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RETAILBIZ
MONDAY FEBRUARY 8th: TODAY’S CHARTS PRICE CHECK NEW RELEASES
LUCKY THIRTEEN The stalwart Final Fantasy franchise is back. Could it be this quarter’s biggest game launch?
OUT: MARCH 9th Read the preview in MCV this Friday RETAIL LOVE Nintendo’s new pink DSi bundle arrives this week, on February 12th – just in time for Valentine’s Day.
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
+:P ?3 & +:P Starter Pack
+:P ?3 +:P & +:3 Power Supply
A step in the right direction For more information on our full range of products please contact our sales team Email: sales@hubbaccessories.com | www.hubbaccessories.com
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RETAILBIZ: CHARTS
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
2 MONDAY FEBRUARY 8th 2010
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
OFFICIALUKCHARTS WEEK ENDING SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6th 2010
[ENTERTAINMENT - ALL PRICES]
[1]
TOP 40ALL FORMATS
[2]
1 LAST WEEK
[3]
[4]
[5]
MASS EFFECT 2
1
TITLE
PUBLISHER
22
21
OPERATION FLASHPOINT: DRAGON RISING CODEMASTERS
UBISOFT
17
22
BORDERLANDS
3
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
21
23
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2010
NEW
4
DANTE’S INFERNO
EA
23
24
UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES
SONY
7
5
FIFA 10
EA
26
25
WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2010
THQ
5
6
WII SPORTS RESORT
NINTENDO
24
26
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS
NINTENDO
4
7
MAG
SONY
20
27
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV
ROCKSTAR
8
8
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII
NINTENDO
31
28
DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS
EA
6
9
WII FIT PLUS
NINTENDO
19
29
WII PLAY
10
10
JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR: THE GAME
UBISOFT
29
30
PEPPA PIG: THE GAME
NEW
11
STAR TREK ONLINE
ATARI
34
31
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 10
11
12
ASSASSIN'S CREED II
UBISOFT
27
32
GTA EPISODES FROM LIBERTY CITY
12
13
MARIO KART WII
NINTENDO
38
33
NEED FOR SPEED: SHIFT
9
14
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY
EA
33
34
ASSASSIN’S CREED
13
15
LEGO BATMAN: THE VIDEOGAME
RE
35
SUPER SMASH BROS BRAWL
14
16
FORZA MOTORSPORT 3
25
36
BAYONETTA
SEGA
15
17
MARIO & SONIC AT OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
SEGA
18
37
DARKSIDERS
THQ
NEW
18
MX VS ATV REFLEX
THQ
28
38
PURE
16
19
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010
SEGA
32
39
COLIN MCRAE DIRT 2
CODEMASTERS
NEW
20
THE SIMS 3: DESIGN & HIGH-TECH STUFF
SEGA
RE
40
ASHES CRICKET 2009
CODEMASTERS
2
2
JUST DANCE
3
PC CD-ROM LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
Highest New Entry
DEVELOPER: EA BIOWARE PUBLISHER: EA
THIS WEEK
WARNER BROS. MICROSOFT
PC CD-ROM
[FULL PRICE]
TITLE
PUBLISHER
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
2K GAMES KONAMI
NINTENDO UBISOFT EA ROCKSTAR EA UBISOFT NINTENDO
DISNEY
[BUDGET PRICE]
TITLE
PUBLISHER
1
THE SIMS 3: DESIGN & HIGH-TECH
SEGA
2
1
ASSASSIN’S CREED
EA
3
3
MYSTERY OF THE CRYSTAL PORTAL
STAR TREK ONLINE DEVELOPER: ATARI PUBLISHER: CRYPTIC STUDIOS
DEVELOPER: THE SIMS STUDIO PUBLISHER: EA
2
2
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010
1
3
MASS EFFECT 2
NEW
4
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. CALL OF PRIPYAT
KOCH MEDIA
2
4
WOW: BATTLE CHEST
3
5
THE SIMS 3
EA
6
5
HIDDEN MYSTERIES: TITANIC
5
6
THE SIMS 3: WORLD ADVENTURES
EA
NEW
6
BIOSHOCK & OBLIVION
4
7
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
5
7
CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER 2010
7
8
WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WRATH OF LICH KING ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
7
8
MYSTERY IN LONDON: JACK THE RIPPER
8
9
DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS
ELECTRONIC ARTS
4
9
