Call of Duty leads pack at Golden Joystick Awards

Activision’s critically-acclaimed Call of Duty franchise was the big winner at the 26th annual Golden Joystick Awards, scooping five of the 17 awards at today’s ceremony. Over 850,000 votes were cast in total, with 2008 seeing a record number of gamers logging on to have their say in the world’s biggest gaming awards.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare received four of five overall honours, including a prize in the "Ultimate game of the year" category. The title also scooped Online game of the year, PC game of the year and the 'all-nighter' award for addictive gameplay. The game's publishers were also rewarded, receiving the gong for UK publisher of the year.

The latest installment in the controversial Grand Theft Auto series won awards for the best soundtrack and best Xbox game.

The winners in full

Nuts All-Nighter Award: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

The Sun Family Game of the Year: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Bliss Handheld Game of the Year: Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

4Talent Mobile Game of the Year: Bejeweled 2

Mobile Game Pitch 2008: Tobias Rowe with Finders Keeper

Official Nintendo Magazine’s Nintendo Game of the Year: Super Smash Bros.

UK ESA PC Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Activision Blizzard Retailer of the Year: Play.com

Official Playstation Magazine High Definition PlayStation Game of the Year: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

BBC 1Xtra Soundtrack of the Year: Grand Theft Auto IV

Arvato Digital Services Xbox Game of the Year: Grand Theft Auto IV

Edge Most Wanted Award: Fallout 3

GamesRadar.com Online Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

CVG.co.uk UK Developer of the Year : Rockstar North

E4.com Grand Master Flash Award: Stickman Madness

Play.com One To Watch: Call of Duty: World at War

Future UK Publisher of the Year: Activision Blizzard

Virgin Media Ultimate Game of the Year: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare