellite units 3.
Referring to FIG. 2, the central unit 2 having a shape resembling a hexagonal prism has a frame 4 having a shape resembling a hexagonal prism and built by assembling vertical pillars respectively at positions corresponding to the edges of a hexagonal prism, and horizontal beams extended between the upper ends, the middle parts and the lower ends, respectively, of adjacent ones of the six pillars. A base 5 is set up at the center of the bottom of the frame 4. A turntable 6 is placed on the upper end of the base 5. The turntable 6 can be driven for rotation about a vertical axis by a motor, not shown. A large monitor 7, namely, a display means, is disposed above the turntable 6. There are provided plural gift baskets 8 turnable with the turntable 6 and capable of holding large stuffed toys, namely, gifts, and each gift basket 8 is supported pivotally on ends of parallel upper and lower parallel links 9. One end of a drive stick, not shown, extending obliquely upward is pivotally joined to the parallel links 9. When the drive stick is moved vertically, the gift basket 8 is moved vertically.
The six satellite units 3 have a shape resembling a rectangular solid and are detachably joined to the side faces of the central unit 2 having a shape resembling a hexagonal prism. Each of the gift receiving units 10 (FIG. 2) is disposed in a space having a corner of an angle of 60° and extending between adjacent ones of the satellite units 3 with a shape resembling a rectangular solid.
As shown in FIG. 3, a gift support plate 12 is extended horizontally in an upper part of a casing 11 of the satellite unit 3 in a shape resembling a rectangular sold. A transparent plate 13 is extended vertically along an inner face contiguous with the central unit 2. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a beam 14 is disposed directly below the outer edge of the gift support plate 12 of the satellite unit 3. A rail 15 is combined integrally with the beam 14. Rollers 18 supported for rotation on a lower part of a frame 17 of a door 16 roll along the rail 15. A transparent plate 19 is held on the frame 17. The gift support plate 12, the door 16 and the transparent plate 13 define the bottom side, the front side and the back side of a gift exhibiting space A, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, lock support members 21 respectively included in plural locking device 20 are attached to a middle part, with respect to a transverse direction, of a lower part of the transparent plate 19 and a middle part, with respect to a transverse direction, of the lower member of the frame 17, respectively. A lock 22 is attached to each lock support member 21. As shown in FIG. 5, the lock support member 21 has a U-shaped, horizontal cross section. A shaft 23 parallel to the frame 17 is supported rotatably on right and left side walls of the lock support member 21. A coil spring 24 is loosely put on the shaft 23. Respective upper projecting parts 25 a of two arm-shaped stoppers 25 are attached to the opposite ends of the shafts 23, respectively. A click pin 26 is vertically movably supported at a position below the upper projecting part 25 a of the stopper 25 on the side of the coil spring 24. A base end of a lever 27 is attached to the locking device 20. The lever 27 can be turned or swung by inserting a key, not shown, into the lock 22 and turning the key. As shown in FIG. 5, a lock retaining member 28 is attached to a middle part, with respect to a length direction, of the beam 14 of the gift support plate 12. The lock retaining member 28 is provided with flanges 28 a at its opposite ends, respectively. The lock retaining member 28 is on the outer side of the rail 15. A click pin engagement member 29 is attached to the upper end of the lock retaining member 28. As shown in FIG. 7, an uneven engagement surface 29 a having a shape resembling the inverted letter W, as viewed facing the satellite unit 3, is formed in the upper surface of the click pin engagement member 29. The coil spring 24 has a first end 24 a in contact with the lower surface of the bent upper end part 25 a of the stopper 25, and a second end 24 b in contact with the upper end surface 26 a (FIG. 6) of the click pin 26.
When the door 16 is closed, and the lever 27 is swung down so as to bring the free end of the lever 27 into contact with the upper end parts 25 a of the stoppers 25 to depress the upper end parts 25 a as shown in FIG. 6, the two stoppers 25 are between the inner surfaces of the right and the left flange 28 a of the lock retaining member 28, a second end 24 b of the coil spring 24 depresses the click pin 26 by its resilient force. Consequently, the click pin 26 is engaged in a central recess, not shown, formed in the uneven engagement surface 29 a having the shape resembling the inverted letter W.
When the key, not shown, is turned through an angle of 90° in a locking state illustrated in FIG. 6 to turn the lever 27 upward, the lever 27 is disengaged from the upper end part 25 a of the stopper 25 and the downward force applied to the upper end part 25 a of the stopper 25 is removed. Then, a lower part 25 b of the stopper 25 is turned counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 7 by the resilient force of the coil spring 24 to disengage the stoppers 25 from the right and the left flange 28 a of the lock retaining member 28. Consequently, the door 16 can be moved transversely by applying a force on the door 16 to the right or the left to open the door 16.
