Patent Publication Number: US-2023141714-A1

Title: Gaming Machine for Picking up at Least One Object, Comprising a Rail Structure Able to Move Over a Standing Zone

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Various embodiments in this document relate to a gaming machine for picking up at least one object, in particular a prize to be won, and subsequently moving the object through a playing zone to a dispensing zone. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A known gaming machine comprises:
         a housing having at least one sidewall enclosing the playing zone and the dispensing zone,   a rail structure arranged in the housing and extending in a first direction X,   a grabber attached to a carriage which is moveably attached to the rail structure, the carriage being configured to move in the first direction X along the rail structure, the grabber being configured to pick up the at least one object.       

     Such a known gaming machine is however not entirely satisfactory. When moving a joystick so that the carriage can move above an object to be picked up and the grabber, e.g. having a plurality of claws, can be lowered to pick the object up, a user generally stands in front of the housing. The housing is generally a rectangular cuboid having flat transparent walls separating the player from the objects. As such the user feels much detached from the objects. During the game, the player controls the game from a distance rather than experiencing an explorative interaction with the objects inside the housing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a gaming machine for picking up one or more object which gives its users a better experience when playing. In particular, one aim of the present disclosure is to give the users an immersive experience when trying to pick up their desired objects in the housing, while not significantly increasing the size of the gaming machine. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, it is provided a gaming machine comprising a housing, a rail structure, and a grabber. The housing has at least one sidewall enclosing the playing zone and the dispensing zone, and a roof, said sidewall and roof being configured such that a standing zone is created for a person below said roof at the exterior of the playing zone delimited by the at least one sidewall. The rail structure is arranged in the housing and extending in a first direction X, the rail structure being configured to move over said standing zone in a second direction Y at an angle to the first direction X. The grabber is attached to a carriage which is moveably attached to the rail structure, the carriage being configured to move in the first direction X along the rail structure, the grabber being configured to pick up the at least one object. 
     Thanks to these features the grabber can move beside the person in addition to being in front of him As such the person is more immersed in the gaming machine. In the meanwhile the size of the gaming machine is not significantly increased as the rail structure is able to move above a person. 
     The gaming machine according to the first aspect can also have one or several following features, according to all the technically possible combinations:
         the gaming machine comprises a control unit configured to control the movement of the carriage such that, when the rail structure is above the standing zone, the movement of the carriage along the rail structure is limited to an area delimited by the sidewall or avoided.       

     By limiting the movement of the carriage when a part of the rail structure is above the standing zone, the carriage and the grabber will not come into contact with the person in the standing zone. Thus the safety of the gaming machine user is improved.
         the aforementioned area delimited by the sidewall has a width lower than 1.5 metres in the first direction X.   the playing zone has a width greater than 1.5 metres in the first direction X.       

     By setting the width of the playing zone relatively large, and setting the width of the aforementioned zone delimited by the sidewall relatively low, the user can have an extensive vista over the playing zone while retaining a sufficient area in which he can move around. In this way he can observe exactly what is happening in the playing zone while not much restricted by the sidewall.
         the standing zone is located entirely below the roof.       

     This layout blocks most external disturbance from above when the user is standing in the playing zone. He can therefore concentrate on operating the gaming machine and avoid being distracted.
         the standing zone is partially limited by a portion of the at least one sidewall and the roof.   the standing zone has a projected area on the ground larger than 0.5 m 2 .       

     0.5 m 2  is generally enough for a user during the operation of the gaming machine. In some cases this area gives the user the freedom to move around in the standing zone during the operation of the gaming machine. Consequently the user is not constricted when operating the gaming machine.
         the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X.   the standing zone has a depth in the second direction Y greater than 0.4 metre, preferably greater than 0.5 metre.       

     By having a relatively deep standing zone, the gaming machine can improve the experience of the user during its operation. The user penetrate deep enough into the gaming machine; he is more immersed in the gaming machine when he operates it.
         in the dispensing zone the carriage is configured to move together with the rail structure in the second direction Y while being blocked on the rail structure in the first direction X.       

     According to this feature the carriage has no freedom of its own inside the dispensing zone. It can only be brought along by the rail structure in the second direction Y out of and/or into the dispensing zone. In this way risks of collision between the grabber and/or the carriage are much reduced. Also, when a grabber with a picked-up object bumps with the sidewall it may drop the picked-up object accidentally. By blocking the movement of the carriage in the first direction X while it is in the dispensing zone allows it to hold a picked-up object more firmly within its claw.
         the gaming machine comprises at least five sidewalls enclosing the playing zone and the dispensing zone, at least one sidewall of the at least five sidewalls delimiting the standing zone.   at least a portion of the at least one sidewall is transparent.       

     A partially transparent sidewall gives a user a better observation of what goes on inside the gaming machine.
         the gaming machine comprises an input unit configured to receive commands from a player for moving the grabber, wherein the input unit is located in the standing zone.       

     By placing the input unit in the standing zone, the player can remain in the standing zone throughout his operating of the gaming machine without having to leave the standing zone. Thus he can concentrate on operating the gaming machine without being distracted.
         the control unit is configured to move the carriage between the dispensing zone and the playing zone while ignoring commands from the input unit.       

