Gaming system and a method of gaming

1. A gaming system operable to play a game of objects, the gaming system comprising:

a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity;

a credit meter configured to monitor the credit balance;

a memory having data indicative of a plurality of objects and a plurality of containers;

a random number generator;

a display;

an input device manually operable by a player and configured to receive a player selection of a first number of the plurality of containers, wherein the first number of containers is less than the plurality of containers by a second number of the plurality of containers;

a game controller coupled to said memory and configured, in response to a wager placed by a player and deducted from the credit balance, (1) to display a first display state on said display in which no objects are displayed within the plurality of containers, (2) to randomly select, using the random number generator and the memory, a number of the plurality of objects to be placed in the plurality of containers displayed on the display, (3) to display a second display state in which the selected number of the plurality of objects are displayed as moving into the first number of the plurality of containers until the first number of the plurality of containers are filled with the selected objects, and (4) to visually darken a part of the second number of the plurality of containers so as to display at least one selected object via an undarkened part of the second number of the plurality of containers; and

wherein the game controller is further configured to determine a game outcome from the selected objects in the first number of the plurality of containers and the selected objects displayed in the undarkened part of the second number of the plurality of containers;

wherein the game controller is further configured to, in response to determining that the game outcome including a winning outcome, increase the credit balance; and

a payout mechanism configured to provide a prize based on at least a portion of the credit balance.

2. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein the game outcome is a first outcome, and wherein the game controller is further configured to determine (1) a second, different game outcome based on all objects of each of the first number of the plurality of containers and (2) a third, different game outcome based on objects in the second part of each of the second number of the plurality of containers.

3. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the input device is further configured to receive a second player selection of one of the selected objects to be removed from filling the first number of the plurality of containers.

4. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the containers are selected from a group comprising: tubes, tubs, baskets, and boxes.

5. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the objects are selected from the group comprising balls, discs, dice, dominoes, cards, blocks, fish and balloons.

6. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of objects are distinguishable from one another by shape, color, or marking.

7. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of containers form one set of containers, and wherein the memory is further configured to include a plurality of sets of containers.

8. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one or more containers is in more than one set of containers.

9. A method of playing a game of objects on a gaming machine comprising a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity, a credit meter configured to monitor the credit balance, a memory having data indicative of a plurality of objects and a plurality of containers, an input device manually operable by a player and configured to receive a player selection of a first number of the plurality of containers, wherein the first number of containers is less than the plurality of containers by a second number of the plurality of containers, a display, a payout mechanism, and a game controller including a random number generator and coupled to said memory, the method comprising, in response to a wager placed by a player and deducted from the credit balance:

displaying on the display a first display state on said display in which no objects are displayed within the plurality of containers;

selecting randomly via the random number generator and the memory a number of the plurality of objects to be placed in the plurality of containers displayed on the display;

displaying a second display state in which the selected number of the plurality of objects are displayed as moving into the first number of the plurality of containers until the first number of the plurality of containers are filled with the selected objects;

visually darkening at the display a part of the second number of the plurality of containers so as to display at least one selected object via an undarkened part of the second number of the plurality of containers;

determining via the game controller a game outcome from the selected objects in the first number of the plurality of containers and the selected objects displayed in the undarkened part of the second number of the plurality of containers;

in response to determining that the game outcome including a winning outcome, increasing via the game controller the credit balance; and

providing via the payout mechanism a prize based on at least a portion of the credit balance.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the game outcome is a first outcome, the method further comprising determining (1) a second, different game outcome based on all objects of each of the first number of the plurality of containers and (2) a third, different game outcome based on objects in the undarkened part of each of the second number of the plurality of containers.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , the method further comprising receiving a second player selection of one of the selected objects to be removed from filling the first number of the plurality of containers.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9 , the method further comprising selecting the containers from a group comprising: tubes, tubs, baskets, and boxes.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9 , the method further comprising selecting the objects from the group comprising balls, discs, dice, dominoes, cards, blocks, fish and balloons.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9 , the method further comprising distinguishing the plurality of objects from one another by shape, color, or marking.

15. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of containers form one set of containers, and wherein the memory is further configured to include a plurality of sets of containers.

16. A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein one or more containers is in more than one set of containers.