When the door 16 is opened, the locking device 20 attached to the middle parts of the frame 17 and the transparent plate 19 of the door 16 are moved transversely away from the lock retaining member 28 attached to the beam 14. When the door 16 is closed, the locking device 20 approaches the lock retaining member 28, and the lower end of the click pin 26 moves along an outer slope of the uneven engagement surface 29 a having the shape resembling the inverted letter W of the click pin engagement member 29 to brake the door 16. Upon the drop of the lower end of the click pin 26 into the middle recess of the uneven engagement surface 29 a, the door 16 is stopped. Then, the stoppers 25 are turned clockwise as viewed in FIG. 6 by the resilient force of the coil spring 24 to engage the locking device 20.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machine 30 is disposed above the gift exhibiting space A defined by the gift support plate 12, the transparent plate 13 and the door 16 of the satellite unit 3. The overhead gift acquiring machine 30 includes a fixed transverse guide rail 31 laid on the inner side of the door 16 in a space above the door 16, a movable longitudinal guide rail 32 supported for transverse movement on the transverse guide rail 31, a lifting device 33 supported for longitudinal movement on the longitudinal guide rail 32, and a gift gripping device 34, namely, a catcher.
As shown in FIG. 8, a gift acquisition monitoring camera 35, namely, a first camera, for obtaining an image of a space under the gift gripping device 34 is attached to a lower part of a body 34 a of the gift gripping device 34. Paired gripping fingers 34 b are supported so as to be turned away from and toward each other.
The body 34 a of the gift gripping device 34 has an internal structure, not shown. The internal structure of the body 34 a can be easily deformed by load exerted on the gripping fingers 34 b. A strain gage is attached to the surface of a deformable part of the internal structure to form a weight measuring device for measuring the weight loaded on the gripping fingers 34 b.
As shown in FIG. 1, a control panel 36 is disposed on the outer side of a lower part of the door 16 of each satellite unit 3. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a transverse movement control button 37, a longitudinal movement control button 38, and a downward movement control button 39 are arranged in that order from the left toward the right. Medal deposition indicators 40 and a medal deposition slot 41 are arranged on the right side of the arrangement of the control buttons 37, 38 and 39. The downward movement control button 39 is not necessarily needed. A control system of this embodiment does not include any control operations controlled by the downward movement control button 39.
The transverse movement control button 37 is depressed after depositing a medal through the medal deposition slot 41 or after entering data by using an IC card or a magnetic card. Then, the movable longitudinal guide rail 32 starts moving rightward from the front left end of the gift exhibiting space A along the fixed transverse guide rail 31 parallel to the door 16. The movable longitudinal guide rail 32 stops when the transverse movement control button 37 is released. Subsequently, the longitudinal movement control button 38 is depressed. Then, the lifting device 33 starts moving along the longitudinal guide rail 32 from the front side toward the back side of the gift exhibiting space A. The lifting device 33 stops when the longitudinal movement control button 38 is released. Then, the open pair of gripping fingers 34 b starts closing automatically to grip a desired stuffed doll, not shown.
Although the downward movement control button 39 is not necessarily needed, the lifting device 33 starts lowering the gift gripping device 34 held at an upper position when the downward movement control button 39 is depressed. When the downward movement control button 39 is released, the lowering of the gift gripping device 34 is stopped. Then the open pair of gripping fingers 34 b starts closing to grip a desired stuffed doll, namely, a desired gift, not shown.
A gift exhibiting condition monitoring camera 42, namely, a second camera, for monitoring the gift exhibiting condition in the gift exhibiting space A is disposed, for example, at a position above the right-hand back corner of the gift exhibiting space A of each satellite unit 3. A player monitoring camera 56 (FIG. 2), namely, a third camera, is disposed at a position in the vicinity of the monitor 7.
The gift receiving unit 10 disposed in the space having a corner of an angle of 60° and located between the adjacent satellite units 3 having a shape resembling a rectangular solid has a top plate 43 extending in a plane in which the gift receiving plate 12 of the satellite unit 3 extends. A cylindrical gift receiver 44 is disposed below the left end of the fixed transverse guide rail 31. A gift container, not shown, is disposed below the gift receiver 44. The gift container is connected to the gift receiver 44. An opening formed in a lower part of the gift container is closed by a gift exit door 45.