     This enables the carriage to move according to pre-determined routes when moving between the dispensing zone and the playing zone. This can be particularly advantageous at the beginning of the game before the player is given free control of the carriage in the playing zone. This can be particularly advantageous towards the end of the game to move the carriage back to the dispensing zone from the playing zone, the grabber with or without an object picked up. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, it is provided a gaming machine comprising:
         a housing defining a standing zone for a player,   a rail structure extending in a first direction X, the rail structure being configured to move in a second direction Y at an angle to the first direction X,   a grabber attached to a carriage which is moveably attached to the rail structure, the carriage being configured to move in the first direction X along the rail structure, the grabber being configured to pick up the at least one object,   an input unit configured to be controlled by a player,   a control unit configured to,       

     during a pre-playing sequence during which a player cannot control a movement of the grabber through the input unit, move the rail structure from the dispensing zone to the playing zone over the standing zone; and 
     during a playing sequence, during which a player can control the movement of the grabber through the input unit, control a movement range of the rail structure in the second direction Y so that the grabber is not moved above the standing zone. 
     By allowing the rail structure to move over the standing zone during the pre-playing sequence and by preventing the rail structure to move over the standing zone during the playing sequence, the movement of the rail structure during the game is better controlled. There would be no risk that a grabber with an object picked up enters the standing zone and bumps into the player. During the playing sequence the rail structure can also avoid interference with the dispensing zone. 
     The gaming machine according to the second aspect can also have one or several following features, according to all the technically possible combinations:
         the control unit is configured such that the movement range of the carriage in the second direction Y, during the playing sequence, approximately equals to a maximum dimension of the playing zone in the second direction Y.       

     In this way in the playing zone the carriage allowed to move freely in both the first direction X and the second direction Y.
         the control unit is so configured that in the dispensing zone, the carriage is only allowed to move in the second direction Y.       

     The carriage with this feature has its movement in the first direction X blocked in the dispensing zone. In this manner the carriage can avoid colliding with the sidewall from the first direction.
         the housing has at least one sidewall enclosing the playing zone and the dispensing zone, and a roof, said sidewall and roof being configured such that the standing zone is created for a person below said roof at the exterior of the playing zone delimited by the at least one sidewall.   the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X.   the standing zone has a depth in the second direction Y greater than 0.4 metre, preferably greater than 0.5 metre.       

