Patent ID: 8333649

Claim:
A gaming system comprising: at least one display device; at least one input 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 to: (a) provide a game associated with: (i) a plurality of symbols including a designated symbol; (ii) a plurality of symbol generators including a plurality of symbol positions, said symbol generators configured to display a plurality of the symbols at the plurality of symbol positions, the plurality of symbol positions including a designated symbol position having a plurality of the designated symbol displayed at said designated symbol position; and (iii) a plurality of winning symbol combinations at least including: (a) a first winning symbol combination including a first predetermined number of the designated symbol displayed at a first predetermined number of at least two symbol positions, said first winning symbol combination associated with a first award; and (b) a second winning symbol combination including the first predetermined number of the designated symbol displayed at a second predetermined number of symbol positions including said designated symbol position, wherein the first predetermined number of symbol positions is greater than the second predetermined number of symbol positions, the second predetermined number of symbol positions is at least one, and the second winning symbol combination is also associated with said first award; and (b) for a play of the game: (i) activate the symbol generators to display symbols at said symbol positions; (ii) determine if said first winning symbol combination is displayed by the symbol generators; (iii) determine if said second winning symbol combination is displayed by the symbol generators; and (iv) display said first award if either of said first winning symbol combination or said second winning symbol combination is displayed by the symbol generators.