Gaming device having multiple symbols at a single symbol position

A gaming device comprising:

• at least one display device;
• at least one input device;
• and
• at least one processor programmed to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;
• (a) provide a game including:
• (i) a plurality of reels, each of said reels including a plurality of symbol positions;
• (ii) a plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol positions on said reels, said plurality of symbols including a plurality of first symbols, wherein at least two of the first symbols are different and at least one replicator symbol, wherein said at least one replicator symbol includes at least two identical symbols at one of the plurality of symbol positions;
• (iii) at least one predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations including at least one of said plurality of first symbols, wherein said predetermined winning symbol combination occurs in a predetermined number of symbol positions and is associated with an award adapted to be provided to a player;
• and
• (iv) at least one additional winning symbol combination of said plurality of winning symbol combinations including the at least one replicator symbol and at least one of said plurality of first symbols, wherein said additional winning symbol combination is associated with the same award as the predetermined winning symbol combination and occurs in fewer symbol positions than said predetermined number of symbol positions;
• and
• (b) for a play of the game:
• (i) activate the reels to generate one of the plurality of symbols at each of said plurality of symbol positions;
• (ii) determine both if said predetermined winning symbol combination and said additional winning symbol combination are generated on the reels, wherein for said determination, each of the same symbols of the at least one replicator symbol simultaneously functions as an individual symbol;
• and
• (iii) display said award if:
• (a) said predetermined winning symbol combination is generated on the reels or
• (b) said additional winning symbol combination is generated on the reels.

A method of operating a gaming device having a game operable upon a wager, the method comprising:

• (a) activating a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of symbol positions, to generate at least one of a plurality of symbols at each of said plurality of symbol positions, wherein said plurality of symbols includes a plurality of first symbols, wherein at least two of the first symbols are different and at least one replicator symbol, wherein the replicator symbol includes at least two of the same symbols at one of the plurality of symbol positions;
• (b) determining both if:
• (i) a predetermined winning symbol combination of a plurality of winning symbol combinations is generated on the reels, wherein said predetermined winning symbol combination includes at least one of said plurality of first symbols and occurs in a predetermined number of symbol positions and
• (ii) an additional winning symbol combination of said plurality of winning symbol combinations is generated on the reels, wherein said additional winning symbol combination includes the at least one replicator symbol and at least one of said plurality of first symbols and occurs in fewer symbol positions than said predetermined number of symbol positions, and wherein for said determination, each of the same symbols of the at least one replicator symbol simultaneously functions as an individual symbol;
• and
• (c) displaying and providing a same award if either of said predetermined winning symbol combination and said additional winning symbol combination is generated.