A method of allowing a player to play a gaming machine is described herein. The method includes displaying, on a display device, a game including at least one reel. The at least one reel includes a plurality of symbol positions that have a plurality of normal symbols positions and a plurality of special symbol positions. The outcome of a game is randomly generated and displayed on the display device. The method also includes randomly determining a number of special symbol positions being displayed with the at least one reel and spinning and stopping the at least one reel to display the generated game outcome, wherein the at least one reel includes the plurality of symbol positions having the determined number of special symbol positions.