Gaming device and method providing slot game having virtual map driven reel stop position determinations

A gaming system including:

• at least one display device including a plurality of mechanical reels, each of the plurality of mechanical reels including a plurality of stop positions and each of the plurality of stop positions including one of a plurality of different symbols;
• at least one input device including, for each of the plurality of mechanical reels, a separate stop input device;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory device storing:
• (i) for each of the plurality of mechanical reels, for each of the plurality of stop positions of said mechanical reel, a predetermined virtual map for said stop position, said predetermined virtual map including a plurality of potential final stop positions of said mechanical reel,
• (ii) for each of the plurality of mechanical reels, for each of the plurality of stop positions of said mechanical reel, for each potential final stop position of the plurality of potential final stop positions of the predetermined virtual map associated with said stop position of said mechanical reel, a weight associated with said potential final stop position,
• (iii) a paytable including a plurality of predetermined winning symbol combinations, and for each predetermined winning symbol combination, an award associated with said predetermined winning symbol combination, and
• (iv) a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device, for a play of a game, to:
• (a) spin each of the plurality of mechanical reels;
• (b) for each of the plurality of mechanical reels, when said mechanical reel is spinning:
• (i) receive, from a player, an activation of the stop input device associated with said mechanical reel and select one of the plurality of stop positions of said mechanical reel as an initiating stop position for said mechanical reel based on a position of the mechanical reel upon receiving said activation of said stop input device;
• (ii) based on the weights associated with the plurality of potential final stop positions of the predetermined virtual map for the initiating stop position and a random number, designate one of the plurality of potential final stop positions as a final stop position;
• and
• (iii) cause the mechanical reel to stop at the designated final stop position;
• (c) after each of the plurality of mechanical reels stops spinning, determine if at least one of the plurality of predetermined winning symbol combinations of the paytable is displayed;
• (d) determine any awards associated with any displayed predetermined winning symbol combinations of the paytable;
• and
• (e) display and provide any determined awards to the player.