A protruding hollow structure 46 like a thick plate is disposed contiguously with the left side surface of the gift receiving unit 10 interposed between the adjacent satellite units 3. As shown in a left-hand area in FIG. 2, a colored plastic cover 47 is attached to the protruding hollow structure 46. While the gift acquisition game machine 1 is in operation, a lamp disposed inside the protruding hollow structure 46 is lighted to illuminate the plastic cover 47.
A curved transparent plate 48 curved in a circular arc in cross section is placed on the protruding hollow structure 46 of the gift receiving unit 10, and the outside surface of the left end of the satellite unit 3 adjacent to the right side of the protruding hollow structure 46. The top plate 43 of the gift receiving unit 10 and the curved transparent plate 48 define a gift receiving space B.
As shown in a left-hand area in FIG. 2, a transparent partition plate 49 of a low height is placed on the boundary between the satellite unit 3 and the gift receiving unit 10. A ceiling board 50 is placed on top of the satellite units 3 and the gift receiving units 10. A gift containing structure 51 is disposed above the ceiling board 50. The gift containing structure 51 has plural gift containers 52 arranged in a ring. The outer side of each of the gift containers 52 is covered with a transparent gift exit door 53. The gift exit door 53 is vertically turnable on its upper edge. Plural gifts are contained in each gift container 52. The gifts contained in the gift containers 52 have a demonstrative effect. When the amount of gifts on the gift support plate 12 of each satellite unit 3 decreases, the gift exhibiting space A of the satellite unit 3 can be replenished with gifts taken out from the gift container 52.
Lamps 54 are disposed above the gift exit doors 53, respectively. The lamps 54 illuminate a play hall where the gift acquisition game machine 1 is installed.
As shown in FIG. 9, each of the satellite units 3 of this gift acquisition game machine 1 is provided with a microcomputer 210. The microcomputer 210 controls a catcher driving mechanism 211 for driving the gift gripping device 34, namely, a catcher, a first camera moving mechanism 212 for moving the first camera 35, and a second camera moving mechanism 213 for moving the second camera 42. A host computer 200 installed in the central unit 2 controls a central unit driving mechanism 201 for collectively controlling the microcomputers 210 of the satellite units 3, a monitor moving mechanism 202 for turning the turntable 6 to turn the monitor 7, a monitor image forming device 203, a third camera moving mechanism 204 for moving the third camera 56.
The host computer 200 and such of the central unit 2, and the microcomputers 210 and such of the satellite units 3 are integral components of a control system.
As mentioned above, the gift gripping device 34, the gift acquisition monitoring camera 35, the gift exhibition monitoring camera 42, and the player monitoring camera 56 will be called a catcher, a first camera, a second camera and a third camera, respectively.
Control procedures for controlling the movement of the monitor 7 driven for turning by the central unit 2, the display operation of the monitor 7 will be described with reference to flow charts shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.
FIGS. 10 and 11 are flow charts showing continuous steps of a satellite unit control procedure for controlling the satellite units 3, and a monitor control procedure for controlling the displaying and moving operations of the monitor 7 in the central unit 2. Description will be made with reference to those flow charts.
Initially, the monitor 7 of the central unit 10 displays an advertisement.
A query is made in step A1 to see whether or not credit occurred in any one of the satellite units 3. If credit occurs first in one of the satellite unit 3, a game is started first in the said satellite unit 3 in step A2.
After the game has been started in the said satellite unit 3, the second camera 42 of the said satellite unit 3 starts operating in step A3. The monitor 7 displays a live image provided by the second camera 42 representing the condition of the field of the said satellite unit 3 in step B1.
Meanwhile, the central unit 2 makes a query to see whether or not the screen of the monitor 7 faces the said satellite unit 3 in step C1. If the monitor 7 faces another satellite unit 3, the turn table 6 supporting the monitor 7 is turned in step C2 to locate the monitor 7 opposite to the said satellite unit 3.
After it has been confirmed that the monitor 7 is located with its screen facing the said satellite unit 3, the operation of the second camera 42 is replaced with that of the first camera 35 in step A4. Then, the monitor 7 displays a live image of a space right below the catcher 34 in step B2.
The player playing the game in the said satellite unit 3 can see the screen of the monitor 7 displaying an image showing the condition of the space right below the catcher 34 in front of the player.
