Patent ID: 8192275

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game; a display for displaying an array of symbols having a plurality of array positions displayable to a player, a plurality of reels each having a plurality of symbols in reel positions, the array positions showing symbols in selected reel positions that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game, at least one symbol in a selected reel position of the array having an initial state; and a controller coupled to the input device and the display, the controller operative to: (i) in response to a first play of the wagering game meeting a first predetermined criterion, cause the at least one symbol in the selected reel position in the array positions to transition from an initial state to an intermediate state, (ii) in response to a subsequent play of the wagering game meeting a second predetermined criterion, cause the at least one symbol in the selected reel position to transition from an intermediate state to a removable state, and (iii) remove the at least one symbol in the removable state.