If you have a close look under Gene's chin, you can see a black disk.
Earlier in this thread, there was talk of "spinning disks" under Gene. It is looking like this is a Tron pinball disks feature. If so, there will be a smaller spinning disk inside the outer disk, just visible in this photo. The way that feature would work is it will randomly through the ball about under Gene's head, and it will either be thrown to the back where the captured ball hole is, or it will be thrown back out at a random time, direction and speed.
It's a pity that the Gene's head gets in the way of being able to see the ball being thrown about - it was great watching that action on Tron (more so as the player rather than spectator). I'm wondering if during the concept design phase the cape extending Gene's head may have been intended to be a hinge that would lift Gene's head when the disks are spinning. A lifting Gene head is not a listed feature, and it couldn't work as Gene's tongue would hit the wire ramp, if lifted.
