RETAILBIZ
MONDAY JANUARY 25th: TODAY’S CHARTS PRICE CHECK NEW RELEASES
KISS ‘N’ SELL Disney’s teams work as one to bring the amphibian-smooching fairy tale to gamers
OUT: FEBRUARY 5th Read the preview in MCV this Friday
IN THIS WEEK’S
RETAILBIZ CHARTS Our full rundown of today’s All Formats Top 40, plus individual charts for Wii, DS, PS3, 360, PC, PS2 and PSP
HIGH STREET NEWS & DATA The latest MCV online survey results, plus indie sales charts, MCV’s price check, this week’s Metacritic scores – and our Deal Of The Week
RELEASE SCHEDULE Keep up to date with all the games headed to retail this week, next week and beyond
RETAILBIZ: CHARTS
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
2 MONDAY JANUARY 25th 2010
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
OFFICIALUKCHARTS WEEK ENDING SATURDAY JANUARY 23rd 2010
[ENTERTAINMENT - ALL PRICES]
[1]
TOP 40ALL FORMATS
[2]
1 LAST WEEK
[3]
[4]
[5]
JUST DANCE DEVELOPER: UBISOFT PUBLISHER: UBISOFT
THIS WEEK
PUBLISHER
26
3
2
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
1
TITLE
2
3
WII FIT PLUS
NINTENDO
4
4
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY
EA
5
5
WII SPORTS RESORT
NINTENDO
8
6
FIFA 10
11
7
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII
9
8
10
21
UP
28
22
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS
24
23
UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES
23
24
GTA EPISODES FROM LIBERTY CITY
22
25
PEPPA PIG: THE GAME
ELECTRONIC ARTS
30
26
OPERATION FLASHPOINT: DRAGON RISING CODEMASTERS
NINTENDO
16
27
BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM
JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR: THE GAME
UBISOFT
25
28
WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2010
9
ASSASSIN'S CREED II
UBISOFT
29
29
COLIN MCRAE DIRT 2
12
10
MARIO KART WII
NINTENDO
34
30
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 10
6
11
DARKSIDERS
THQ
33
31
DR KAWASHIMAS BRAIN TRAINING
15
12
MARIO & SONIC AT OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
SEGA
35
32
LEGO INDIANA JONES 2: CONTINUES
14
13
FORZA MOTORSPORT 3
NEW
33
DARK VOID
7
14
BAYONETTA
SEGA
40
34
SEGA MEGA DRIVE ULTIMATE COLLECTION
18
15
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010
SEGA
39
35
PURE
19
16
LEGO BATMAN: THE VIDEOGAME
WARNER BROS.
36
36
LEGO STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA
13
17
BORDERLANDS
2K GAMES
31
37
LEFT 4 DEAD 2
17
18
WII PLAY
NINTENDO
RE
38
MARIO KART DS
20
19
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2010
RE
39
ASSASSIN’S CREED
21
20
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV
RE
40
RATCHET & CLANK: A CRACK IN TIME
PC CD-ROM LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
Highest New Entry
MICROSOFT
KONAMI ROCKSTAR
PC CD-ROM
[FULL PRICE]
TITLE
PUBLISHER
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010 DEVELOPER: SPORTS INTERACTIVE PUBLISHER: SEGA
2
2
THE SIMS 3
4
3
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2
3
4
THE SIMS 3: WORLD ADVENTURES
5
5
EMPIRE: TOTAL WAR
7
6
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
THQ
TITLE
1
WOW: BATTLE CHEST
2
ASSASSIN'S CREED
2
3
CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 2010
ELECTRONIC ARTS
7
4
MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR X
SEGA
5
5
SNIPER: ART OF VICTORY
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WRATH OF LICH KING ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
9
6
WORLD OF WARCRAFT
7
DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS
ELECTRONIC ARTS
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV
ROCKSTAR
10
9
LEFT 4 DEAD 2
8
10
BORDERLANDS
EIDOS THQ CODEMASTERS EA NINTENDO LUCASARTS CAPCOM SEGA DISNEY LUCASARTS SEGA NINTENDO UBISOFT SONY
DEVELOPER: BLIZZARD PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
4
8
UBISOFT
PUBLISHER
ELECTRONIC ARTS
9
ROCKSTAR
[BUDGET PRICE]
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
8
NINTENDO SONY COMPUTER ENT.
