Gaming machine including one or more grouped held value symbols

• Main Authors: CARTER, Elizabeth, YOU, Qin, WILKINS, Peter, GILBERTSON, Ross Malcolm, CHESWORTH, Jack, YIN, Yanhua
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.12.2021
• Subjects: AMUSEMENTS; CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; CHECKING-DEVICES; COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS; GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; PHYSICS; SPORTS; VIDEO GAMES

Disclosed is a gaming system including a gaming machine primarily dedicated for use in playing at least one regulated casino wagering game. In response to a triggering event, the gaming system initiates play of a feature game. Initiating the feature game includes randomly selecting a set of symbols from a plurality of symbols, the plurality of symbols including standard symbols and value symbols, the value symbols being associated with one or more values, displaying the set of symbols in an array on the electronic display device, combining adjacent ones of the value symbols into a single larger composite symbol according to a set of combination rules that favors creating a taller composite symbol over a wider composite symbol and hold any remaining ones of the value symbols in place in the array, replacing one or more of the remaining standard symbols with respective replacement symbols randomly selected from the plurality of symbols. In response to the replacement symbols including another one or more of the value symbols adjacent to the composite symbol, the gaming system further combines the newly adjacent value symbols with the composite symbol. Tt the conclusion of the feature game, the gaming system generates a special reel comprising a set of prize values, wherein the set of prize values increases in value according to the size of the composite symbol, reveals and spin the special reel to determine a prize value from the set of prize values and modifies the credit balance at least by the determined prize value, the modified credit balance presented by the at least one meter. [11955439_1]