Game machine for playing a game with playing balls

A game machine, comprising:

• a game board provided with a playfield on which playing balls cascade downward;
• a launching-operation detector configured to detect a launching operation by a player to start launching the playing balls;
• an inserted-medium detector configured to detect that a predetermined inserted-medium is received into the game machine;
• a playing-time counter configured to start to count a predetermined time of play when said inserted-medium detector detects that a predetermined inserted-medium is received;
• a one-game-play execution device configured to perform one game play, at least until the predetermined time of play as counted by said playing-time counter has lapsed, when said inserted-medium detector detects that the predetermined inserted-medium is received;
• a launching device configured to launch the playing balls toward the playfield when the launching operation by the player is detected by said launching-operation detector under the condition that the one game play is currently performed by said one-game-play execution device;
• a special electrically-movable-win-hole device being variable between an opened state in which the playing ball readily enters a special win hole provided on the playfield and a closed state for making it difficult for the playing ball to enter the special win hole;
• a start-up-hole detector configured to detect that the playing ball enters a start-up hole provided on the playfield;
• a special game determination device configured to determine whether or not to control a special game in which said special electrically-movable-win-hole device is driven into the opened state, when the start-up hole detector detects that the playing ball enters the start-up hole;
• a special game controller configured to control the special game under the condition that the special game determination device determines to control the special game;
• a game-information displaying device configured to display information related to game;
• a prize counter configured to count a number of prizes at which the special game controller controls the special game during performance of one game play by said one-game-play execution device;
• and
• a game-information controller configured to control said game-information displaying device to display game information indicating a number of prizes counted by said prize counter,
• wherein said one-round-play execution device continues the one game play, after the predetermined time of play as counted by said playing-time counter has lapsed, when the special game controller controls the special game.