6
7
MYSTERY IN LONDON: JACK THE RIPPER
NEW
8
THE MYSTERY OF THE CRYSTAL PORTAL
ELECTRONIC ARTS
11
9
THE SIMS 2
2K GAMES
12
10
TREASURE SEEKERS 1&2: COMPLETE SERIES
FOCUS MULTIMEDIA EIDOS MICROSOFT CITY INTERACTIVE ACTIVISION BLIZZARD FOCUS MULTIMEDIA GSP/AVANQUEST ELECTRONIC ARTS MASTERTRONIC
[SOURCE] (c) ELSPA, Compiled by ChartTrack
RETAILBIZ: CHARTS
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
MONDAY JANUARY 25th 2010 3
OFFICIALUKCHARTS WEEK ENDING SATURDAY JANUARY 23rd 2010
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
1
PS3
[FULL PRICE]
TITLE
PUBLISHER
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. DEVELOPER: NINTENDO PUBLISHER: NINTENDO
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
[FULL PRICE] TITLE
PUBLISHER
1
COD: MODERN WARFARE 2 DEVELOPER: INFINITY WARD PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3
2
DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING
NINTENDO
2
2
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY
5
3
MARIO KART DS
NINTENDO
4
3
ASSASSIN'S CREED II
4
4
PROFESSOR LAYTON AND PANDORA'S BOX
NINTENDO
6
4
UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES
2
5
MARIO & SONIC: OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
SEGA
7
5
FIFA 10
6
6
NINTENDO PRESENTS: CROSSWORD PRESENTS
NINTENDO
3
6
DARKSIDERS
7
7
PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE
NINTENDO
8
7
JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME
8
8
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SPIRIT TRACKS
NINTENDO
26
8
RATCHET & CLANK: A CRACK IN TIME
11
9
TAKE A BREAK’S PUZZLE MASTER
UBISOFT
5
9
BAYONETTA
9
10
DR KAWASHIMA MORE BRAIN TRAINING
NINTENDO
11
10
BORDERLANDS
PLAYSTATION 2
WII
TITLE
PUBLISHER
1
FIFA 10
2
2
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2010
4
3
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
5
4
WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2010
6
5
SINGSTAR MOTOWN
7
6
11
7
8
8
BEN 10: ALIEN FORCE
10
9
DISNEY SING IT: POP HITS
12
10
GUITAR HERO 5
PSP LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
DEVELOPER: EA PUBLISHER: EA
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
EA UBISOFT SONY ELECTRONIC ARTS THQ UBISOFT SONY SEGA TAKE 2
[FULL PRICE] TITLE
PUBLISHER
1
WII SPORTS RESORT DEVELOPER: NINTENDO PUBLISHER: NINTENDO
KONAMI
2
2
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII
NINTENDO
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
3
3
MARIO KART WII
NINTENDO
THQ
4
4
MARIO & SONIC AT OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
SONY COMPUTER ENT.
7
5
JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME
HARRY POTTER & THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
ELECTRONIC ARTS
5
6
YOUR SHAPE
NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERCOVER
ELECTRONIC ARTS
6
7
F1 2009
D3P
12
8
MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
10
9
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 10
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
16
13
LEGO INDIANA JONES 2: ADVENTURE CONTINUES
TITLE
LITTLEBIGPLANET
2
2
FIFA 10
3
3
GRAN TURISMO
5
4
8
UBISOFT CODEMASTERS
DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS
XBOX 360
[FULL PRICE]
1
SEGA UBISOFT
PUBLISHER
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
1
DEVELOPER: SCEE CAMBRIDGE STUDIO PUBLISHER: SONY
SEGA EA LUCASARTS
[FULL PRICE]
TITLE
PUBLISHER
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 DEVELOPER: INFINITY WARD PUBLISHER: ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
ELECTRONIC ARTS
1
2
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY
SONY
3
3
FORZA MOTORSPORT 3
ASSASSIN'S CREED: BLOODLINES
UBISOFT
6
4
ASSASSIN'S CREED II
5
JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR
UBISOFT
5
5
DARKSIDERS
NEW
6
YU-GI-OH! GX TAG FORCE 4
KONAMI
10
6
FIFA 10
7
7
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010
4
8
GRAND THEFT AUTO: CHINATOWN WARS
6
9
STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT: ELITE SQUADRON
9
10
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2010
SEGA
8
7
GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES - LIBERTY CITY
ROCKSTAR
4
8
BAYONETTA
LUCASARTS
9
9
JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME
KONAMI
7
10
BORDERLANDS
ELECTRONIC ARTS MICROSOFT UBISOFT THQ ELECTRONIC ARTS ROCKSTAR SEGA UBISOFT 2K GAMES
(c) ELSPA, Compiled by ChartTrack
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
[FULL PRICE]
[SOURCE]
NINTENDO DS
RETAILBIZ: HIGH STREET
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
4 MONDAY JANUARY 25th 2010
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
Sponsored by
POLL IS GAME RIGHT THAT MOTION CONTROLLERS WILL UNLOCK 'AN UNPRECEDENTED INSTALLED BASE'?
