Abstract: Various embodiments of a gaming system and method are disclosed as enabling replacements for one or more portions of an offered award. An offered award may comprise a plurality of different award values (e.g., portions of the offered award), where one or more of the plurality of award values can be selected for replacement in an attempt to improve the selected award values with larger award values. The gaming system may randomly generate replacement award values that are equal to zero, lower in value, equal in value, or greater in value than the award values selected for replacement. In other words, one or more portions of an offered award can be put at risk in attempt to improve the offered award.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and processes for gaming. A gaming system consistent with the present disclosure provides a game feature involving multiple rounds. For the individual rounds of the game feature, the gaming system can display randomly determined combinations of game symbols at symbol display areas and determine awards corresponding to the winning combinations. Additionally, for the individual rounds of the game feature, the gaming system can display persistent game indicators at the symbol display areas. The game symbols may be replaced from round-to-round of the game feature. The persistent game indicators are held in the symbol display areas from round-to-round of the game feature such that the quantity of symbol display areas including the persistent game indicators accumulate during the game feature.

Abstract: The gaming system and method includes a game that can be played in a first game state or a second game state with the possibility of different awards for each game state. The first game state enables a player to play the game and receive a first award. The first award may be a predetermined award and not based on the outcome the game in first game state. In some embodiments, the first award is not based on how well a player played a game. The second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on the outcome of the game in the second game state. In some embodiments, the second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on how well the player played the game in the second game state. In some embodiments, the player may selectively terminate play in the second game state and receive a consolation award.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and processes for gaming. A gaming system consistent with the present disclosure provides a game feature involving multiple rounds. For the individual rounds of the game feature, the gaming system can display randomly determined combinations of game symbols at symbol display areas and determine awards corresponding to the winning combinations. Additionally, for the individual rounds of the game feature, the gaming system can display persistent game indicators at the symbol display areas. The game symbols may be replaced from round-to-round of the game feature. The persistent game indicators are held in the symbol display areas from round-to-round of the game feature such that the quantity of symbol display areas including the persistent game indicators accumulate during the game feature.

Abstract: A gaming system can provide a game including multiple rounds. Operations performed for individual rounds include randomly determining symbols for symbol display areas and displaying symbols. The operations also include determining winning symbol combinations based on the symbols. The operations also include determining a first award based on the winning symbol combinations. The operations also include increasing a quantity of rounds based on a quantity of bonus symbols included in the symbols. For bonus symbols determined for the symbol display areas previously lacking persistent indicators, display persistent indicators having an initial value. For the bonus symbols determined for symbol display areas previously including persistent indicators having current values less than a maximum value, increase the current values. The operations also include determining a second award based on the values of the persistent indicators.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a gaming system and method are disclosed as enabling improvements to game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to adjust game elements to different positions to improve game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome. In some embodiments, the player purchases the opportunity to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a gaming system and method are disclosed as enabling improvements to game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to adjust game elements to different positions to improve game outcomes. In some embodiments, the gaming system enables the player to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome. In some embodiments, the player purchases the opportunity to move one or more symbols to different symbol positions to improve a game outcome.

Abstract: A gaming system and method may include one or more non-interacting reels that can be used in a hold and respin feature or bonus game. In some implementations, the interacting symbols of the non-interacting reel can interact with symbols on associated reels to determine player awards.

Abstract: A gaming system and method may include a first set of gaming reels that is oriented a first way and at least one non-interacting reel that is oriented differently with respect to the first set of gaming reels. The gaming system may evaluate symbol combinations displayed on the first set of gaming reels without evaluating symbols displayed on the non-interacting reels to determine any winning symbol combinations. However, the symbols displayed on the non-interacting reels may interact with symbols on the first set of gaming reels to alter the displayed symbol combinations and thus change the winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a gaming system and method are disclosed as having a physics-based game for selecting a bonus game type. When a bonus game triggering event occurs in a base game, a physics-based game is executed by the gaming system. In one embodiment, the player provides an input that may allow a player to influence the behavior of a player game object in the physics-based game. Bonus game types are randomly associated with one or more physic-based game target areas. When the player game object is co-located with a game target area, the bonus game type associated with the game target area is determined. The gaming system may then select and execute a bonus game associated with the determined bonus game type.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a gaming system and method are disclosed as enabling replacements for one or more portions of an offered award. An offered award may comprise a plurality of different award values (e.g., portions of the offered award), where one or more of the plurality of award values can be selected for replacement in an attempt to improve the selected award values with larger award values. The gaming system may randomly generate replacement award values that are equal to zero, lower in value, equal in value, or greater in value than the award values selected for replacement. In other words, one or more portions of an offered award can be put at risk in attempt to improve the offered award.