     Any feature of the first embodiment can be combined with any feature of the second embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and further aspects of the disclosure will be explained in more detail below on the basis of a number of embodiments, which will be described with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment, with the carriage and the grabber in the playing zone; 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of the gaming machine in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a top view of the gaming machine according to the first embodiment, with the carriage and the grabber this time in the dispensing zone; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of the gaming machine in  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the gaming machine in  FIG.  3    taken from a different angle from  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a simplified top view of a gaming machine according to another embodiment, the dispensing zone being located to the left of the standing zone; 
         FIG.  7 A  is a simplified top view of a gaming machine similar to the one in  FIG.  6   , the dispensing zone being located to the right of the standing zone; 
         FIG.  7 B  shows an alternative to the embodiment in  FIG.  7 A , the dispensing zone still being located to the right of the standing zone but having a different shape; 
         FIGS.  8  to  12    are simplified top views of the gaming machine according to other embodiments, the sidewalls having various shapes; 
         FIGS.  13 A to  13 D  show different steps in a method of using the gaming machine according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG.  1    shows a gaming machine  10  according to the first embodiment. The gaming machine  10  is configured to pick up at least one object  12 , in particular a prize to be won. Here, the at least one object  12  preferably comprises toys such as cuddly toys. 
     The gaming machine  10  comprises a housing  14 . The gaming machine  10  also comprises a rail structure  15 . The gaming machine  10  also comprises at least one guide rail  17 , typically two guide rails  17 , for guiding the rail structure  15 . The gaming machine  10  also comprises a carriage  18  and a grabber  20 . The gaming machine  10  also comprises a control unit  22 . 
     The housing  14  has at least one sidewall  24 . The at least one sidewall  24  encloses a playing zone  26  and a dispensing zone  28 . The gaming machine  10  is configured to move the objects  12  through the playing zone  26  to the dispensing zone  28 . The housing  14  also comprises a roof  30 . The roof  30  covers the at least one sidewall  24  at the top. The housing  14  also comprises a ceiling. The ceiling is located higher than the roof  30 . The rail structure  15  is for example able to move between the roof  30  and the ceiling, in particular when the rail structure  15  is at least in part located in the dispensing zone  28  and/or at least in part located above the standing zone  42  (see below for more details on the standing zone). The ceiling closes the playing zone  26  and the dispensing zone  28  from above. The ceiling is for example made of chipboard. As an alternative the ceiling is transparent. The ceiling is for example supported by a beam extending in the first direction X (see below for the details on the first direction X). This beam which supports the ceiling is for example made of metal. This beam which supports the ceiling is for example provided with at least one light, typically three lights, to illuminate the playing zone  26  and/or the dispensing zone  28 .Preferably the housing  14  also comprises a separation wall  32  partially separating the dispensing zone  28  from the playing zone  26 . The separation wall  32  defines with the ceiling a passage  33  between the playing zone  26  and the dispensing zone  28 . The passage  33  is configured to allow the carriage  18  and the grabber  20  to move between the playing zone  26  and the dispensing zone  28 . 
     According to one embodiment at least a portion of the at least one sidewall  24  is transparent. According to one embodiment at least one sidewall  24  is transparent. According to one embodiment each sidewall  24  delimiting the dispensing zone  28  is transparent. As such the player can see all that happens in the dispensing zone  28  during his play. According to one embodiment all the sidewalls  24  are transparent. 
     According to one embodiment at least part of the separation wall  32  is transparent, preferably the entire separation wall  32  is transparent. 
     In one embodiment as shown in the  FIG.  5   , at least part of the separation wall  32  is transparent and each sidewall  24  delimiting the dispensing zone  28  is also transparent. In this embodiment a player standing in front of the dispensing zone  28  in face of the separation wall  32  across the dispensing zone  28  can see the objects  12  in the playing zone  26  through the dispensing zone  28  across the separation wall  32 . In this way when standing in front of the dispensing zone  28  he can observe what happens in the dispensing zone  28  and across the separation wall  26 , what happens in the playing zone  26 . As such his experience in the game is even more immersive and is further improved. 
     Preferably all the sidewalls  24  have the same height. 
     According to the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the housing  14  comprises six sidewalls  24  enclosing an L-shaped space. This L-shaped space comprises the playing zone  26  and the dispensing zone  28 . 
     In particular, the sidewalls  24  are laid out as follows. This is for example according to the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5    where six sidewalls  24  enclose an L-shaped space. The six sidewalls  24  comprise a left wall  72  and a right wall  74 . The left wall  72  and the right wall  74  extend in the second direction Y and run approximately parallelly one to the other. 
     The six sidewalls  24  also comprise a back wall  76 , most visible in the  FIG.  5   . The back wall  76 , most visible in the  FIG.  5   , closes the left wall  72  and the right wall  74  at one end of the left wall  72  and at one end of the right wall  74 . The back wall  76  runs approximately in the first direction X. 
     The six sidewalls  24  also comprise a left front wall  80 . The left front wall  80  from the other end of the left wall  72  extends towards the right wall  74 . The left wall  72  connects the back wall  76  and the left front wall  80 . The left front wall  80  preferably runs in the first direction X. The left front wall  80  preferably runs parallel to the back wall  76 . The left front wall  80  in the embodiment of  FIGS.  1  to  5    does not reach the right wall  74 . 
     The six sidewalls  24  also comprise a right front wall  82 . The right front wall  82  extends from the other end of the right wall  74  opposite the end joining the back wall  76 . The right wall  74  connects the back wall  76  and the right front wall  82 . The right front wall  82  preferably runs in the first direction X. The right front wall  82  preferably runs parallel to the back wall  76 . The right front wall  82  in the embodiment of  FIGS.  1  to  5    does not reach the left wall  72 . The left wall  72 , the back wall  76 , the right wall  76 , and the right front wall  82 , and preferably also the separation wall  32  delimit the playing zone  26 . 
