Gaming machine with interacting video and mechanical displays

Abstract

A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a video display for displaying a video element, a mechanical display for displaying a movable physical element, and a control system. The control system operates the video display and the mechanical display such that the video element and the physical element appear to visually interact with each other.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 a video display for displaying a video element;    a mechanical display for displaying a movable physical element; and    a control system for operating the video display and the mechanical display such that the video element and the physical element appear to visually interact with each other.    
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control system operates the mechanical display to move the physical element from alongside the video display to behind video display.  
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein the physical element is a claw-shaped member for grabbing prizes.  
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control system operates the video display and the mechanical display such that the video element and the physical element appear to be linked to each other.  
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the video element and the physical element provide respective actions, the control system operating the video display and the mechanical display such that the actions appear to be linked to each other.  
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein the action of the video element appears to cause the action of the physical element.  
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein the action of the physical element appears to cause the action of the video element.  
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control system operates the video dispay and the mechanical display such that the physical element appears to move to the video display and become the video element.  
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the control system operates the video dispay and the mechanical display such that the video element appears to move to the mechanical display and become the physical element.  
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 1 , further including a wagering apparatus for receiving a wager to play the wagering game, the control system conducting the wagering game.  
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein the wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game, the bonus game being triggered by a start-bonus outcome in the basic game, apparent interaction of the video element and the physical element occurring during the bonus game.  
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the bonus game includes an outcome indicated by the apparent interaction of the video element and the physical element.  
     
     
         13 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 a video display;    a mechanical display proximate to the video display; and    a control system for operating the video display and the mechanical display such that an object appears to move between the video display and the mechanical display.    
     
     
         14 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 a video display;    a mechanical display proximate to the video display; and    a control system for operating the video display and the mechanical display such that elements on the respective video display and the mechanical display appear to visually interact with each other.    
     
     
         15 . A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: 
 displaying a video element on a video display;    displaying a movable physical element on a mechanical display; and    operating the video display and the mechanical display such that the video element and the physical element appear to visually interact with each other.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operating step includes operating the mechanical display to move the physical element from alongside the video display to behind video display.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the physical element is a claw-shaped member for grabbing prizes.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operating step includes operating the video display and the mechanical display such that the video element and the physical element appear to be linked to each other.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the video element and the physical element provide respective actions, wherein the operating step includes operating the video display and the mechanical display such that the actions appear to be linked to each other.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the action of the video element appears to cause the action of the physical element.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the action of the physical element appears to cause the action of the video element.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operating step includes operating the video dispay and the mechanical display such that the physical element appears to move to the video display and become the video element.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operating step includes operating the video dispay and the mechanical display such that the video element appears to move to the mechanical display and become the physical element.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , further including receiving a wager to play the wagering game and conducting the wagering game.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the wagering game includes a basic game and a bonus game, the bonus game being triggered by a start-bonus outcome in the basic game, and wherein the operating step occurs during the bonus game.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the operating step is indicative of an outcome in the bonus game.