Gaming device for awarding additional feature game instances with controlled oversized symbols

A gaming device comprising:

• a display;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a) a plurality of reel strips for use when one or more game instances are awarded, the plurality of reel strips corresponding to a plurality of columns of symbol positions, each reel strip of a subset of the plurality of reel strips comprising a designated symbol, and each of the plurality of columns of symbol positions having a plurality of symbol positions, and b) instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to at least:
• responsive to an award condition being met, award a plurality of game instances initially,
• for a current game instance of the plurality of game instances initially awarded:
• animate on the display a plurality of symbols selected from the plurality of reel strips populating the plurality of columns of symbol positions not populated with the designated symbol, based on a random number generated by a random number generator,
• responsive to the designated symbol being selected for one symbol position in one column of symbol positions on the display, animate all symbol positions in the one column of symbol positions being populated with the designated symbol, prior to evaluation, for the current game instance and at least one remaining game instance,
• responsive to a second column of symbol positions adjacent to the one column of symbol positions having been populated with a second designated symbol, animate the designated symbol combining with the second designated symbol to form a third designated symbol occupying both the one column of symbol positions and the second column of symbol positions,
• display an award at least one additional game instance and cap a total number of additional game instances to be awarded during the game instances with the game instances initially awarded, a number of reel strips having the designated symbol, and the additional game instances awarded in the current game instance, and
• evaluate the plurality of symbols selected for the columns of symbol positions unoccupied by the third designated symbol and the third designated symbol displayed in the current game instance for winning combinations.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed, cause a processor to perform the steps of:

• responsive to an award condition being displayed on a display device at a gaming device, initiating a display via the display device of the gaming device of a plurality of game instances initially;
• and
• for a current game instance of the plurality of game instances initially awarded:
• controlling the display device to animate a plurality of symbols selected from a plurality of reel strips populating a plurality of columns of symbol positions not populated with a designated symbol, based on a random number generated by a random number generator,
• responsive to the designated symbol being selected for one symbol position in one column of symbol positions on the display device, animating all symbol positions in the one column of symbol positions being populated with the designated symbol, prior to evaluation, for the current game instance and at least one remaining game instance,
• responsive to a second column of symbol positions adjacent to the one column of symbol positions having been populated with a second designated symbol, animating the designated symbol combining with the second designated symbol to form a third designated symbol occupying both the one column of symbol positions and the second column of symbol positions,
• animating an award at least one additional game instance and cap a total number of additional game instances to be awarded during the game instances with the game instances initially awarded, a number of reel strips having the designated symbol, and the additional game instances awarded in the current game instance, and
• evaluating the plurality of symbols selected for the columns of symbol positions unoccupied by the third designated symbol and the third designated symbol displayed in the current game instance for winning combinations.