Gaming machine and methods of upgrading game symbols in an outcome of a game

A method of providing a game to a player on a gaming machine having a display device and a controller, the game having an associated set of game symbols, the game symbols in the set of game symbols being arranged in a predetermined order from a lowest value to a highest value, the method including the steps of:

• the controller displaying on the display device a plurality of symbol regions, the symbol regions being arranged in a grid;
• the controller randomly selecting an initial outcome of the game, the initial outcome of the game including an initial game symbol associated with each of the symbol regions;
• and,
• the controller detecting a triggering condition associated with the initial outcome of the game and responsively identifying the initial game symbol being displayed in at least one predetermined symbol region, determining a ranking of the initial game symbol within the predetermined order of game symbols, determining an offset from the initial game symbol within the predetermined order of game symbols, and replacing the initial game symbol with a replacement symbol to establish a secondary outcome of the game, the replacement symbol being determined as a function of the ranking of the initial symbol within the predetermined order of the game symbols and the determined offset from the initial game symbol ranking.

A non-transitory information recording medium on which a computer readable program is recorded that causes a computer to function as a gaming machine being configured to allow a player to play a game, the game having an associated set of game symbols, the game symbols in the set of game symbols being arranged in a predetermined order from a lowest value to a highest value, the program causing the computer to function as a:

• a controller coupled to a display device, the display device configured to display a plurality of symbol regions, the symbol regions being arranged in a grid, the display device being further configured to display one of the plurality of game symbols in each of the symbol regions, the controller being configured to randomly select an initial outcome of the game, the initial outcome of the game including an initial game symbol associated with each of the symbol regions, the controller being further configured to detect a triggering condition associated with the initial outcome of the game and to responsively identify the initial game symbol being displayed in at least one predetermined symbol region, determine a ranking of the initial game symbol within the predetermined order of game symbols, determine an offset from the initial game symbol within the predetermined order of game symbols, and replace the initial game symbol with a replacement symbol to establish a secondary outcome of the game, the replacement symbol being determined as a function of the ranking of the initial game symbol within the predetermined order of the game symbols and the determined offset from the initial game symbol ranking.