SNIPER: ART OF VICTORY
CITY INTERACTIVE
6
10
EMPIRE: TOTAL WAR
SEGA
10
10
THE SIMS 2
ELECTRONIC ARTS
FOCUS GSP/AVANQUEST ACTIVISION BLIZZARD GSP/AVANQUEST 2K GAMES EIDOS FOCUS MULTIMEDIA
[SOURCE] (c) ELSPA, Compiled by ChartTrack
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RETAILBIZ: CHARTS
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
3 MONDAY FEBRUARY 8th 2010
OFFICIALUKCHARTS WEEK ENDING SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6th 2010
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
PS3
[FULL PRICE]
TITLE
1
PUBLISHER
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
1
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. DEVELOPER: NINTENDO PUBLISHER: NINTENDO
[FULL PRICE] TITLE
PUBLISHER
MAG DEVELOPER: SONY PUBLISHER: SONY
3
2
MARIO KART DS
NINTENDO
NEW
2
DANTE’S INFERNO
2
3
DR KAWASHIMA'S BRAIN TRAINING
NINTENDO
2
3
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2
5
4
MARIO & SONIC: OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
4
5
PROFESSOR LAYTON AND PANDORA'S BOX
9
6
MYSTERY STORIES
6
7
PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE CURIOUS VILLAGE
15
8
TAKE A BREAK’S PUZZLE MASTER
7
9
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SPIRIT TRACKS
NEW
10
TITANIC MYSTERY
WII
TITLE
WII SPORTS RESORT
2
2
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII
3
3
MARIO KART WII
4
4
MARIO & SONIC AT OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
5
5
JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME
10
6
FIFA 10
7
7
YOUR SHAPE
RE
8
COD 4: MODERN WARFARE
8
9
F1 2009
9
10
MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
5
4
FIFA 10
3
5
UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES
GSP/AVANQUEST
4
6
ASSASSIN'S CREED II
NINTENDO
6
7
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY
UBISOFT
8
8
JAMES CAMERON'S AVATAR: THE GAME
NINTENDO
13
9
NEED FOR SPEED: SHIFT
S.A.D
NEW
10
MX VS ATV REFLEX
PSP PUBLISHER
EA
1
2
LITTLEBIGPLANET
NINTENDO
3
3
GRAN TURISMO
SEGA
5
4
GRAND THEFT AUTO: CHINATOWN WARS
UBISOFT
4
5
ASSASSIN'S CREED: BLOODLINES
EA
6
6
FOOTBALL MANAGER 2010
UBISOFT
7
7
JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR
9
8
DISSIDIA: FINAL FANTASY
CODEMASTERS
RE
9
DISGAEA 2: DARK HERO DAYS
SEGA
8
10
YU-GI-OH! GX TAG FORCE 4
XBOX 360
1
EA THQ
DEVELOPER: HB STUDIOS PUBLISHER: EA
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
PUBLISHER
EA UBISOFT
PUBLISHER
NINTENDO
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
UBISOFT
TITLE
FIFA 10
[BUDGET PRICE]
SONY
[FULL PRICE]
1
DEVELOPER: NINTENDO PUBLISHER: NINTENDO
TITLE
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
EA ACTIVISION BLIZZARD
SONY SONY ROCKSTAR UBISOFT SEGA UBISOFT SQUARE ENIX KOEI KONAMI
[FULL PRICE]
TITLE
PUBLISHER
1
JUST DANCE
2
2
WII FIT PLUS
NINTENDO
NEW
2
DANTE’S INFERNO
3
3
WII PLAY
NINTENDO
2
3
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2
6
4
SUPER SMASH BROS: BRAWL
NINTENDO
3
4
FORZA MOTORSPORT 3
4
5
EA SPORTS ACTIVE
EA
6
5
FIFA 10
RE
6
INDIANA JONES AND THE STAFF OF KINGS
LUCASARTS
4
6
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY
5
7
MONOPOLY
EA
5
7
ASSASSIN'S CREED II
9
8
MY FITNESS COACH: GET IN SHAPE
UBISOFT
7
8
GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES - LIBERTY CITY
15
9
FERRARI CHALLENGE: TROFEO PIRELLI
SYSTEM 3
NEW
9
MX VS ATV REFLEX
11
10
PEPPA PIG: THE GAME
P2 GAMES
9
10
BORDERLANDS
DEVELOPER: UBISOFT (FRANCE) PUBLISHER: UBISOFT
MASS EFFECT 2 DEVELOPER: EA BIOWARE PUBLISHER: EA EA ACTIVISION BLIZZARD MICROSOFT EA EA UBISOFT ROCKSTAR THQ 2K GAMES
(c) ELSPA, Compiled by ChartTrack
1
WII
SEGA NINTENDO
[FULL PRICE]
LAST THIS WEEK WEEK
[SOURCE]
NINTENDO DS
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RETAILBIZ: HIGH STREET
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
4 MONDAY FEBRUARY 8th 2010
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
Sponsored by
POLL WILL APPLE'S IPAD BENEFIT GAMES RETAILERS?
