Gaming system, gaming device and gaming method providing stacking symbols and convertible reels
The gaming system, gaming device and method provides a reel game that includes stacks of symbols configured on the reels to provide a large number of winning symbol combinations. The gaming device includes a plurality of reels wherein each reel includes a reel-strip and a plurality of symbols. Each of the plurality of reels is configured to include one or more stacks of symbols wherein a stack of symbols is formed by placing a plurality of identical symbols adjacent to each other on a single reel. If two non-adjacent reels each generated a stack of identical symbols and at least one reel positioned between the two non-adjacent reels generated symbols different from the symbols used to form the stack of identical symbols, at least one symbol on the at least one reel positioned between the two non-adjacent reels is modified into the symbol that forms the stacks of identical symbols.
1. A gaming system comprising:
at least one input device;
at least one display device operable to display a game;
at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, for at least one play of the game:
(a) display said game including a plurality of adjacently arranged reels, wherein:
(i) a first of the reels includes a plurality of symbols including a plurality of at least one designated symbol arranged adjacent to each other on the first reel;
(ii) a second of the reels includes a plurality of symbols; and
(iii) a third of the reels includes a plurality of symbols including a plurality of the at least one designated symbol arranged adjacent to each other on the third reel;
(b) generate and display a plurality of symbols on the plurality of reels;
(c) determine if the first and third reel each display at least two symbols of the plurality of the at least one designated symbol;
(d) when the first and third reels each display at least two symbols of the plurality of the at least one designated symbol, modify at least one of any symbol that is different from the designated symbol displayed on the second reel into the designated symbol;
(e) determine an award for any winning symbol combinations; and
(f) display any determined award.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein a fourth of the reels includes a plurality of symbols and a fifth of the reels includes a plurality of symbols.
3. The gaming system of claim 2 , wherein the fourth reel includes a plurality of the at least one designated symbol displayed adjacent to each other on the fourth reel, and the fifth reel includes a plurality of the at least one designated symbol displayed adjacent to each other on the fifth reel.
4. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:
(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display a game including a plurality of adjacently arranged reels, wherein:
(i) a first of the reels includes a plurality of symbols including a plurality of at least one designated symbol arranged adjacent to each other on the first reel;
(ii) a second of the reels includes a plurality of symbols; and
(iii) a third of the reels includes a plurality of symbols including a plurality of the at least one designated symbol arranged adjacent to each other on the third reel;
(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to generate and display a plurality of symbols on the plurality of reels;
(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the first and third reel each display at least two symbols of the plurality of the at least one designated symbol;
(d) when the first and third reels each display at least two symbols of the plurality of the at least one designated symbol, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify at least one of any symbol that is different from the designated symbol displayed on the second reel into the designated symbol;
(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an award for any winning symbol combinations; and
(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display any determined award.
5. The method of claim 4 , which is provided through a data network.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the data network is an internet.