Patent ID: 7666083

Claim:
A gaming device 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) display a play of a primary game upon a wager by a player; and (b) if a triggering event occurs: (I) initiate an unlimited free spin mode, said unlimited free spin mode including an unlimited number of free spins of a plurality of reels without an additional wager, said reels including a plurality of symbols including at least one locking symbol, wherein one of a plurality of awards is provided for each winning symbol combination indicated by the reels in said unlimited number of free spins, and (II) if the locking symbol is generated by one of said reels in the unlimited free spin mode: (i) hold at least one of the reels stationary for a number of additional free spins, said number being at least one; (ii) prior to activating the reels for any of said number of additional free spins, enable a selection of one of a plurality of designated symbols associated with the non-held reels; (iii) activate at least one of the non-held reels for one of said number of additional free spins; (iv) reduce the number of additional free spins remaining; (v) increment a modifier for each occurrence of the selected symbol on the reels during said additional free spin; (vi) repeat (iii) to (v) until no additional free spins remain; (vii) modify any awards obtained in said additional free spins using the modifier; and (viii) display any modified awards.