REVIEW SCORES
No
77%
MCV provides the most important average review scores of the last few days – all sourced from Metacritic...
95%
Mass Effect 2 PC EA
Yes
14%
89%
79%
76%
69%
BlazBlue: Trigger PS3 PQube
MX Vs ATV Reflex 360 THQ
Endless Ocean 2 Wii Nintendo
White Knight Chron. PS3 Sony
*Metacritic scores correct at the time of going to press
2
THIS WEEK
LAST WEEK
3
4
TITLE/FORMAT
5
PUBLISHER
1
MASS EFFECT 2 FORMAT: 360
DEVELOPER: EA BIOWARE PUBLISHER: EA
2
NEW
MAG PS3
SONY
3
NEW
MAG: COLLECTOR’S EDITION PS3
SONY
4
3
COD: MODERN WARFARE 2 360
5
4
FIFA 10 360
6
10
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII Wii
7
RE
JUST DANCE Wii
8
RE
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY 360
9
8
COD: MODERN WARFARE 2 PS3
10
2
ARMY OF TWO: THE 40TH DAY PS3
9%
However, more than three quarters of voters in our latest poll believed there would be no benefit for games retailers, thanks to its non-specialist target audience and download-only business model. Only 14 per cent believed it would prove to be profitable for any games retailers that stock it. Take part in MCV’s next poll at www.mcvuk.com
MARGIN MAKER
INDIE CHARTS - ALL FORMATS 1
Echoing the views of the majority of games retailers we’ve spoken to, the participants of the latest online MCV survey are unconvinced by the potential of Apple’s download-only iPad. The device is due for release in March with a 3G-enabled version to follow in April, and some retailers such as GAME have already pledged support to it, enticed by the promise of a strong games drive by the likes of EA.
Not Sure
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD EA NINTENDO
As the annual Oscars talk begins to heat up, Gem offers retailers the chance to cash in on the movie hype with this duo of Paramount movies on USB. Available through a partnership between the two firms, stores can stock digital versions of Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen and Star Trek. Each flick comes on a specially constructed 4GB USB stick based on familiar emblems from the films. These devices are compatible with most DivX-certified machines, including PC, Mac and PS3. The movies come in a special collector’s tin and are ideal for gifting. Exspect: 01782 748 732
DEAL OF THE WEEK
UBISOFT EA ACTIVISION BLIZZARD EA
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.
HMV customers receive a free copy of Mass Effect 2 when they buy a 120Gb Xbox 360 Elite for £194.99.
