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[u_neek]

04/Apr/2005

EA’s multi-format ‘FIFA Street’ keeps its eye on the ball, scoring a 2nd week at No1 in the All Formats Entertainment Chart and blocking Sony’s PS2-only ‘Gran Turismo 4’ which holds on to No2 while being replaced by ‘FIFA Street’ at No1 in the PS2 Chart.

Ubisoft’s critically acclaimed ‘Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory’ (XB/PS2/PC/GC) is the only new entry in the All Formats Top 40, breathing down GT4’s neck at No3 with 58% of sales on Xbox and 32% on PS2. The ‘Splinter Cell’ franchise which started in week 48 2002 as an Xbox exclusive now has 3 games in the Top 10 fastest-selling Xbox games in the UK (over one week) – the original ‘Splinter Cell’ is the 2nd fastest, followed by ‘Pandora Tomorrow’ at No5 and ‘Chaos Theory’ at No10. The All Formats Top 10 has 4 format-exclusive games (3 PS2 and 1 PC) with no more room for the single format ‘Super Mario 64 DS’ (down from No9 to No11) and ‘Championship Manager 5’ (PC) (down from No7 to No12 and dropping from No1 to No2 in the PC Entertainment Chart behind ‘The Sims 2: University’). The release of ‘Full Spectrum Warrior’ on PS2 propels THQ’s tactical shooter back into the Top 40 at No32, while THQ also claim this weeks highest climber - ‘The Punisher’ (PS2/XB/PC) up 7 places from No14 to No7 (with only a 6% rise in sales).

 

[Gregory]

If it`s any comfort to you, Halo 2 didnt last long either.. RE4 will sell when the PS2 port arrives, don`t worry.

 

[Wario64]

Wait till the PS2 port.

 

[Solid]

Viewtiful Joe 2 bombeb here as well

 

[bishoptl]

San Andreas still looking good.

 

[SFA_AOK]

It's been heavily sold out in some places since after launch. I walked around my local town the day after it came out and all the game stores (I looked in about 3 or 4) were out of stock. And it hadn't changed when I went to get my DS just before Easter. Not sure if anything's changed in the week since then but it wouldn't surprise me if it hadn't...

 

[DarienA]

Wow FIFA Street has been trashed in the US reviews... can't understand why it's selling enough to be #1 two weeks in a row....

 

[Koshiro]

WHERE IS VJ2?

WHERE IS RE4?

I appologise for my country once again.

 

[u_neek]

Wow FIFA Street has been trashed in the US reviews... can't understand why it's selling enough to be #1 two weeks in a row....

it's got the EA seal of quality on it you know.... oh wait..

 

[Katana_Strikes]

FM2005 holding up so well even with Champ Man breathing down it's neck.

 

[bionic77]

At least Winning Eleven is outselling Fifa so there is some hope.

 

[boutrosinit]

Again, I apologise on behalf of the nation of retards that I share this island with.

 

[Elios83]

Poor Capcom,at least DMC3 is peforming decently.

 

[Lindsay]

Sonic Heroes goes up again!

First Lara Croft and now this.

Just go away UK! x.x;;

 

[tahrikmili]

Nintendo am cry..

And whoever compared RE4's sales trend to Halo 2 -> :lol

Anyone know the cumulative sales of Football Manager 2005 and Championship Manager 5?

 

[foobarry81]

Not so long ago a UK based online shop offered a GameCube + Mario Kart: Double Dash!! + Donkey Konga + bongo controller for only 89 euro. I think that says it all...

UK gamers just don't care about Nintendo and as a consequence don't buy GC "exclusives".

 

[Ghost]

RE4 was not in stores last week.

It is this week though (well its on Games website at least) so hopefully it will re-enter next weeks chart.

 

[UltraMagnanimous]

They've had serious distribution problems apparantly... RE4 will be back in the shops this week. Dunno if it has the legs to get back up the charts but c'est la vie.

 

[bigNman]

Nintendo really underestimated demand for the game. It's nowhere to be seen. Plus I did not see a single TV advert! I have seen spots for GT4, Mercanaries, DMC3, FIFA Street etc but not one RE4 ad. The casual gamer doesnt even know its out.