REVIEW SCORES MCV provides the most important average review scores of the last few days – all sourced from Metacritic...
84%
Tatsunoko vs Capcom Wii Capcom
No
55% Yes Not Sure
15%
30%
78%
76%
Sky Crawlers Wii Namco Bandai
Army of Two: The 40th Day PS3 EA
61%
59%
Guitar Hero: Van Halen PS3 Activision
Dark Void 360 Capcom
As excited as the industry is about Project Natal and the PS3 Motion Controller, it seems its members are also divided over the limits of the peripherals’ potential. More than half of those who voted in the latest MCV online survey disagree with GAME’s recent comments that the two hardware releases would bring substantial new audiences to gaming in a similar way to the Wii’s launch.
Almost a third of the voters are divided over the matter, preferring to wait and see how the controllers fare when released later this year. Only 15 per cent are confident that the pair will change the face of the gaming audience at large. Take part in MCV’s next poll at www.mcvuk.com
MARGIN MAKER
*Metacritic scores correct at the time of going to press
INDIE CHARTS - ALL FORMATS 1
2
THIS WEEK
LAST WEEK
1
3
4
5
TITLE/FORMAT
PUBLISHER
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40th DAY FORMAT: 360
DEVELOPER: EA MONTREAL PUBLISHER: EA
2
2
DARKSIDERS 360
3
4
DARKSIDERS PS3
THQ
4
1
BAYONETTA 360
SEGA
5
NEW
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY PS3
6
NEW
BAYONETTA PS3
7
5
COD: MODERN WARFARE 2 PS3
8
4
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII Wii
THQ
EA
Hundreds of consumers are currently fighting the winter fat and many are doing so through Wii Fit Plus and various other fitness titles. Venom offers gamers the equipment to help them have a more productive workout. The company’s Step Up Pro (£17.99) pack stands will make any exercises that
require stepping on and off the Wii Balance Board will help users expend more energy as they work out. The Step Up pack also comes with weighted neoprene gloves. These weigh 500gsm each and provide more resistance during arm exercises. Venom: 01763 284 181
SEGA ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
DEAL OF THE WEEK
NINTENDO
9
2
COD: MODERN WARFARE 2 360
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
10
RE
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010 PC
SEGA
Charts compiled by Game Guide/Complete EPOS Solutions. For more information about Complete EPOS Solutions call 01543 370002. For more information about the Game Guide call 01606 836347.