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RETAILBIZ: HIGH STREET
Check out RETAILBIZ at WWW.MCVUK.COM
6 MONDAY FEBRUARY 8th 2010
WWW.MCVUK.COM/RETAIL-BIZ
Sponsored by
PRICE CHECK [PRE ORDERS] Mass Effect 2 360, EA
Mario Kart Wii Wii, Nintendo
MAG PS3, Sony
Mario & Sonic: Winter DS, Sega
COD: Modern Warfare 2 Activision Blizzard
TOP 10 BIOSHOCK 2 360 2K GAMES
IN STORE: CHESTER £39.99
£34.98
£39.99
£22.98
£44.99
£39.71
£27.71
£39.71
£24.71
£44.71
2. BIOSHOCK 2
£39.99
£39.99
£44.99
£29.99
£44.99
3. FINAL FANTASY XIII
£39.99
£39.99
£39.99
£29.99
£44.99
4. HEAVY RAIN
PS3 ................................................................2K GAMES PS3 ............................................................SQUARE ENIX PS3 ......................................................................SONY
5. BIOSHOCK 2: WITH LITTLE SISTER
360 ................................................................2K GAMES
6. ALIENS VS PREDATOR
ONLINE
360 ......................................................................SEGA
£34.99
£27.71
£34.73
£23.18
£37.99
£39.99
£29.99
£39.99
£25.99
£39.99
£36.85
£26.85
£39.95
£22.95
£42.99
£37.95
£26.95
£34.95
£24.95
£38.95
7. FINAL FANTASY XIII: COLLECTORS ED
PS3 ............................................................SQUARE ENIX
8. GOD OF WAR III
PS3 ......................................................................SONY
9. BIOSHOCK 2: WITH LITTLE SISTER
PS3 ................................................................2K GAMES
10. ALIENS VS PREDATOR
360 ......................................................................SEGA Week ending February 5th Source: SHOPTO.COM
FROM THE FRONTLINE
“None of the High Street stores pose a serious threat to us because we give good customer service.”
We chat to Aki Querishi from London’s Awesome Games… How much competition do you have to face in your area? We’ve got all the big multiples here: GAME, Gamestation, HMV, Currys Digital. But none of them pose a serious threat to us because we give good customer service. People come to us because of our knowledge of the games industry, and we tend to stock a lot more variety than the others put together. The main chains focus on the Top 20 or Top 50 games, while we also offer much more in the way of back catalogue titles.
[PRE ORDERS]
TOP 10 BIOSHOCK 2 360 2K GAMES
2. BIOSHOCK 2
PS3 ................................................................2K GAMES
3. ALIENS VS PREDATOR What is the biggest challenge you face? Supermarkets, because of the pricing. Over Christmas, it was a nightmare because they were undercutting us on key titles like Modern Warfare and FIFA. Apart from that, we’re okay.
PC ........................................................................SEGA
4. ALIENS VS PREDATOR
360 ......................................................................SEGA
5. THE SIMS: DESIGN & HIGH TECH STUFF PC ............................................................................EA
6. HEAVY RAIN What makes your store unique? I think it’s the friendly environment you get here, which you don’t really find in the big multiples. We have people that know us quite well and pop in just to say hello.
PS3 ......................................................................SONY
7. FINAL FANTASY XIII
PS3 ............................................................SQUARE ENIX
8. FINAL FANTASY XIII: COLLECTORS ED
PS3 ..........................................................SQUARE ENIXA
9. DANTE’S INFERNO
PS3 ..........................................................................EA
What are your hopes for 2010? That things will probably start picking up now that we’re technically out of the recession.
10. BIOSHOCK 2: COLLECTORS EDITION
360 ................................................................2K GAMES Week ending February 5th Source: AMAZON.CO.UK
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6 MONDAY FEBRUARY 8th 2010
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BioShock returns to High Street The eagerly awaited BioShock 2 is just days away, inviting gamers back to Rapture. The 2K Games title is not the only hot title due out soon, with Aliens Vs Predator, Heavy Rain, Battlefield, Half-Minute Hero and more on the horizon... TITLE
FORMAT
GENRE
PUBLISHER
TELEPHONE
DISTRIBUTOR
PC / PS3 / XBOX 360
FPS
2K Games
01279 822 800
Gem
DS Wii PS3 / XBOX 360 DS PC PSP DS Wii PC DS DS Wii PS3 Wii PC
