Electronic gaming machine having spinning reels with dynamically allocated symbol stacks

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a player interface including a display and one or more inputs; and

a game controller having a processor and a memory storing at least i) reel data defining a plurality of reels, each of the plurality of reels having a plurality of symbol positions and a stack of designated symbol positions, and ii) instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to at least:

receive a game option selected from a plurality of game options, the game option selected rendering i) active at least one of the plurality of reels and ii) inactive each of the plurality of reels not selected by the game option selected,

allocate dynamically, in response to receiving the game option, i) one or more of a plurality of mystery symbols to the stack of designated symbol positions on at least one reel of the plurality of reels rendered active by the game option selected, and ii) one or more of a plurality of default symbols to the stack of designated symbol positions on each of the plurality of reels rendered inactive,

form a symbol set from a plurality of symbols comprising symbols dynamically allocated to the stack of designated symbol positions for each of the plurality of reels,

control the player interface to display at least a subset of symbols randomly selected from the symbol set formed dynamically for each of the plurality of reels based, at least in part, on one or more random outcomes generated by a random number generator,

determine whether an outcome formed by the subset of symbols randomly selected from the symbol set includes a winning combination, and

control the player interface to present an award when the winning combination occurs in the outcome.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to modify an appearance or function of the one or more of the plurality of mystery symbols when the one or more of the mystery symbols are displayed in at least one of a predetermined symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein a first stack of mystery symbols includes a first mystery symbol predetermined for a first reel of the plurality of reels.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein a second stack of mystery symbols includes a second mystery symbol predetermined for a second reel of the plurality of reels, and wherein the first mystery symbol is different from the second mystery symbol.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 3 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to allocate the first stack of mystery symbols in a plurality of contiguous symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions on at least one of the plurality of reels.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein different numbers of stacks of designated symbol positions are populated on the plurality of reels.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to select the plurality of mystery symbols independently of each reel of the plurality of reels rendered active by the game option selected.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mystery symbols and the plurality of default symbols have different backgrounds, and wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to activate respective backgrounds of the plurality of mystery symbols and the plurality of default symbols based on the game option received.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising i) reel data defining a plurality of reels, each of the plurality of reels having a plurality of symbol positions and a stack of designated symbol positions, and ii) instructions for conducting a game on a gaming machine that includes a player interface comprising a display and one or more inputs, and a server comprising a processor, the instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to perform at least the steps of:

receiving a game option of a plurality of game options;

allocating dynamically, in response to receiving the game option, i) one or more of a plurality of mystery symbols to the stack of designated symbol positions on at least one reel of the plurality of reels rendered active by the game option selected, and ii) one or more of a plurality of default symbols to the stack of designated symbol positions on each of the plurality of reels rendered inactive based on the game option selected;

forming a symbol set randomly from a plurality of symbols comprising symbols dynamically allocated to the stack of designated symbol positions for each of the plurality of reels, the plurality of symbols forming the symbol set being selected randomly by a random number generator based on one or more random outcomes generated from the random number generator;

communicating to the gaming machine to control the player interface to display a subset of symbols randomly selected from the symbol set formed dynamically for each of the plurality of reels based, at least in part, on one or more random outcomes generated by the random number generator;

determine whether an outcome formed by the subset of symbols randomly selected from the symbol set includes a winning combination; and

communicating to the player interface an award upon the winning combination occurring in the outcome.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to perform the step of modifying an appearance or function of the one or more of the mystery symbols when the one or more of the mystery symbols are displayed in at least one of a predetermined symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause processor to perform the step of selecting, based on the random number generator, a stopping position of a plurality of spinning reels and a defined position at which each symbol will be displayed in a column of symbol display positions associated with the respective plurality of spinning reels.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the mystery symbols and the default symbols have different backgrounds, and wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to perform the step of activating respective backgrounds of the plurality of mystery symbols and the plurality of default symbols based on the game option received.

13. A method of displaying dynamically allocated symbol stacks comprising a player interface comprising a display and one or more inputs, and a game controller comprising a processor and a memory storing at least i) reel data defining a plurality of reels, each of the plurality of reels having a plurality of symbol positions and a stack of designated symbol positions, and ii) instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to initiate a game, the method comprising:

displaying one or more of the plurality of reels that is active in response to a game option selected and one or more of the plurality of reels that is inactive in response to the game option selected;

allocating dynamically i) one or more of a plurality of mystery symbols to a plurality of designated symbol positions on the plurality of reels in the stack of designated symbol positions on at least one reel of the plurality of reels rendered active by the game option selected, and ii) one or more of a plurality of default symbols to the stack of designated symbol positions on each of the plurality of reels rendered inactive;

populating on the display a subset of symbols selected from a symbol set formed randomly from a plurality of symbols comprising symbols dynamically allocated to the stack of designated symbol positions for each of the plurality of reels, based, at least in part, on one or more random outcomes generated by a random number generator;

displaying the subset of symbols randomly selected from the symbol set on the player interface following a spin of one or more of the plurality of reels; and

presenting an award when a winning combination occurs in an outcome.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising modifying the one or more of the plurality of mystery symbols when the one or more of the mystery symbols are displayed in at least one of a predetermined symbol position on the player interface.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising rendering the one or more of the plurality of reels active based on a number of credits input.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein a first stack of mystery symbols includes a first mystery symbol predetermined for a first reel of the plurality of reels.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a second stack of mystery symbols includes a second mystery symbol predetermined for a second reel, and wherein the first mystery symbol is different from the second mystery symbol.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising allocating the stack of designated symbol positions in a plurality of contiguous symbol positions on at least one of the plurality of reels rendered active by the game option selected.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the stack of designated symbol positions are contiguous symbol positions on at least one of the plurality of reels rendered active by the game option selected.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of mystery symbols and the plurality of default symbols have different backgrounds, and further comprising activating respective backgrounds of the plurality of mystery symbols and the plurality of default symbols based on the game option received.