Abstract: The gaming system and method includes a game that can be played in a first game state or a second game state with the possibility of different awards for each game state. The first game state enables a player to play the game and receive a first award. The first award may be a predetermined award and not based on the outcome the game in first game state. In some embodiments, the first award is not based on how well a player played a game. The second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on the outcome of the game in the second game state. In some embodiments, the second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on how well the player played the game in the second game state. In some embodiments, the player may selectively terminate play in the second game state and receive a consolation award.

Abstract: A gaming system and method includes a first set of reels, where the reels are each associated with a plurality of symbols. The gaming system and method further includes at least one row modifying reel having one or more modifying symbols. If the at least one row modifying reel stops during a play of a game and a modifying symbol is visibly displayed in a display area of the gaming system, the modifying symbol indicates a visible row of the first set of reels. The gaming system is specially programmed to cause certain symbols in the indicated row to behave differently than the same certain symbols that appear on a non-indicated row. The behavior of the certain symbols in the indicated row may also change the behavior of symbols around the certain symbols in the indicated row.

Abstract: The gaming system and method includes a game that can be played in a first game state or a second game state with the possibility of different awards for each game state. The first game state enables a player to play the game and receive a first award. The first award may be a predetermined award and not based on the outcome the game in first game state. In some embodiments, the first award is not based on how well a player played a game. The second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on the outcome of the game in the second game state. In some embodiments, the second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on how well the player played the game in the second game state.

Abstract: A gaming system and method includes a first set of reels, where the reels are each associated with a plurality of symbols. The gaming system and method further includes at least one row modifying reel having one or more modifying symbols. If the at least one row modifying reel stops during a play of a game and a modifying symbol is visibly displayed in a display area of the gaming system, the modifying symbol indicates a visible row of the first set of reels. The gaming system is specially programmed to cause certain symbols in the indicated row to behave differently than the same certain symbols that appear on a non-indicated row. The behavior of the certain symbols in the indicated row may also change the behavior of symbols around the certain symbols in the indicated row.

Abstract: The gaming system and method includes a symbol type conversion. The gaming system includes reels, whereby the reels are each associated with symbols from a set of symbols. During game play, the gaming system randomly generates a plurality of symbols from the set of symbols for the reels. Each symbol is associated with a symbol type. The gaming system selects a first symbol from the set of symbols associated with a first type of symbol and may convert the first symbol to a second symbol associated with a second symbol type, based on a symbol conversion mapping. The gaming system analyzes the displayed symbols for winning symbol combinations for player awards. In some implementations, the gaming system further analyzes the displayed symbols by evaluating the displayed symbols with the converted second symbol retaining a characteristic or property of the original first symbol to determine additional winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: The gaming system and method includes a game that can be played in a first game state or a second game state with the possibility of different awards for each game state. The first game state enables a player to play the game and receive a first award. The first award may be a predetermined award and not based on the outcome the game in first game state. In some embodiments, the first award is not based on how well a player played a game. The second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on the outcome of the game in the second game state. In some embodiments, the second game state enables the player to play the game and receive a second award based on how well the player played the game in the second game state.

Abstract: A gaming system and method includes a first set of reels, where the reels are each associated with a plurality of symbols. The gaming system and method further includes at least one row modifying reel having one or more modifying symbols. If the at least one row modifying reel stops during a play of a game and a modifying symbol is visibly displayed in a display area of the gaming system, the modifying symbol indicates a visible row of the first set of reels. The gaming system is specially programmed to cause certain symbols in the indicated row to behave differently than the same certain symbols that appear on a non-indicated row. The behavior of the certain symbols in the indicated row may also change the behavior of symbols around the certain symbols in the indicated row.

Abstract: A gaming system and method may include a first set of gaming reels that is oriented a first way and at least one non-interacting reel that is oriented differently with respect to the first set of gaming reels. The gaming system may evaluate symbol combinations displayed on the first set of gaming reels without evaluating symbols displayed on the non-interacting reels to determine any winning symbol combinations. However, the symbols displayed on the non-interacting reels may interact with symbols on the first set of gaming reels to alter the displayed symbol combinations and thus change the winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: The gaming system and method includes a symbol type conversion. The gaming system includes a set of reels, where the reels are each associated with a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols. During a game play, the gaming system randomly generates a plurality of symbols from the set of symbols for the reels. Each symbol is associated with a symbol type. The gaming system randomly selects a first symbol from the set of symbols associated with a first type of symbol. The first symbol may convert to a second symbol associated with a second symbol type, based on a symbol conversion mapping. In some embodiments, if the conversion results in a player benefit, the gaming system replaces at least one displayed first symbol with a display of the second symbol on the reels. The gaming system analyzes the displayed symbols for winning symbol combinations for player awards.