     The six sidewalls  24  also comprise an intermediate sidewall  84 . The intermediate sidewall  84  runs approximately in the second direction Y. The intermediate sidewall  84  runs from the left front wall  80 . The intermediate sidewall  84  runs towards the back wall  76 . For example, the intermediate sidewall  84  has one end joining the left front wall  80  and another end joining the right front wall  82 . The intermediate sidewall  84  runs approximately in parallel to the left wall  72  and/or to the right wall  74 . The intermediate sidewall  84  in the embodiment is placed between the left wall  72  and the right wall  74 . The left wall  72 , the left front wall  80 , and the intermediate sidewall  84 , and preferably also the separation wall  32  delimit the dispensing zone  28 . 
     The playing zone  26  is configured to contain the objects  12  to be picked up. According to the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the playing zone  26  is a rectangular cuboid. The playing zone  26  has a first width W 1  in a first direction X. The playing zone  26  has a first depth D 1  in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X. 
     According to one embodiment the first width W 1  of the playing zone  26  is greater than 1.5 metres in the first direction X, preferably greater than 2.3 metres, and more preferably between 2.3 metres and 2.7 metres. 
     Preferably the at least one sidewall  24  comprises an access door  34  to the playing zone  26 . The access door  34  typically forms a portion of the right front wall  82 . The access door  34  is configured to allow an operator to go from the outside of the housing  14  to the inside of the housing  14  across the assess door  34 . It for example has a height greater than 1.8 metres, preferably greater than 2 metres, more preferably approximately the same as the height of the sidewalls  24 . 
     According to the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the dispensing zone  28  has a second width W 2  in the first direction X. According to a preferred embodiment, the second width W 2  is strictly lower than the first width W 1 . The dispensing zone  28  has a second depth D 2  in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X. 
     According to one embodiment the second width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28  is greater than 0.7 metre in the first direction X, preferably greater than 0.8 metre, and more preferably between 0.9 metre and 1.2 metres. 
     According to one embodiment the ratio between the second width W 2  and the first width W 1  is greater than 0.2, preferably greater than 0.35. 
     The left wall  72  for example has the length of the sum of D 1  and D 2 , i.e. D 1 +D 2 . The right wall  74  for example has the length of D 1 . The back wall  76  for example has a length of W 1 . 
     The left front wall  80  for example has a length of W 2 . 
     The right front wall  82  for example has a length of the subtraction of W 2  from W 1 , i.e. W 1 -W 2 . 
     The intermediate sidewall  84  for example has a length of D 2 . 
     The dispensing zone  28  comprises a prize box  36 . The prize box  36  comprises at least a mouth  38  inside the housing  14 . The prize box  36  is configured to receive the object  12  which has been picked up by the grabber  20  and is to leave the gaming machine  10  when the grabber  20  opens above the mouth  38 . Preferably the mouth  38  comprises a flap (not shown on the Figures) able to close the mouth  38 . The dispensing zone  28  also comprises an object exit  40  on the sidewall  24 . The object exit  40  is in connexion with the mouth  38  so that the object  12  can pass from the mouth  38  to the object exit  40  before being collected by the user. The object exit  40  can preferably be locked such that the access to the prize box  36  via the object exit  40  is no longer possible. 
     The playing zone  26  has a first height H 1 . The dispensing zone  28  has a second height H 2 . According to one embodiment the first height H 1  of the playing zone  26  is approximately identical to the second height H 2  of the dispensing zone  28 . According to one embodiment the first height H 1  of the playing zone  26  and/or the second height H 2  of the dispensing zone  28  is about the same as the height of the at least one sidewall  24 . 
     According to the embodiment shown in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the roof  30  has an approximately rectangular shape. According to another embodiment not represented in the Figures, the roof  30  has a convex shape in the first direction X leading away from the playing zone  26 . The roof  30  thus has an increased projected area on the ground. This convex-shaped roof  30  covers a larger area on the ground and can therefore give the user a more immersive experience during the game. 
     The roof  30  is for example transparent. 
     According to one embodiment the roof  30  is provided with at least a light (not represented in the Figures). The light is for example able to illuminate its surroundings. According to one embodiment the light is configured to project light rays into the playing zone  26  and/or into the dispensing zone  28 . The light brightens up the playing zone  26  and/or the dispensing zone  28 . 
     The gaming machine  10  comprises at least a standing zone  42 . The standing zone  42  is configured to receive at least a user. The standing zone  42  is created by a portion of the sidewalls  24  and the roof  30 . Here, the standing zone  42  is delimited by the right front wall  82  and the intermediate sidewall  84 . The standing zone  42  is located below the roof  30 . The standing zone  42  is located at the exterior of the playing zone  26  delimited by a portion of the at least one sidewall  24 . The standing zone  42  is partially surrounded by a portion of the sidewalls  24 . 
     The standing zone  42  has a projected area on the ground larger than 0.5 m 2 , preferably larger than 0.6 m 2 , more preferably larger than 0.75 m 2 , still more preferably larger than 0.9 m 2 , and the most preferably between 0.9 m 2  and 2 m 2 . This gives the user enough space to move around in the standing zone  42 . 
     According to one embodiment, the standing zone  42  has a depth in the direction perpendicular to the first direction X greater than 0.4 metre, preferably greater than 0.5 metre, and more preferably between 0.5 metre and 1 metre. 
     According to one embodiment the standing zone  42  is located entirely below the roof  30 , as shown in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . According to one embodiment the standing zone  42  is partially delimited by a portion of the at least one sidewall  24 . In this embodiment the standing zone  42  is partially or wholly limited by the roof  30 . 
     According to one embodiment the standing zone  42  has substantially the same height as the sidewalls  24 . 
     The at least one guide rail  17  is configured to guide the rail structure  15  when the rail structure  15  is moved in the second direction Y. According to the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the guide rails  17  are located in the housing  14 . The gaming machine  10  for example comprises two guide rails  17  placed approximately parallel one to the other, for example along the left wall  72  and the right wall  74 . The rail structure  15  is configured to be placed between these two guide rails  17 . One of the two guide rails  17  is for example placed along the left wall  72 . The other one of the two guide rails  17  is for example placed along the right wall  74 . 
