Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 22: 3rd - 9th November

WELCOME ...to GamesRetail.biz, your weekly look at the key analysis, news and data sources for the retail sector, brought to you by GamesIndustry.biz and Eurogamer.net

THIS WEEK ... we're looking how the FIFA vs Pro Evo rivalry is shaping up so far, and looking back at who's scored the best chart performance in the past few years.

Plus we've got the second part of the big interview with CEO Rod Cousens, as well as the latest news, charts, release dates and much more!

FIFA vs Pro Evo: Eurogamer Reader Interest FIFA VS PES D This week we're looking at one of the most established rivalries in the UK's videogames scene - FIFA versus . This year FIFA scored two points higher than Pro Evo for the first time ever (9 versus 7) and has sold more than ever as well (partly thanks to crazy supermarket discounting) - but how have the two C E games been PR'd? A B

Eurogamer Reader Interest Looking at a graph of the two games' activity on Eurogamer.net we can see that FIFA 10 (in red) succeeds in gaining more profile spikes that Pro Evo 2010 (in blue). Point A is the first hands-on of FIFA at this year's E3 and you can see that the EA title had that month virtually to itself in Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Jun '09 comparison.

Points B and C are peaks for both games: The first Comparison of Cumulative UK Chart Performance is an updated hands-on with FIFA, along with some comparisons to Pro Evo - understandably popular; the second is more of the same, with later code, as well as a Pro Evo screenshot gallery.

The interesting thing with both those points is that while FIFA shades the first, both titles are pretty equal in the second - but the real indication of relative popularity comes with the two reviews. Point D is FIFA's - a point at which it's the most popular game on the entire website, with a decent

Cumulative UK Chart Total long tail. Point E is the Pro Evo review, which makes much less of a splash.

Part of this year's battle may have been won by marketing for previous editions - the second graph shows the last couple of years of cumulative chart FIFA 08 FIFA 09 presence for both franchises, and while 2007's PES 2008 PES 2009 FIFA 2010 PES 2010 games were pretty close, last year's was much more one-sided.

The GamesIndustry.biz Network now has over 9000 registered industry users! Page 1 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 22: 3rd - 9th November

THIS WEEK IN RETAIL

ASDA TAKES 600,000 MODERN WARFARE 2 PRE-ORDERS As rival Sainsbury's slashes price of new release to £26 in UK. THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Street dates for Modern Warfare 2 are in STREET DATE CRUMBLES AHEAD OF MODERN WARFARE 2 RELEASE tatters as significant numbers of consumers Consumers buy and complete single-player game before official launch; get their hands on the game - and complete Gamestop breaks street date in US. the single player content - before release day. SQUARE ENIX REVENUES UP BY A THIRD Meanwhile the national press in the UK has Dragon Quest, Batman and Kingdom Hearts perform well; profits down on responded to concerns raised by MP Keith restructuring. Vaz about the realism of killing civilians in the game's 'Terrorist' scene. MODERN WARFARE 2 PRE-ORDERS "SET NEW RECORDS" Microsoft and Sky have finally launched Activision promises "unprecedented" level of stock on day one with publisher the Sky Player to all 360 owners in poised to replenish retail in weeks following release. the UK and Ireland, following upgrades to cope with demand. ACTIVISION RECORDS $15M THIRD QUARTER PROFIT has announced an endless Call of Duty and legacy titles help publisher swing to profit; free trial - up to player level 10 - for its World at War map packs hit 7.5m units sold. Warhammer MMO in a bid to get gamers trying out the title.

THE BIG INTERVIEW: ROD COUSENS - PART TWO The Codemasters boss talks retail relationships and proposes a radical new business model for the future of the games industry. Highlights include: - Retailers should see a higher margin on hardware to encourage greater sales priority - The margin on games is then much lower, so accepted price points should be £29.99 - Additionally retail should take a slice of DLC revenue to encourage sales there as well - Meanwhile the future of Ashes Cricket is safe, despite Transmission Games going bust

MOST-ANTICIPATED GAMES MOST-READ ARTICLES

1. Alan Wake Microsoft 1. : Origins Review 2. Final Fantasy XIII Square Enix 2. Dragon Age: Origins Review 3. Heavy Rain SCEE 3. The Void Review 4. 5 SCE 4. Torchlight Review 5. III SCEA 5. Tekken 6 Review 6. Final Fantasy Versus XIII Square Enix 6. Fit Plus Review 7. Modern Warfare 2 Activision 7. Episodes From Liberty City Review 8. Splinter Cell: Conviction Ubisoft 8. SAW Review 9. BioShock 2 2K Games 9. : Nitro Review 10. 2 Electronic Arts 10. Ghostbusters Review

List based on traffic for Eurogamer articles dated 3rd - 9th November.