 

[bitwise]

And whoever compared RE4's sales trend to Halo 2 -> :lol

that would be gregory, the guy who said Killzone would outsell Halo2, among other things.

 

[akascream]

Hehe, I have a hard time with the accuracy of EU sales charts. Those guys just steal everything.

 

[EternalDarko]

RE4 has been SOLD OUT since launch, hence why it's not in the charts. No-ones been able to buy it.
Hopefully that situation will get rectified, i'm hoping people didn't let it pass by them because they weren't able to get ahold of it.

 

[Culex]

Was it really distribution problems or did Capcom expect another Capbomb?

 

[Infernal Monkey]

Nintendo distributed the game in Europe, not Capcom. And the first shipment was the LE version of the game, they fucked up not getting the normal edition out fast enough.

 

[DCharlie]

RE4 has been SOLD OUT since launch, hence why it's not in the charts. No-ones been able to buy it.

eh?

I was in the uk for two weeks

it was in every store in London, Newcastle, Carlisle, and all the shitty small town stores in Whitehaven that i went in.... am i missing something?

But NO ADVERTISING OR HYPE ANYWHERE seemed to be the reason that it's been BOMBZILLA.

 

[ToyMachine228]

Poor Europeans...Missing out on one of the greatest games of the generation. Pick it up people!

 

[EternalDarko]

well, when i say since launch....i mean the first 2 or so weeks. It can;t be found anywhere now and its been like that since those first few weeks. got some friends waiting for copies on back order.

 

[Teddman]

Don't most UK gamers buy all their titles on import anyway? I know I would...

 

[Mooreberg]

Nintendo distributed the game in Europe, not Capcom. And the first shipment was the LE version of the game, they fucked up not getting the normal edition out fast enough.

Do pretty much all the Japanese thrid parties rely on someone else to publish their games in Europe? Namco was supposedly going to have EA publish Soul Calibur III until they reached whatever deal they made with SCEE.

 

[h4xor]

Fifa, rugby 2005, the simpsons road rage, and the simpsons hit and run

god. they love a soccer game, or 'football' or what ever. and the simpsons

why does RE4 get no love

 

[Infernal Monkey]

Do pretty much all the Japanese thrid parties rely on someone else to publish their games in Europe? Namco was supposedly going to have EA publish Soul Calibur III until they reached whatever deal they made with SCEE.

Europe scares Japanese developers. ;__;
Nintendo have been distributing a fair few third party games lately. ToS, Baten Kaitos, RE4, Mr. Driller DS, Project Rub. Probably because nobody else has enough faith in the European market.

 

[DCharlie]

"Don't most UK gamers buy all their titles on import anyway? I know I would..."

err... I bought Wipeout Pure whilst in the UK on import.

the cheapest i could get it was 50 GBP...

yes, that's near as damn it $100 ...

i get back to japan and i can get it for 6800 yen (which is about $61)

Rip off Britain? Why of course!

Oh, and PSPs in the import stores around Oxford street? 379 GBP for the pack...

yes, that's about $760

 

[Grizzlyjin]

Devil May Cry 3 is still up there though. So the UK isn't so bad.

That does suck though, I guess all that talk about a RE4 shortage must be true. I can't imagine a game like RE4 (even with poor marketing) could be kicked out of the Top 40 so easily.

 

[TheDiave]

That's a disgrace. Fuckin' Euro gamers and their obsession with soccer.

Yes, soccer. Not football. SOCCER.

 

[DCharlie]

i played Fifa Street whilst in the UK... it's not even a game, it's just total assbiscuits.

 

[Mrbob]

Wow Fifa Street number one.

You Euros better not talk shit about USA NPD game charts again! :lol

 

[Azih]

Is North America the only place where second and third place consoles thrive? I'm aware France and Germany seem to have a soft spot for Nintendo. But those aren't huge markets.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Is North America the only place where second and third place consoles thrive? I'm aware France and Germany seem to have a soft spot for Nintendo. But those aren't huge markets.

Well, I do believe Germany is the largest European PC market, and France is #2 for gaming overall in Europe (UK is #1)

But seriously, the UK has horrible taste in games, it seems.

