Patent ID: 9741198
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: G07F

Claim:
1. A gaming machine that provides a game, the gaming machine including: a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbol positions, each of the plurality of symbol positions populated with game symbols selected from a set of game symbols including ordinary game symbols and at least one special symbol, wherein the gaming machine is configured to award an award when a winning combination of game symbols is selected for display; a user interface; and a game controller in communication with the user interface, the game controller configured to enhance characteristics of at least one of the ordinary game symbols when a special symbol of the at least one special symbols in the same reel has been activated in response to an activation event other than selection of the special symbol for display to create at least one enhanced symbol having at least one enhancement selected from a set of enhancements based upon a number of intervening game symbols between the at least one ordinary game symbol and the special symbol.