Gaming machine and method using linked value-bearing symbols

A gaming system comprises a presentation assembly presenting a plurality of symbol positions and game-logic circuitry configured to cause the presentation assembly to associate, in response to an activation event, a first symbol position with an award region and present a subsequent game outcome by populating the symbol positions with randomly selected symbols. The game-logic circuitry detects whether or not a symbol of a linked symbol group including value-bearing symbols with respective positions within the linked symbol group and award indicia visibly indicating corresponding award values occupies the award region in the subsequent game outcome. The game-logic circuitry causes, in response to detecting a first value-bearing symbol occupying the award region, the presentation assembly to provide an award for the award values of at least one value-bearing symbol within the linked symbol group based on the position of the first value-bearing symbol relative to the positions of other value-bearing symbols.