Puzzle Simulation Fighting Action Simulation Action/RPG Music Music Casual/Adventure Action/Adventure RPG Simulation RPG Puzzle Strategy
Rising Star Games 505 Games Zen United Sega Excalibur Publishing Rising Star Games Disney Interactive Konami Mamba Games Activision Blizzard Sega Zushi Square Enix Sega Excalibur Publishing
0845 234 4242 0121 506 9585 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 01869 338833 0845 234 4242 0121 625 3388 0208 987 5706 01273 202220 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 01279 822800 01462 476 130 0121 625 3388 01869 338833
Mastertronic Advantage Centresoft Centresoft Open Mastertronic Centresoft Open Lace Centresoft Centresoft Gem Open Centresoft Open
DS XBOX 360 / PS3 / PC DS PC PS3 / XBOX 360 Wii PC PC XBOX 360 / PS3 / Wii DS PC / XBOX 360 PC XBOX 360 / PS3 PSP
Mystery Action Adventure RPG Action Mini-games Casual/Adventure Strategy Music Imagine Racing Strategy Survival Horror Fighting
Capcom Sega City Interactive Excalibur Publishing Tecmo Koei D3Publisher Mamba Games Kalypso Media Activision Blizzard Ubisoft Zushi Mamba Games Capcom South Peak
0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 0845 362 7769 01869 338833 01462 476 130 0208 222 9700 01273 202220 0121 506 9585 0121 625 3388 01279 822800 01279 822800 01273 202220 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388
Centresoft Centresoft Trilogy Open Open Namco Bandai Lace Advantage Centresoft Gem/Trilogy Gem Lace Centresoft Centresoft
PSP PC PC PS3 XBOX 360 DS PC Wii Wii DS / Wii / PS3 / XBOX 360 PSP PS3 / XBOX 360
Adventure Strategy Simulation Adventure Music Puzzle/RPG Strategy Action Sports Racing Action Action
Zushi Ubisoft First Class Simulations Sony Microsoft Ubisoft Sega Namco Bandai South Peak Sega Tecmo Koei Rising Star Games
01279 822800 01279 822800 01869 338833 0121 625 3388 01279 822800 01279 822800 0121 625 3388 0121 506 9585 0121 625 3388 0121 625 3388 01462 476 130 0845 234 4242
Gem Gem/Trilogy Open Centresoft Gem Gem/Trilogy Centresoft Advantage Centresoft Centresoft Open Mastertronic
PC DS / PC / Wii DS XBOX 360 / PS3 / PC DS PC PC DS
Casual Action Puzzle FPS Action Simulation Casual Puzzle
S.A.D Disney Interactive S.A.D EA Zushi First Class Simulations S.A.D City Interactive
01582 436043 0121 625 3388 01582 436043 0121 625 3388 01279 822800 01869 338833 01582 436043 01279 822800
PlayV Centresoft PlayV Centresoft Gem Open PlayV Gem/Trilogy
FEBRUARY 9th BioShock 2
FEBRUARY 12th Animal Kororo Big Catch Bass Fishing 2 BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Bleach: The Third Phantom Driving Simulator Half-Minute Hero Jonas Karaoke Revolution Memento Mori Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief Phantasy Star Zero Reel Fishing: Anglers Dream Star Ocean: The Last Hope International Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll 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 Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island Grand Ages Rome: Gold Edition Guitar Hero: Van Halen Imagine Journalist Indianapolis 500 Evolution Making History 2: War Of The World Resident Evil 5 (Platinum/Classics) TNA! Impact: Cross The Line
FEBRUARY 26th Adventures To Go Anno 1404 Venice Add-on Discover Arabia Heavy Rain Lips: Party Classics Might And Magic: Clash Of Heroes Napoleon: Total War Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces Sled Shred Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Undead Knights Way of the Samurai 3
MARCH 5th Alabama Smith: Escape From Pompeii Alice In Wonderland Around The World In 80 Days Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Defendin De Penguin Discover Great Britain Gourmania Jewels Of Sahara
MUSTSTOCK ...................................BIOSHOCK 2 Released: February 9 Format: 360, PS3, PC Publisher: 2K Games Distributor: Gem Contact: 01279 822800
The biggest game of the month finally arrives. Players don the diving suit of the first Big Daddy and search the sunken ruins of Rapture for the fiend that has been kidnapping young girls from the surface. The game features new power-ups and the series’ first multiplayer mode.
MUSTSTOCK ......................HALF-MINUTE HERO Released: February 12 Format: PSP Publisher: Rising Star Distributor: Mastertronic Contact: 0845 234 4242
An innovative take on the RPG genre, this 8-bit inspired adventue challenges players to save the world in quickfire chunks of 30 seconds. The game swaps lengthy statmanagement for ‘pick up and play’ action and should appeal to RPG fans everywhere.