 

[Wafflecopter]

Yes, how dare they have different tastes then us :lol

 

[Project Midway]

There are five quality games (GT4, Chaos Theory, DMC3, Brothers in Arms and MGS3) in top 10. Some would say TS3 is good too. Why are we complaining? Bashing UK charts is so yesterday. PES4 is doing great. Is it the lack of Nintendo games or what...?

 

[Li Mu Bai]

It seems that the Simpson's Hit 'n' Run has been in the top 25 or higher since it's release there. May God have mercy on their twisted souls.

 

[Project Midway]

well.... UK gamers have always loved their budget titles... anyone remember those £1.99 and £2.99 titles back in Speccy and C64 days? =) Sometimes top 10 was nothing but budget titles.

Here's full price chart for comparison...sorry cant do screen cap at the moment.

TOP 40 ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE (FULL PRICE), WEEK ENDING 2 April 2005

TW LW Title Developer Label Publisher
1 1 FIFA STREET EA CANADA EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
2 2 GRAN TURISMO 4 POLYPHONY DIGITAL SONY COMPUTER ENT. SONY COMPUTER ENT.
3 - TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL: CHAOS THEORY UBISOFT (MONTREAL) UBISOFT UBISOFT
4 3 BROTHERS IN ARMS: ROAD TO HILL 30 GEARBOX SOFTWARE UBISOFT UBISOFT
5 4 TIMESPLITTERS: FUTURE PERFECT FREE RADICAL DESIGN EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
6 5 DEVIL MAY CRY 3: DANTE'S AWAKENING CAPCOM CAPCOM CAPCOM
7 14 THE PUNISHER VOLITION THQ THQ
8 6 RUGBY 2005 HB STUDIOS EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
9 10 THE SIMS 2: UNIVERSITY MAXIS EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
10 8 METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER KCE JAPAN KONAMI KONAMI
11 9 SUPER MARIO 64 DS NINTENDO NINTENDO NINTENDO
12 7 CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 5 BEAUTIFUL GAME STUDIOS EIDOS EIDOS
13 11 FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 2 EA CHICAGO EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
14 12 THE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS MOVIE HEAVY IRON STUDIOS THQ THQ
15 15 THE INCREDIBLES HEAVY IRON STUDIOS DISNEY INTERACTIVE THQ
16 17 ROBOTS EUROCOM ENTERTAINMENT SIERRA VIVENDI UNIVERSAL GAMES
17 13 MERCENARIES PANDEMIC STUDIOS LUCASARTS LUCASARTS
18 16 SONIC MEGA COLLECTION PLUS SONIC TEAM SEGA SEGA UK
19 20 THE URBZ: SIMS IN THE CITY MAXIS EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
20 24 STAR WARS: REPUBLIC COMMANDO LUCASARTS LUCASARTS LUCASARTS
21 21 GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS ROCKSTAR NORTH ROCKSTAR TAKE 2
22 23 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2005 SPORTS INTERACTIVE SEGA SEGA UK
23 22 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 4 KCE TOKYO KONAMI KONAMI
24 25 FIFA 2005 EA CANADA EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
25 27 THE SIMS 2 MAXIS EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
26 19 WARIO WARE TOUCHED! NINTENDO NINTENDO NINTENDO
27 26 NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERGROUND 2 BLACK BOX GAMES EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
28 28 TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 2005 EA SPORTS EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
29 - FULL SPECTRUM WARRIOR MASS MEDIA THQ THQ
30 31 STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC 2 OBSIDIAN ENTERTAINMENT LUCASARTS LUCASARTS
31 32 PLAYBOY: THE MANSION CYBERLORE STUDIOS UBISOFT UBISOFT
32 37 GOLDENEYE: ROGUE AGENT EA LA EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
33 40 LORD OF THE RINGS - THE THIRD AGE EA GAMES EA GAMES ELECTRONIC ARTS
34 30 ASPHALT: URBAN GT GAMELOFT UBISOFT UBISOFT
35 33 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2004-2005 EA CANADA EA SPORTS ELECTRONIC ARTS
36 18 RESIDENT EVIL 4 CAPCOM CAPCOM CAPCOM
37 - ROME: TOTAL WAR CREATIVE ASSEMBLY ACTIVISION ACTIVISION
38 29 TONY HAWK'S UNDERGROUND 2 NEVERSOFT ACTIVISION ACTIVISION
39 - LMA MANAGER 2005 CODEMASTERS CODEMASTERS CODEMASTERS
40 35 ACT OF WAR: DIRECT ACTION EUGEN SYSTEMS ATARI ATARI

Look, its RE4 at 36th place!!!

