Gaming machine and method using linked value-bearing symbols

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a presentation assembly configured to present 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 visually associate a first symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions with an award region;

cause the presentation assembly to present a subsequent game outcome after the activation event by populating the plurality of symbol positions with randomly selected symbols, wherein the visual association between the first symbol position and the award region remains visible during the subsequent game outcome;

detect whether or not a symbol of a linked symbol group occupies the first symbol position of the award region in the subsequent game outcome, the linked symbol group 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 detecting a first value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group occupies the first symbol position while the award region is active, cause 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 visibly distinguishing the at least one value-bearing symbol from any value-bearing symbols within the linked group that are unassociated with the award animation sequence, wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol includes a value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group that is initially hidden from the plurality of symbol positions during the subsequent game outcome.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the randomly selected symbols are selected from 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 award animation sequence includes visibly distinguishing the at least one value-bearing symbols from the unassociated value-bearing symbols by animating, via the presentation assembly, the at least one value-bearing symbol to move into the award region and visibly collecting the award values of each of the at least one value-bearing symbol in response to the respective value-bearing symbol entering the award region.

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;

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

causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the presentation assembly to present a subsequent game outcome after the activation event by populating the plurality of symbol positions with randomly selected symbols, wherein the visual association between the first symbol position and the award region remains visible during the subsequent game outcome;

detecting, by the game-logic circuitry, whether or not a symbol of a linked symbol group occupies the first symbol position of the award region in the subsequent game outcome, the linked symbol group 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 detecting a first value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group occupies the first symbol position while the award region is active, 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 visibly distinguishing the at least one value-bearing symbol from any value-bearing symbols within the linked group that are unassociated with the award animation sequence, wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol includes a value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group that is initially hidden from the plurality of symbol positions during the subsequent game outcome.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the randomly selected symbols are selected from 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 award animation sequence includes visibly distinguishing the at least one value-bearing symbols from the unassociated value-bearing symbols by animating, via the presentation assembly, the at least one value-bearing symbol to move into the award region and visibly collecting the award values of each of the at least one value-bearing symbol in response to the respective value-bearing symbol entering the award region.

15. A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a presentation assembly configured to present 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 visually associate a first symbol position of the plurality of symbol positions with an award region;

cause the presentation assembly to present a subsequent game outcome after the activation event by populating the plurality of symbol positions with randomly selected symbols, wherein the visual association between the first symbol position and the award region remains visible during the subsequent game outcome;

detect whether or not a symbol of a linked symbol group occupies the first symbol position of the award region in the subsequent game outcome, the linked symbol group 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 detecting a first value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group occupies the first symbol position while the award region is active, cause 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 visibly distinguishing the at least one value-bearing symbol from any value-bearing symbols within the linked group that are unassociated with the award animation sequence, wherein the at least one value-bearing symbol includes a value-bearing symbol of the linked symbol group that is initially hidden from the plurality of symbol positions during the subsequent game outcome.

16. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the randomly selected symbols are selected from 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 game-logic circuitry is partially integrated within the gaming machine.