Gaming machine user interfaces

1. A gaming console having

a display screen;

and a game controller configured to a) control images displayed on said display screen, and b) allow a user to play a game displayed on said display screen and, if one of a plurality of predefined winning events or combination of events result, a prize or feature is awarded,

wherein said display screen has a mechanical display filter configured to visually distinguish at least two portions of said display screen from one another,

wherein the gaming console has at least one position sensor configured to detect the alignment of the mechanical display filter relative to at least one portion of an image displayed on said display screen,

and further comprising a plurality of buttons, wherein at least one of said buttons is configured such that actuating said one of said buttons calibrates the position of said mechanical display filter relative to at least one portion of an image displayed on said display screen with reference to a portion of said touch screen actuated by said button.

2. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein at least a first portion of said mechanical display filter is illuminated by a portion of said display screen to produce a visual effect.

3. The gaming console of claim 2 , wherein said mechanical display filter has at least one light tube configured to transport light from a portion of said display screen to illuminate a portion of said mechanical display filter.

4. The gaming console of claim 3 , wherein at least one of said light tubes is configured to transport light from a portion of said display screen to illuminate artwork on said mechanical display filter.

5. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical display filter has at least one button for user actuation in controlling an aspect of a game displayed on said display screen.

6. The gaming console of claim 5 , wherein said display screen comprises a touch screen and said mechanical display filter has at least one actuator which transfers an actuation force applied to said button to said display screen so as to actuate a portion of said touch screen associated with said button.

7. The gaming console of claim 6 , wherein at least one of said actuators is configured to limit the amount of force applied to said display screen.

8. The gaming console of claim 5 , wherein said mechanical display filter has at least one light tube configured to transport light from a portion of said display screen to illuminate at least one of said buttons.

9. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical display filter has a card reader.

10. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical display filter is aligned relative to at least one portion of an image displayed on said display screen.

11. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein calibration of the position of the mechanical display filter relative to at least one portion of an image displayed on said display screen occurs during play of the game or games to be displayed on said display screen.

12. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein said at least one position sensor is an optical sensor.

13. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical display filter has at least one filter identifier which enables identification of said mechanical display filter by said game controller.

14. The gaming console of claim 13 , wherein said game controller electronically verifies that said mechanical display filter is appropriate for a game or games to be displayed on said display screen.

15. The gaming console of claim 13 , wherein the game controller receives information from the filter identifier and uses the received information to determine whether said mechanical display filter has the correct number of buttons for play of the game or games to be displayed on said display screen.

16. The gaming console of claim 13 , wherein the game controller receives information from the filter identifier and uses the received information to appropriately configure said at least two portions of said display screen to physically align at least one portion of an image displayed on said display screen with said mechanical display filter.

17. The gaming console of claim 1 ,

wherein at least a portion of said mechanical display filter is moveably mounted over said display screen, such that a user can select a position of said at least one portion of said mechanical display filter relative to said display screen to define the size of at least one of said at least two portions of said display screen.

18. The gaming console of claim 17 , wherein said game controller senses a current position of said mechanical display filter and causes the output of said display screen to conform to the current proportions of said at least two portions of said display screen, as defined by the current position of said mechanical display filter.

19. The gaming console of claim 17 , wherein said game controller is configured to alter at least one of the following parameters of a game being displayed in response to change in said position of said at least one portion of said mechanical display filter relative to said display screen:

a number of displayed gaming symbols;

a number of possible winning outcomes;

a prize value associated with one or more winning outcomes; and the probability of each gaming outcome.

20. The gaming console of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical display filter is integrally formed over said display screen.