     The rail structure  15  is arranged in the housing  14 . The rail structure  15  extends in the first direction X. The rail structure  15  is configured to move in a second direction Y at an angle to the first direction X. According to a preferred embodiment, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X, as illustrated in the  FIGS.  2  and  3   . As such the depths D 1  and D 2  are measured in the second direction Y. Alternatively the second direction Y may not be perpendicular to the first direction X. The second direction Y can be at an angle for example of 85°, or 80°, or 75°, or 60° to the first direction X. 
     The rail structure  15  is configured to move over the standing zone  42 , as shown in the  FIG.  3   . When a part of the rail structure  15  is over the standing zone  42 , another part of the rail structure  15  is in the dispensing zone  28 . As such the carriage  18  and the grabber  20  can be located in the dispensing zone  28  when a part of the rail structure  15  is over the standing zone  42 , as will be explained below. It is also possible that when a part of the rail structure  15  is over the standing zone  42 , another part of the rail structure  15  is in the dispensing zone  28  and yet another part of the rail structure  15  is in the playing zone  26 , such as the case in the  FIGS.  7 A- 11   . 
     According to one embodiment, the rail structure  15  comprises two rails  16  running approximately parallel one to another. 
     The carriage  18  is moveably attached to the rail structure  15 . The carriage  18  is able to move along the rail structure  15  in the first direction X. The rail structure  15  is configured to guide the movement of the carriage  18  in the first direction X. An example of the carriage  18  is described in detail in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,238 B2 which is incorporated in this application in entirety by reference. 
     In the embodiments of the  FIGS.  1  to  5    the carriage  18  is moveably attached to the two rails  16 . In particular, as visible in the  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the carriage  18  comprises four wheels  44  configured to move along the rails  16 . Two of the four wheels  44  are configured to move along one of the two rails  16  and the other two of the four wheels  44  are configured to move along the other of the two rails  16 . 
     The grabber  20  is attached to the carriage  18 . The grabber  20  is able to move in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X and to the second direction Y. In the normal operating condition of the gaming machine  10 , this means the vertical direction, i.e. the grabber  20  is able to move upwards and downwards. It is moveable between an upper position and a lower position. The distance between the carriage  18  and the grabber  20  when the grabber  20  is in its upper position is smaller than the distance between the carriage  18  and the grabber  20  when the grabber  20  is in its lower position. As such the grabber  20  can approach and move away from the objects  12  not yet grabbed by it. The grabber  20  is able to open its claw and close its claw. When the grabber  20  is in the lower position and opens its claw, the claw can surround at least one object  12 . When the grabber  20  is in the lower position and closes its claw, the claw can get hold of the object  12  surrounded by its claw. The grabber  20  then typically moves upwards with the picked-up object  12  within its claw. 
     The grabber  20  is configured to pick up the object  12 , for example from the playing zone  26 . The grabber  20  is configured to release the object  12  which has been picked up in the dispensing zone  28 . Preferably the grabber  20  is configured to release the picked-up object  12  above the mouth  38  of the dispensing zone  28 . An example of the grabber  20  is described in detail in the patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,238 B2 which is incorporated in this application in entirety. Another example of the grabber  20  is described in detail in EP 1 322 389 A1 which is also incorporated in this application in entirety. 
     According to one embodiment the grabber  20  is able to move across the entirety of the first width W 1  and/or the entirety of the second width W 2 . In a variant the grabber  20  is able to move across only a part of the first width W 1  and/or only a part of the second width W 2 . 
     The gaming machine  10  comprises an input unit  48 . The input unit  48  is configured to receive commands from a user for moving the grabber  20 . Preferably the input unit  48  is also configured to receive commands from a user for moving the carriage  18  along the rail structure  15 . Preferably the input unit  48  is also configured to move the rail structure  15  in the second direction Y, the carriage  18  being carried by the rail structure  15  and moving consequently in the second direction Y as well. 
     According to one embodiment as illustrated in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the input unit  48  is located in the standing zone  42 . The input unit  48  is for example fixed to the sidewall  24 . According to one embodiment the input unit  48  is located approximately in the middle of the width of the standing zone  42 . According to another embodiment the input unit  48  is located in the right half or in the left half in the width of the standing zone  42 . 
     The input unit  48  for example comprises a first joystick (not represented on the Figures) able to receive commands from the user to move the carriage  18  in the first direction X along the rail structure  15 . Preferably the first joystick is also configured to receive commands from the user to move the rail structure  15  in the second direction Y. 
     As an alternative, the input unit  48  comprises a ‘left’ button and a ‘right’ button (not represented on the Figures) able to receive commands from the user to move the carriage  18  in the first direction X along the rail structure  15 , from the right to the left and from the left to the right respectively. The input unit  48  may comprises a ‘front’ button and a ‘back’ button (not represented on the Figures) to receive commands from the user to move the rail structure  15  in the second direction Y along the guide rail  17 , from the back to the front and from the front to the back respectively. 
     According to one embodiment the input unit  48  also comprises a ‘down’ button (not represented on the Figures) able to receive commands from the user to move the grabber  20  from the upper position to the lower position in the vertical direction. The vertical direction is perpendicular to the first direction X and to the second direction Y. 
     According to the embodiment where the gaming machine  10  comprises an access door  34 , the input unit  48  is for example fixed to the access door  34 . 
     The control unit  22  is configured to control the movement of the carriage  18  such that, when the rail structure  15  is above the standing zone  42 , the movement of the carriage  18  along the rail structure  15  is limited to an area, for example to an area delimited by the sidewall  24 . This area delimited by the sidewall  24  has for example a width smaller than 1.5 metres in the first direction X. According to one embodiment the area limited by the sidewall  24  comprises the dispensing area  28 . In addition or as an alternative the area limited by the sidewall  24  comprises the playing area  26 , such as the case in the  FIGS.  7 A to  11   . According to another embodiment the control unit  22  is configured to control the movement of the carriage  18  such that, when the rail structure  15  is above the standing zone  42 , the movement of the carriage  18  along the rail structure  15  is limited to an area smaller than the area delimited by the sidewall  24 . According to another embodiment, the control unit  22  is configured to control the movement of the carriage  18  such that, when the rail structure  15  is above the standing zone  42 , the movement of the carriage  18  along the rail structure  15  is completely blocked on the rail structure  15 . 
