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MCV 13/02/09 5
NEWS
swamps retail forces UK games trade to be more discerning
Codemasters savours The Times accolade Publisher boasts strong 2009 line-up
PICKY: (From left to right) Don McCabe, David Poulter, Debbie O’Neill, Jon Biggs and James Yelland are being selective with Wii and DS titles RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD
Nintendo DS. DS software either flies off the shelves or just doesn’t sell at all, so you do need to have a good Nintendo games buyer.” Supermarkets have also had to adopt strict processes when it comes to choosing DS and Wii titles. “We have had to be very selective with new releases,” explained Morrsions’ gaming buyer Jon Biggs. “This inevitably means leaving out some new titles which could have done really well for us.”
Asda’s software buyer James Yelland added: “In a supermarket like ourselves, space is at a premium. “We simply do not have the capacity to house all the DS and Wii software that is on offer in the marketplace at the moment. However, with Full Price Charts, Value Charts and range space, we do our best to have all the top games available for our customers to purchase. “We also like to ensure Wii and DS software features heavily in the promotional activity that we run.”
CODEMASTERS is in buoyant mood after The Times named it in its list of the UK’s ‘top private equitybacked firms with the fastest growing profits.’ The Britsoft publisher was fifth in the ‘Buyout Track 100’ rankings – sponsored by Lloyds TSB – ahead of hair products firm GHD and London City Airport. The newspaper highlighted the company’s annual profit growth of 96 per cent – up from £9.1 million in 2006 to £34.9 million in 2008. Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens told MCV: “The standing in The Sunday Times rankings reflects investment in proprietary technology, world class studios, digital delivery, global content creation and the assembly of a highly talented and motivated workforce who benefit from the belief of highly supportive stakeholders.
“We are intent on building on this performance this year and be well placed to consider our options in preparation for an economic upturn. “This year Codemasters has a strong line-up, including Damnation, Fuel, Operation Flashpoint, Overlord 2, Minions, Jumpgate, Cricket, Dirt 2, Formula One and Dragonology. “The power and versatility of our Ego technology will be shown in our racing titles such as Dirt 2 and F1, but equally in the action segment with the release of Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising. “We have made significant progress in our multi-site facilities and we’re completing construction of a 30,000 sq foot development studio. “We are not complacent, there is work to do but there is reason for optimism and that is hard to find presently.” Codemasters: 01926 814132
Sony pledges to ‘re-invigorate’ PSP in ‘09 ‘SIGNIFICANT’ NEW titles are heading to the PSP this year that will revitalise the format and attract new consumers, Sony has told MCV. Now over four years-old, the PSP has steadily established itself throughout the current generation, selling over 40 million units globally – 3.2m of them in the UK. But software sales have been less consistent. In GfKChartTrack’s monthly report for January, the format accounted for just 3.6 per cent of the UK software market in unit terms – a stark contrast to Japan, where 2008’s biggest title was PSP game Monster Hunter.
Speaking in an MCV analysis piece looking at the state of play for the Sony handheld, UK product manager Claire Backhouse
said that comparable titles are on the way over here – a number of them unannounced – that can help turn around the format’s current standing.
“This year we are also launching a host of significant PlayStation IPs on the PSP platform, the first being Resistance Retribution, which
will help drive sales,” Backhouse said. “It’s these core IPs that we believe will help broaden the appeal of PSP in the UK, and when coupled with the
existing functionality such as Go!View and Go!Cam, will make PSP a very attractive proposition. “Granted, perhaps there hasn’t been the volume of high profile PSP titles we would have liked to have seen on the platform. But, that said, we continue to focus heavily on software development. The fruits of this you’ll see later this year, with the release of a number of currently unannounced, yet significant franchises that will reinvigorate the current user base, as well as attracting a whole new audience.” Our PSP feature can be found on 22.
[PRE ORDERS]
TOP 10 KILLZONE 2 LIMITED ED BOX PS3 SONY
2. KILLZONE 2 PS3 ..................................................SONY
3. STREET FIGHTER IV PS3 ..............................................CAPCOM
4. SOCOM: CONFRONTATION PS3 ..................................................SONY
5. RESIDENT EVIL 5 PS3 ..............................................CAPCOM
6. RESIDENT EVIL 5 360 ..............................................CAPCOM
7. STREET FIGHTER IV 360 ..............................................CAPCOM
8. RACE PRO 360 ..................................................ATARI
9. HALO WARS: LIMITED EDITION 360 ..........................................MICROSOFT
10. F.E.A.R. 2: PROJECT ORIGIN 360 ......................................WARNER BROS Week ending February 6th Source: SHOPTO.COM
[MARKET VALUE]
£24.1m 35
30
25
20
15
10
5
£28.9m
£27.0m
£24.1m
1,353,433 Units
1,257,280 Units
989,242 Units
Week Ending January 23rd
Week Ending January 30th
Week Ending February 6th
0
Total UK Software Sales Source: ELSPA/ChartTrack and Intent Media