Gameplay Method with Connected Image Segments

A method of presenting an award on an electronic gaming system having at least one server coupled to a client device, the at least one server operable to obtain a randomly generated outcome based on a random number generator meeting a return-to-player, the client device coupled to the at least one server and having a plurality of display positions arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, a device processor and memory storing a symbol set, the symbol set including game symbols, some of the game symbols having a plurality of image segments, a subset of the plurality of image segments forming a contiguous image, the method comprising:

• transmitting data indicative of the outcome from the at least one server to the client device;
• causing the client device to display a subset of game symbols selected including the contiguous image initially occupying the plurality of columns based on the data received;
• causing the client device to animate the contiguous image from being displayed in the plurality of columns to being displayed in a decreased number of columns;
• and
• when the decreased number of columns reaches a single column, revealing the award at a first display position in the single column to meet the return-to-player.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a symbol set, the symbol set including game symbols, some of the game symbols having a plurality of image segments, a subset of the plurality of image segments forming a contiguous image, and a plurality of device instructions in a client device that comprises a device processor and having a plurality of display positions arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the client device being networked to at least one server, the at least one server operable to randomly determine an outcome meeting a return-to-player, and the device instructions, which, when executed, cause the device processor to perform the steps of:

• receiving data indicative of the outcome from the server;
• displaying on the client device a subset of game symbols selected including the contiguous image initially occupying the plurality of columns based on the data received from the server;
• animating on the client device the contiguous image from being displayed in a subset of display positions in the plurality of columns to being displayed in a decreased subset of display positions in a decreased number of columns;
• and
• responsive to the subset of display positions including a single display position, animating an award over the single display position to meet the return-to-player.