Not too long ago we checked out the top 20 Xbox LIVE games of 2008. As fascinating as the knowledge of best-sellers and most-playeds over a whole year is, though, perhaps an even better indication of a game's popularity is the Annual Xbox LIVE Arcade Awards, now in its second year, in which Xbox LIVE users vote on their favourite LIVE Arcade titles in a number of categories. Or, you know - their favourites in the few months leading up to the awards! Well, let's take a look at the winners anyway. Warning: plenty of Castle Crashers and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix ahead!

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• Game of the Year - Castle Crashers


• Best Single Player Game - Portal: Still Alive


• Best Versus Mode - Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix


• Best Co-op Mode - Castle Crashers


• Best Original Game - Castle Crashers


• Best Remake - Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix


• Best Family Game - A Kingdom for Keflings


• Best Innovation - Braid


• Best Graphics - Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix

Over 185,000 votes were cast in the awards, the results of which were announced in late March. While Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix took out just as many awards, the grand championship definitely went to Castle Crashers, which managed to gain itself Game of the Year; clearly a trumping card. There's also its indie roots to consider; the success of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix came off the backs of superpower Capcom, whereas its nearest competitor and arguably, victorious opponent, had only the tiny and few resources of The Behemoth to nourish it. The success clearly pleased Kelly Revak of The Behemoth, who sent all 800,000 Castle Crashers players some love:

“These awards are particularly meaningful to us because they were decided by the players themselves ... A BIG thank you to all who voted, you are the wind beneath our chicken wings! Seriously, we have the best fans in the whole world.”

Castle Crashers, Braid, A Kingdom For Keflings