Gaming system and method having row modifying reels with modifying symbols

A method of operating, a gaming system, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a monetary value acceptor, a monetary value;
• establishing, by a processor of the gaming system, a credit balance based at least in part on the received monetary value;
• accepting, from an input device in a housing of the gaming system, a wager amount
• decreasing, by the processor, the credit balance by the wager amount;
• displaying, on a display device of the housing, a plurality of symbol display areas including a first symbol display area and a second symbol display area;
• displaying, on the display device, a display of a plurality of randomly determined symbols from a first set of a plurality of symbols in said first symbol display area;
• displaying, on the display device, a second plurality of randomly determined symbols from a second set of symbols in the second symbol display area, the second plurality of randomly determined symbols further comprising at least one modifying symbol;
• determining, by the processor, if any of the displayed plurality of randomly determined symbols is a predetermined symbol and if the at least one modifying symbol is horizontally aligned with any predetermined symbol;
• altering, by the processor, at least one symbol of the displayed plurality of randomly determined symbols in the first symbol display area into a symbol that is different from the modifying symbol if the predetermined symbol is determined to be displayed and if the at least one modifying symbol is horizontally aligned with the predetermined symbol, wherein the at least one modifying symbol remains displayed;
• determining, by the processor, any awards based on the symbols displayed in the first symbol display area and the wager, wherein the award determination is independent of the at least one modifying symbol:
• displaying, on the display device, an determined awards;
• increasing, by the processor, the credit balance by any determined awards;
• and
• issuing another monetary value, by the value dispenser, based on the credit balance upon receipt of a cash out signal is an input device a the gaming system.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having machine instructions stored therein, the instructions being, executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

• establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value received by a value acceptor of a gaming device;
• place a wager following receipt of a wager input is an input device, the credit balance being decreased by the wager;
• cause a display device to display a plurality of symbol display areas including a first symbol display area and a second symbol display area;
• cause the display device to display a plurality of randomly determined symbols from a first set of a plurality of symbols in the first symbol display area;
• cause the display device to display a second plurality of randomly determined symbols from a second set of symbols in the second symbol display area, the second plurality of randomly determined symbols further comprising at least one modifying symbol;
• determine if any of the displayed plurality of randomly determined symbols is a predetermined symbol and if the at least one modifying symbol is horizontally aligned with any predetermined symbol;
• alter at least one symbol of the displayed plurality of randomly determined symbols in the first symbol display area into a symbol that is different from the modifying symbol if the predetermined symbol is determined to be displayed and if the at least one modifying symbol is horizontally aligned with the predetermined symbol, wherein the at least one modifying symbol remains displayed;
• determine any awards based on the symbols displayed in the first symbol display area and the wager, wherein the award determination is independent of the at least one modifying symbol;
• cause the display device to display any determined awards, the credit balance being increased by any determined awards;
• and
• issue value from the value dispenser based on the credit balance upon receipt of a cash out signal via the input device.