Enhanced visualization of optimized symbol combinations in response to automatically determined symbol shift conditions

A method of playing a wagering game via a gaming system having a game controller, a display device, and a credit input mechanism configured to receive a credit value that increases a credit balance of a credit meter, the method comprising:

• presenting a plurality of reels along the display device, wherein each reel presents a row of display positions for presenting symbols, the symbols presented at the display positions comprising non-blank symbols and blank symbols;
• presenting on the display device that the credit balance decreases the credit balance based on a wager;
• animating, using the display device, spinning of the plurality of reels horizontally to obtain a first game outcome comprising an array of the symbols in a first arrangement at the display positions;
• animating, using the display device, a horizontal shift of the one or more of the non-blank symbols with respect to the one or more of the blank symbols in one or more of the reels to obtain a second game outcome, wherein the second game outcome comprises a second arrangement of the symbols at the display positions corresponding with an award outcome that exceeds an award outcome for the first arrangement of symbols;
• and
• presenting on the display device an adjustment of the credit balance being displayed by the award outcome of the second arrangement of the symbols.

A gaming system, comprising

• a gaming server operatively coupled to a gaming device via a network, wherein the gaming device comprises a display device, the gaming server configured to:
• cause the display device to present a plurality of reels, wherein each reel presents a row or column of display positions for presenting symbols, the symbols presented at the display positions comprising non-blank symbols and blank symbols;
• cause the display device to present a decrease of a credit balance based on a wager;
• cause the display device to present a spin animation that spins the plurality of reels horizontally to obtain a first game outcome comprising an array of the symbols in a first arrangement at the display positions, the symbols in the first arrangement based on one or more random outcomes generated from a random number generator;
• determine whether the first arrangement of the symbols includes one or more of the blank symbols;
• and
• based on a determination that the first arrangement of the symbols includes one or more of the blank symbols:
• determine whether shifting one or more of the non-blank symbols horizontally in either direction with respect to the one or more of the blank symbols in each reel results in a second game outcome comprising a second arrangement of the symbols at the display positions corresponding with an award outcome larger than an award outcome for the first arrangement of symbols;
• cause the display device to animate a horizontal shift of the one or more of the non-blank symbols with respect to the one or more of the blank symbols in each reel to obtain the second game outcome based on a determination that the shifting results in the award outcome larger than the award outcome for the first arrangement of symbols;
• and
• cause the display device to present a modification of the credit balance by the award outcome of the second arrangement of the symbols.