Gaming system and method for providing a symbol matrix with a moveable symbol display window

A gaming system comprising:

• at least one display device;
• at least one input device;
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory device which stores 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 display device and the at least one input device to:
• (a) for a plurality of plays of a game, display:
• (i) a persistent symbol matrix including a plurality of persistent symbols at a plurality of symbol display positions, and
• (ii) a symbol display window associated with the symbol matrix, the symbol display window including a plurality of symbol display window positions, wherein a quantity of the symbol display window positions of the symbol display window is less than a quantity of the symbol display positions of the symbol matrix, and
• (b) thereafter, for one of the plays of the game:
• (i) randomly determine a location of the symbol display window relative to the symbol matrix such that each symbol display window position of the symbol display window corresponds with one of the symbol display positions of the symbol matrix,
• (ii) for each of a plurality of the symbol display window positions of the symbol display window, display the persistent symbol of the corresponding symbol display position of the symbol matrix,
• (iii) determine if any of the persistent symbols displayed at the symbol display window positions of the symbol display window form any winning symbol combinations, and
• (iv) if the persistent symbols displayed at the symbol display window positions of the symbol display window form at least one winning symbol combination, display an award for each formed winning symbol combination.