Patent ID: 8425303

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 which stores 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 display device and the at least one input device to: (a) for each of a plurality of plays of a wagering game, generate a symbol combination from a plurality of different symbol combinations including a plurality of designated winning symbol combinations; (b) display a persistence game arrangement during said plays of the wagering game, wherein the persistence game arrangement includes any of a predetermined number of accumulated designated winning symbol combinations; (c) for each designated winning symbol combination generated, cause an accumulation of said generated designated winning symbol combination in the persistence game arrangement, wherein if the predetermined number of designated winning symbol combinations have been previously accumulated in the persistence game arrangement, replace one of said previously accumulated designated winning symbol combinations in the persistence game arrangement with said generated designated winning symbol combination; and (d) upon a persistence game symbol evaluation triggering event, if any designated winning symbol combinations are currently accumulated in the persistence game arrangement, provide at least one award associated with at least one of the designated winning symbol combinations currently accumulated in the persistence game arrangement.