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 launch-operation-active/inactive determination device configured to determine that the launching operation by the player as detected by said launching-operation detector is enabled at least until the predetermined time of play as counted by said playing-time counter has lapsed, and also to determine that the launching operation is disabled after the predetermined time of play has lapsed;
• a launching device configured to launch the playing balls toward the playfield, when said launch-operation-active/inactive determination device determines that the launching operation by the player is enabled, and when said launching-operation detector detects the launching operation;
• a special electrically-movable-win-hole device being variable between an opening state in which the playing balls readily enter a special win hole provided on the playfield and a closing state for making it difficult for the playing balls to enter the special win hole;
• a start-up hole detector configured to detect that one of the playing balls enters a start-up hole provided on the playfield;
• a special game determination device configured to determine whether or not to perform a special game in which said special electrically-movable-win-hole device is driven into the opening state under the condition that said start-up hole detector has detected that one of the playing balls enters;
• and
• a special game controller configured to perform the special game under the condition that said special game determination device has determined to perform the special game,
• wherein said launch-operation-active/inactive determination device determines that the launching operation by the player is always enabled while the special game controller performs the special game, even if the predetermined time of play as counted by said playing-time counter has lapsed.