Wagering game with game enhancement window

A method of operating a gaming system, the gaming system including one or more controllers and a gaming machine, the gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing a casino wagering game, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, and one or more electronic input devices, the electronic display device and the one or more electronic input devices being coupled to the gaming cabinet, the method comprising:

• detecting, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that changes based on play of the casino wagering game;
• receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a wager input to initiate the casino wagering game, the wager input decreasing the credit balance;
• randomly selecting, by the one or more controllers, an outcome of the casino wagering game;
• displaying, on the electronic display device, a plurality of reels defining a symbol array, the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols moving within the symbol array, the plurality of symbols including a special symbol having a first function that affects evaluating the at least one outcome;
• displaying, on the electronic display device, a symbol-alteration region being located at a predefined position while the plurality of symbols are moving through the symbol array, the symbol-alteration region overlying a first subset of the symbol array and including at least two symbol positions within the symbol array;
• displaying the outcome on the electronic display device, the outcome including the special symbol stopping within the symbol-alteration region;
• altering a functionality of the special symbol to include a second function that affects evaluating the outcome in response to the special symbol stopping within the symbol-alteration region, the first functionality and the altered functionality occurring independent of the special symbol landing on a payline;
• awarding, by the one or more controllers, an award that increases the credit balance in response to the outcome meeting a predetermined award criterion, the predetermined award criterion including the altered functionality of the special symbol within the symbol-alteration region;
• and
• receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.

A gaming system, comprising:

• a gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing a casino wagering game, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet, one or more electronic display devices and one or more electronic input devices, the one or more electronic display devices and the one or more electronic input devices being coupled to the gaming cabinet, the one or more electronic input devices configured to detect a physical item associated with a monetary value that establishes a credit balance and to receive a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance, the credit balance changing based on play of the casino wagering game;
• and
• one or more controllers configured to:
• initiate the casino wagering game in response to a wagering input decreasing the credit balance;
• randomly select an outcome of the casino wagering game;
• direct at least one of the one or more electronic display devices to display a plurality of reels defining a symbol array, the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols moving within the symbol array, the plurality of symbols including a special symbol having an original depiction and an altered depiction;
• direct at least one of the one or more electronic display devices to display a symbol-alteration region overlying a subset of the symbol array, the symbol-alteration region including at least two symbol positions;
• direct at least one of the one or more electronic display devices to display the outcome, the outcome including a depiction of spinning the reels;
• alter, during the spinning of the reels, the original depiction of the special symbol to the altered depiction in response to the special symbol moving between a first position outside the symbol-alteration region and a second position within the symbol-alteration region;
• and
• award an award that increases the credit balance in response to the outcome meeting a predetermined award criterion.

A method of operating a gaming system, the gaming system including one or more controllers and a gaming machine, the gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing a casino wagering game, the gaming machine including a gaming cabinet, an electronic display device, and one or more electronic input devices, the electronic display device and the one or more electronic input devices being coupled to the gaming cabinet, the method comprising:

• detecting, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that changes based on play of the casino wagering game;
• receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a wager input to initiate the casino wagering game, the wager input decreasing the credit balance;
• randomly selecting, by the one or more controllers, at least one outcome of the casino wagering game;
• displaying, on the electronic display device, a plurality of reels defining a symbol array, the plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols moving within the symbol array, the plurality of symbols including a special symbol having a first function to affect evaluating the at least one outcome;
• displaying, on the electronic display device, a symbol-alteration region being located at a predefined position while the plurality of symbols are moving through the symbol array, the symbol-alteration region overlying a first subset of the symbol array and including at least two symbol positions within the symbol array;
• displaying the at least one outcome on the electronic display device, an outcome including the special symbol stopping outside the symbol-alteration region, the outcome or another outcome including the special symbol stopping within the symbol-alteration region;
• awarding, by the one or more controllers, a first award that increases the credit balance in response to an outcome meeting a first predetermined award criterion, the first predetermined award criterion including the first functionality of the special symbol outside the symbol-alteration region;
• altering a functionality of the special symbol to include a second function to affect evaluating the outcome in response to the special symbol stopping within the symbol-alteration region;
• awarding, by the one or more controllers, a second award that increases the credit balance in response to the outcome meeting a second predetermined award criterion, the second predetermined award criterion including the altered functionality of the special symbol within the symbol-alteration region;
• and
• receiving, via at least one of the one or more electronic input devices, a cashout input that initiates a payout from the credit balance.