Gaming system and method providing a skill-based wagering game

1. A gaming system comprising:

a processor;

an acceptor configured to receive a physical item associated with a monetary value; and

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

(a) establish a credit balance responsive to receipt, by the acceptor, of the physical item;

(b) for a play of a selection game, place a wager on and initiate the play of the selection game responsive to receipt of a game-initiation input, the credit balance decreasable by the wager, cause a display device to display each of multiple selections in association with a different one of multiple selection display areas such that each of the selections is adjacent to one of the other selections, wherein the selections include multiple terminator selections and multiple award selections;

(c) enable, via an input device, input of a pick input identifying one the selections as a picked selection;

(d) responsive to receipt, via the input device, of the pick input identifying one of the selections as the picked selection:

(1) if the picked selection is one of the terminator selections, cause the display device to remove the picked selection and display a terminator symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection;

(2) if the picked selection is one of the award selections, cause the display device to remove the picked selection and display an award symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection, wherein the credit balance is increasable based on any determined award associated with the award symbol;

(3) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator or award selections; is adjacent to at least one of the award selections; and is not adjacent to any of the terminator selections, cause the display device to remove the picked selection and display a first informational symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection, wherein the first informational symbol has a first characteristic and collectively indicates how many of the award selections are adjacent to the picked selection;

(4) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator, or award selections; is adjacent to at least one of the terminator selections; and is not adjacent to any of the award selections, cause the display device to remove the picked selection and display a second informational symbol different from the first informational symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection, wherein the second informational symbol has a second characteristic different from the first characteristic and indicates how many of the terminator selections are adjacent to the picked selection;

(5) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator or award selections; is adjacent to at least one of the award selections; and is adjacent to at least one of the terminator selections, cause the display device to remove the picked selection and display a third informational symbol different from the first and second informational symbols at the selection display area associated with the picked selection, wherein the third informational symbol has a third characteristic different from the first and second characteristics and collectively indicates how many of the award and terminator selections are adjacent to the picked selection; and

(6) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator or award selections and is not adjacent to any of the terminator or award selections, cause the display device to remove the picked selection;

(e) if a game-termination condition is satisfied based at least in part on the picked selection, end the play of the selection game;

(f) if a game-continuation condition is satisfied based at least in part on the picked selection, repeat (c) to (f); and

(g) responsive to a cashout input being received, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the selection game is a primary wagering game.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the selection game is a bonus game.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the play of the selection game is part of a multi-level game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the display device is part of a mobile device.

6. The gaming system of claim 5 , wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to communicate with the mobile device via a wireless network.

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

(a) receiving, via an acceptor, a physical item associated with a monetary value;

(b) establishing a credit balance responsive to receipt, by the acceptor, of the physical item;

(c) for a play of a selection game, placing a wager on and initiating the play of the selection game responsive to receipt of a game-initiation input, the credit balance decreasable by the wager, causing a display device to display each of multiple selections in association with a different one of multiple selection display areas such that each of the selections is adjacent to one of the other selections, wherein the selections include multiple terminator selections and multiple award selections;

(d) enabling, via an input device, input of a pick input identifying one the selections as a picked selection;

(e) responsive to receipt, via the input device, of the pick input identifying one of the selections as the picked selection:

(1) if the picked selection is one of the terminator selections, causing the display device to remove the picked selection and display a terminator symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection;

(2) if the picked selection is one of the award selections, causing the display device to remove the picked selection and display an award symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection;

(3) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator or award selections; is adjacent to at least one of the award selections; and is not adjacent to any of the terminator selections, causing the display device to remove the picked selection and display a first informational symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection, wherein the first informational symbol has a first characteristic and collectively indicates how many of the award selections are adjacent to the picked selection;

(4) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator, or award selections; is adjacent to at least one of the terminator selections; and is not adjacent to any of the award selections, causing the display device to remove the picked selection and display a second informational symbol different from the first informational symbol at the selection display area associated with the picked selection, wherein the second informational symbol has a second characteristic different from the first characteristic and indicates how many of the terminator selections are adjacent to the picked selection;

(5) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator or award selections; is adjacent to at least one of the award selections; and is adjacent to at least one of the terminator selections, causing the display device to remove the picked selection and display a third informational symbol different from the first and second informational symbols at the selection display area associated with the picked selection, wherein the third informational symbol has a third characteristic different from the first and second characteristics and collectively indicates how many of the award and terminator selections are adjacent to the picked selection; and

(6) if the picked selection is not one of the terminator or award selections and is not adjacent to any of the terminator or award selections, causing the display device to remove the picked selection;

(f) if a game-termination condition is satisfied based at least in part on the picked selection, end the play of the selection game;

(g) if a game-continuation condition is satisfied based at least in part on the picked selection, repeat (d) to (g); and

(h) responsive to receipt of a cashout input, initiating any payout associated with the credit balance.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the selection game is a primary wagering game.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the selection game is a bonus game.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the play of the selection game is a multi-level game.

11. The method of claim 7 , which is at least partially provided through a data network.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the data network is an internet.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the credit balance is increasable based on any determined award for the play of the selection game.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the display device is part of a mobile device.