US Patent 11769372 Systems and methods using modifiable game elements

A gaming machine comprises game-logic circuitry and a display device that presents a plurality of symbol positions and modifier positions. The game-logic circuitry causes the display device to present (i) a modifier outcome by populating one or more modifier positions with modifier symbols, and (ii) an animation of one or more symbol positions being populated with value-bearing symbols having award indicia in response to the modifier outcome including a first modifier symbol at a first modifier position. The game-logic circuitry increases, for a preexisting value-bearing symbol prior to the modifier outcome, the award value of the preexisting value-bearing symbol, wherein the display device presents an updated award indicia based on the increased award value, removes, in response to a termination condition, any locked value-bearing symbols from the symbol positions, and provides an aggregated award as a function of the award values of the locked value-bearing symbols occupying the symbol positions.