Abstract: A gaming system for play of a game, comprising: a display having a display area for play of a game; a credit acceptor to enable input of credit for wagering on the play of the game; and a game controller, said game controller comprising: a first set of symbols, each symbol having a predefined location in said first set relative to others of said symbols; and a second set of symbols; and wherein the game controller is configured to incorporate the second set of symbols prescribed by a schema into the first set by adding the predefined number of said second set of symbols prescribed by the schema into the first set relative to a selected location in said first set so as to define a modified symbol set, to select from the modified symbol set a plurality of symbols for a game outcome, to display in the display area symbols from the modified symbol set for play of the game, and to display a game outcome based on the selected symbols from the modified symbol set.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to symbol and reel substitution methods for slot machines. In one embodiment, A method of making a game is provided comprising selecting a plurality of reels with a plurality of symbol positions; selecting, by a random number generator, a selected template from a plurality of templates stored on a memory; populating symbol positions on the reels with symbols from the memory according to the selected template; displaying the reels on a visual display device; and issuing an award if a winning symbol combination appears on the visual display device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to symbol and reel substitution methods for slot machines. In one embodiment, a method of operating a slot machine is provided that may comprise providing a slot machine including a reel, the reel including symbol positions; a plurality of symbols, at least one of the plurality of symbols located at each of the symbol positions on the reel, wherein the plurality of symbols comprises a reserved symbol being designated for substitution; a set of symbol replacement schemas, each symbol replacement schema identifying one replacement symbol for replacing the reserved symbol for the reel; and at least one processor for playing a slot machine game that may comprise the steps of receiving a command from a player; selecting a symbol replacement schema; and replacing the reserved symbol on the reel with a replacement symbol in accordance with the selected symbol replacement schema.