It has begun. Yes, the first stage of votin🎉g for this year's Golden✃ Joystick Awards is now open. That means you can go along to and choose the games that you think should make the short list for one of gaming's most desired prizes - a joystick of gold. Not solid gold, but desirable nonetheless.

You can vote for games released between 22 May 2009 and 27 May 2010 (based on UK releases). It's a loꦰt of games. There are categories for shooter, RPG, sports action/adventure... pretty much every genre you'd expect to see. In addition, you can also vote for best soundtrack, UK developer, one to watch and, the real biggy, ULTIMATE GAME OF THE YEAR. And while the awards are UK-based, voting is open to anyone, anywhere.

Above: The actual voting system for the Golden Joystick Awards is much more sexy than this

May 4, 2010