Gaming machine and method using linked value-bearing symbols

1 . A gaming machine comprising:

a presentation assembly configured to present a graphical game interface including a plurality of symbol positions; and

game-logic circuitry in communication with the presentation assembly, the game-logic circuitry configured to:

in response to an activation event, cause the presentation assembly to animate an award region to transition to an active state stored in a memory of the game-logic circuitry and visually associate a first symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions with the award region;

cause the presentation assembly to present a subsequent game outcome via the graphical game interface after the activation event by graphically animating population of the plurality of symbol positions with randomly selected symbols from one or more sets of available symbols according to one or more outputs of a continuously cycling random number generator of the game-logic circuitry, wherein the visual association between the first symbol position and the award region remains visible during the subsequent game outcome, and

wherein the one or more sets of available symbols include a linked symbol group predefined prior to the subsequent game outcome and including a plurality of value-bearing symbols visually linked together when presented by the presentation assembly, wherein each value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group includes a respective position within the linked symbol group and award indicia visibly indicating a corresponding award value; and

in response to a first value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group occupying the first symbol position while the award region is in the active state, cause the presentation assembly to present an award animation sequence via the graphical game interface for the award values of at least one value-bearing symbol within the linked symbol group based at least in part on the position of the first value-bearing symbol relative to the positions of other value-bearing symbols within the linked symbol group, the award animation sequence including (i) animating each of the at least one value-bearing symbol to move into the award region, (ii) updating the award indicia of the first value-bearing symbol to aggregate the corresponding award value of the moved value-bearing symbol, and (iii) removing the moved value-bearing symbol from the graphical game interface, wherein updating the award indicia to aggregate the corresponding award value comprises accessing a stored aggregate value associated with the award region from the memory, aggregating the corresponding award value with the stored aggregate value to create an updated aggregate value, and storing the updated aggregate value in the memory.

2 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sets of available symbols include a plurality of symbol-bearing reel strips, and wherein a first reel strip of the plurality of symbol-bearing reel strips is associated with at least the first symbol position and includes the linked symbol group, the linked symbol group stored as adjacent symbols on the first reel strip.

3 . The gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol associated with the award animation sequence includes the first value-bearing symbol and any value-bearing symbols of the linked symbol group in a predetermined direction along the first reel strip.

4 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol associated with the award animation sequence includes value-bearing symbols of the linked symbol group presented above the first value-bearing symbol based on the respective positions of the value-bearing symbols.

5 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the award region has a duration, and wherein the game-logic circuitry is configured to remove the award region in response to detecting expiration of the duration.

6 . The gaming machine of claim 5 , wherein the duration of the award region is extended in response to at least one of additional activation events or linked symbol groups occupying the award region.

7 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol is presented above the award region initially for the award sequence, and wherein the award animation sequence includes animating each of the at least one value-bearing symbols to cascade into the award region, the cascade animation revealing at least one symbol initially hidden from the plurality of symbol positions.

8 . A method for conducting and presenting a game feature using a gaming system, the gaming system comprising a presentation assembly of a gaming machine and game-logic circuitry in communication with the presentation assembly, the method comprising:

presenting, by the presentation assembly, a plurality of symbol positions via a graphical game interface;

causing, by the game-logic circuitry in response to an activation event, the presentation assembly to animate an award region to transition to an active state stored in a memory of the game-logic circuitry and visually associate a first symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions with the award region;

causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the presentation assembly to present a subsequent game outcome via the graphical game interface after the activation event by graphically animating population of the plurality of symbol positions with randomly selected symbols from one or more sets of available symbols according to one or more outputs of a continuously cycling random number generator of the game-logic circuitry, wherein the visual association between the first symbol position and the award region remains visible during the subsequent game outcome, and

wherein the one or more sets of available symbols include a linked symbol group predefined prior to the subsequent game outcome and including a plurality of value-bearing symbols visually linked together when presented by the presentation assembly, wherein each value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group includes a respective position within the linked symbol group and award indicia visibly indicating a corresponding award value; and

