Patent ID: 7744457

Claim:
A gaming method wherein an array of symbols is displayed and an award is granted based on the displayed array of symbols, the method comprising: displaying on a first display screen of a gaming machine, in a first game, a first array of randomly selected symbols on a first set of virtual reels, the first array including at least one special symbol in a first position in the first array; granting any award to the player for the first game based upon combinations of symbols across the first set of virtual reels displayed in the first game including combinations of symbols that include the at least one special symbol as part of a combination of symbols; concurrently displaying on a second display screen of the gaming machine, in a second game, a second array of randomly selected symbols on a second set of virtual reels, the second array of symbols being randomly selected independently of the first array of symbols; shifting a position of the at least one special symbol in the first array to a second position in the second array on the second display screen, wherein the shifted special symbol is combinable with the randomly selected symbols in the second array to form winning combinations of symbols; and granting any award to the player for the second game based upon combinations of the symbols across the second set of virtual reels displayed in the second game including combinations of symbols that include the at least one special symbol as part of a combination of symbols.