Gaming machine, control method for machine, and program for gaming machine

A method of operating a gaming machine including a cabinet, a display mounted to the cabinet, and a control unit including a processor operably coupled to the display, the method including the processor performing the algorithm steps of:

• displaying a game screen on the display including a plurality of reels;
• and
• conducting an instance of the game by:
• initiating a spin of the plurality of reels in a two-dimensional grid;
• stopping a first reel and detecting a trigger condition associated with the first reel;
• animating the plurality of reels into a three-dimensional grid as other reels spin upon detecting the trigger condition;
• and
• stopping the remaining reels to display an outcome of the game.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, when executed by at least one processor the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to perform steps of an algorithm including:

• displaying a game screen on a display of a gaming machine including a plurality of reels;
• and
• conducting an instance of the game by:
• initiating a spin of the plurality of reels in a two-dimensional grid;
• stopping a first reel and detecting a trigger condition associated with the first reel;
• animating the plurality of reels into a three-dimensional grid as other reels spin upon detecting the trigger condition;
• and
• stopping the remaining reels to display an outcome of the game.