When the control buttons 37 and 38 are operated in step A5 in a state where the live image of the space right below the catcher 34 provided by the first camera 35 is displayed by the monitor 7, the catcher 34 is moved according to the operation of the control buttons 37 and 38 in step A6 until it is decided in step A7 that the operation of the control buttons is ended. The image of the space right below the catcher 34 provided by the first camera 35 is displayed by the monitor 7 until the operation of the control buttons is ended. When it is decided in step A7 that the operation of the transverse movement control button 37 and the longitudinal movement control button 38 has been ended, an image recording operation for recording a live image is started in step A8.
The image recording operation for recording the live image is continued even in a state where the operation of the first camera 35 is ended and that of the second camera 42 is started.
At the same time, if the operation of the control buttons 37 and 38 of some other satellite unit 3 is ended, the satellite unit 3 in which the operation of the control buttons 37 and 38 has been ended executes an image recording operation.
In step A9, the catcher 34 is moved down substantially simultaneously with the start of the image recording operation. When it is decided in step A10 that the downward movement of the catcher 34 is ended, the photographing operation of the first camera 35 is ended and the photographing operation of the second camera 42 is started in step A11, and the monitor 7 displays a live image representing the condition of the field in the said satellite unit 3 provided by the second camera 12 in step B3. Then, in step A12, the gripping fingers 34 b of the catcher 34 are turned toward each other to grip a gift.
While the catcher 34 is being moved down, an image of the area directly below the catcher 34 including a desired gift provided by the first camera 35 is displayed by the monitor 7. Upon the termination of the downward movement of the catcher 34, a still close-up picture, namely, an enlarged picture, of the desired gift is displayed by the monitor 7. Upon the grasp of the desired gift by the catcher 34, a still picture of the grasped gift is displayed, and the operation of the second camera 42 is started.
Subsequently, the catcher 34 is moved up in step A13. When it is decided in step A14 that the upward movement of the catcher 34 is terminated, a query is made in step A15 to see whether or not the weight of the gift has been measured.
Thus it is decided whether or not the gift is firmly gripped by the catcher 34 by measuring the weight of the gift by the weight measuring device.
When the weight of the gift has been measured, a query is made in step A16 to see if there is any other satellite unit 3 in a gift acquisition presentation mode, which will be described later. When it is decided that there is no other satellite unit 3 in a gift acquisition presentation mode, a weight presentation is started in step A17.
When the weight presentation is started, a message, such as “Gift is acquired”, is superposed on a picture provided by the second camera 42 in step B4.
If it is decided in step A15 that the weight of the gift is not measured, the procedure jumps to step A18 and the weight of the gift is not measured.
If it is decided in step A16 that some other satellite unit 3 is in the gift acquisition presentation mode, the procedure jumps to step A18 and the weight presentation is not executed.
If it is decided in step A16 that some other satellite unit 3 is in the gift acquisition presentation mode, the procedure jumps to step A18, the weight presentation is not executed, the monitor 7 is moved to a position corresponding to the satellite unit 3 in the gift acquisition presentation mode and the monitor 7 displays the image of the said satellite unit 3. The said satellite unit 3 continues the image recording operation.
In step A18, the catcher 34 is moved to a position above the gift receiver 44.
A query is made in step A19 to see whether or not the weight of the gift is being measured. If measurement of the weight of the gift has been ended, i.e., if the catcher 34 has dropped the gift, weight direction is stopped in step A20 and the monitor 7 stops displaying a message, such as “Gift is acquired”, in step B5. Then, step A21 is executed.
If it is decided in step A19 that the weight of the gift is measured, a query is made in step A21 to see if the catcher 34 has approached a position above the gift receiver 44. Steps A19 and A21 are repeated until the catcher 34 approaches the position above the gift receiver 44.
If it is decided in step A21 that the catcher 34 has approached the position above the gift receiver 44, the operation of the second camera 42 is stopped and the operation of the first camera 35 is started in step A22 and the monitor 7 displays a live image provided by the first camera 35 and showing the condition of an area directly below the catcher in step B6.
If it is decided in step A23 that the catcher has arrived at the position above the gift receiver 44, the catcher 34 is stopped at the position above the gift receiver in step A24, and the gripping fingers 34 b are opened in step A25.
If the catcher 34 is grasping the gift, the opening of the gripping fingers 34 b drops the gift into the gift receiver 44.
At this stage, the monitor 7 displaying the live image provided by the first camera 35 displays a close-up picture of the gripped gift, a picture of the gripping fingers 34 b in opening operation, and a picture of the gift dropping into the gift receiver 44.
