Patent ID: 7431647

Claim:
A method of playing a slot machine game using a symbol matrix formed by a plurality of rows intersecting with a plurality of columns, with the plurality of rows and columns including a plurality of symbols, comprising: a. randomly rearranging the plurality of symbols such that any number of same or different symbols may be generated for display in the symbol matrix without displaying said symbols; b. after randomly rearranging the plurality of symbols, displaying the rearranged symbols, in a non-award stage of the slot machine game, by individual or group placement of the rearranged symbols into the symbols matrix such that all of the rearranged symbols are not simultaneously displayed in the symbol matrix, wherein displaying of the rearranged symbols is repeated until the symbol matrix is entirely filled; and c. after filling the symbol matrix with the rearranged symbols, providing a first award to a player based upon a placement order of the rearranged symbols including a predetermined winning placement order, wherein the placement order is an order in which the rearranged symbols were placed into the symbol matrix, and wherein the first award is not based upon the order in which the rearranged symbols are displayed in the symbol matrix once the symbol matrix in entirely filled.