A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
- (a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of different symbols at each of a plurality of symbol display positions of each of a plurality of symbol display position grids, wherein:
- (i) each symbol display position grid is associated with a different depth,
- (ii) the plurality of symbol display positions of each of the symbol display position grids form at least three columns and at least three rows including a first row, a second row positioned adjacent to the first row and a third row positioned adjacent to the second row, and
- (iii) at least one of the symbol display positions of a first one of the symbol display position grids associated with a first depth correspond to at least one of the symbol display positions of a second one of the symbol display position grids associated with a second, different depth;
- (b) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of the generated symbols, wherein:
- (i) at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of a plurality of the symbol display position grids of different depths are initially displayed, and
- (ii) at least one of the symbols generated at at least one of the symbol display positions of at least one of the symbol display position grids is not initially displayed;
- (c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if any of the displayed symbols form any winning symbol combinations;
- and
- (d) if a plurality of the displayed symbols form at least one winning symbol combination:
- (i) causing the at least one display device to display an award for each displayed winning symbol combination,
- (ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to remove at least one displayed symbol from at least one displayed winning symbol combination,
- (iii) for each of any symbols removed from the first row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol, and
- (iv) for each of any symbols removed from the second row of the symbol display positions of any of the symbol display position grids, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reposition at least one of the displayed symbols to another one of the symbol display positions of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol to create at least one empty symbol display position of the symbol display position grid of the removed symbol.