     According to one embodiment the control unit  22  is so configured that the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X in the dispensing zone  28  is more restricted than the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X in the playing zone  26 . 
     According to one embodiment, the control unit  22  is configured to control the movement of the carriage  18  and/or the grabber  20  in the dispensing zone  28 . This means that when the carriage  18  and/or the grabber  20  is in the dispensing zone  28 , its/their movement is only controlled by the control unit  22 . In particular, according to this embodiment when the carriage  18  and/or the grabber  20  is in the dispensing zone  28 , the input unit  48  cannot control its/their movement. The control unit  22  in this case ignores commands from the input unit  48 . Here, the movement of the carriage  18  and/or of the grabber  20  in the dispensing zone  28  means the movement in the first direction X and in the second direction Y within the dispensing zone  28 . The movement of the grabber  20  can also include the meaning of moving upwards and/or moving downwards and/or opening its claw and/or closing its claw. 
     According to one embodiment, the movement range of the carriage  18  is limited in the second direction Y approximately to the depth D 2  of the playing zone  26  in the second direction Y. This is to say, the control unit  22  is able to limit the movement of the carriage  18  to the playing zone  26  and to keep it outside the dispensing zone  28 . 
     According to one embodiment, the control unit  22  is configured to block the movement of the carriage  18  in the first direction X based on the location of the rail structure  15  in the second direction Y. For example, the control unit  22  is able to block the movement of the carriage  18  in the first direction X when the rail structure  15  is located in a second range in the second direction Y. The second range in the second direction Y here for example corresponds to the depth D 2  of the dispensing zone  28  in the second direction Y. According to one embodiment, the control unit  22  is so configured that in the dispensing zone  28 , the carriage  18  is only allowed to move in the second direction Y but not in the first direction X along the rail structure  15 . 
     According to one embodiment, the control unit  22  is configured to control the movement of the carriage  18  and/or the grabber  20  once the grabber  20  has reached the lower position. As such once the grabber  20  reaches the lower position the user will no longer have any control over the carriage  18  and/or the grabber  20 . Once reaching its lower position the control unit  22  is configured to close the claw of the grabber  20 , no matter whether an object  12  is within its claw or not, then to move upwards towards the upper position of the grabber  20  under the control of the control unit  22  while ignoring any other controls, in particular ignoring any control from the input unit  48 . 
     According to one embodiment the control unit  22  is configured to move the carriage  18  in the playing zone  26  to the dispensing zone  28  after the grabber  20  had reached the lower position and a grabbing action has been carried out. This embodiment is preferably combined with the possibility that the control unit  22  is configured to control the movement of the grabber  20  once the grabber  20  has reached the lower position. As such once the grabber  18  reaches the lower position the control unit  22  is configured to control the carriage  18  and the grabber  20  until both reach the dispensing zone  28 . 
     As a concrete example, when the rail structure  15  is located in a first range in the second direction Y, the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X is RX 1 . This movement range RX 1  of the carriage  18  is for example greater than 1.5 metres, preferably greater than 1.8 metres, and more preferably greater than 2.1 metres. When the rail structure  15  is located in a second range in the second direction Y, the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X is RX 2 . This movement range RX 2  of the carriage  18  is for example less than 1.5 metres, preferably less than 1.2 metres, and more preferably less than 1 metre. 
     According to one embodiment, when the rail structure  15  is located in the first range in the second direction Y the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X RX 1  is approximately the whole width W 1  of the playing zone  26 . When the rail structure  15  is located in the second range in the second direction Y the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X RX 2  is approximately the whole width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28 . The first range in the second direction Y is for example the first depth D 1 . The second range in the second direction Y is for example the second depth D 2 . 
     According to one embodiment when the rail structure  15  is located in the second range in the second direction Y, the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X RX 2  is approximately zero. As an example of this embodiment, when the carriage  18  is in the dispensing zone  28  the carriage  18  is configured to move together with the rail structure  15  in the second direction Y while being blocked on the rail structure  15  in the first direction X by the control unit  22 . 
     According to one embodiment the control unit  22  is so configured that the carriage  18  is able to move across only a part of the length of the rail structure  15  in the dispensing zone  28  due to the limitation imposed by the control unit  22 . 
     According to one embodiment once the control unit  22  receives a starting signal at the beginning of the game, the control unit  22  is configured to move the carriage  18  from the dispensing zone  28  to the playing zone  26 . This moving is preferably controlled only by the control unit  22  while ignoring any other external controls, in particular ignoring any control from the input unit  48 . 
     Turning to the  FIG.  6   , this Figure illustrates one variant of the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Compared with the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the sidewalls  24  in the embodiment of  FIG.  6    no longer comprise the right front wall or the intermediate sidewall. Instead, in this embodiment the housing  14  comprises five sidewalls  24  enclosing the playing zone  26  and the dispensing zone  28 . Amongst the sidewalls  24  there is an oblique sidewall  86  delimiting the standing zone  42 . The oblique sidewall  86  may be approximately flat. The oblique sidewall  86  connects the right wall  74  to the left front wall  80 . The dispensing zone  28  is located to the left of the standing zone  42 . 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  6    are identical to those in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
