Electronic gaming machine and method for providing an award based upon a prize category and a prize sub-category

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a display device;

a memory; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed, cause the processor to at least:

control the display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, each column of symbol positions including a plurality of symbols selected from an associated reel strip of a plurality of reel strips;

select the plurality of symbols for each column of symbol positions from the associated reel strip;

control the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip prior to controlling the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol;

determine whether a first column of the plurality of columns includes the prize sub-category symbol;

determine whether a second column of the plurality of columns includes the prize category symbol; and

in response to determining that the first column includes the prize sub-category symbol and that the second column includes the prize category symbol, provide an award based upon a combination of the prize sub-category symbol and the prize category symbol.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

control the display device to simulate spinning the plurality of reel strips;

control the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip; and

control the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

only in response to at least one of: i) determining that the first column excludes the prize sub-category symbol, or ii) determining that the second column excludes the prize category symbol, evaluate the plurality of symbols included in each column of symbol positions to determine whether to provide a different award.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the first column of symbol positions is a leftmost column of the plurality of columns, and wherein the second column of symbol positions is a rightmost column of the plurality of columns, and wherein the plurality of columns include at least two columns.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to at least:

identify, from a customized paytable, a prize associated with the combination of the prize sub-category symbol and the prize category symbol, wherein the customized paytable associates a distinct prize from a plurality of prizes with each combination of a plurality of combinations of prize sub-category symbols and prize category symbols.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the prize category symbol is selected from a plurality of prize category symbols, wherein at least one prize category symbol of the plurality of prize category symbols is associated with at least one prize that is incrementally increased during gameplay, and wherein at least one other prize category symbol of the plurality of prize category symbols is associated with at least one other prize that is fixed during gameplay.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the prize sub-category symbol is selected from a plurality of prize sub-category symbols including a Grand symbol, a Major symbol, a Mini symbol, and a Minor symbol, and wherein the prize category symbol is selected from a plurality of prize category symbols including a Jackpot symbol and a Bonus symbol.

8. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a plurality of mechanical reels, each mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels including a plurality of symbols;

a memory; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, which when executed, cause the processor to at least:

control the plurality of mechanical reels to spin and stop, whereby one or more symbols are displayed from the plurality of symbols included on each mechanical reel;

control the first mechanical reel to stop prior to any other mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels being stopped, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol;

determine whether a prize sub-category symbol is displayed from a first mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels;

determine whether a prize category symbol is displayed form a second mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels; and

in response to determining that the prize sub-category symbol is displayed from the first mechanical reel and that the prize category symbol is displayed from the second mechanical reel, provide an award based upon a combination of the prize sub-category symbol and the prize category symbol.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

control the first mechanical reel to stop; and

control the second mechanical reel to be stopped after all other mechanical reels of the plurality of mechanical reels are stopped.

10. The electronic gaming machine of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to at least:

only in response to at least one of: i) determining that the first mechanical reel does not display the prize sub-category symbol, or ii) determining that the second mechanical reel does not display the prize category symbol, evaluate the symbols displayed from the mechanical reels to determine whether to provide a different award.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 8 , wherein the first mechanical reel is a leftmost mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels, and wherein the second mechanical reel is a rightmost mechanical reel of the plurality of mechanical reels, and wherein the plurality of mechanical reels include at least two mechanical reels.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to at least:

identify, from a paytable, a prize associated with the combination of the prize sub-category symbol and the prize category symbol, wherein the paytable associates a distinct prize from a plurality of prizes with each combination of a plurality of combinations of prize sub-category symbols and prize category symbols.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 8 , wherein the prize category symbol is selected from a plurality of prize category symbols, wherein at least one prize category symbol of the plurality of prize category symbols is associated with at least one prize that is incrementally increased during gameplay, and wherein at least one other prize category symbol of the plurality of prize category symbols is associated with at least one other prize that is fixed during gameplay.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 8 , wherein the prize sub-category symbol is selected from a plurality of prize sub-category symbols including a Grand symbol, a Major symbol, a Mini symbol, and a Minor symbol, and wherein the prize category symbol is selected from a plurality of prize category symbols including a Jackpot symbol and a Bonus symbol.

15. A method comprising:

controlling, by a processor, a display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, each column of symbol positions including a plurality of symbols selected from an associated reel strip of a plurality of reel strips;

selecting, by the processor, the plurality of symbols for each column of symbol positions from the associated reel strip;

controlling, by the processor, the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip prior to controlling the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol;

determining, by the processor, whether a first column of the plurality of columns includes a prize sub-category symbol;

determining, by the processor, whether a second column of the plurality of columns includes a prize category symbol; and

in response to determining that the first column includes the prize sub-category symbol and that the second column includes the prize category symbol, providing, by the processor, an award based upon a combination of the prize sub-category symbol and the prize category symbol.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

controlling, by the processor, the display device to simulate spinning the plurality of reel strips;

controlling, by the processor, the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip; and

controlling, by the processor, the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

only in response to at least one of: i) determining that the first column excludes the prize sub-category symbol, or ii) determining that the second column excludes the prize category symbol, evaluate the plurality of symbols included in each column of symbol positions to determine whether to provide a different award.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first column of symbol positions is a leftmost column of the plurality of columns, and wherein the second column of symbol positions is a rightmost column of the plurality of columns, and wherein the plurality of columns include at least two columns.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

identifying, by the processor and from a customized paytable, a prize associated with the combination of the prize sub-category symbol and the prize category symbol, wherein the customized paytable associates a distinct prize from a plurality of prizes with each combination of a plurality of combinations of prize sub-category symbols and prize category symbols.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the prize category symbol is selected from a plurality of prize category symbols, wherein at least one prize category symbol of the plurality of prize category symbols is associated with at least one prize that is incrementally increased during gameplay, and wherein at least one other prize category symbol of the plurality of prize category symbols is associated with at least one other prize that is fixed during gameplay.