Systems and methods for playing an electronic game including merge and unmerge operations

An electronic gaming system comprising:

• a display configured to display a wagering game;
• a player input interface configured to receive a player input;
• a credit input mechanism including at least one of a card reader, a ticket reader, a bill acceptor, and a coin input mechanism, the credit input mechanism configured to receive a credit wager, the credit wager initiating play of the wagering game;
• a game controller for controlling the wagering game;
• and
• a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the game controller, cause the game controller to perform operations comprising:
• generating, by the game controller, a plurality of reel strips that each include a column of symbol display positions that are each positioned adjacent at least one other symbol display position;
• selecting, by the game controller, a first plurality of symbol display positions;
• displaying, by the game controller, a symbol in each of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions;
• evaluating, by the game controller, each of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions;
• merging, by the game controller and based upon the evaluating, at least two adjacent symbol display positions of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions;
• generating, by the game controller, a game outcome based upon the merging;
• and
• generating, by the game controller, a game award based upon the game outcome.

An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible, computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a game controller configured for electronic gaming, cause the game controller to perform operations comprising:

• generating, by the game controller, a plurality of reel strips that each include a column of symbol display positions that are each positioned adjacent at least one other symbol display position;
• selecting, by the game controller, a first plurality of symbol display positions;
• displaying, by the game controller, a symbol in each of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions;
• evaluating, by the game controller, each of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions;
• merging, by the game controller and based upon the evaluating, at least two adjacent symbol display positions of the selected first plurality of symbol display positions;
• generating, by the game controller, a game outcome based upon the merging;
• and
• generating, by the game controller, a game award based upon the game outcome.