Gaming system and method having non-interacting reels while evaluating displayed symbol combinations for winning symbol combinations

A gaming system comprising:

• a cabinet;
• a processor;
• a display device supported by the cabinet;
• an input device supported by the cabinet;
• a value acceptor supported by the cabinet;
• a value dispenser supported by the cabinet;
• a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value received by the value acceptor;
• receive a wager input from the input device, the credit balance being decreased by the wager;
• randomly generate a first plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols;
• display, using the display device, the first plurality of symbols in a plurality of first reels;
• randomly generate at least one interacting symbol from a second set of symbols;
• display, using the display device, the at least one interacting symbol in a second reel that is different from the plurality of first reels, wherein the second reel comprises a plurality of symbol display areas and at least one of the plurality of symbol display areas of the second reel corresponds to one of the plurality of first reels;
• determine that a predetermined symbol is displayed in the one of the plurality of first reels, wherein the predetermined symbol is configured to interact with the at least one interacting symbol;
• alter a symbol of the first plurality of symbols based on the at least one interacting symbol interacting with the predetermined symbol;
• display, using the display device, the altered symbol;
• determine an award based on a winning combination of the altered symbol and unaltered symbols of the first plurality of symbols, without including the interacting symbol in the winning combination;
• display the award, the credit balance being increased by the award;
• and
• issue value from the value dispenser based on the credit balance upon receipt of a cash out signal.

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

• receiving a monetary value through a value acceptor of the gaming system;
• establishing a credit balance based at least in part on the received monetary value;
• receiving a wager input from an input device of the gaming system, the credit balance being decreased by the wager;
• randomly generating, using a processor and a random number generator of the gaming system, a first plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols;
• displaying, using a display device of the gaming system, the first plurality of symbols in a plurality of first reels;
• randomly generating, using the processor and the random number generator, at least one interacting symbol from a second set of symbols;
• displaying, using the display device, the at least one interacting symbol in a second reel that is different from the plurality of first reels, wherein the second reel comprises a plurality of symbol display areas and at least one of the plurality of symbol display areas of the second reel corresponds to one of the plurality of first reels;
• determining, using the processor, that a predetermined symbol is displayed in the one of the plurality of first reels, wherein the predetermined symbol is configured to interact with the at least one interacting symbol;
• altering, using the processor, a symbol of the first plurality of symbols based on the at least one interacting symbol interacting with the predetermined symbol;
• displaying, using the display device, the altered symbol;
• determining, using the processor, an award based on a winning combination of the altered symbol and unaltered symbols of the first plurality of symbols, without including the interacting symbol in the winning combination;
• displaying the award, the credit balance being increased by the award;
• and
• issuing value, from a value dispenser of the gaming system, based on the credit balance upon receipt of a cash out signal.

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

• receive a monetary value through a value acceptor of a gaming system;
• establish a credit balance based at least in part on the received monetary value;
• receive a wager input from an input device of the gaming system, the credit balance being decreased by the wager;
• randomly generate, using a random number generator of the gaming system, a first plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols;
• display, using a display device of the gaming system, the first plurality of symbols in a plurality of first reels;
• randomly generate, using the random number generator, at least one interacting symbol from a second set of symbols;
• display, using the display device, the at least one interacting symbol in a second reel that is different from the plurality of first reels, wherein the second reel comprises a plurality of symbol display areas and at least one of the plurality of symbol display areas of the second reel corresponds to one of the plurality of first reels;
• determine, using the processor, that a predetermined symbol is displayed in the one of the plurality of first reels, wherein the predetermined symbol is configured to interact with the at least one interacting symbol;
• alter, using the processor, a symbol of the first plurality of symbols based on the at least one interacting symbol interacting with the predetermined symbol;
• display, using the display device, the altered symbol;
• determine, using the processor, an award based on a winning combination of the altered symbol and unaltered symbols of the first plurality of symbols, without including the interacting symbol in the winning combination;
• display the award, the credit balance being increased by the award;
• and
• issue value, from a value dispenser of the gaming system, based on the credit balance upon receipt of a cash out signal.