Gaming machine and method of operating a gaming machine displaying games including trigger frame multiplier zones

A method of operating a gaming machine including a cabinet, a display device mounted to the cabinet, and a control unit including a processor operably coupled to the display device, the method including the processor performing the algorithm steps of:

• displaying a game screen on the display device including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid including a plurality of rows and columns and a plurality of primary game reels displayed within the grid, each primary game reel being displayed in a corresponding column;
• and
• conducting an instance of a game by:
• spinning and stopping the plurality of primary game reels to display a game outcome;
• detecting a trigger condition including a plurality of special symbols appearing in the game outcome and responsively initiating a bonus feature by:
• establishing a plurality of multiplier zones within the grid, each multiplier zone having an associated multiplier value and being displayed with a corresponding cell displaying a special symbol;
• replacing the primary reels with a plurality of independent reels including a plurality of primary game symbols and at least one prize symbol, each independent reel being displayed within a different cell and being displayed in an initial position displaying a primary game symbol;
• and
• conducting an instance of the bonus feature by:
• spinning and stopping the plurality of independent reels;
• and
• modifying each prize symbol being displayed within a multiplier zone by increasing a value associated with the prize symbol based on a corresponding multiplier value associated with a corresponding multiplier zone.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, when executed by at least one processor the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to perform steps of an algorithm including:

• displaying a game screen on a display device including a plurality of cells arranged in a grid including a plurality of rows and columns and a plurality of primary game reels displayed within the grid, each primary game reel being displayed in a corresponding column;
• and
• conducting an instance of a game by:
• spinning and stopping the plurality of primary game reels to display a game outcome;
• detecting a trigger condition including a plurality of special symbols appearing in the game outcome and responsively initiating a bonus feature by:
• establishing a plurality of multiplier zones within the grid, each multiplier zone having an associated multiplier value and being displayed with a corresponding cell displaying a special symbol;
• replacing the primary reels with a plurality of independent reels including a plurality of primary game symbols and at least one prize symbol, each independent reel being displayed within a different cell and being displayed in an initial position displaying a primary game symbol;
• and
• conducting an instance of the bonus feature by:
• spinning and stopping the plurality of independent reels;
• and
• modifying each prize symbol being displayed within a multiplier zone by increasing a value associated with the prize symbol based on a corresponding multiplier value associated with a corresponding multiplier zone.