Thus the player can see a live picture of acquisition of the gift, can clearly recognize the acquisition of the gift and can feel a great satisfaction.
If the player fails in acquiring a gift, the player can see a picture of only the gift receiver 44 and feel a sense of futility. The sense of futility can give the player an incentive to try the game again.
A query is made in step A26 to see if a prize sensor, namely, an optical sensor capable of detecting a gift dropped into the gift receiver 44, has become on-state, namely, the prize sensor has detected any gift. If the prize sensor has not become on-state, i.e., if any gift has not been dropped into the gift receiver 44, the procedure goes to step A37. If the prize sensor has become on-state, i.e., if a gift has been dropped into the gift receiver 44, the procedure goes to step A27.
The procedure is suspended in step A27 for a predetermined time between about 0.5 and 1 second, and then the image recording operation which started in step A8 is terminated in step A28, the acquisition presentation mode is started in step A29, the operation of the first camera 35 is stopped in step A30, the procedure is suspended for a predetermined time in step A31, and then a commemorative picture photographing mode is started in step A32.
Upon the start of the acquisition presentation mode in step A29, the monitor 7 displays in step B7, a gift acquisition presentation image instead of the live image provided by the first camera 35.
The gift acquisition presentation image includes the recorded live images provided by the first camera 35 and the second camera 42. After the gift has been acquired, the monitor 7 operates to display recorded images showing a process in which the catcher 34 grasps the gift, a process in which the catcher 34 grasping the gift moves, and a process in which the gift is dropped into the gift receiver 44. Therefore, the player can see the process of acquiring the gift again and can feel a satisfaction.
After the recorded images have been displayed for a predetermined time, a commemorative picture taking mode is started and the monitor 7 displays an image for commemorative photography.
In the commemorative picture taking mode, a picture of the player is taken by the third camera 56 disposed at the center of the upper side of the monitor 7. A commemorative picture displayed by the monitor 7 is a picture of the player and a description of the picture.
A query is made in step A33 to see if the shutter has been operated. If the response to the query in step A33 is negative, the procedure is suspended for a time limit in step A34.
A decision is made as to whether or not the shutter is operated within the time limit in steps A33 and A34. When it is decided in step 34 that the shutter was not operated within the time limit, step A37 is executed. Step A35 is executed when it is decided in step A33 that the shutter was operated within the time limit.
When the shutter was operated within the time limit and the step A33 is executed, the third camera takes a still picture, and the monitor 7 displays, in step B9, a commemorative still picture of the player who succeeded in acquiring a gift and accepted taking the commemorative picture.
The commemorative picture may be printed and a printed commemorative picture may be given to the player.
After it is decided in step A36 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the catcher 34 is returned to its home position (HP) in step A37.
When it is decided in step A38 that the catcher 34 has arrived at the home position, an advertisement mode is started in step A39, and the monitor 7 displays an advertising image in step B10.
In the advertisement mode, the monitor 7 displays the recorded image showing a state in which the player acquired the gift in addition to the advertising image.
The monitor 7 displays the images respectively provided by the first camera 35 and the second camera 42 during the progress of the game properly and alternately. After the player has acquired the gift, the monitor 7 displays the recorded live images again. Thus the player can feel a great satisfaction.
The central unit 2 is provided with the single monitor 7, and the monitor 7 is moved along a circular path to locate the monitor 7 opposite to one of the satellite units 3. A monitor movement control procedure will be described with reference to a flow chart shown in FIG. 12.
A main switch is closed in step D1. A query is made in step D2 to see if a first credit has occurred in any one of the six satellite units 3. When it is decided in step D2 that the first credit has occurred, a query is made in step D3 to see whether or not the monitor 7 is located opposite to the satellite unit 3 in which the first credit has occurred. Step D5 is executed if the response to the query in step D3 is affirmative. Step D4 is executed if the response to the query in step D3 is negative. In step D4, the monitor 7 is moved to and located opposite to the satellite unit 3 where the first credit occurred, and then step D5 is executed.
A query is made in step D5 to see if the main switch is opened. The monitor movement control procedure is ended if the main switch is opened. If the main switch is not opened, step D6 is executed.
