Gaming system and method with a targeted persistent element feature

A method of operating a gaming machine, the gaming machine including game-logic circuitry, a presentation assembly, a first memory storing an authentication program and a trusted authentication code, and a second memory storing game-execution code and programming for a random number generator (RNG) configured to cycle continuously in the background between play cycles and during play cycles at a speed that cannot be timed by a player, the method comprising the operations of:

• executing, by the authentication program, authentication of the game-execution code and the RNG programming stored in the second memory by generating a live authentication code based on contents of the second memory and comparing the live authentication code to the trusted authentication code stored in the first memory, and permitting execution of the game-execution code only when the comparing indicates a match;
• in response to the permitting, conducting, by the game-logic circuitry executing the game-execution code, a base game including:
• presenting, by the presentation assembly, a meter, a base array, a plurality of symbol-bearing base reels, and a plurality of persistent elements, each persistent element having an associated game feature and an associated accumulation symbol;
• maintaining, in at least one of the first memory or the second memory, a persistent-element state record indicative of an accumulation state of each persistent element of the plurality of persistent elements, the persistent-element state record being maintained across play cycles;
• conducting a base game spin of the base reels, using the RNG, to land symbols from the base reels in the base array;
• and
• if the landed symbols do not include any accumulation symbol, foregoing any random determination of whether or not to award a game feature;
• and
• in response to the landed symbols including a first accumulation symbol:
• animating an addition of the first accumulation symbol to its associated first persistent element;
• and
• updating the persistent-element state record to reflect the addition of the first accumulation symbol to the associated first persistent element;
• and
• randomly determining, using the RNG, whether or not to award a first game feature associated with the first persistent element;
• and
• in response to awarding the first game feature:
• animating designation of at least one location within the bonusthe base array as associated with the first game feature;
• implementing the first game feature via the game-logic circuitry, wherein the implementing comprises:
• conducting one of more bonus spins of a plurality of bonus reels, comprising value-bearing symbols, to land symbols from the bonus reels in thethe base array;
• and
• for each bonus spin, in response to a value-bearing symbol bearing an initial value landing in a location designated as associated with the first game feature, applying rules associated with the first game feature to one or more of the remaining landed symbols.