Gaming machine and method with dynamic game progression

A method of conducting and presenting a game using a gaming system, the gaming system comprising game-logic circuitry and a gaming machine, the gaming machine including an electronic display device configured to display an active array of symbol positions, the method comprising:

• establishing, by the game-logic circuitry, a plurality of award levels including a first award level and a second award level, each award level of the plurality of award levels having a respective trigger condition associated with a number of trigger symbols and a corresponding array size;
• causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the electronic display device to present a predefined path associated with the plurality of award levels and present respective award indicia that visually indicates an award value for each award level of the predefined path, the predefined path initially defining a sequential order of progression through the plurality of award levels, wherein progression from the first award level is to the second award level based on the predefined path;
• causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the electronic display device to selectively populate the active array of symbol positions with one or more symbols through one or more game cycle outcomes associated with the first award level, the active array having the array size associated with the first award level;
• causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the electronic display device to collect trigger symbols within the one or more game cycle outcomes;
• causing, by the game-logic circuitry in response to detecting a branching condition within the one or more game cycle outcomes, the electronic display device to update the predefined path to a modified path, wherein progression from the first award level is altered to a third award level of the plurality of award levels based on the modified path;
• progressing, by the game-logic circuitry in response to establishing the modified path and achieving the trigger condition associated with the first award level based on the collected trigger symbols, from the first award level to the third award level by causing the electronic display device to:
• (i) animate the active array to visually transition to a modified active array having the array size corresponding to the third award level, (ii) animate the modified path to transition from the first award level to the third award level, and (iii) repeat the selective population for one or more additional game cycle outcomes with the modified active array, wherein none of the trigger symbols that appear in the active array are carried over to the modified active array;
• and
• causing, by the game-logic circuitry, the electronic display device to present an award sequence associated with an award of at least one award level of the plurality of award levels based on any trigger conditions achieved and the award indicia associated with the at least one award level.

A gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising:

• an electronic display device configured to display an active array of symbol positions;
• and
• game-logic circuitry configured to:
• establish a plurality of award levels including a first award level and a second award level, each award level of the plurality of award levels having a respective trigger condition associated with a number of trigger symbols and a corresponding array size;
• cause the electronic display device to present a predefined path associated with the plurality of award levels and present respective award indicia that visually indicates an award value for each award level of the predefined path, the predefined path initially defining a sequential order of progression through the plurality of award levels, wherein progression from the first award level is to the second award level based on the predefined path;
• cause the electronic display device to selectively populate the active array of symbol positions with one or more symbols through one or more game cycle outcomes associated with the first award level, the active array having the array size associated with the first award level;
• cause the electronic display device to collect trigger symbols within the one or more game cycle outcomes;
• in response to detecting a branching condition within the one or more game cycle outcomes, cause the electronic display device to visually update the predefined path to a modified path, wherein progression from the first award level is altered to a third award level of the plurality of award levels based on and visually indicated by the modified path;
• in response to establishing the modified path and achieving the trigger condition associated with the first award level based on the collected trigger symbols, progress from the first award level to the third award level by causing the electronic display device to:
• (i) animate the active array to visually transition to a modified active array having the array size corresponding to the third award level, iii) animate the modified path to transition from the first award level to the third award level, and (iii) repeat the selective population for one or more additional game cycle outcomes with the modified active array, wherein none of the trigger symbols that appear in the active array are carried over to the modified active array;
• and
• cause the electronic display device to present an award sequence associated with an award of at least one award level of the plurality of award levels based on any trigger conditions achieved and the award indicia associated with the at least one award level.