Mechanical reels with interactive display

Abstract

Systems for enhancing a mechanical reel game are disclosed. In one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a video screen having a touch screen, and a set of mechanical reels positioned behind the video screen. A user interface is displayed on the video screen and is configured to receive user input to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels. The video screen then displays the mechanical reels in the rearranged order.

1 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a display area having a video screen, and the video screen including a touch screen;   a set of mechanical reels positioned behind the video screen;   one or more stepper motors operatively coupled to the mechanical reels, wherein the stepper motors independently spin each reel;   a game controller operatively connected to the stepper motors, the game controller generates a game outcome and determines a spin duration for each of the mechanical reels; and   a user interface displayed on the video screen and configured to receive user input to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels, and wherein the video screen displays the mechanical reels in the rearranged order.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a reel control unit in communication with the one or more stepper motors and the game controller. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a bonus game feature provided on the video screen. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the bonus game feature comprises a dynamic bonus payline that changes with each spin of the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 3 , wherein the bonus game feature comprises a mystery multiplier. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface receives user input to stop the spinning of one or more particular mechanical reels. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface receives user input to rearrange the placement of one or more symbols on at least one of the mechanical reels, and the resulting rearrangement is displayed on the video screen. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the video screen is configured to display one or more virtual reels to be played in conjunction with the mechanical reels during a game. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , the game outcome generates one or more paylines on the video screen for use in conjunction with the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a network connection to a back end system, wherein data sent from the back end system is downloaded to the gaming machine for use by the video screen. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming machine, comprising:
 a display area having a video screen, and the video screen including a touch screen;   a set of mechanical reels positioned behind the video screen;   one or more stepper motors operatively coupled to the mechanical reels, wherein the stepper motors independently spin each reel;   a game controller operatively connected to the stepper motors, the game controller generates a game outcome and determines a spin duration for each of the mechanical reels; and   a user interface displayed on the video screen configured to receive user input to rearrange the placement of one or more symbols on at least one mechanical reel, and wherein the video screen displays the mechanical reels and the rearranged symbols.   
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , further comprising a reel control unit in communication with the one or more stepper motors and the game controller. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a bonus game feature provided on the video screen. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein the bonus game feature comprises a dynamic bonus payline that changes with each spin of the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 13 , wherein the bonus game feature comprises a mystery multiplier. 
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface receives user input to stop the spinning of one or more particular mechanical reels. 
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface receives user input to rearrange the placement order of the mechanical reels, and wherein the video screen displays the mechanical reels in the rearranged order. 
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , wherein the video screen is configured to display one or more virtual reels to be played in the conjunction with the mechanical reels during a game. 
   
   
       19 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , the game outcome generates one or more paylines on the video screen for use in conjunction with the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       20 . The gaming machine of  claim 11 , further comprising a network connection to a back end system, wherein data sent from the back end system is downloaded to the gaming machine for use by the video screen.