Wagering Game Having Multi-Array Symbol Placement Feature

A method of operating a gaming system in communication with one or more processors, the method comprising:

• displaying, on at least one of one or more display devices, a first plurality of symbol-bearing reels that form a first symbol array, the plurality of symbol-bearing reels including at least one triggering symbol, the triggering symbol including a quantifier associated therewith;
• displaying, on at least one of the one or more display devices, a second plurality of symbol-bearing reels that form a second symbol array, the second symbol array being larger than the first symbol array;
• moving and stopping the first plurality of symbol-bearing reels to populate the first symbol array with symbols;
• in response to a triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, filling a number of symbol positions within the second symbol array with a first symbol, the number being defined by the quantifier associated with the triggering symbol;
• moving and stopping the second plurality of symbol-bearing reels to populate the second symbol array with symbols, the second symbol array including the symbol positions filled with the first symbol after the second plurality of symbol-bearing reels are stopped;
• and
• providing an award based on one or more winning symbol combinations in the second array with the first symbols filled in the symbol positions.

A method of operating a gaming system in communication with one or more processors, the method comprising:

• displaying, on at least one of one or more display devices, a first symbol array and a second symbol array;
• in response to a triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, selecting, by at least one of one or more processors, a symbol-placement pattern from a first set of symbol-placement patterns for the second array, the selected symbol-placement pattern including multiple symbol positions;
• placing a first symbol into the multiple symbol positions defined by the selected symbol-placement pattern for the second symbol array;
• and
• providing an award based on one or more winning symbol combinations in the second array with the first symbols placed into the symbol positions.

A method of operating a gaming system in communication with one or more processors, the method comprising:

• displaying, on at least one of one or more display devices, a first symbol array and a second symbol array that is distinct from the first symbol array, the first symbol array capable of displaying a first triggering symbol and a second triggering symbol, the first triggering symbol being associated with a first number “n”, the second triggering symbol being associated with a second number “m”, the second number “m” being larger than the first number “n”;
• in response to only the first triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, placing a first symbol into “n” number of symbol positions within the second symbol array;
• in response to only the second triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, placing the first symbol into “m” number of symbol positions within the second symbol array;
• in response to both the first triggering symbol and the second triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, placing the first symbol into “x” number of symbol positions within the second symbol array, wherein the number “x” is equal to the summation of the number “n” and the number “m”;
• and
• providing an award based on winning symbol combinations in the second array with the first symbols placed into the symbol positions.

A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:

• one or more display devices;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to:
• display, on at least one of one or more display devices, a first symbol array and a second symbol array,
• in response to a triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, place a first symbol into a number of symbol positions within the second symbol array, the number being defined by a quantifier associated with the triggering symbol,
• provide an award based on one or more winning symbol combinations in the second array with the first symbols placed in the symbol positions.

A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:

• one or more display devices;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to:
• display, on at least one of the one or more display devices, a first plurality of symbol-bearing reels that form a first symbol array, the plurality of symbol-bearing reels including at least one triggering symbol, the triggering symbol including a quantifier associated therewith,
• display, on at least one of the one or more display devices, a second plurality of symbol-bearing reels that form a second symbol array, the second symbol array being larger than the first symbol array,
• move and stop the first plurality of symbol-bearing reels to populate the first symbol array with symbols,
• in response to a triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, fill a number of symbol positions within the second symbol array with a first symbol, the number being defined by the quantifier associated with the triggering symbol,
• move and stop the second plurality of symbol-bearing reels to populate the second symbol array with symbols, the second symbol array including the symbol positions filled with the first symbol after the second plurality of symbol-bearing reels are stopped, and
• provide an award based on one or more winning symbol combinations in the second array with the first symbols filled in the symbol positions.

A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:

• one or more display devices;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to:
• display, on at least one of the one or more display devices, a first symbol array and a second symbol array;
• in response to a triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, select, by at least one of the one or more processors, a symbol-placement pattern from a first set of symbol-placement patterns for the second array, the symbol-placement pattern including multiple symbol positions,
• place a first symbol into the multiple symbol positions defined by the selected symbol-placement pattern for the second symbol array, and
• provide an award based on one or more winning symbol combinations in the second array with the first symbols placed into the symbol positions.

A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:

• one or more display devices;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to:
• display, on at least one of the one or more display devices, a first symbol array and a second symbol array that is distinct from the first symbol array, the first symbol array capable of displaying a first triggering symbol and a second triggering symbol, the first triggering symbol being associated with a first number “n”, the second triggering symbol being associated with a second number “m”, the second number “m” being larger than the first number “n”,
• in response to only the first triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, place a first symbol into “n” number of symbol positions within the second symbol array,
• in response to only the second triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, place the first symbol into “m” number of symbol positions within the second symbol array,
• in response to both the first triggering symbol and the second triggering symbol appearing in the first symbol array, place the first symbol into “x” number of symbol positions within the second symbol array, wherein the number “x” is equal to the summation of the number “n” and the number “m”, and
• provide an award based on winning symbol combinations in the second array with the first symbols placed into the symbol positions.