System and method of allowing a player to play gaming machines having dual symbol game functionality

The game machine comprising a display and a controller is provided. The display is configured to display a plurality of symbol cells displayed in a grid. The grid defines a plurality of columns, each with an associated reel, an associated reel strip, a plurality of symbol positions, and each symbol position populated by a game symbol. The controller is configured to initiate a game and detect a trigger condition. In response the trigger condition the control then establishes a number of symbols in a set of symbols, selects a set of symbols based on the established number of symbols, with the set of symbols including a plurality of game symbols, and replaces each of the symbols in a plurality of symbol positions on at least one of the reel strips with the selected set of symbols. The controller then establishes a predetermined combination of symbols within the grid.