Gaming machine having modifiable symbols and prize awarding symbols

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display device;

an input device; and

a game controller including a processor and a memory storing a set of symbols and instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to at least:

control the display device to animate a plurality of symbols being randomly selected based on one or more random numbers generated by a random number generator from the set of symbols for display at a first portion of the display device,

control the display device to display a prize awarding animation involving one or more prize awarding symbols moving from the first portion toward one or more of the plurality of symbols being selected for display in a second portion of the display device,

monitor for a first input being activated at the input device,

control the display device to flip the one or more of the plurality of symbols selected to reveal a first award in response to the first input having been determined at the input device,

monitor for a series of second inputs being activated at the input device,

in response to each in the series of second inputs having been determined at the input device and the first award revealed includes a special award, control the display device to flip the special award to repeatedly reveal one in a series of second awards, and

evaluate the plurality of symbols displayed including any symbols that have been flipped for a winning combination.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to control the display device to repeatedly flip the special award to reveal the one in the series of second awards until a designated condition is met in response to the series of second inputs is determined at the input device and one of the first award revealed and the one in the series of second awards revealed includes the special award.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2 , wherein the designated condition comprises the one in the series of second awards not including the special award.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to determine if the one or more of the plurality of symbols include a prize awarding symbol.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to control the display device to display the prize awarding animation involving the one or more prize awarding symbols moving toward the one or more of the plurality of symbols while animating on the display device the plurality of symbols being randomly selected from the set of symbols.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to control the display device to reveal the first award in response to the first input is determined at the input device when the one or more prize awarding symbols reaches the one or more of the plurality of symbols.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the special award includes at least one of a credit prize, a bonus prize, a mini jackpot, a minor jackpot, a major jackpot, and a grand jackpot.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to determine whether a button has been activated at the input device as at least one of the first input and the series of second inputs.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more prize awarding symbols are one or more coins, and wherein displaying the prize awarding animation involving the one or more prize awarding symbols moving includes flipping the one or more coins.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein animating on the display device the one or more of the plurality of symbols selected for display being flipped to reveal the first award in response to the first input is determined at the input device and in response to the one or more of the plurality of symbols include the special award.

11. A method of presenting an award on a gaming machine having a display device, an input device, and a game controller including a processor and a memory storing a set of symbols and instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to at least play a game, the method comprising:

animating, on the display device, a plurality of symbols being randomly selected based on one or more random numbers generated by a random number generator from the set of symbols for display at a first portion of the display device;

displaying, on the display device, a prize awarding animation involving one or more prize awarding symbols moving from the first portion toward one or more of the plurality of symbols being selected for display in a second portion of the display device;

monitoring for a first input being activated at the input device;

animating, on the display device, the one or more of the plurality of symbols selected for display being flipped to reveal a first award in response to the first input having been detected at the input device;

monitoring for a series of second inputs being activated at the input device;

in response to each in the series of second inputs having been detected at the input device and the first award revealed to include a special award, animating, on the display device, the special award being flipped to repeatedly reveal one in a series of second awards; and

evaluating the plurality of symbols displayed including any symbols that have been flipped for a winning combination.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising repeatedly animating on the display device the special award being flipped to reveal the one in the series of second awards until a designated condition is met in response to the series of second inputs is determined at the input device and one of the first award revealed and the one in the series of second awards revealed includes the special award.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the designated condition comprises the one in the series of second awards not including the special award.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining if the one or more of the plurality of symbols include a prize awarding symbol.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising displaying on the display device the prize awarding animation involving the one or more prize awarding symbols moving toward the one or more of the plurality of symbols while animating on the display device the plurality of symbols being randomly selected from the set of symbols.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising revealing the first award in response to the first input is determined at the input device when the one or more prize awarding symbols reaches the one or more of the plurality of symbols.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the special award includes at least one of a credit prize, a bonus prize, a mini jackpot, a minor jackpot, a major jackpot, and a grand jackpot.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether a button has been activated at the input device as at least one of the first input and the series of second inputs.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more prize awarding symbols are one or more coins, and wherein displaying the prize awarding animation involving moving the one or more prize awarding symbols includes flipping the one or more coins.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein animating on the display device the one or more of the plurality of symbols selected for display being flipped to reveal the first award in response to the first input is determined at the input device and in response to the one or more of the plurality of symbols include the special award.