Patent ID: 11869310
Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A gaming system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory storing (a) a column size for each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, each respective column size defining a number of symbol positions for which symbols are to be selected; (b) a pay table; and (c) instructions which when executed by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:
control a display to display the plurality of columns of symbol positions corresponding to the respective column size;
generate, by a random number generator (RNG), one or more returned values of the RNG to identify stopping positions of a plurality of reel strips for a first spin, each reel strip of the plurality of reel strips associated with a respective one of the plurality of columns, and wherein at least one reel strip of the plurality of reel strips includes a column growth symbol indicative of increasing column size;
map a first plurality of symbols from the plurality of reel strips onto each respective column of the plurality of columns of symbol positions based on the identified stopping positions;
for each column of the plurality of columns of symbol positions:
if the column includes the column growth symbol mapped to at least one symbol position of the column:
increase the column size of the column to include at least one additional symbol position; and
replace the column growth symbol in the at least one symbol position with an additional symbol from the plurality of reel strips; and

if the column does not include a column growth symbol mapped to at least one symbol position of the column, do not change the column size of the column; and

cause display of a second plurality of symbols to be evaluated responsive to the first spin for winning combinations based on the pay table, the second plurality of symbols including the first plurality of symbols and at least one additional symbol having replaced the column growth symbol.