Gaming machines with moveable topper and method of operating the same

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a display screen for displaying a wagering game;

a player input device for playing the wagering game;

a mobile topper unit configured to move to a plurality of positions;

a motor system for moving the mobile topper unit between a first position and a second position; and

a controller programmed to execute the wagering game and further programmed to instruct the motor system to change the position of the mobile topper unit between the first position and the second position based on the wagering game.

2. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the motor system comprises at least one of positioning screws, hydraulic lifts, pneumatic lifts, cog wheels, and one or more belt drives.

3. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the controller is a game controller, wherein the motor system comprises a motor and a motor controller which is in communication with the motor system, and wherein the game controller instructs the motor controller to move the mobile topper unit to a specific position.

4. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the motor controller determines how much to move the mobile topper unit to reach the specific position and controls the motor as the mobile topper unit moves to the specific position.

5. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the mobile topper unit further comprises a topper display screen, and wherein the controller is further programmed to control the topper display screen based on the wagering game.

6. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first position is a lowered position, wherein when the mobile topper unit is in the first position, the mobile topper unit is obscured by the display screen.

7. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to change the position of the mobile topper unit to a third position, wherein the second position is between the first position and the third position.

8. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the mobile topper unit moves in a vertical direction in relation to the display screen.

9. The electronic gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first position is a fully retracted position and the second position is a fully extended position.

10. A method for controlling a mobile topper of an electronic gaming machine, the method executed by a controller of the electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:

executing a wagering game on the electronic gaming machine;

detecting an event in the wagering game;

determining a position for the mobile topper based on the event; and

instructing an electronic actuator to move the mobile topper to the position.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 further comprising:

detecting a second event in the wagering game;

determining a second position for the mobile topper based on the second event; and

instructing the electronic actuator to move the mobile topper to the second position.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 , wherein the position is where the mobile topper is in a fully extended position and the second position is a fully retracted position.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the event is activation of a bonus feature and the fully extended position is associated with the bonus feature.

14. The method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein when the mobile topper is the fully retracted position, the mobile topper is obscured by one or more display screens of the electronic gaming machine.

15. The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the event is a step towards activation of a bonus feature, wherein a plurality of events are required to activate the bonus feature, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second event of the plurality of events, wherein additional events of the plurality of events are still required to activate the bonus feature; and

instructing the electronic actuator to move the mobile topper a second position a portion of a distance to a final position, wherein the final position is associated with the bonus feature.

16. The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the mobile topper includes a topper display screen, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the topper display screen based on the wagering game.

17. The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein instructing the electronic actuator to move the mobile topper to the position further comprises transmitting instructions to a motor controller, the instructions including the position, wherein the motor controller is programmed to determine a current position of the mobile topper and control one or more motors of the electronic actuator to move the mobile topper from the current position to the position.

18. The method in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the mobile topper moves in a vertical direction in relation to the electronic gaming machine.

19. A mobile topper connected to an electronic gaming machine, the mobile topper comprising:

an actuator assembly for moving the mobile topper to a plurality of positions in relation to the electronic gaming machine, wherein when the mobile topper is in at least one of the plurality of positions, the mobile topper is visible to a player of the electronic gaming machine; and

a controller programmed to:

determine a desired position of the plurality of positions for the mobile topper in relation to the electronic gaming machine; and

instruct the actuator assembly to move the mobile topper to the desired position in relation to the electronic gaming machine.