Mechanical reels with interactive display and related methods

Abstract

Methods for enhancing a mechanical reel game are disclosed. According to one method, a game is initiated by spinning a plurality of mechanical reels in response to a player wager, wherein each mechanical reel has a plurality of game symbols. The gaming machine ascertains whether a triggering event is established during the game. In response to a triggering event, one or more video images are presented and overlay one or more the mechanical reels to obscure the game symbols on the mechanical reels in response to the triggering event. In one embodiment, the video images include one or more video depictions of game symbols. The mechanical reels obscured by the video images are fixed, and the mechanical reels not obscured by the video images are spun. One or more paylines are evaluated for winning outcomes based on the combination of the video depictions of game symbols and the game symbols presented on the mechanical reels on the one or more paylines. A bonus prize is awarded for a winning outcome appearing on a payline.

1 . A method for enhancing a mechanical reel game, the method comprising:
 initiating a game by spinning a plurality of mechanical reels in response to a player wager, the mechanical reels having a plurality of game symbols;   ascertaining whether a triggering event is established during the game;   presenting one or more video images overlaying one or more the mechanical reels to obscure the game symbols on the mechanical reels in response to the triggering event, the video images including one or more video depictions of game symbols;   fixing the mechanical reels obscured by the video images and spinning the mechanical reels not obscured by the video images;   evaluating one or more paylines for winning outcomes based on the combination of the video depictions of game symbols and the game symbols presented on the mechanical reels on the one or more paylines; and   awarding a bonus prize for a winning outcome appearing on a payline.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the video depictions of game symbols are wild symbols. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is a predetermined game outcome, a special game symbol appearing on a payline, receiving a player tracking card at a gaming machine, duration of play, frequency of play, number of maximum bets, number of player points earned, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placement of the video images over the mechanical reels is randomly selected by the game. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein player input determines placement of the video images over the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a player attribute determines placement of the video images over the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       7 . A method for enhancing a mechanical reel game having a video display and a plurality of mechanical reels, the method comprising:
 initiating a game by spinning the plurality of mechanical reels in response to a player wager, the mechanical reels having a plurality of game symbols;   ascertaining whether a triggering event is established during the game; and   initiating a bonus game in response to the triggering event, wherein the bonus game comprises:
 obscuring one or more mechanical reels with one or more video images; 
 fixing the mechanical reels obscured by the video images and spinning the mechanical reels not obscured by the video images; and 
 awarding a bonus prize for a winning outcome appearing on a payline during the bonus game. 
   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the video images further include video depictions of game symbols, wild symbols, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the triggering event is a predetermined game outcome, a special game symbol appearing on a payline, receiving a player tracking card at a gaming machine, duration of play, frequency of play, number of maximum bets, number of player points earned, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein placement of the video images over the mechanical reels is randomly selected by the game. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein player input determines placement of the video images over the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a player attribute determines placement of the video images over the mechanical reels. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bonus game comprises a plurality of spins of the mechanical reels not obscured by the by the video images. 
   
   
       14 . A method for enhancing a mechanical reel game having a video display positioned over a plurality of mechanical reels, the method comprising:
 ascertaining whether a triggering event is established during a gaming session;   in response to the triggering event, selecting one or more locations for one or more video images on the video display for obscuring one or more mechanical reels underlying the video images, the video images further including one or more video depictions of game symbols;   presenting one or more video images on the video display at the selected locations;   spinning those mechanical reels not obscured by the video image; and   evaluating one or more paylines for winning outcomes based on the combination of the video depictions of game symbols and the game symbols presented on the mechanical reels on the one or more paylines; and   awarding a bonus prize for a winning outcome appearing on a payline.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the triggering event is a predetermined game outcome, a special game symbol appearing on a payline, receiving a player tracking card at a gaming machine, duration of play, frequency of play, number of maximum bets, number of player points earned, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the selection of the location of the video images is based on a player characteristic including a player level, number of player points, number of maximum wagers, duration of the gaming session, amount wagered during the gaming session, frequency of play during the gaming session, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the location of the video images is randomly selected by a gaming device. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the selection of the location of the one or more video images is based on player input.