Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position symbols. Each multiple symbol display position symbol is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position symbol to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position symbol must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of interacting symbols. In certain embodiments, the cascading symbol game utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices or grids. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions. In operation, the gaming system generates and displays a symbol at each symbol display position of each employed symbol display position matrix, wherein the gaming system utilizes a separate set or pool of available symbols for each employed symbol display position matrix. Upon an occurrence of an interacting symbol triggering event, such as the shifting of one or more symbols between symbol display position matrices, the gaming system causes one or more symbols to interact to provide one or more benefits to a player.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a selection game including a first set of selections associated with a plurality of different activatable selection game enhancements and a different second set of selections associated with a plurality of different awards. Generally, for a play of the selection game, the gaming system enables a player to use a quantity of picks to pick one or more selections of the first set to cause the gaming system to activate certain of the selection game enhancements without providing awards and/or to pick one or more selections of the second set to cause the gaming system to provide certain of the awards. Each selection game enhancement, when active, causes the gaming system to modify at least one feature of the selection game to increase the value of the remainder of the play of the selection game.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of symbol display position matrices and a plurality of different directions of symbol movement. Each symbol display position matrix includes a plurality of symbol display positions. At least one of the symbol display position matrices includes one or more symbol display positions linked to or otherwise associated with one or more symbol display positions of at least another of the symbol display position matrices. If the gaming system determines that one or more symbols will be repositioned from one or more symbol display positions of one symbol display position matrix to one or more linked symbol display positions of another symbol display position matrix, the gaming system determines a direction of movement of such symbols.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more upgrades in association with zero, one or more shifting symbols. Upon an occurrence of an upgrade event, the gaming system upgrades one or more aspects or attributes of one or more games played. In certain embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading the award evaluation of one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more attributes or features of one or more bonus or secondary games which are subsequently triggered.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a slot game and enabling accumulation of graphical image symbols. Generally, in various embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to accumulate graphical image symbols during play of the slot game and, when a complete set of the graphical image symbols is accumulated such that a graphical image associated with that complete set is displayed, provides a feature to the player. The gaming system of the present disclosure thus encourages players to continue play of the slot game to attempt to accumulate a complete set of the graphical image symbols such that the gaming system provides the feature.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more multiple symbol display position symbols. Each multiple symbol display position symbol is configured to occupy or span a plurality of symbol display positions of a symbol display position matrix. For a generated multiple symbol display position symbol to be removed from the symbol display matrix, each of the individual symbols of the multiple symbol display position symbol must individually qualify to be removed from the symbol display matrix.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more upgrades in association with zero, one or more shifting symbols. Upon an occurrence of an upgrade event, the gaming system upgrades one or more aspects or attributes of one or more games played. In certain embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading the award evaluation of one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more attributes or features of one or more bonus or secondary games which are subsequently triggered.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game employing a set of randomly selected reels. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a slot game associated with a plurality of adjacently arranged reels including a plurality of symbols. Each of a plurality of the reels is associated with one of a plurality of different features and an indicator representing that feature. The gaming system begins sequentially displaying the reels and any corresponding indicators. The gaming system selects a set of two or more of the reels and stops sequentially displaying the reels such that the selected reels are displayed. The gaming system generates and displays a plurality of the symbols on the selected reels, determines whether any winning symbol combinations are displayed, determines any awards associated with any displayed winning symbol combinations, and displays any determined awards.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a slot game having a surrounded symbol award evaluation. Generally, in various embodiments, for a play of the slot game having the surrounded symbol award evaluation the gaming system: (a) displays a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol display areas; (b) determines whether any displayed non-enclosing symbols are surrounded by a plurality of displayed enclosing symbols; and (c) if so, determines any awards based on the surrounded non-enclosing symbol(s). Thus, instead of (or in addition to) using a payline evaluation, a ways-to-win evaluation, a scatter pay evaluation, or any other evaluation of the displayed symbols to determine whether to provide any awards, the gaming system of the present disclosure does so by determining whether a particular type of symbol (such as an enclosing symbol) surrounds another type of symbol (such as a non-enclosing symbol).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game providing an award if a shape of a symbol displayed at a symbol display area corresponds to a shape of that symbol display area. Other embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game having a player-adjustable volatility. In certain embodiments, the game is the above-described game, while in other embodiments, the game is a different game. Generally, in certain such embodiments, the gaming system enables a player to tailor the overall volatility of a play of the game to the player's preference by selecting a desired combination of symbol display areas to employ for a play of the game.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a game employing a player-selected one of a plurality of different features. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a set of a plurality of different features, and enables a player to select one of the features for a play of the game. In certain instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game in accordance with the selected feature. In other instances, the gaming system provides the play of the game without the selected feature, and uses the selected feature to modify one of the other, non-selected features that has a designated relationship with the selected feature. The gaming system subsequently enables the player to select the modified feature for a subsequent play of the game.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method for determining one or more awards based on quantities of symbols included in one or more strings of related symbols. The gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of symbols each associated with one of a plurality of first characteristics and one of a plurality of second characteristics. The gaming system displays a plurality of the symbols. The gaming system determines whether a set of the symbols displayed along a payline path associated with a payline forms a string of related symbols. Symbols are related if the symbols share at least one of: (a) a same one of the set of first characteristics, and (b) a same one of the set of second characteristics. The gaming system determines any award based on a length of the string of related symbols.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.

Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game employing a set of randomly selected reels. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a slot game associated with a plurality of adjacently arranged reels including a plurality of symbols. Each of a plurality of the reels is associated with one of a plurality of different features and an indicator representing that feature. The gaming system begins sequentially displaying the reels and any corresponding indicators. The gaming system selects a set of two or more of the reels and stops sequentially displaying the reels such that the selected reels are displayed. The gaming system generates and displays a plurality of the symbols on the selected reels, determines whether any winning symbol combinations are displayed, determines any awards associated with any displayed winning symbol combinations, and displays any determined awards.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a slot game having a surrounded symbol award evaluation. Generally, in various embodiments, for a play of the slot game having the surrounded symbol award evaluation the gaming system: (a) displays a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol display areas; (b) determines whether any displayed non-enclosing symbols are surrounded by a plurality of displayed enclosing symbols; and (c) if so, determines any awards based on the surrounded non-enclosing symbol(s). Thus, instead of (or in addition to) using a payline evaluation, a ways-to-win evaluation, a scatter pay evaluation, or any other evaluation of the displayed symbols to determine whether to provide any awards, the gaming system of the present disclosure does so by determining whether a particular type of symbol (such as an enclosing symbol) surrounds another type of symbol (such as a non-enclosing symbol).

Abstract: A gaming system which displays a play of a selection game employing a plurality of awards. Each award has a value. Each award is also designated as either an available award or an unavailable award, wherein the designation of one or more of awards changes during the play of the selection game. Each award is further associated with a duration of which one, more or each of the other awards of the selection game are temporarily designated as unavailable for that player to pick. The gaming system enables a player to pick one of the awards currently designated as an available award. The gaming system provides the player the value of the picked award. The gaming system also designates one, more, or each of the remaining awards as unavailable to be picked by the player for the duration associated with the player picked award.