Gaming system and method for providing awards based on skill-based game outcome modifications

1. 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:

for a play of a first game:

determine a game outcome, and

cause a display, by a display device, of the determined game outcome, and

responsive to an occurrence of a skill-based secondary game triggering event:

enable a player to make at least one skill input in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game,

responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game being associated with a modification of the play of the first game:

modify the displayed game outcome,

cause a display, by the display device, of the modified game outcome,

determine a first game award associated with the modified game outcome, and

cause a display, by the display device, of the determined first game award, and

responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game not being associated with any modification of the play of the first game:

determine a second game award associated with the determined game outcome, and

cause a display, by the display device, of the determined second game award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one skill input made by the player is selected from the group consisting of: a quantifiable timing input, a quantifiable aiming input, a quantifiable physical strength input, a quantifiable knowledge input, a quantifiable reasoning input, and a quantifiable strategy input.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the determined game outcome includes a plurality of symbols displayed at a plurality of symbol display positions.

4. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game being associated with the modification of the play of the first game, cause the processor to modify at least one of the symbols displayed at at least one of the symbol display positions.

5. The gaming system of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game being associated with the modification of the play of the first game, cause the processor to upgrade at least one of the symbols displayed at at least one of the symbol display positions.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the occurrence of the skill-based secondary game triggering event occurs independent of any displayed event of the play of the first game.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , further comprising 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 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.

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

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

10. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

for a play of a first game:

determining, by a processor, a game outcome, and

displaying, by a display device, the determined game outcome, and

responsive to an occurrence of a skill-based secondary game triggering event:

enabling a player to make at least one skill input in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game,

responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game being associated with a modification of the play of the first game:

modifying, by the processor, the displayed game outcome,

displaying, by the display device, the modified game outcome,

determining, by the processor, a first game award associated with the modified game outcome, and

displaying, by the display device, the determined first game award, and

responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game not being associated with any modification of the play of the first game:

determining, by the processor, a second game award associated with the determined game outcome, and

displaying, by the display device, the determined second game award.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one skill input made by the player is selected from the group consisting of: a quantifiable timing input, a quantifiable aiming input, a quantifiable physical strength input, a quantifiable knowledge input, a quantifiable reasoning input, and a quantifiable strategy input.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the determined game outcome includes a plurality of symbols displayed at a plurality of symbol display positions.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game being associated with the modification of the play of the first game, modifying, by the processor, at least one of the symbols displayed at at least one of the symbol display positions.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, responsive to the at least one skill input made in association with the play of the skill-based secondary game being associated with the modification of the play of the first game, upgrading, by the processor, at least one of the symbols displayed at at least one of the symbol display positions.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the occurrence of the skill-based secondary game triggering event occurs independent of any displayed event of the play of the first game.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any determined game award, 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.

17. The method of claim 10 , which is provided through a data network.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the data network is an internet.