System and method for providing a game with splitting symbols

A method for providing a game operable on a gaming machine including a display device, a player input interface, and a processor, the method comprising:

• displaying, on the display device, a plurality of reels, each reel of the plurality of reels comprising respective pluralities of symbol positions configured to display respective symbols thereon, the display device defining a play area in which the plurality of reels are displayed;
• initiating a spin of the plurality of reels, the spin resulting in a random selection of a subset of symbols displayed on the plurality of reels;
• determining that a first occurrence of a splitting symbol is displayed at a first symbol position on a first reel of the plurality of reels;
• determining, in response to the first occurrence of the splitting symbol on the first reel, to activate a splitting symbol feature during the spin based at least in part on an output of a random number generator;
• replacing the splitting symbol on the first reel with an activated splitting symbol, thereby visually identifying activation of a splitting symbol feature during the spin;
• activating the splitting symbol feature as one of a first splitting symbol feature and a second splitting symbol feature based on the determination to activate the splitting symbol feature, the activating including at least inserting an additional symbol into one or more symbol positions of a subset of reels of the plurality of reels such that the first symbol position includes only the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, and such that each of the one or more symbol positions includes one of the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol and the additional symbol, wherein the subset of reels includes at least two reels of the plurality of reels and excludes the first reel of the plurality of reels and each reel of the subset of reels is positioned to the right of the first reel;
• and
• determining an award, if any, based at least in part on the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol, and each additional symbol.

A gaming system comprising:

• a gaming machine comprising a display device defining a play area that displays a plurality of reels, each reel of the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbol positions;
• and
• a server coupled to the gaming machine, the server comprising a processor, the processor executing instructions stored on a memory which cause the processor to at least:
• initiate a spin of the plurality of reels, the spin resulting in a random selection of a subset of symbols displayed on the plurality of reels;
• determine that a first occurrence of a splitting symbol is displayed at a first symbol position on a first reel of the plurality of reels;
• determine, in response to the first occurrence of the splitting symbol on the first reel, to activate a splitting symbol feature during the spin based at least in part on an output of a random number generator;
• replace the splitting symbol on the first reel with an activated splitting symbol, thereby visually identifying activation of a splitting symbol feature during the spin;
• activate the splitting symbol feature as one of a first splitting symbol feature and a second splitting symbol feature based on the determination to activate the splitting symbol feature, the activating including at least inserting an additional symbol into one or more symbol positions of a subset of reels of the plurality of reels such that the first symbol position includes only the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, and such that each of the one or more symbol positions includes one of the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol and the additional symbol, wherein the subset of reels includes at least two reels of the plurality of reels and excludes the first reel of the plurality of reels and each reel of the subset of reels is positioned to the right of the first reel;
• and
• determine an award, if any, based at least in part on the first occurrence of the splitting symbol, the one or more second occurrences of the splitting symbol, and each additional symbol.