Gaming system with cascading symbol feature

Abstract

A gaming system comprising an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system also includes a display for displaying an array of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination is removed from the array and causes other symbols to move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game; and   a display for displaying an array of symbols that indicates a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game;   wherein in response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination is removed from the array and causes other symbols to move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol, the at least one removed symbol includes a subscript symbol indicating that the symbol is to be removed, the at least one removed symbol being located in any position in the array of symbols.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a player selects the at least one symbol to be removed. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system includes a controller and the controller selects the at least one symbol to be removed. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 3 , wherein the gaming system includes a gaming machine for playing the wagering game and the controller is external to the gaming machine. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the array is formed by a plurality of movable reels. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the other symbols cascade into the position of the array vacated by the removed symbol. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 6 , wherein the other symbols cascade vertically in the array. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 7 , wherein the other symbols cascade in a downward direction in the array. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the other symbols that move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol are new symbols that were not previously in the array. 
     
     
         10 . A method of conducting a wagering game comprising:
 displaying a plurality of symbols in an array indicating a randomly selected outcome on a display; and   in response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, removing at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination by at least one of one or more processors and moving other symbols into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol, the at least one removed symbol includes a subscript symbol indicating that the symbol is to be removed, the at least one removed symbol being located in any position in the array of symbols.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the moving includes cascading the other symbols adjacent to the at least one removed symbol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one removed symbol is a symbol that has a position in the array that locationally mirrors another position in the array of a symbol in the winning symbol combination, the locationally mirrored positions in the array being located relative to an axis dividing the positions of the array. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one removed symbol is of a type that corresponds to a type of a symbol in the winning symbol combination. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the moving other symbols causes a second winning symbol combination, and the second winning symbol combination includes at least one symbol that was a part of the winning symbol combination. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the removing includes removing a plurality of symbols that form a pattern of the removed plurality of symbols in a predetermined arrangement of positions in the array. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, in response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, displaying a character, the removing being performed by the character. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one removed symbol is a remove-symbol type that is always removed in response to the winning outcome being achieved. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the remove-symbol type is a blank symbol. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to:
 display a plurality of symbols in an array indicating a randomly selected outcome on a display; and   in response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, remove at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination and move other symbols into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol, the at least one removed symbol includes a subscript symbol indicating that the symbol is to be removed, the at least one removed symbol being located in any position in the array of symbols.   
     
     
         21 - 36 . (canceled)