Systems and methods for providing a feature game

A gaming machine, comprising

• a credit input device;
• a display device;
• a player interface;
• and
• a processor that executes instructions stored in a memory, wherein execution of the instructions causes the processor to at least:
• establish a credit balance based on a physical item received by the credit input device;
• initiate play of a game based on input received via the player interface;
• present, via the display device, an outcome of the game that includes columns of symbols;
• and
• award a first prize to the credit balance in response to the outcome comprising a first predetermined quantity of columns that present their symbols with a first background color.

A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that in response to being executed, cause a gaming machine to:

• initiate play of a game based on input received via a player interface of the gaming machine;
• present, via a display device of the gaming machine, an outcome of the game that includes columns of symbols;
• award a first prize in response to the outcome comprising a first predetermined quantity of columns that present their symbols with a first background color;
• and
• award a second prize in response to the outcome comprising a winning combination of symbols.