Microsoft announces inaugural Xbox Live Arcade awards

Carcassonne, Pac-Man CE lead nominations

Microsoft has announced the inaugural Xbox Live Arcade Awards.

The finalists in each category were selected by a panel of consumer and videogame industry journalists, but the winners will be determined by popular vote. Fans can cast their votes on the Xbox web site between January 22 and January 30.

Microsoft plans to announce the winners of the awards at the Game Developer Conference in February.

The award categories open for public voting include:



Best Overall Arcade Game

Puzzle Quest
Pac-Man CE
Carcassonne
Bomberman Live
Alien Hominid
Catan

Best Classic Game

Castlevania
Prince of Persia
Asteroids
Jet Pac Refuelled
Sensible World of Soccer
Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Best Original Game

Pac-Man CE
Boom Boom Rocket
Aegis Wing
Undertow
Band of Bugs
Hexic 2

Best Family Friendly Game

Pac-Man CE
Carcassonne
Catan
Bomberman Live
Hexic 2
E4

Best Competitive Multiplayer Game

Puzzle Quest
Carcassonne
Bomberman Live
Super Puzzle Fighter II
Undertow
Catan

Best Cooperative Multiplayer Game

Alien Hominid
Golden Axe
Aegis Wing
Double Dragon
Arkadian Warriors
TMNT

Fans will also be able to enter write-in candidates in the above categories to vote for a game not otherwise listed. Only XBLA games released in 2007 are eligible.

Other award categories not open to voting include:

Best selling game
Most played game
Highest rated game
Staff choice

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