Patent ID: 8523659

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising: (a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to randomly select a plurality of symbol blocks from a set of symbol blocks, each of a plurality of symbol blocks of the set of symbol blocks includes a plurality of partial symbols, each of said partial symbols having at least one corresponding complementary partial symbol on another symbol block in the set of symbol blocks; (b) causing at least one display device to display the plurality of randomly selected symbol blocks; (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any complete symbols are formed by the displayed symbol blocks, each complete symbol requiring: (1) a first partial symbol displayed on a first displayed symbol block; and (2) for said first partial symbol, a corresponding complementary partial symbol displayed on a second displayed symbol block, said second displayed symbol block being adjacent to and arranged within a designated spatial relationship with said first displayed symbol block; (d) for each of a designated number of formed complete symbols, providing an award to the player; (e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove a plurality of the displayed symbol blocks, each removed symbol block creating at least one empty symbol block position; and (f) for at least one of the created empty symbol block positions, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to shift one of said remaining displayed symbol blocks into said created empty symbol block position.