Patent ID: 8226468

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 input device and the at least one display device for a play of a game, upon an input of a wager, to: (a) designate at least one symbol position of a plurality of symbol positions as a point of symbol expansion; (b) thereafter, display a plurality of randomly generated symbols at the plurality of symbol positions; (c) determine if two expanding symbols are displayed at symbol positions which are separated by at least one symbol position; (d) if two expanding symbols are displayed at symbol positions which are separated by at least one symbol position, cause the expanding symbol to replace each of the symbols displayed at the symbol positions along a path between said symbol positions; (e) determine if any expanding symbol is displayed at the point of symbol expansion; (f) if any expanding symbol is displayed at the point of symbol expansion, cause the expanding symbol to replace each of the symbols displayed at the symbol positions extending a first direction from the point of symbol expansion; (g) after causing the expanding symbol to replace any symbols in (d) and (f), evaluate the plurality of randomly generated symbols for displayed winning symbol combinations; and (h) provide any awards associated with any displayed winning symbol combinations to a player.