Patent ID: 7625281

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one display device; at least one input device; at least one memory device configured to store data representing: (a) a game operable upon a wager; (b) a plurality of symbols including a plurality of reel symbols including a chasing symbol; (c) a plurality of reels, each one of the reels having a plurality of the reel symbols; (d) at least one winning condition corresponding to one or more of the reel symbols of the reels; and a processor operatively coupled to the at least one display device, the at least one input device, and the at least one memory device, the processor configured to operate with the at least one display device to: (a) display the plurality of reels spinning; (b) display the plurality of reels stopped, the reel symbols on the stopped reels corresponding to at least one outcome for the game; (c) receive a player input from the at least one input device, the player input corresponding to a player-controlled direction of movement of said chasing symbol; (d) display a movement of the chasing symbol toward at least one of the reel symbols; (e) replace the at least one of the reel symbols with a different one of the plurality of reel symbols after the movement of the chasing symbol, the replacement of the at least one of the reel symbols corresponding to at least one different outcome for the game; (f) evaluate whether the at least one winning condition is met based, at least in part, on the at least one different outcome; and (g) determine whether a payout is due based, at least in part, on the evaluation.