Association or linking of symbol bearing array elements in a gaming machine

A method of operating a gaming system primarily dedicated to playing at least one regulated casino wagering game including a wagering game component having a symbol array of individual array elements, each individual array element having a respective reel defined by a corresponding default reel strip, the gaming system including a secure gaming cabinet, game-logic circuitry, and an electronic display device coupled to the gaming cabinet, the method comprising:

• initiating the at least one regulated casino wagering game including the wagering game component;
• and in response to initiating the wagering game component,
• linking, by the game-logic circuitry, a plurality, but not all, of the individual array elements prior to displaying an outcome of the wagering game component, the linking based, at least in part, on one or more random elements;
• randomly selecting, by the game-logic circuitry, a common reel strip to replace the default reel strips of the linked array elements;
• displaying, on the electronic display device, the reels of the plurality of array elements of the symbol array actively spinning, the default reel strips of the linked array elements being replaced prior to stopping the active spinning of the reels;
• displaying, on the electronic display device, the outcome of the wagering game component by stopping the active spinning of the reels of the plurality of array elements of the symbol array at a specific reel stop position of the corresponding reel strip for each array element, each of the plurality of array elements displaying a randomly selected game-outcome symbol, wherein the game-outcome symbols displayed by each of the linked array elements are the same symbol.

A gaming system primarily dedicated to playing at least one regulated casino wagering game including a wagering game component having a symbol array of individual array elements, each individual array element having a respective reel defined by a corresponding default reel strip, the gaming system comprising:

• a secure gaming cabinet for housing components associated with the at least one regulated casino wagering game;
• an electronic display device coupled to the gaming cabinet;
• and
• game-logic circuitry configured to:
• initiate the at least one regulated casino wagering game including the wagering game component;
• and in response to initiating the wagering game component,
• link a plurality, but not all, of the individual array elements, the linking based, at least in part, on one or more random elements;
• randomly select a common reel strip to replace the default reel strips of the linked array elements;
• direct the electronic display device to display the reels of the plurality of array elements of the symbol array actively spinning, the default reel strips of the linked array elements being replaced prior to stopping the active spinning of the reels;
• and
• direct the electronic display device to display an outcome of the wagering game component by stopping the active spinning of the reels of the plurality of array elements of the symbol array at a specific reel stop position of the corresponding reel strip for each array element, each of the plurality of array elements displaying a randomly selected game-outcome symbol, wherein the game-outcome symbols displayed by each of the reels of the linked array elements are the same symbol.