Gaming machine display with a plurality of zones independently addressable to selectively operate in one of two modes
View Patent ↗A gaming machine display ( 14 ) includes a game playing arrangement ( 16 ) mountable in a cabinet ( 62 ) of a gaming machine ( 10 ). An electronically controlled display element ( 50 ) overlies the game playing arrangement ( 16 ) so that, depending on a state of the display element ( 50 ), the game playing arrangement ( 16 ) is visible through the display element ( 50 ).
1. A gaming machine comprising:
an electro-mechanical set of reels, each reel displaying a plurality of two dimensional symbols;
an electronic flat panel display substantially overlaying the electro-mechanical set of reels, the electronic flat panel display being divided into a plurality of zones each being defined by an area on the electronic flat panel display directly overlying a respective one of said electro-mechanical set of reels such that each of the plurality of zones is associated with only one of the plurality electro-mechanical set of reels, and each zone being independently addressable to selectively operate in one of two modes, wherein in a first mode a zone is rendered to be at least partially transparent such that a respective one of the electro-mechanical set of reels behind the zone is viewable through the zone of the electronic flat panel display operating in the first mode, and wherein in a second mode a zone is rendered to be substantially opaque so as to form a background shutter for the electronic flat panel display thereby allowing the electronic flat panel display to display images with a respective one of the electro-mechanical set of reels being hidden behind the zone of the electronic flat panel display operating in the second mode; and
a game controller configured to perform said independent addressing of each of the plurality of zones to provide a game, the game comprising at least a first zone of the plurality of zones operating in the first mode, wherein the electro-mechanical reel of the plurality of electro-mechanical reels associated with the first zone is visible through the first zone and available for use in the game, and at least a second zone of the plurality of zones operating in the second mode, wherein an image is displayed on the electronic flat panel display in the area defining the second zone to overlie a two dimensional symbol displayed on an underlying electro-mechanical reel behind the second zone, and wherein said game controller is configured to cause the electronic flat panel display to provide a zoom effect to said image to provide a three dimensional effect of said two dimensional symbol displayed on said underlying electro-mechanical reel hidden behind the second zone.
2. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the game controller is configured to depict a feature game on the electronic flat panel.
3. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the game controller is configured to utilize one or more zones of the plurality of zones to selectively display a blocking image occluding at least a portion of one or more two dimensional symbols depicted any associated underlying electro-mechanical reel.
4. A gaming machine comprising:
an electro-mechanical set of reels, each reel displaying a plurality of two dimensional symbols;
an electronic flat panel display substantially overlaying the electro-mechanical set of reels, the electronic flat panel display being divided into a plurality of zones each being defined by an area on the electronic flat panel display directly overlying a respective one of said electro-mechanical set of reels such that each of the plurality of zones is associated with only one of the plurality electro-mechanical set of reels, and each zone being independently addressable to selectively operate in one of two modes, wherein in a first mode a zone is rendered to be at least partially transparent such that a respective one of the electro-mechanical set of reels behind the zone is viewable through the zone of the electronic flat panel display operating in the first mode, and wherein in a second mode a zone is rendered to be substantially opaque so as to form a background shutter for the electronic flat panel display thereby allowing the electronic flat panel display to display images with a respective one of the electro-mechanical set of reels being hidden behind the zone of the electronic flat panel display operating in the second mode; and
a game controller configured to perform said independent addressing of each of the plurality of zones to provide a game, the game comprising at least a first zone of the plurality of zones operating in the first mode, wherein the electro-mechanical reel of the plurality of electro-mechanical reels associated with the first zone is visible through the first zone and available for use in the game, and at least a second zone of the plurality of zones operating in the second mode, wherein an image is displayed on the electronic flat panel display in the area defining the second zone to overlie a two dimensional symbol displayed on an underlying electro-mechanical reel behind the second zone, and wherein said game controller is configured to cause the electronic flat panel display to vary a plurality of different virtual camera angles of said image to cause a three dimensional effect of said two dimensional symbol displayed on said underlying electro-mechanical reel hidden behind the second zone.