Sega’s casual gaming fans can save £50 when they pick up a standard Wii bundle with Samba De Amigo and Rapala’s Fishing Frenzy at Play.com for £199.99
RETAILBIZ: HIGH STREET
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
MONDAY JANUARY 25th 2010 5
Sponsored by
PRICE CHECK [PRE ORDERS] Army of Two: The 40th Day PS3, EA
Vancouver 2010 360, Sega
Professor Layton: Pandora’s Box DS, Nintendo
James Cameron’s Avatar Wii, Ubisoft
WOW: Lich King PC, Blizzard
TOP 10 FINAL FANTASY XIII
IN STORE: WARRINTON
PS3 SQUARE ENIX
£39.99
£44.99
£29.99
£39.99
£22.99
£39.71
£39.71
£29.71
£15.00
N/A
2. MASS EFFECT 2
£42.99
£37.99
£32.98
£34.99
£19.99
3. MAG: COLLECTORS EDITION
£39.99
£44.99
£29.39
£38.99
£24.99
4. HEAVY RAIN
360 ..........................................................................EA PS3 ......................................................................SONY PS3 ......................................................................SONY
5. GOD OF WAR III
PS3 ......................................................................SONY
6. BIOSHOCK 2: LIMITED EDITION
ONLINE
360 ................................................................2K GAMES
£37.73
£34.87
£23.48
£17.99
£17.73
£37.95
£29.95
£27.95
£17.95
£17.95
£37.99
£32.95
£24.85
£19.99
£17.85
£37.97
£34.97
£28.97
£29.97
£23.97
7. MAG: MASSIVE ACTION
PS3 ......................................................................SONY
8. ALIENS VS PREDATOR
360 ......................................................................SEGA
9. BIOSHOCK 2
360 ................................................................2K GAMES
10. BIOSHOCK 2
PS3 ................................................................2K GAMES Week ending January 22nd Source: SHOPTO.COM
FROM THE FRONTLINE We speak to former GAME man Billy Walker, now at G Force... What are the major differences between working at GAME and independent retail? GAME was very structured and there wasn’t much leeway, but with an indie you’ve got a bit more freedom to do your own thing and customer service can only benefit from that. Obviously, we sometimes face stock problems – I worked in some of GAME’s bigger stores so I never had problems with the triple-A titles – unlike here.
“Working at GAME was very structured but with an indie you’ve got more freedom.”
What are the big challenges indies face? Fighting against the supermarkets, and trying to make it look like we’re good value for money when supermarkets can offer triple-A titles at ridiculous prices. It’s tough to get our regulars to come in rather than buying elsewhere. So what we do is get in the special editions and stuff like that, things that make us a little bit different from our competitors. We focus on our pre-owned service, our customer service and we even have a loyalty service that rewards anyone that keeps coming back to us.
[PRE ORDERS]
TOP 10 MASS EFFECT 2 360 EA
2. MASS EFFECT 2
PC ............................................................................EA
3. ALIENS VS PREDATOR
360 ......................................................................SEGA
4. FINAL FANTASY XIII
PS3 ............................................................SQUARE ENIX
5. BIOSHOCK 2
360 ................................................................2K GAMES
6. NAPOLEON: TOTAL WAR
PC ........................................................................SEGA
7. HEAVY RAIN
PS3 ......................................................................SONY
8. BIOSHOCK 2 What can indies offer customers? Customer service. When you go into GAME, they don’t really speak to you, whereas we can help customers find the game they’re looking for, give them information on thier purchases.
PC ..................................................................2K GAMES
9. FINAL FANTASY XIII
360 ............................................................SQUARE ENIX
10. BIOSHOCK 2
PS3 ................................................................2K GAMES Week ending January 22nd Source: AMAZON.COM
RETAILBIZ: NEW RELEASES
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
6 MONDAY JANUARY 25th 2010
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
MAG mobilises as January ends Sony’s ambitious FPS MAG arrives on shelves next week, alongside the latest Vs Capcom beat ’em up lashing out on Wii. Also approaching release is BioShock 2, Dante’s Inferno, Star Trek Online, The Princess and the Frog and more... TITLE
FORMAT
GENRE
PUBLISHER
TELEPHONE
DISTRIBUTOR
PC DS / PC / Wii / PS3 PC PC PC PS3 XBOX 360 / PC Wii
Simulation Action/Adventure Strategy FPS Simulation FPS RPG/Action Fighting
