Gaming device implementing multi-reel symbols from prior game results

A method of operating a gaming device including a display having a game play grid showing portions of a plurality of game reels, a wager input device structured to receive physical items associated with currency values, a memory configured to store a credit amount, and a processor, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal from the wager input device indicating receipt of a physical item associated with a currency value;
• increasing the credit amount stored in the memory based on the currency value of the received physical item;
• receiving a first game initiation signal indicating a wager amount, the wager amount deducted from the credit amount stored in the memory;
• determining an outcome for a first gaming event;
• displaying the determined first game outcome in the game play grid of the display,
• determining if a block-creating criterion is satisfied based on the determined first game outcome;
• forming a block symbol on a first game reel and a second game reel when the block-creating criterion is satisfied, the block symbol occupying symbol positions on both the first game reel and the second game reel;
• receiving a second game initiation signal;
• determining an outcome for a second gaming event, where the outcome determination for the second gaming event includes using the block symbol formed from the first game outcome;
• displaying the determined second game outcome in the game play grid of the display;
• and
• evaluating the determined second game outcome to identify winning symbol combinations.

A gaming device comprising:

• a display including a video screen having a game play grid showing portions of a plurality of game reels;
• a player interface including at least one button, the button configured to generate a signal in response to being activated;
• a wager input device structured to receive physical items associated with currency values;
• a memory configured to store a credit amount;
• and
• a processor operable to:
• receive a signal from the wager input device indicating receipt of a physical item associated with a currency value,
• increase the credit amount stored in the memory based on the currency value of the received physical item,
• receive a game initiation signal indicating a wager amount, the wager amount deducted from the credit amount stored in the memory,
• determine an outcome for a first gaming event,
• display the determined game outcome in the game play grid of the display,
• evaluate the determined game outcome to identify winning symbol combinations,
• initiate a free spins bonus having a first number of free spins when a bonus triggering condition is satisfied by the first game outcome,
• initiate a first free spin of the free spin bonus,
• determine an outcome for the first free spin,
• display the determined first free spin outcome in the game play grid of the display,
• form a multi-reel symbol when a symbol on a first game reel is adjacent to a substantially identical symbol on a second game reel in the game play grid of the display based on the first free spin outcome, where the multi-reel symbol is formed by combining the two substantially identical symbols on the first game reel and the second game reel,
• initiate a second free spin of the free spin bonus,
• determine an outcome for the second free spin, where the outcome determination for the second free spin includes using the multi-reel symbol formed from the first free spin,
• display the determined second free spin outcome in the game play grid of the display,
• provide awards associated with any identified winning symbol combinations for the game outcome, the first free spin, and the second free spin, where the credit amount stored in the memory is increased based on the provided awards.