System and Method for Providing a Feature Game

A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:

• initiating play of a base game in response to receiving an input via a player input device of the gaming machine;
• for the play of the base game:
• selecting a plurality of symbols from a plurality of non-configurable symbols and at least one configurable symbol that is configured to display an award value;
• and
• displaying the plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol display positions on a display device of the gaming machine;
• initiating a feature game in response to a predetermined number of the at least one configurable symbol being displayed in a base game outcome;
• and
• for the play of the feature game:
• retaining each of the at least one configurable symbol from the base game outcome at a corresponding feature game symbol display position of a plurality of feature game symbol display positions;
• for each of the plurality of feature game symbol display positions displaying a non-configurable symbol of the plurality of non-configurable symbols:
• selecting at least one replacement symbol from the at least one configurable symbol and at least one feature symbol;
• and
• displaying the at least one replacement symbol at respective feature game symbol display positions;
• and
• determining a feature game award based, at least in part, on the award values displayed by each of the at least one configurable symbol in a feature game outcome.

A gaming machine, comprising:

• a display device;
• a player input device;
• a memory device;
• and
• a processor executing instructions stored on the memory device, which cause the processor to at least:
• initiate a feature game in response to a base game outcome comprising a predetermined number of at least one configurable symbol;
• for an initial round of a quantity of rounds for the feature game:
• retain each of the at least one configurable symbol from the base game outcome at a corresponding feature game symbol display position of a plurality of feature game symbol display positions;
• for each of the plurality of feature game symbol display positions not displaying the at least one configurable symbol, randomly determine whether the respective feature game symbol display position is to display the at least one configurable symbol;
• and
• after the quantity of rounds, determine a feature game award based, at least in part, on award values displayed by the at least one configurable symbol in a feature game outcome.

A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:

• initiating a feature game in response to a base game outcome comprising a predetermined number of at least one configurable symbol;
• for an initial round of a quantity of rounds for the feature game:
• retaining each of the at least one configurable symbol from the base game outcome at a corresponding feature game display position of a plurality of feature game symbol display positions;
• and
• for each of the plurality of feature game symbol display positions not displaying the at least one configurable symbol, randomly determining whether the respective feature game display position is to display the at least one configurable symbol;
• and
• determining a feature game award based, at least in part, on award values displayed by each of the at least one configurable symbol in a feature game outcome.