causing, by the game-logic circuitry in response to a first value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group occupying the first symbol position while the award region is in the active state, the presentation assembly to present an award animation sequence for the award values of at least one value-bearing symbol within the linked symbol group based at least in part on the position of the first value-bearing symbol relative to the positions of other value-bearing symbols within the linked symbol group, the award animation sequence including (i) animating each of the at least one value-bearing symbol to move into the award region, (ii) updating the award indicia of the first value-bearing symbol to aggregate the corresponding award value of the moved value-bearing symbol, and (iii) removing the moved value-bearing symbol from the graphical game interface, wherein updating the award indicia to aggregate the corresponding award value comprises accessing a stored aggregate value associated with the award region from the memory, aggregating the corresponding award value with the stored aggregate value to create an updated aggregate value, and storing the updated aggregate value in the memory.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more sets of available symbols include a plurality of symbol-bearing reel strips, and wherein a first reel strip of the plurality of symbol-bearing reel strips is associated with at least the first symbol position and includes the linked symbol group, the linked symbol group stored as adjacent symbols on the first reel strip.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol associated with the award animation sequence includes the first value-bearing symbol and any value-bearing symbols of the linked symbol group in a predetermined direction along the first reel strip.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol associated with the award animation sequence includes value-bearing symbols of the linked symbol group presented above the first value-bearing symbol based on the respective positions of the value-bearing symbols.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the award region has a duration, and wherein the game-logic circuitry is configured to remove the award region in response to detecting expiration of the duration.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the duration of the award region is extended in response to at least one of additional activation events or linked symbol groups occupying the award region.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol is presented above the award region initially for the award sequence, and wherein the award animation sequence includes animating each of the at least one value-bearing symbols to cascade into the award region, the cascade animation revealing at least one symbol initially hidden from the plurality of symbol positions.

15 . A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a presentation assembly configured to present a graphical game interface including a plurality of symbol positions; and

game-logic circuitry in communication with the presentation assembly, the game-logic circuitry at least partially separate from the gaming machine and configured to:

in response to an activation event, cause the presentation assembly to animate an award region to transition to an active state stored in a memory of the game-logic circuitry and visually associate a first symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions with the award region;

cause the presentation assembly to present a subsequent game outcome via the graphical game interface after the activation event by graphically animating population of the plurality of symbol positions with randomly selected symbols from one or more sets of available symbols according to one or more outputs of a continuously cycling random number generator of the game-logic circuitry, wherein the visual association between the first symbol position and the award region remains visible during the subsequent game outcome, and

wherein the one or more sets of available symbols include a linked symbol group predefined prior to the subsequent game outcome and including a plurality of value-bearing symbols visually linked together when presented by the presentation assembly, wherein each value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group includes a respective position within the linked symbol group and award indicia visibly indicating a corresponding award value; and

in response to a first value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group occupying the first symbol position while the award region is in the active state, cause the presentation assembly to present an award animation sequence via the graphical game interface for the award values of at least one value-bearing symbol within the linked symbol group based at least in part on the position of the first value-bearing symbol relative to the positions of other value-bearing symbols within the linked symbol group, the award animation sequence including (i) animating each of the at least one value-bearing symbol to move into the award region, (ii) updating the award indicia of the first value-bearing symbol to aggregate the corresponding award value of the moved value-bearing symbol, and (iii) removing the moved value-bearing symbol from the graphical game interface, wherein updating the award indicia to the corresponding award value comprises accessing a stored aggregate value associated with the award region from the memory, aggregating the corresponding award value with the stored aggregate value to create an updated aggregate value, and storing the updated aggregate value in the memory.

16 . The gaming system of claim 15 , the one or more sets of available symbols include a plurality of symbol-bearing reel strips, and wherein a first reel strip of the plurality of symbol-bearing reel strips is associated with at least the first symbol position and includes the linked symbol group, the linked symbol group stored as adjacent symbols on the first reel strip.

17 . The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol associated with the award animation sequence includes the first value-bearing symbol and any value-bearing symbols of the linked symbol group in a predetermined direction along the first reel strip.

18 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol associated with the award animation sequence includes value-bearing symbols of the linked symbol group presented above the first value-bearing symbol based on the respective positions of the value-bearing symbols.

19 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the award region has a duration, and wherein the game-logic circuitry is configured to remove the award region in response to detecting expiration of the duration.

20 . The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the duration of the award region is extended in response to at least one of additional activation events or linked symbol groups occupying the award region.

21 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol is presented above the award region initially for the award sequence, and wherein the award animation sequence includes animating each of the at least one value-bearing symbols to cascade into the award region, the cascade animation revealing at least one symbol initially hidden from the plurality of symbol positions.