Patent ID: 8328616

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one input device; at least one display device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to: receive a wager to play a wagering game; display an array of symbols randomly selected from a plurality of possible symbols; trigger a bonus feature if the displayed array includes a bonus triggering outcome, the bonus feature being distinct from and being conducted subsequent to the display of the array of symbols; and in response to the displayed array including at least one special symbol, change one or more of the symbols adjacent to the special symbol to respective other symbols selected from the plurality of possible symbols, and awarding an enhanced award that is greater than a basic award otherwise resulting from the bonus feature and any winning combination(s) of the symbols in the displayed array.