The classic platform game was first released in 1985 and has since become one of the biggest selling ever with more than 40 million copies flying off the shelves worldwide.

In the game brothers Mario and Luigi - now recognised the world over - try to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom in a bid to save Princess Peach.

Super Mario Bros 2 was released in 1988, and Super Mario Bros 3 in 1990. The third version was considered by many as the best, and has sold 18 million to date.

The poll of 2,000 gamers, conducted by www.onepoll.com, revealed 'old skool' games are still firm favourites with Britain's army of gamers.

Pac-Man, which was released in 1980, was voted into second place.

The tiny yellow character is as recognisable as Mario and is credited with changing the face of gaming by making it more accessible to everyone.

Pac-Man has since appeared on Game Boy, Commodore 64, Playstation, PSP, and Xbox 360, amongst others.

As well as the hype generated around the arcade game, Pac-Man merchandise took the World by storm in the 1980s with t-shirts and toys.

Third place in the poll went to another game from the 1980s; Tetris.

The addictive puzzle game, which is widely available across differe

The criteria for a good sequel is almost contradictory; it's a dangerous mix of old and new, with just enough old to serve as a sturdy foundation and just enough new to prevent boredom and apathy. But when not perfectly balanced, a sequel can prove disastrous -- and said franchise may later find itself effectively neutered, with no chance of future offspring. Rely too much on the previous game and you'll have players wondering if that Roman numeral at the end of your title is just a sleep-deprived hallucination brought on by attending too many midnight launches. Abandon the predecessor entirely and you'll alienate those who spent months of their lives posting in message-board threads and feverishly stroking their pre-order receipts. If you're thinking it's a wonder that good sequels even exist, then you're right -- and the following games will prove why you're such an astute observer of the gaming industry and no stranger to disappointment.

The first Devil May Cry defined what action games during the PS2 generation should be, so of course everyone was excited about the inevitable follow-up. But when those f

9. Red Alert 3

Red Alert 3 shifts the focus of the series to sea battles along with an updated graphics engine.

8. Sonic Unleashed

Despite the constant "Anticipation/Disappointment" cycle of the new Sonic games, Sonic Unleashed truly pushes the anticipation portion of the cycle to the limit. We'll see if the disappointment portion reaches the limit as well.

7. Soul Calibur IV

From all over the world they come. In search of vengence, honor, salvation. Driven by the desire to weild the soul swords. But the swords may have met their match...

6. Wolfenstein

The original Wolfentein defined the First Person Shooter genre. Set within a near-fictional, historical WWII setting, players take on the role of the heroic OSA agent BJ Blazkowicz as they are thrust into the unknown and unexpected to battle against combat troops, otherworldly forces, and the dark science created by a supernatural Nazi force hell-bent on world domination.

5. The Force Unleashed

The Force Unleashed hopes to delver an interactive cinematic experience; making gamers feel as though they are in a Star Wars movie. The game uses a combination of physics engines including the Euphoria engine used by GTA IV. The euphoria e

The ability to "opt in for a chance to participate" currently appears on both the European and North American account pages for subscribers, as spotted by fan website World of War. There will be no need to sprain your fingers in a rush to enter, as the selection of participants will be random.

As previously revealed, the forthcoming expansion will include the MMO's first Hero class, the Death Knight, which players will be able to create once their characters reach level 55. Lich King also offers a slew of new abilities and items to aid players in raids and new areas.

No date for the beta was specified, though studio owner Vivendi expects Lich King's new abilities, areas and Death Knight class to arrive by the year's end.