Simulation of mechanical reels on a gaming machine

A method of operating a slot machine, comprising:

• selecting a random outcome in response to receiving a wager;
• determining a symbol grouping corresponding to said random outcome;
• and
• displaying said symbol grouping on ends of an array of optical fibers, said ends defining a curved display surface having a radius of curvature that approximates a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel, said symbol groupings being representative of simulated mechanical reels.

A gaming machine, comprising:

• a processor configured to randomly select an outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a wager;
• an image display device having a surface for producing images, said images corresponding to said selected outcome of said plurality of outcomes;
• and
• a plurality of optical fibers have first ends optically coupled to said surface of said image display device and seconds ends for displaying said images to a player of said gaming machine to inform said player of said selected outcome of said plurality of outcomes, wherein at least some of said second ends define a flat display surface adjacent to said curved display surface.

A gaming machine for playing a slots game, the gaming machine comprising:

• a display region including at least one curved display surface that approximates a radius of curvature of a mechanical reel;
• and
• an image display device, spatially separated from the display region, for producing images of game indicia defining an outcome of the slots game,
• wherein the image display device projects the images of game indicia onto the at least one curved display surface such that the at least one curved display surface presents the projected images of the game indicia to a player.