Gamers across the globe can now have their say on the best of gaming from the last 12 months as the 27th Annual Golden Joystick Awards open for shortlist voting.

A record-breaking quarter of a million votes have already helped to shape the shortlists across 15 gamer-voted categories in the world’s longest-running videogames awards, first held back in 1982.  Votes cast now at www.goldenjoystick.com will directly decide who scoops a prestigious Golden Joystick when the winners are announced in London on Friday, 30th October.

The Golden Joysticks are the games industry’s most-loved awards – developers, publishers and retailers are delighted to grab a Joystick as gamers vote in their thousands to name the winners.  Across the globe, gaming communities are mobilising fellow enthusiasts to make sure their favourite releases get the recognition they deserve.

In 2008, gamers cast thousands of votes for the likes of  Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Guitar Hero III and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.  Will 2009 see the latest Call of Duty game walk away with another armful of awards? Should Killzone 2, Halo ODST and FIFA make it into the rankings this year? Can Nintendo translate DS sales into victory for Professor Layton? Only you can decide, because it’s only your votes that count.

27th Annual Golden Joystick Awards

Ultimate Game of the Year
Family Game of the Year
Soundtrack of the Year
Handheld Game of the Year
The One To Watch Award
Mobile Game of the Year
Multiplayer Game of the Year
Nintendo Game of the Year
Online Game of the Year
PC Game of the Year
PlayStation Game of the Year
Xbox Game of the Year
Publisher of the Year
Retailer of the Year
UK Developer of the Year

Head over to  http://www.goldenjoystick.com today to see if your favourites made the shortlist.