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

Claim 13:
14. A gaming system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory storing (a) a current column size for each of a plurality of columns of symbol positions, each respective current column size defining a number of symbol positions for which symbols are to be selected; (b) a pay table; (c) an initial column size and a maximum column size for each column of the plurality of columns; and (d) 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 current column size;
generate, by a random number generator (RNG), one or more first returned values of the RNG for a first spin of a plurality of spins to identify stopping positions of a plurality of reel strips and a first plurality of symbols for the displayed symbol positions, each reel strip of the plurality of reel strips associated with a respective one of the plurality of columns, and wherein the first plurality of symbols include at least one designated symbol;
cause display of the at least one designated symbol in a first displayed symbol position, wherein the at least one designated symbol is indicative of increasing a column size of a corresponding column of the plurality of columns;
modify, in response to the displayed symbols of a column including the at least one designated symbol, the column size for the respective column, the respective column including at least one additional symbol position;
in response to a first column reaching the maximum column size, increment a column specific counter to monitor a number of spins that will be conducted with the first column at the maximum column size;
replace each of the symbols of the first column with a wild symbol, in response to i) the first column reaching the maximum column size and ii) the symbols of the first column including a wild symbol; and
perform, in response to replacing each of the symbols of the first column with the wild symbol, a lookup of the pay table for winning combinations based on the first plurality of symbols.