Detection of the acquisition presentation mode is executed with in step D6 with all the six satellite units 3. If the acquisition presentation mode is not detected, detection of the weight measuring state is executed with the six satellite units 3 in step D7. If the weight measuring state is not detected, the procedure returns to step D5.
A loop of steps D5, D6 and D7 is repeated to find out the satellite unit 3 that has become the acquisition presentation mode first or the satellite unit 3 that has become the weight measuring state first.
When it is decided in step D6 that the acquisition presentation mode is detected, the monitor 7 is moved to the satellite unit 3 that has become the acquisition presentation mode in step D8, and then the procedure returns to step D5.
If the monitor 7 has been previously located at the satellite unit 3 that has become the acquisition presentation mode, the monitor 7 is not moved.
When a weight measuring state is detected in step D7, the procedure goes to step D9 and the monitor 7 is moved to and located at the satellite unit 3 in the weight measuring state. Then, the procedure returns to step D5.
If the monitor 7 is at the satellite unit 3 in the weight measuring state, the monitor 7 is not moved.
The acquisition presentation mode has priority over the weight measuring state. Even if some satellite unit 3 is in the weight measuring state and a loop of steps D5, D6, D7 and D9 is repeated, the procedure goes from step D6 to step D8 if another satellite unit 3 goes to the acquisition presentation mode earlier, and the monitor 7 is moved preferentially to the satellite unit 3 in the acquisition direction mode.
The satellite unit 3 in which the acquisition presentation mode is detected and to which the monitor 7 is moved, the monitor 7 displays a recorded live image of the same satellite unit 3 (step B4, FIG. 11), and then steps B8 and B9 are executed.
In the satellite unit 3 in which the weight measuring state is detected and to which the monitor 7 has been moved, weight measurement is carried out, the monitor 7 displays the weight presentation in step B4, and step B6 and the following steps are executed.
The monitor 7 is moved to the satellite unit 3 where the player acquires a gift earliest in the acquisition presentation mode. The order of priority is the acquisition presentation mode and then the weight measuring state. Thus, the monitor 7 can display an image of the most exciting moment of gift acquisition to live up the game and to make the player enjoy the game greatly.
An image of the satellite unit 3 other than the satellite unit 3 at which the monitor 7 is located is recorded upon the end of the operation of the control buttons 37 and 38 in addition to the image of the satellite unit 3 at which the display is located.
When the number of the recording device is less than that of the satellite units 6, namely, six, and is, for example four, the images of the earlier four satellites 3 are recorded.
The gift acquisition game machine 1 in this embodiment carries out the foregoing operations and has the following additional effects.
The turntable 6 turns, the monitor 7 can be moved along a circular path, the gift baskets 8 can turn together with the turntable 6 and the gift baskets 8 are vertically movable. Consequently, the demonstrative effect of the gift acquisition game machine 1 is enhanced.
The six satellite units 3 having a shape resembling a rectangular solid are arranged around the central unit 2, each of the gift receiving units 10 having a sectorial cross section is disposed between adjacent ones of the satellite units 3, and the gift receivers 44 are placed in the gift receiving units 10, respectively. Therefore, the fixed transverse guide rail 31 of the overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machine 30 can be extended to the gift receiving unit 10, and the bottom surfaces of all the satellite units 3 having a shape resembling a rectangular solid can be extended to the gift placing area.
Only the partition plate 49 of a low height is interposed between the gift receiving unit 10 and the satellite unit 3 on the left side of the same gift receiving unit 10. Therefore, even if the movable longitudinal guide rail 32 of the overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machine 30 on the right-hand side approaches the movable longitudinal guide rail 32 of the overhead traveling crane type gift acquiring machine 30 on the left-hand side moved to the right end of the fixed transverse guide rail 31 as shown in FIG. 4, those movable longitudinal guide rails 32 do not collide against each other and hence a gift can be dropped into the gift receiver 44 without obstruction.
An end part of the door 16 of the satellite unit 3 can advance into the adjacent gift receiving unit 10. Therefore, gifts can be smoothly inserted into and taken out from the right half of the gift exhibiting space A by moving the door 16 to the left, and gifts can be smoothly inserted into and taken out from the left half of the gift exhibiting space A by moving the door 16 to the right
Although the satellite units 3 and the gift receiving units 10 of this embodiment are formed separately, the satellite unit 3 and the gift receiving unit 10 may be integrated in a unit by joining the gift receiving unit 10 to the left side of the satellite unit 3.

