Method for interacting a display with mechanical reels

A method for interacting with mechanical reels via a video screen, the method comprising:

• providing a gaming machine having one or more mechanical reels positioned behind a video screen, the video screen including a touch screen and user interface for receiving user input;
• receiving a player bet;
• spinning the one or more mechanical reels, and during the spinning of the mechanical reels, receiving a signal from the user interface to stop spinning one identified particular mechanical reel while at least one mechanical reel continues to spin;
• stopping the mechanical reels and producing a game outcome visible to the player through the video screen;
• receiving a request via the user interface to rearrange the placement of one or more symbols on at least one mechanical reel;
• displaying, on the video screen, the mechanical reels and the rearranged order of the symbols on the mechanical reels;
• reordering selected symbols of a selected mechanical reel such that a first selected symbol of the selected mechanical reel replaces a second selected symbol of the selected mechanical reel and the second selected symbol replaces the first selected symbol;
• and
• presenting one or more virtual reels on the video screen for use in conjunction with the mechanical reels during a game.