       FIG.  7 A  shows another embodiment. Compared with the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the sidewalls  24  no longer comprises a left front wall, or a right front wall, or an intermediate sidewall. Instead, in this embodiment the housing  14  comprises four sidewalls  24  enclosing the playing zone  26  and the dispensing zone  28 . The area enclosed by the four sidewalls  24  has for example the shape of a trapezium. The sidewalls  24  comprise an oblique sidewall  86  delimiting the standing zone  42 . The oblique sidewall  86  may be approximately flat. The oblique sidewall  86  connects the left wall  72  to the right wall  74 . According to one embodiment the oblique sidewall  86  connects one end of the left wall  72  to one end of the right wall  74 . The dispensing zone  28  is located to the right of the standing zone  42 . The left wall  72 , the back wall  76 , and the right wall  74  delimit the playing zone  26 . The oblique sidewall  86  and the right wall  74  delimit the dispensing zone  28 . The roof  30  extends at least partially over the standing zone  42 , preferably over the entirety of the standing zone  42 . 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  7 A  are identical to those in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
       FIG.  7 B  shows another embodiment. Compared with the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the sidewalls  24  in the embodiment of  FIG.  7 B  no longer comprise the left front wall or the intermediate sidewall. Instead, in this embodiment the housing  14  comprises five sidewalls  24  enclosing the playing zone  26  and the dispensing zone  28 . Amongst the sidewalls  24  there is an oblique sidewall  86  delimiting the standing zone  42 . The oblique sidewall  86  may be approximately flat. The oblique sidewall  86  connects the left wall  72  to the right front wall  82 . The dispensing zone  28  is located to the right of the standing zone  42 . The left wall  72 , the back wall  76 , the right wall  74 , and preferably the oblique sidewall  86  as shown in the  FIG.  6    delimit the playing zone  26 . 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  7 B  are identical to those in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
       FIG.  8    shows another embodiment. Compared with the embodiment in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   , the embodiment in the  FIG.  8    no longer comprises a single right front wall  82  connecting the intermediate sidewall  84  and the right wall  74 . Instead, in this embodiment the standing zone  42  has an entrance  52  and an interior  54 . Here the standing zone  42  has an approximately rectangular shape. The interior  54  is delimited by three sidewalls  24 . The fourth side of the standing zone  42  is the entrance  52  configured to allow a user to enter the interior  54  of the standing zone  42  and/or to exit the interior  54  of the standing zone  42 . 
     According to the embodiment represented in the  FIG.  8    the housing  14  defines a first sub-zone  58  on the left of the standing zone  42  and a second sub-zone  60  on the right of the standing zone  42  in the first direction X. According to one layout under this embodiment, the first sub-zone  58  comprises the dispensing zone  28 . The playing zone  26  comprises the second sub-zone  60 . As such when a user is in the standing zone  42 , he can see on his right the objects  12  to be picked up and on his left the distribution of the object  12  which has been picked up. As such he feels surrounded by the objects  12 . His experience with the game is much improved. 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  8    are identical to those in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
       FIG.  9    shows another embodiment similar to the one in the  FIG.  8   . Here the standing zone  42  has a triangular shape. The interior  54  is delimited by two sidewalls  24  forming two edges of the standing zone  42 . The third side of the standing zone  42  is the entrance  52  configured to allow a user to enter the interior  54  of the standing zone  42  and/or to exit the interior  54  of the standing zone  42 . The dispensing zone  28  is located to the left or to the right of the standing zone  42 . 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  9    are identical to those in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
       FIG.  10    shows another embodiment similar to the one in the  FIG.  8   . Here the standing zone  42  has a semi-circular shape. The interior  54  is delimited by one sidewall  24  forming the arc of the standing zone  42 . The diameter of the semi-circle is the entrance  52  configured to allow a user to enter the interior  54  of the standing zone  42  and/or to exit the interior  54  of the standing zone  42 . The dispensing zone  28  is located to the left or to the right of the standing zone  42 . 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  10    are identical to those in the  FIG.  9   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5  and  9   . 
       FIG.  11    shows another embodiment similar to the one in the  FIG.  8   . Here the entrance  52  of the standing zone  42  has a width in the first direction X strictly lower than or equal to the minimal width of the interior  54  of the standing zone  42  in the first direction X. The dispensing zone  28  is for example located to the left of the standing zone  42 . 
     Thanks to this embodiment the user will feel even more surrounded by the objects  12  in the housing  14  due to the restricted entrance  52 . His experience in the game is further enhanced. 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  10    are identical to those in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
       FIG.  12    shows yet another embodiment similar to the one in the  FIG.  8   . According to this embodiment the housing  14  comprises only one sidewall  24 . The sidewall  24  is continuous without any angle on it. According to this embodiment the sidewall  24  comprises at least one concave part delimiting the standing zone  42 . 
     Other elements in the  FIG.  12    are identical to those in the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . Their features are already described in relation to the  FIGS.  1  to  5   . 
     In all the embodiments in the  FIGS.  6  to  12    the dispensing zone  28  is shown to be located to the left of the standing zone  42  in the first direction X. Alternatively the dispensing zone  28  can located to the right of the standing zone  42  in the first direction X. 
     The method of operating the gaming machine according to the embodiments in the  FIGS.  1  to  5    will now be briefly described in reference to the  FIGS.  13 A to  13 D . 
     Before the start of the game, as shown in the  FIG.  13 A , the default position of the carriage  18  is in the dispensing zone  28 . The grabber  20  is in the upper position, with its claw open. 
     When a user wants to play the gaming machine  10 , he puts enough credit into the gaming machine  10 . This is for example carried out by putting enough coins through a slot. 
     Once the gaming machine  10  confirms that it received sufficient credit for starting the game, it activates the carriage  18 . The  FIG.  13 B  shows the pre-playing sequence. As illustrated in the  FIG.  13 B , the control unit  22  moves the carriage  18  out of the dispensing zone  28  into the playing zone  26 . During the pre-playing sequence the rail structure  15  for example is moved over the standing zone  42 . According to a preferred embodiment the control unit  22  moves the carriage  18  in the second direction Y into the playing zone  26  without any movement of the carriage  18  in the first direction X. According to another embodiment when the control unit  22  moves the carriage  18  from the dispensing zone  28  into the playing zone  26  the control unit  22  moves the carriage  18  in both the first direction X and in the second direction Y. The movements in the first direction X and in the second direction Y is for example are carried out in a pre-determined order. In another embodiment the control unit  22  moves the carriage  18  in the first direction X into the playing zone  26  without any movement in the second direction Y. When at the start of the game the movement of the carriage  18  and of the grabber  20  is preferably only controlled by the control unit  22 . 
