SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING MODIFIABLE GAME ELEMENTS

1 . A gaming machine comprising:

a display device configured to present a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of modifier positions; and

game-logic circuitry in communication with the display device, the game-logic circuitry configured to:

cause the display device to present a first modifier outcome of a plurality of modifier outcomes by randomly and selectively populating one or more modifier positions of the plurality of modifier positions with at least one modifier symbol;

in response to the first modifier outcome including a first modifier symbol of the at least one modifier symbol at a first modifier position of the one or more populated modifier positions, cause the display device to present an animation of one or more symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions being populated with a respective value-bearing symbol based at least partially on the first modifier symbol and the first modifier position, each of the value-bearing symbols being locked within the one or more symbol positions for any remaining modifier outcomes of the plurality of modifier outcomes and having an award indicia visually indicating an award value associated with the respective value-bearing symbol;

in response to a first symbol position of the one or more symbol positions being occupied by a preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the first modifier outcome, cause the display device to visually update the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol at least partially as a function of the award value indicated by the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the first modifier outcome; and

in response to a termination condition, cause the display device to remove any locked value-bearing symbols from the plurality of symbol positions and provide an aggregated award as a function of the award values indicated by the award indicia of at least a portion of the locked value-bearing symbols occupying the plurality of symbol positions.

2 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the first modifier symbol includes modifier indicia visually indicating a modifier associated with the first modifier symbol, and wherein updating the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol is at least partially a function of the award value indicated by the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the modifier outcome and the modifier of the first modifier symbol.

3 . The gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein the modifier associated with the first modifier symbol is at least one of an award value or a multiplier.

4 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of symbol positions defines a symbol array, and wherein each modifier position of the plurality of modifier positions is selectively associated with a column or row of the symbol array.

5 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the preexisting value-bearing symbol is associated with a second modifier symbol of the at least one modifier symbol, the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbols being updated based on the first modifier and the second modifier symbol.

6 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the termination condition includes expiration of a feature game duration.

7 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of symbol positions is divided into a plurality of position subsets, and wherein each modifier position of the plurality of modifier positions is associated with one subset of the plurality of position subsets.

8 . A method of conducting a game using a gaming system including a display device and game-logic circuitry in communication with the display device, wherein the display device is configured to present a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of modifier positions, the method comprising:

causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the display device to present a first modifier outcome of a plurality of modifier outcomes by randomly and selectively populating one or more modifier positions of the plurality of modifier positions with at least one modifier symbol;

in response to the first modifier outcome including a first modifier symbol of the at least one modifier symbol at a first modifier position of the one or more populated modifier positions, causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the display device to present an animation of one or more symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions being populated with a respective value-bearing symbol based at least partially on the first modifier symbol and the first modifier position, each of the value-bearing symbols being locked within the one or more symbol positions for any remaining modifier outcomes of the plurality of modifier outcomes and having an award indicia visually indicating an award value associated with the respective value-bearing symbol;

in response to a first symbol position of the one or more symbol positions being occupied by a preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the first modifier outcome, causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the display device to visually update the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol at least partially as a function of the award value indicated by the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the first modifier outcome; and

in response to a termination condition, causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the display device to remove any locked value-bearing symbols from the plurality of symbol positions and provide an aggregated award as a function of the award values indicated by the award indicia of at least a portion of the locked value-bearing symbols occupying the plurality of symbol positions.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first modifier symbol includes modifier indicia visually indicating a modifier associated with the first modifier symbol, and wherein updating the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol is at least partially a function of the award value indicated by the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the modifier outcome and the modifier of the first modifier symbol.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the modifier associated with the first modifier symbol is at least one of an award value or a multiplier.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of symbol positions defines a symbol array, and wherein each modifier position of the plurality of modifier positions is selectively associated with a column or row of the symbol array.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the preexisting value-bearing symbol is associated with a second modifier symbol of the at least one modifier symbol, the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbols being updated based on the first modifier and the second modifier symbol.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the termination condition includes expiration of a feature game duration.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of symbol positions is divided into a plurality of position subsets, and wherein each modifier position of the plurality of modifier positions is associated with one subset of the plurality of position subsets.

15 . A gaming system comprising:

a gaming machine comprising a display device configured to present a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of modifier positions; and

game-logic circuitry in communication with the display device, the game-logic circuitry configured to:

cause the display device to present a first modifier outcome of a plurality of modifier outcomes by randomly and selectively populating one or more modifier positions of the plurality of modifier positions with at least one modifier symbol;

in response to the first modifier outcome including a first modifier symbol of the at least one modifier symbol at a first modifier position of the one or more populated modifier positions, cause the display device to present an animation of one or more symbol positions of the plurality of symbol positions being populated with a respective value-bearing symbol based at least partially on the first modifier symbol and the first modifier position, each of the value-bearing symbols being locked within the one or more symbol positions for any remaining modifier outcomes of the plurality of modifier outcomes and having an award indicia visually indicating an award value associated with the respective value-bearing symbol;

in response to a first symbol position of the one or more symbol positions being occupied by a preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the first modifier outcome, cause the display device to visually update the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol at least partially as a function of the award value indicated by the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the first modifier outcome; and

in response to a termination condition, cause the display device to remove any locked value-bearing symbols from the plurality of symbol positions and provide an aggregated award as a function of the award values indicated by the award indicia of at least a portion of the locked value-bearing symbols occupying the plurality of symbol positions.

16 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the first modifier symbol includes modifier indicia visually indicating a modifier associated with the first modifier symbol, and wherein updating the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol is at least partially a function of the award value indicated by the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the modifier outcome and the modifier of the first modifier symbol.

17 . The gaming system of claim 16 , wherein the modifier associated with the first modifier symbol is at least one of an award value or a multiplier.

18 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of symbol positions defines a symbol array, and wherein each modifier position of the plurality of modifier positions is selectively associated with a column or row of the symbol array.

19 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the preexisting value-bearing symbol is associated with a second modifier symbol of the at least one modifier symbol, the award indicia of the preexisting value-bearing symbols being updated based on the first modifier and the second modifier symbol.

20 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the termination condition includes expiration of a feature game duration.