Patent ID: 8771067

Claim:
A gaming system for use in connection with a trigger condition, comprising: a game controller; at least one mechanical reel having an associated set of symbols and arranged to controllably display at least one symbol selected from the set of symbols at a stopped position; a video display device disposed over the at least one mechanical reel, the video display device being controllable by said game controller: to display for the at least one mechanical reel a respective virtual reel having virtual symbols that are the same as said associated symbols of the respective said mechanical reel, said video display device being disposable in an operative first state wherein the at least one virtual reel is viewable on the video display device, and being disposable in a substantially transparent second state wherein the at least one virtual reel is not viewable on the video display device; and a shutter device positioned between the video display device and the at least one mechanical reel, said shutter device being disposable in a first state wherein the at least one mechanical reel is revealed and disposable in a second state wherein the at least one mechanical reel is concealed from view; and wherein said controller is configured to control the shutter device and the video display device such that the at least one mechanical reel is viewable by a player for play of a base game to obtain a prize, and upon the trigger condition, (1) to dispose said shutter device in said second state concealing view of said at least one mechanical reel, and (2) to display the at least one virtual reel as a virtual representation of the at least one mechanical reel and (3) to rearrange at least one of the virtual symbols relative to the symbols displayed on the at least one mechanical reel so as to provide the player with an opportunity to obtain a different prize.