Gaming machine and game control method

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a first display device configured to display a plurality of symbols associated with an outcome of a wagering game, wherein the plurality of symbols can be variably displayed and stop displayed;

a second display device positioned in front of the first display device, the second display device being configured to display an image, wherein the second display device is operable to be switched between a transmissive condition and a non-transmissive condition; and

a controller configured to control the first and second display devices, wherein the controller, in response to a case in which a combination of the plurality of symbols reaches a condition in which it lacks one symbol of a prescribed combination, directs the second display device to:

switch corresponding portions thereof in front of the plurality of symbols from the transmissive condition into the non-transmissive condition,

display on the second display device a symbol-bearing reel image with a symbol image corresponding to a last stop displayed symbol displayed on the first display device, and

depict the symbol-bearing reel image as spinning then stopping to reveal a plurality of symbol images such that the symbol image corresponding to the last stop displayed symbol is replaced with a new symbol image.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the controller makes a varying display period during which the symbol-bearing reel image is depicted as spinning longer than a varying display period of the last stop displayed symbol.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the controller directs the second display device to depict the symbol-bearing reel image as spinning in response to the case in which the combination of the plurality of symbols reaches the condition, and on condition that the image displayed on the second display device is a specified image and the portions in front of the plurality of symbols are switched into the non-transmissive condition.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the controller, immediately after the varying display of the plurality of symbols is started and the portions in front of the plurality of symbols switch into the non-transmissive condition, directs the second display device to depict the symbol-bearing reel image as spinning.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the controller directs the second display device to depict the symbol-bearing reel image as spinning in response to a case in which the combination becomes a combination corresponding to a gaming mode advantageous to a player and the portions in front of the plurality of symbols are switched into the non-transmissive condition.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein switching a portion of the second display device to the transmissive condition includes corresponding ones of the plurality of symbols on the first display device aligned with the portion of the second display device being at least generally visually perceptible from a front of the second display device.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein switching a portion of the second display device to the non-transmissive condition includes corresponding ones of the plurality of symbols on the first display device aligned with the portion of the second display device being at least generally visually imperceptible from a front of the second display device.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first display device is further configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels each bearing at least some of the plurality of symbols associated with the outcome of the wagering game, and wherein the controller, in response to the condition, further directs the second display device to switch corresponding portions thereof into the non-transmissive condition such that one or more of the plurality of symbol-bearing reels are generally visually imperceptible to a player.

9. The gaming machine according to claim 8 , wherein the controller, in response to the condition, further directs the second display device to display a symbol-bearing reel image on at least one of the portions switched to the non-transmissive condition.

10. The gaming machine according to claim 9 , wherein the symbol-bearing reel image includes a recreation of the symbol-bearing reel that the at least one portion of the second display is rendering generally visually imperceptible to the player.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the symbol images of the symbol-bearing reel image displayed by the second display device is replaced with the lacking one symbol.

12. The gaming machine according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the symbol images of the symbol-bearing reel image displayed by the second display device is replaced with a randomly-determined symbol.

13. The gaming machine according to claim 8 , wherein the controller, in response to the condition, further directs the second display device to display on a non-transmissive portion thereof information related to the wagering game.

14. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming device with a controller, the method comprising:

directing, via the controller, a first display device to display a plurality of symbols, the displaying including the symbols being variably displayed and stop displayed;

directing, via the controller, a second display device positioned in front of the first display device to display an image, the second display device being configured to be switched between a transmissive condition and a non-transmissive condition;

in response to a case in which a combination of the plurality of symbols reaches a condition in which it lacks one symbol of a prescribed combination, directing, via the controller, at least some portions of the second display device to switch to the non-transmissive condition such that at least some of the plurality of symbols on the first display device are generally invisible to a player;

directing, via the controller, the second display device to display a symbol-bearing reel image with a symbol image corresponding to a last stop displayed symbol on the second display device; and

depicting the symbol-bearing reel image as spinning then stopping to reveal a plurality of symbol images such that the symbol image corresponding to the last stop displayed symbol is replaced with a new symbol image.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein a varying display period during which the symbol-bearing reel image is depicted as spinning is longer than a varying display period of the last stop displayed symbol.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the symbol-bearing reel image is depicted as spinning in response to the case in which the combination of the plurality of symbols reaches the condition, and on condition that a specified image is displayed, and the at least some of the plurality of symbols being made generally invisible to a player.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein, immediately after the varying display of the plurality of symbols is started and the at least some of the plurality of symbols are made generally invisible to a player, the the symbol-bearing reel image is depicted as spinning.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the symbol-bearing reel image is depicted as spinning in response to a case in which the combination becomes a combination corresponding to a gaming mode advantageous to a player and the at least some of the plurality of symbols being made generally invisible to a player.

19. A gaming system for displaying one or more outcomes of a wagering game, the outcomes being randomly determined from a plurality of wagering game outcomes, the gaming system comprising:

a variable display device configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels each having at least some of the plurality of symbols associated with the outcomes of the wagering game;

a transmissive display device facing the variable display device, at least some portions of the transmissive display device being selectively operable to transition between a transmissive condition and a non-transmissive condition; and

a controller operatively connected to the transmissive display device, the controller being configured to direct the transmissive display device to:

transition a portion thereof from the transmissive condition to the non-transmissive condition such that at least one of the symbol-bearing reels aligned with the portion is generally visually imperceptible through the transmissive display device;

display a symbol-bearing reel image at the portion transitioned to the non-transmissive condition, the reel image being a recreation of the at least one symbol-bearing reel rendered generally visually imperceptible; and

replace at least one of the symbol images of the symbol-bearing reel image with a new symbol image of one of the plurality of symbols, wherein replacing the at least one of the symbol images includes depicting the symbol-bearing reel image as spinning then stopping to reveal a plurality of symbol images.

20. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the transitioning a portion of the transmissive display from the transmissive condition to the non-transmissive condition is in response to a case in which the outcome of the wagering game displayed by the variable display device includes a combination of symbols which lacks one symbol of a prescribed combination.

21. The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the replaced at least one symbol image includes a symbol image of the lacking one symbol.

22. The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the replaced at least one symbol image includes an image of a randomly-determined symbol.

23. The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the transitioning includes transitioning corresponding portions of the transmissive display from the transmissive condition to the non-transmissive condition such that all of the symbol-bearing reels are generally visually imperceptible through the transmissive display device.