Claims

1. A gift acquisition game machine having a gift acquiring machine disposed in a gift exhibiting space to be operated by a player and driven for acquiring a gift to carry the gift to a gift outlet, said gift acquisition game machine comprising:

a gift acquiring condition monitoring camera for providing an image representing a gift acquiring condition;

a player monitoring camera for providing an image of the player;

image recording means for recording images provided by at least one of said cameras; and

an image display device for displaying images provided by said cameras or images recorded by the image recording means.

2. The gift acquisition game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting acquisition of a gift, and a controller;

wherein the controller is operative to cause the player monitoring camera to provide an image of the player upon detection of a gift by the gift acquisition detecting means, to cause the image recording means to record the image of the player, and to cause the display means to display the image of the player recorded by the image recording means.

3. A gift acquisition game machine having a gift acquiring machine disposed in a gift exhibiting space to be operated by a player and driven for acquiring a gift to carry the gift to a gift outlet, said gift acquisition game machine comprising:

a first camera combined with the gift acquiring machine;

a second camera for providing an image showing the condition of the gift exhibiting space;

a third camera for providing an image of the player;

an image display device for displaying images provided by said cameras or the images recorded by the image recording means.

4. The gift acquisition game machine according to claim 3, further comprising: a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting acquisition of a gift; and a controller;

wherein the controller is operative to cause the third camera to provide an image of the player upon the detection of a gift by the gift acquisition detecting means, to cause the image recording means to record the image of the player, and to cause the display device to display the image of the player recorded by the image recording means.

5. A gift acquisition game machine having gift acquiring machines disposed respectively in gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for acquiring gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets, said gift acquisition game machine comprising:

a central unit disposed substantially in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine and including a rotary unit capable of turning in a horizontal plane;

plural satellite units arranged in a ring around the central unit and each having a gift exhibiting space in which gifts are placed;

each of said satellite units having an operating unit disposed such that a player can operate the operating unit to operate the associated gift acquiring machine looking at the gifts placed in the associated gift exhibiting space, a gift receiver for receiving a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine, a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine to drop the gift through the gift receiver; and

a controller for turning the rotary unit of the central unit upon detection of successful gift acquisition through detection of a gift dropping through the gift receiver.