Just Flight Ubisoft Zushi Zushi Excalibur Publishing Sony EA Capcom
0845 234 4242 01279 822 800 01279 822 800 01279 822 800 01869 338833 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388
Mastertronic Gem/Trilogy Gem Gem Open Centresoft Centresoft Centresoft
PSP / DS / Wii / PS2 PSP / DS / Wii / PS2 / XBOX 360 DS / Wii PSP / PS3 / XBOX 360 PSP Wii PC Wii PC PSP / DS / PC DS PSP / DS / PS3 / XBOX 360 PC PC PC PSP / Wii / PS2 PC DS / Wii PC DS / PC PC
Action/Adventure Action/Adventure Action Action RPG Simulation Strategy RPG/Action Simulation Strategy Casual Racing Casual Casual FPS Survival Horror MMORPG Action/Adventure Casual Casual Simulation
D3Publisher D3Publisher Zushi EA Tecmo Koei Nintendo Excalibur Publishing Square Enix First Class Simulations Slitherine Zushi THQ S.A.D S.A.D bitComposer Konami Atari Disney Interactive S.A.D S.A.D Excalibur Publishing
0208 222 9700 0208 222 9700 01279 822 800 0121 625 3388 01462 476 130 0870 027 0985 01869 338833 020 7324 5200 01869 338833 0870 027 0985 01279 822 800 0121 506 9585 01582 436043 01582 436043 0870 027 0985 0208 987 5706 0121 506 9585 0121 625 3388 01582 436043 01582 436043 01869 338833
Namco Bandai Namco Bandai Gem Centresoft Open Koch Open Open Open Koch Gem Advantage PlayV PlayV Koch Open Advantage Centresoft PlayV PlayV Open
PC / PS3 / XBOX 360
FPS
2K Games
01279 822 800
Gem
PSP DS PS3 / XBOX 360 DS PC PSP DS PC DS DS PS3 PC
Adventure Puzzle Fighting Action Simulation Action / RPG Music Casual/Adventure Puzzle/RPG RPG RPG Strategy
Zushi Rising Star Games Zen United Sega Excalibur Publishing Rising Star Games Disney Interactive Mamba Games Ubisoft Sega Square Enix Excalibur Publishing
01279 822800 01582 433700 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 01869 338833 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 01273 202220 01279 822 800 0121 625 3388 01462 476 130 01869 338833
Gem Centresoft Centresoft Centresoft Open Centresoft Centresoft Lace Gem/Trilogy Centresoft Open Open
DS GBA PSP/DS/PC/Wii/PS3/PS2/360 DS PC PS3 / XBOX 360 Wii PC PC / PS3 / XBOX 360
Mystery Action Adventure RPG Action Mini-games Casual/Adventure RTS
Capcom Sega City Interactive Excalibur Publishing Tecmo Koei D3Publisher Mamba Games Slitherine
0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 0845 362 7769 01869 338833 01462 476 130 0208 222 9700 01273 202220 0870 027 0985
Centresoft Centresoft Trilogy Open Open Namco Bandai Lace Koch
JANUARY 29th 767-200/300 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard BC Kings Exodus From The Earth Forklift Truck Simulator MAG: Massive Action Game Mass Effect 2 Tatsunoko Vs Capcom Ultimate All Stars
FEBRUARY 5th Astroboy Ben 10: Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks Chicken Blaster Dante's Inferno Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days Endless Ocean 2 Farewell to Dragons Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers Flight Deck 6 History Engineering an Empire Egypt Jig-a-Pix: Love is... MX vs AV Reflex Mystery Cookbook Natalie Brooks: Secrets Of Treasure House S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Star Trek Online The Princess And The Frog The Treasures Of Mystery Island Titanic Mystery UK Truck Simulator
FEBRUARY 9th BioShock 2
FEBRUARY 12th Adventures To Go Animal Kororo BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Bleach: The Third Phantom Driving Simulator Half Minute Hero Jonas Memento Mori Might And Magic: Clash Of Heroes Phantasy Star Zero Star Ocean: The Last Hope International Theatre Of War: Afrika Corps
FEBRUARY 19th Ace Attorney: Miles Edgeworth Investigates Aliens vs Predator Art Of Murder Blood Of Europe Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce Family Party: Winter Fun Ghosts Pirates of Vooju Island History Great Battles: Medieval
MUSTSTOCK ...............................................MAG Released: January 29th Format: PS3 Publisher: Sony Distributor: Centresoft Contact: 0121 625 3388
Standing for Massive Action Game, Sony’s MAG is a promising multiplayer-driven first-person shooter that boasts support for up to 256 players simultaneously. Taking online deathmatches to new heights, the game puts players in command of an army of other gamers.
MUSTSTOCK ...............TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM Released: January 29th Format: Wii Publisher: Capcom Distributor: Centresoft Contact: 0121 625 3388
Universes clash in this upcoming beat-’em-up up from Capcom. The publisher’s own Street Fighter characters team up with Viewtiful Joe, Mega Man and more as they battle with various familiar faces from the world of Tatsunoko’s animations.