Cool, sounds like pachinko game play, which gives that same sort of visceral “I’m doing something, albeit subject to the forces of nature” vibe. I didn’t get pachinko when I lived in Tokyo, it sort of gave off desperate gambling vibes, but once I actually stuck some yen in a machine and those balls started pissing out, I was hooked. Very fun! I won some dishwashing soap. ;)

I believe you are talking about Hyperball: https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=3169

I've been fortunate enough to come across it a couple times, it's pretty cool.