XBLA Awards Winners Announced

At the Game Developers Conference, Microsoft celebrated the success of its Xbox Live Arcade platform with the inaugural Xbox Live Arcade Awards, recognizing the best and most played games chosen via the users of the service. The company announced the winners at a private developer reception at the event.

The finalists were chosen by a panel of select industry journalists, with the winners chosen by popular vote; the final four categories were decided by sales and gameplay data. Here are 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)