 

[DCharlie]

UK gamers have always loved their budget titles... anyone remember those £1.99 and £2.99 titles back in Speccy and C64 days? =) Sometimes top 10 was nothing but budget titles.

Mastertronic and Firebird, oh how we loved yee.

Remember the firebird collection of shit games?

Called : "Don't Buy This" (even got a follow up compilation)

it went straight to number one! The games were utter garbage, but funny garbage.

Games like : Last V8, Warhawk, Action Biker, Spellbound, Finders Keepers, Booty, IO, the Sensi software parody shoot em up, etc etc made those labels awesome.

 

[SolidSnakex]

Even Asphalt GT is beating RE4. Man the GC really is bad off in the UK.

 

[8bit]

Mastertronic and Firebird, oh how we loved yee.

Remember the firebird collection of shit games?

Called : "Don't Buy This" (even got a follow up compilation)

it went straight to number one! The games were utter garbage, but funny garbage.

Games like : Last V8, Warhawk, Action Biker, Spellbound, Finders Keepers, Booty, IO, the Sensi software parody shoot em up, etc etc made those labels awesome.

http://www.crashonline.org.uk/17/dontbuy.htm

 

[Solid]

Poor Europeans...Missing out on one of the greatest games of the generation. Pick it up people!

We're not gonna miss it! We are just waiting for the other version

:lol

 

[Project Midway]

Mastertronic and Firebird, oh how we loved yee.

Remember the firebird collection of shit games?

Called : "Don't Buy This" (even got a follow up compilation)

it went straight to number one! The games were utter garbage, but funny garbage.

Games like : Last V8, Warhawk, Action Biker, Spellbound, Finders Keepers, Booty, IO, the Sensi software parody shoot em up, etc etc made those labels awesome.

:lol Didnt Last V8 has some cool digitised speech?

And remember those Dizzy games? "Dizzy this, Dizzy that"....oh my god how they milked the series. :lol

 

[Angst]

I've seen it sould out in stores here in sweden as well. Still it managed to get a #3 spot in last week's sales here:
1. Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
2. The Sims 2: Studentliv (PC) The Sims 2: University
3. Resident Evil 4 (GC)
4. Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 (PC)
5. FIFA Street (PS2)
6. Counter-Strike: Condition Zero (PC)
7. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PS2)
8. The Sims 2 (PC)
9. Devil may cry 3 (PS2)
10. Dark age of camelot: Catacombs (PC)
11. Super Mario 64 DS (DS)
12. Half-Life 2 (PC)
13. Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 (XBOX)
14. FIFA Street (XBOX)
15. Championship Manager 5 (PC)
16. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2)
17. Silent Hunter 3 (PC)
18. Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 (PS2)
19. Robots (PS2)
20. Slaget om Midgård - Härskarringen (PC) The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth

 

[Gaybrush Threepio]

Resident Evil 4 is sold out everywhere. The retailers (Game, Gamestation, HMV, Virgin) all under-ordered, Nintendo Europe only made the amount of stock that the retailers had initially requested (despite the STRONGEST possible advice to order more). RE4's disappearance from the charts is the Retailers' fault, not Nintendo's.

There's a load more stock coming in next week so should climb back up the charts then.

 

[SFA_AOK]

eh?

I was in the uk for two weeks

it was in every store in London, Newcastle, Carlisle, and all the shitty small town stores in Whitehaven that i went in.... am i missing something?

Yes, and it's this: it's been sold out in a lot of places. I heard that London stores had it in stock (and some other towns) but there are plenty of other places that it's sold out in (as I said earlier, Southampton was sold out but that seemed to go unnoticed).

Check out the comments here:
http://www.eurogamer.net/article_discussion.php?article_id=58449

Seriously, I'm not a Nintendo fan clinging on to some desperate excuse, I genuinely think the ball has been seriously dropped on the distribution of this game. TBH, it wouldn't surprise me if it did bomb even with all the stock in the world and I'd admit that if it happened, but I think there's enough of a problem here to suggest availability has been the major issue here.