Gaming console with transparent sprites

A gaming console having an electronic display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the electronic display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game wherein a plurality of symbols are randomly selected and displayed in predefined symbol display positions on the electronic display means and, if a winning combination results, the console pays a prize, the game being characterized in that displayed images include a first image component comprising symbols which displays basic game features, and a second image component which displays non-basic image features which appear superimposed on the first image component and are additional to the basic game features, the second image component being transparent, whereby the first image component is visible through the second image component under the control of the control means such that the second image component does not conceal the first image component, the second image component being unconstrained by the symbol display positions and when appearing moving apparently randomly across the display to one or more superimposed positions above the first image components and wherein the first image component and second image component are displayed on the same electronic display, the characteristics of a basic game image over which the second image component is superimposed is changed by the game control means such that the result of a game played on the console is changed in at least some plays of the game by the second image component.