Modifying values of accumulated symbols

A method of operating an electronic gaming machine in association with a sequence comprising a plurality of plays of a game, the method comprising:

• determining, by a processor, a first display state of the electronic gaming machine by causing a display, by a display device, of:
• a symbol displayed at a symbol display position, and
• an award associated with the symbol displayed at the symbol display position, and
• when an opening of an access door of the electronic gaming machine is detected via a security monitoring circuit of the electronic gaming machine following the determination of the first display state of the electronic gaming machine:
• disabling, by the processor, any occurrence of a modification event,
• storing data associated with the first display state of the electronic gaming machine, the stored data comprising the displayed symbol at the symbol display position and the displayed award, and
• following at least a closing of the access door of the electronic gaming machine detected via the security monitoring circuit of the electronic gaming machine:
• loading, by the processor, the stored data to reconstitute the first display state of the electronic gaming machine,
• enabling, by the processor, an occurrence of the modification event, and
• following the reconstitution of the first display state of the electronic gaming machine and responsive to the symbol being a designated symbol and a random occurrence of the modification event occurring in association with the symbol displayed at the symbol display position, determining, by the processor, a second display state of the electronic gaming machine by:
• modifying the award associated with the symbol based on a randomly determined modification of the award associated with the symbol displayed at the symbol display position, wherein the random occurrence of the modification event occurring in association with the symbol displayed at the symbol display position occurs independent of any other symbols displayed at any other symbol display positions, and
• causing a display, by the display device, of the modified award associated with the symbol displayed at the symbol display position.

A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising:

• responsive to a random determination to modify an award associated with a symbol accumulated at a symbol display position to a progressive award:
• determining, by a processor, whether any other symbols initially associated with any progressive awards are displayed at any other symbol display positions, and
• responsive to the determination being that no other symbols initially associated with any progressive awards are displayed at any other symbol display positions, determining, by the processor, a first display state of the electronic gaming machine by causing a display, by a display device, of a total award at least partially comprising the progressive award, and
• when an opening of an access door of the electronic gaming machine is detected via a security monitoring circuit of the electronic gaming machine following the determination of the first display state of the electronic gaming machine:
• disabling, by the processor, any progressive award being part of any total award,
• storing data associated with the first display state of the electronic gaming machine, the stored data comprising the displayed total award, and
• following at least a closing of the access door of the electronic gaming machine detected via the security monitoring circuit of the electronic gaming machine:
• loading, by the processor, the stored data to reconstitute the first display state of the electronic gaming machine, and
• enabling, by the processor, the progressive award being part of the total award.