Gaming system and method providing a game having a sub-symbol award evaluation

1. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

initiate a play of a game associated with multiple different symbols, wherein:

the symbols include multiple designated symbols;

each designated symbol is associated with one or more sub-symbols; and

a quantity of sub-symbols associated with one of the designated symbols is based on a sub-symbol variation factor;

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols;

cause a display, by a display device, of the randomly determined plurality of the symbols and any sub-symbols associated with said randomly determined plurality of the symbols;

responsive to the displayed symbols including a set of one or more designated symbols collectively associated with at least a designated quantity of sub-symbols, determine an award associated with the set based at least in part on a quantity of sub-symbols collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein:

the award is a first award when a first quantity of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the first quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a first characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, and

the award is a second award different from the first award when a second different quantity of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the second quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a second different characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set; and

cause a display, by the display device, of the determined award associated with the set.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the sub-symbol variation factor is one of: a wager amount; a player loyalty program player ranking; a player earned sub-symbol; and a separate random determination.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the symbols are on multiple reels, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to cause a display, by the display device, of the randomly determined plurality of the symbols and any associated sub-symbols in part by spinning and stopping the reels.

4. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein each designated symbol on a first reel is associated with up to a first maximum quantity of sub-symbols and each designated symbol on a second reel different from the first reel is associated with up to a second maximum quantity of sub-symbols different from the first maximum quantity.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the award is a third award different from the first and second awards when a third quantity of sub-symbols different from the first and second quantities of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the third quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a third different characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , which comprises an acceptor, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to, responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the display device comprises part of a mobile device.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to communicate with the mobile device via a wireless network.

9. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

initiating, by a processor, a play of a game associated with multiple different symbols, wherein:

the symbols include multiple designated symbols;

each designated symbol is associated with one or more sub-symbols; and

a quantity of sub-symbols associated with one of the designated symbols is based on a sub-symbol variation factor;

randomly determining, by the processor, and displaying, by a display device, a plurality of the symbols and any sub-symbols associated with said randomly determined plurality of the symbols;

responsive to the displayed symbols including a set of one or more designated symbols collectively associated with at least a designated quantity of sub-symbols, determining an award associated with the set based at least in part on a quantity of sub-symbols collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein:

the award is a first award when a first quantity of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the first quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a first characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, and

the award is a second award different from the first award when a second different quantity of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the second quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a second different characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set; and

causing a display, by the display device, of the determined award associated with the set.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sub-symbol variation factor is one of: a wager amount; tea player loyalty program player ranking; a player earned sub-symbol; and a separate random determination.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the symbols are on multiple reels, and which includes displaying, by the display device, the randomly determined plurality of the symbols and any associated sub-symbols in part by spinning and stopping the reels.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each designated symbol on a first reel is associated with up to a first maximum quantity of sub-symbols and each designated symbol on a second reel different from the first reel is associated with up to a second maximum quantity of sub-symbols different from the first maximum quantity.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the award is a third award different from the first and second awards when a third quantity of sub-symbols different from the first and second quantities of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the third quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a third different characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second quantity is less than the first quantity and the third award is less than the first and second awards.

15. The method of claim 9 , which is at least partially provided through a data network.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the data network is an internet.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein a credit balance is increasable based on the determined award associated with the set, said credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and said credit balance being decreasable responsive to a cashout input.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the display device comprises part of a mobile device.

19. The method of claim 18 , which includes communicating, by the processor, with the mobile device via a wireless network.

20. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

initiate a play of a game associated with multiple different symbols, wherein:

the symbols include multiple designated symbols;

each designated symbol is associated with one or more sub-symbols; and

a quantity of sub-symbols associated with one of the designated symbols is based on a sub-symbol variation factor;

randomly determine a plurality of the symbols;

communicate data which results in a display device of a mobile device displaying the randomly determined plurality of the symbols and any sub-symbols associated with said randomly determined plurality of the symbols;

responsive to the displayed symbols including a set of one or more designated symbols collectively associated with at least a designated quantity of sub-symbols, determine an award associated with the set based at least in part on a quantity of sub-symbols collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein:

the award is a first award when a first quantity of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the first quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a first characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, and

the award is a second award different from the first award when a second different quantity of sub-symbols is collectively associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set, wherein the second quantity of sub-symbols is determined based on a second different characteristic associated with the one or more displayed designated symbols of the set; and

communicate data which results in the display device of the mobile device displaying the determined award associated with the set.

21. The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the sub-symbol variation factor is one of: a wager amount; a player loyalty program player ranking; a player earned sub-symbol; and a separate random determination.

22. The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to communicate with the mobile device via a wireless network.