Last year’s most prestigious award, the Ultimate Game of the Year deservedly went to Portal 2, and this year looks even more hotly contested. Be it Arkham City, Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, Journey, Mass Effect 3, Skyrim, Uncharted 3 or one of the others, there are going to be some very happy and very unhappy people.

This year also sees 16 user-voted categories, the most of any Golden Joystick Awards to date, and users who vote in every category have a chance of winning a lovely prize courtesy of sponsors HMV, worth around £4000. The prize includes a PlayStation Vita, 3DS XL, iPad and other things.

To vote, visit the website and to chart the awards from head to toe, visit the Twitter or Facebook accounts.

Oh, and here’s comedian Ed Byrne being very Irish:

http://www.goldenjoystick.com/