6. A gift acquisition game machine having gift gripping machines disposed respectively in gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for gripping gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets, said gift acquisition game machine comprising:

a central unit disposed substantially in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine and including a rotary unit capable of turning in a horizontal plane, an image display device placed in the rotary unit, and a player monitoring camera for providing an image of a player;

plural satellite units arranged in a ring around the central unit; and

a controller;

wherein the player monitoring camera is disposed to photograph a player confronting one of the satellite units, each of the satellite units has a gift exhibiting space for exhibiting gifts and includes an operating unit disposed such that the player can operate the operating unit looking at gifts placed in the gift exhibiting space, a gift acquiring machine driven by the operating unit, a gift receiver for receiving a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine, and a gift acquisition detecting means for detecting a gift acquired by the gift acquiring machine and passing through the gift receiver, and

wherein the controller is operative to turn the rotary unit of the central unit upon detection of successful gift acquisition through detection of a gift dropping through the gift receiver, and the controller is operative to locate the image display device of the central unit so as to face the satellite unit where a player succeeded in acquiring a gift, to cause the player monitoring camera to photograph the player who succeeded in acquiring a gift at the same satellite unit, and to cause the image display device to display an image of the player who succeeded in acquiring the gift.

7. A gift acquisition game machine having gift gripping machines disposed respectively in gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for gripping gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets, said gift acquisition game machine comprising:

a central unit disposed substantially in a central part of the gift acquisition game machine and including a gift support unit and an image display device; and

plural satellite units arranged in a ring around the central unit;

wherein each of the satellite units has a box-shaped gift exhibiting space, a gift receiving space is provided adjacent to one of a right and a left side of the associated gift exhibiting space, a gift receiver is formed in the gift receiving space, an overhead traveling crane type gift acquisition machine is disposed in a top part of the associated gift exhibiting space, and the overhead traveling crane type gift acquisition machine includes a fixed transverse guide rail extended substantially parallel to an outer wall defining the gift exhibiting space, a movable longitudinal guide rail supported on the fixed transverse guide rail so as to be transversely movable, a lifting device held on the movable longitudinal guide rail so as to be longitudinally movable, and a gift gripping device held on the lifting device to grip a gift.

8. The gift acquisition game machine according to claim 7, further comprising: a door provided with a transparent plate and disposed on an outer surface of each of the gift exhibiting spaces so as to be transversely movable, and a locking device for locking the door so as to seal up an outer side of the gift exhibiting space.

9. The gift acquisition game machine according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the door is movable not only to the gift receiver attached to each of the satellite units, but also to a gift receiver attached to the satellite unit adjacent to the associated satellite unit.

10. A gift acquisition game machine having a gift acquiring machine disposed in a gift exhibiting space to be operated by a player and driven for acquiring a gift to carry the gift to a gift outlet, said gift acquisition game machine comprising:

a first camera combined with the gift acquiring machine;

a second camera for monitoring a condition of the gift exhibiting space;

an image recording means for recording images provided by the first and the second camera;

an image display device for displaying an image; and

a controller for controlling the first camera, the second camera and the image recording means to make the image display device display an image;

wherein the controller is operative to make the image display device display a live image of a scenery viewed from the gift acquiring machine provided by the first camera, a live image of the gift exhibiting space provided by the second camera, or an image recorded by the image recording means selectively according the progress of a game.

11. A gift acquisition game machine comprising:

a central unit;

plural satellite units arranged around the central unit, each having a gift exhibiting space; and

gift acquiring machines disposed respectively in the gift exhibiting spaces to be operated respectively by players and driven for acquiring gifts to carry the gifts to gift outlets;

wherein the central unit is provided with an image display device turnable by a moving device so as to face each of the satellite units, each satellite unit is provided with at least one camera for photographing the gift exhibiting space; and

wherein a controller is provided to control the moving device, the image display device and each camera so as to turn the image display device according to progress of a game in each satellite unit to locate the image display device to face desired one of the satellite units and to make the image display device display an image provided by the camera of the same satellite unit.

12. The gift acquisition game machine according to claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to choose a satellite unit in which the game is at a most advanced stage, and to turn the image display device to locate the same to face the same satellite unit.

13. The gift acquisition game machine according to claim 11 or 12, wherein each satellite unit is provided with an image recording means for recording an image provided by the camera, and the controller is operative to make the image display device display a live image provided by the camera or an image recorded by the image recording means.