Gaming machine and method of providing a feature game

1. A system, comprising:

a display device;

a user interface;

a memory device storing data indicative of a set of symbols for a first symbol presentation stage and a second symbol presentation stage, the set of symbols including a plurality of configurable symbols and a plurality of non-configurable symbols, the configurable symbols including a plurality of configurable symbol types, each configurable symbol type having a corresponding configurable symbol appearance and each configurable symbol appearance having a corresponding configurable symbol value range; and

a controller executing instructions stored in the memory device which cause the controller to at least:

initiate a first symbol presentation stage based on a first input received via the user interface;

generate a first symbol presentation stage outcome and display a plurality of symbols at a plurality of display positions on the display device, wherein the plurality of symbols are selected from the non-configurable symbols and configurable symbols of a first configurable symbol type of the plurality of configurable symbol types;

initiate a second symbol presentation stage with an initial quantity of instances when a triggering number of configurable symbols are displayed in the first symbol presentation stage outcome;

for each instance of the initial quantity of instances of the second symbol presentation stage:

select and display replacement symbols for non-configurable symbols in a plurality of display positions not occupied by the configurable symbols;

for each instance, if any, of an additional quantity of instances of the second symbol presentation stage:

keep each displayed configurable symbol; and

select and display replacement symbols for non-configurable symbols in a plurality of display positions not occupied by the kept configurable symbols; and

determine a second symbol presentation stage award based, at least in part, on a value of each of the configurable symbols in the plurality of display positions at the end of the second symbol presentation stage.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a maximum second symbol presentation stage award depends on the first configurable symbol type.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to select the first configurable symbol type based on the first input received via the user interface.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first configurable symbol type corresponds to a single configurable symbol color.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to:

initiate a second instance of the first symbol presentation stage based on a second input received via the user interface;

generate a first symbol presentation stage outcome for the second instance and display a plurality of symbols at the plurality of display positions on the display device, wherein the plurality of symbols are selected from the non-configurable symbols and configurable symbols of a second configurable symbol type of the plurality of configurable symbol types;

initiate a second symbol presentation stage with an initial quantity of instances when a triggering number of configurable symbols are displayed in the first symbol presentation stage outcome;

for each instance of the initial quantity of instances of the second symbol presentation stage:

select and display replacement symbols for non-configurable symbols in a plurality of display positions not occupied by the configurable symbols;

for each instance, if any, of an additional quantity of instances of the second symbol presentation stage:

keep each displayed configurable symbol; and

select and display replacement symbols for non-configurable symbols in a plurality of display positions not occupied by the kept configurable symbols; and

determine a second symbol presentation stage award based, at least in part, on a value of each of the configurable symbols in the plurality of display positions at the end of the second symbol presentation stage.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the triggering number of configurable symbols is determined according to the first configurable symbol type.

7. A method comprising:

initiating a first symbol presentation stage based on input received via a user interface;

selecting and displaying a plurality of symbols at a plurality of display positions on a display device, wherein the plurality of symbols are selected from a set of symbols for a first symbol presentation stage and a second symbol presentation stage, the set of symbols including configurable symbols and non-configurable symbols, the configurable symbols including a plurality of configurable symbol types, each configurable symbol type having a corresponding configurable symbol appearance and each configurable symbol appearance having a corresponding configurable symbol value range;

initiating a second symbol presentation stage with an initial quantity of instances when a triggering number of configurable symbols are displayed;

for each spin of the second symbol presentation stage, selecting and displaying replacement symbols for non-configurable symbols in the plurality of display positions; and

awarding a second symbol presentation stage award based, at least in part, on a value of each of the configurable symbols in the plurality of display positions at the end of the second symbol presentation stage.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein a maximum second symbol presentation stage award depends on a type of each selected configurable symbol.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a quantity of additional instances awarded, if any, is randomly determined.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein a number of selectable configurable symbol types is determined in response to an input received via the user interface.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein each configurable symbol type corresponds to a configurable symbol color.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining whether to award additional instances, and, if additional instances are awarded, determining the quantity of additional instances to be awarded.

13. One or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform a method comprising:

selecting, in response to input received via a user interface, a plurality of symbols from a memory device storing data indicative of a set of symbols for a first symbol presentation stage and a second symbol presentation stage, the set of symbols including a plurality of configurable symbols and a plurality of non-configurable symbols, the configurable symbols including a plurality of configurable symbol types, each configurable symbol type having a corresponding configurable symbol appearance and each configurable symbol appearance having a corresponding configurable symbol value range;

displaying, on a display device and during the first symbol presentation stage, a plurality of symbols from the set of symbols at a plurality of display positions in response to input received via the user interface;

triggering a second symbol presentation stage having an initial quantity of instances in response to determining that the displayed plurality of symbols include a determined number of configurable symbols;

in response to triggering the second symbol presentation stage:

awarding an initial quantity of instances for the feature;

for each instance of the initial quantity of instances:

keeping each displayed configurable symbol; and

selecting and displaying replacement symbols for non-configurable symbols in a plurality of display positions not occupied by the configurable symbols.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to award a second symbol presentation stage award based, at least in part, on a value of each of the configurable symbols in the plurality of display positions at the end of the second symbol presentation stage.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein a maximum second symbol presentation stage award depends on a type of each selected configurable symbol.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein a quantity of additional instances, if any, is randomly determined.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein a number of selectable configurable symbol types is based on input received via the user interface.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to display a plurality of picks on the display device, each pick corresponding to a quantity of additional instances, and to award the additional quantity of instances in response to user input corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of picks.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein each configurable symbol type corresponds to a configurable symbol color.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 13 , wherein the triggering number of configurable symbols is determined according to input received via the user interface.