     According to one embodiment the control unit  22  is configured to move the carriage  18  between the dispensing zone  28  and the playing zone  26  while ignoring commands from the input unit  48 . This is to say that during the pre-playing sequence the player cannot control the movement of rail structure  15  and/or the grabber  20  through the input unit  48 . 
     According to an alternative, the carriage  18  is moved from the dispensing zone  28  to the playing zone  26  by the control from the input unit  48 . During this moving the control unit  22  limits the movement of the carriage  18  in the first direction X. According to one embodiment the movement of the carriage  18  along the rail structure  15  in the first direction X is limited to an area delimited by the sidewall  24 , for example limited to the width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28 , or to less than 75% of the width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28 , or to less than 50% of the width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28 , or to less than 30% of the width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28 , or to less than 25% of the width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28 , or to less than 10% of the width W 2  of the dispensing zone  28 . According to one embodiment the carriage  18  moves through the dispensing zone  28  the carriage  18  is blocked on the rail structure  15  without any freedom to move along the rail structure  15  in the first direction X. The carriage  18  in this embodiment is brought out of the dispensing zone  28  only in the second direction Y by the rail structure  15 . 
     Once in the playing zone  26  the control unit  22  no longer imposes any control on the movement range of the carriage  18  in the first direction X. The  FIG.  13 C  shows the playing sequence. As shown in the  FIG.  13 C , the carriage  18  can therefore move along the whole length of the rail structure  15 . The control on the movement of the carriage  18  in the first direction X and in the second direction Y is typically given by the user through the input unit  48 , for example through the first joystick. For example, the user moves the joystick to move the carriage  18  in the first direction X and in the second direction Y until the carriage  18  is approximately above the object  12  that the user wants to pick up. During the playing sequence a player can control the movement of the rail structure  15  and/or of the grabber  20  through the input unit  48 . 
     During the playing sequence the control unit  22  controls the movement range of the rail structure  15  in the second direction Y so that the grabber  20  is not moved above the standing zone  42 . The rail structure  15  for example moves within the playing zone  26  during the playing sequence. 
     According to one embodiment the control unit  22  is configured such that the movement range of the carriage  18  in the second direction Y, during the playing sequence, approximately equals to the maximal dimension of the playing zone  26  in the second direction Y. This maximal dimension is for example the first depth D 1 . 
     Also in the playing zone  26  the user controls the grabber  20  through the input unit  48 . For example the user moves the grabber  20  from the upper position to the lower position through the input unit  48 . According to one embodiment when the grabber  20  is in the lower position the user closes the claw of the grabber  20  through the input unit  48 . As an alternative once the grabber  20  reaches the lower position the control unit  22  automatically closes the claw of the grabber  20  without any additional input from the user. 
     According to another embodiment the control unit  22  limits the length of time during which the user can move the carriage  18 . This means after a certain duration the grabber  20  automatically moves to its lower position and closes its claw. 
     After the grabber  20  closes its claw, the user can no longer control the movement of the carriage  18  and that of the grabber  20 . The gaming machine  10  then carries out the post-playing sequence, as shown in the  FIG.  13 D . After the grabber  20  closes its claw it moves to the upper position automatically no matter how the user handles the input unit  48 . The carriage  18  with the grabber  20  then moves from the playing zone  26  to the dispensing zone  28  automatically whatever the control from the user, as shown in the  FIG.  13 D . Put in another way, when towards the end of the game the movement of the carriage  18  and of the grabber  20  from the playing zone  26  into the dispensing zone  28  is only controlled by the control unit  22 . 
     In one embodiment the return from the playing zone  26  to the dispensing zone  28  follows the same route when the carriage  18  leaves the dispensing zone  28  when the game had started, this time in the other direction. 
     When the carriage  18  returns to the dispensing zone  28  the carriage  18  moves above the mouth  38 . The claw of the grabber  20  then opens. There are then two possibilities depending on whether an object  12  had been picked up. Under the possibility that no object  12  had been picked up, no object will be released from the open claw. The game ends. 
     Another possibility is that the user has successfully picked up an object  12 . When the claw opens the picked-up object  12  drops through the mouth  38  into the prize box  36 . At least one sensor (not represented in the Figures) in the prize box  36  detects the presence of an object  12  in the prize box  36 . The control unit  22  then closes the mouth  38  for example via the flap. As such the prize box  36  is separated from the rest of the gaming machine  10 , in particular from the playing zone  26 . After the mouth  38  is closed the control unit  22  unlocks the object exit  40 . The user can then open the object exit  40  and retrieve the object  12  from the prize box  36 . 
     After the object  12  is retrieved the control unit  22  checks whether any unexpected item remains in the prize box  36 . This in particular avoids the situation where a person crawled into the prize box  36  through the unlocked object exit  40 . Once the control unit  22  decides that the prize box  36  is empty it locks the object exit  40  and opens the mouth  38  again. The playing zone  26  is again in communication with the prize box  36 . 
     In this way the gaming machine  10  returns to its default state. Once it receives enough credit the game can begin all over again. As an alternative, if there is still enough credit in the gaming machine  10  the game begins all over again, for example by the carriage  18  leaving the dispensing zone  28  for the playing zone  26 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the gaming machine according to the invention as described in the foregoing. The scope of the invention is solely determined by the appended claims.