Microsoft held the inaugural Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards at this year’s GDC in San Francisco where 26,000+ users voted for their favorite XBLA games. There were 10 categories wherein finalists were determined by industry journalists. The winners for the first six categories were chosen by popular vote. The last four categories were determined by sales, gameplay data and by Metacritic score or staff vote. Without further ado, I present to you the winners:
· Best Overall Arcade Game: “Bomberman Live” (Hudson Entertainment)
· Best Classic Game: “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” (Konami Digital Entertainment)
· Best Original Game: “Pac-Man: Championship Edition” (NAMCO BANDAI Games)
· Best Family-Friendly Game: “Pac-Man: Championship Edition” (NAMCO BANDAI Games)
· Best Competitive Multiplayer Game: “Bomberman Live” (Hudson Entertainment)
· Best Cooperative Multiplayer Game: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Ubisoft Entertainment)
· Best-Selling Game: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (Ubisoft Entertainment)
· Most-Played Game: “Worms” (Team17 Software Limited)
· Highest-Rated Game: “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” (Konami Digital Entertainment)
· Xbox LIVE Arcade Staff Choice: “Pac-Man: Championship Edition” (NAMCO BANDAI Games)
Congrats to all the winners. Maybe your XNA-developed game will take home top honors next year.