Microsoft announced today that it would be having the first ever Xbox Live Arcade awards. The awards will recognize achievements (no pun intended) in Xbox Live arcade development.

Although the finalists in each category were chosen by a panel of industry game journalists, ultimately it will be up to gamers to vote on which title they feel should win the top honours. Gamers can vote by visiting www.xbox.com/xblaawards. Only titles released in 2007 are eligible to win.

Voting begins Tuesday, January 22 at 2:00 a.m. PST and ends Wednesday, January 30 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Microsoft will announce the winners at the Game Developers Conference in February.

Here are the list of games and categories which gamers can vote on:

Best Overall Arcade Game

Puzzle Quest
Pac-Man CE
Carcassonne
Bomberman Live
Alien Hominid
Catan

Best Classic Game

Castlevania
Prince of Persia
Asteroids
Jet Pac Refuelled
Sensible World of Soccer
Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Best Original Game

Pac-Man CE
Boom Boom Rocket
Aegis Wing
Undertow
Band of Bugs
Hexic 2

Best Family Friendly Game

Pac-Man CE
Carcassonne
Catan
Bomberman Live
Hexic 2
E4

Best Competitive Multiplayer Game

Puzzle Quest
Carcassonne
Bomberman Live
Super Puzzle Fighter II
Undertow
Catan

Best Cooperative Multiplayer Game

Alien Hominid
Golden Axe
Aegis Wing
Double Dragon
Arkadian Warriors
TMNT

Here are the categories which gamers will not vote on:

Best selling game
Most played game
Highest rated game
Staff choice