You can reach key UK retailers by advertising with GamesRetail.biz. Page 2

Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 22: 3rd - 9th November RETAIL DATA

PRICE-CHECK DATA

Modern Warfare 2 (360) Brutal Legend (PS3) (PC) HMV £44.99 £39.99 £29.99 Amazon £43.99 £35.03 £27.99 ASDA £44.91 £39.91 £29.91 Play.com £44.99 £39.99 £29.99 GAME £44.99 £24.99 £29.99 Tesco £43.99 £37.48 £22.44 Cheapest Online £39.99 £23.99 £22.44

UK ALL-FORMAT CHART EVENT CALENDAR

Title Publisher 13th - 15th Nov 2009 1. (2) Wii Fit Plus NEoN Dundee, . 2. (3) FIFA 10 Electronic Arts 3. (10) Wii Sports Resort Nintendo 16th - 17th Nov 2009 4. (1) Football Manager 2010 Montreal International Game Summit 09 5. (-) Dragon Age: Origins Electronic Arts Hilton Bonaventure, Montreal, Canada. 6. (4) Forza Motorsport 3 Microsoft 26th - 29th Nov 2009 7. (7) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Sega Games G-Star BEXCO, Busan, Korea. 8. (6) Episodes - Liberty City Take-Two 9th - 13th Mar 2010 9. (5) Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 10. (8) Tekken 6 Atari GDC 2010 Moscone Center, San Francisco, US. 11. (11) WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 THQ SELECTED GAMES INDUSTRY JOBS 12. (21) Mario Kart Wii Nintendo 13. (13) Need for Speed: Shift Electronic Arts Studio Manager 14. (15) Lego Batman: the Videogame Warner Bros Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 15. (9) Borderlands Take-Two PS3 QA Lead 16. (-) : Take That SCE South East, , UK & . 17. (16) Professor Layton and Pandora's Box Nintendo 18. (19) Super Smash Bros Brawl Nintendo Senior Games Designer 19. (17) Wii Fit Nintendo Scotland, UK & Europe. 20. (12) 2: Among Thieves SCE Production Manager North West, England, UK & Europe.

© ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track Movie Animator Director - Rare REVIEW SCORE COMPARISONS Opportunity Shanghai, China, Rest of World. Dragon Age: Origins (360) 86 73 Lips: Number One Hits (360) 68 62 SAW (360) 62 62 FIFA Manager 10 (PC) 72 70 Ghostbusters (WII) 76 69

The UK score is the mean average of the most read UK-based videogame websites and magazines.

Eurogamer.net information can demonstrate the impact of game marketing. Page 4 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 22: 3rd - 9th November TOP 10S PLATFORM TOP TENS

PS3 PSP

1. (2) FIFA 10 1. (1) FIFA 10 2. (4) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves 2. (2) Gran Turismo 3. (-) Ratchet & : A Crack in Time 3. (3) Football Manager 2010 4. (3) Tekken 6 4. (4) Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars 5. (1) Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 5. (-) Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 6. (6) Need for Speed: Shift 6. (5) WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 7. (5) WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 7. (6) Dissidia: Final Fantasy 8. (7) Borderlands 8. (7) Need for Speed: Shift 9. (11) DJ Hero 9. (-) Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron 10. (8) : Dragon Rising 10. (8) Motorstorm: Arctic Edge

WII DS

1. (1) Wii Sports Resort 1. (1) Professor Layton and Pandora's Box 2. (2) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 2. (2) Mario & Sonic At Olympic Winter Games 3. (4) Mario Kart Wii 3. (3) Dr Kawashima's Brain Training 4. (3) Wii Fit 4. (5) Style Boutique 5. (5) FIFA 10 5. (4) Rhythm Paradise 6. (7) Toy Story Mania! 6. (6) Professor Layton and the Curious Village 7. (6) Guitar Hero 5 7. (7) Mario Kart DS 8. (9) Star Wars: Clone Wars - Republic Heroes 8. (16) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games 9. (8) The Beatles: 9. (9) FIFA 10 10. (-) Ghostbusters: the 10. (10) New Super Mario Bros

XBOX 360 PC

1. (1) Forza Motorsport 3 1. (1) Football Manager 2010 2. (2) Grand Theft Auto Episodes - Liberty City 2. (-) Dragon Age: Origins 3. (3) FIFA 10 3. (3) 3 4. (-) Dragon Age: Origins 4. (2) Borderlands 5. (8) Halo 3: ODST 5. (4) 2010 6. (7) WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 6. (5) Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising 7. (4) Borderlands 7. (9) Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 8. (6) Tekken 6 8. (7) World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King 9. (11) DJH Hero 9. (10) Empire: Total War 10. (5) Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 10. (6) Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition

© ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track

Eurogamer.net information can demonstrate the impact of game marketing. Page 5 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 22: 3rd - 9th November RETAIL DATA

SHOPTO PRE-ORDER CHART SWAPGAME RENTAL CHART

1. (5) Assassin's Creed 2 (360) 1. (1) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) 2. (6) Assassin's Creed 2 (PS3) 2. (3) Brutal Legend () 3. (7) Left 4 Dead 2 (360) 3. (7) Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising (PS3) 4. (3) MAG: Massive Action Game inc Beta code (PS3) 4. (8) Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360) 5. (10) God Of War III (PS3) 5. (6) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii) 6. (13) New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii) 6. (10) Borderlands (PS3) 7. (25) Platinum (PS3) 7. (-) Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (Xbox 8. (12) Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) 360) 9. (-) Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PS3) 8. (-) Dragon Age: Origins (Xbox 360) 10. (16) Dragon Age: Origins (PS3) 9. (-) Borderlands (Xbox 360) 10. (-) Ghostbusters The Video Game (Xbox 360) MOST PLAYED ON XBOX LIVE BY EUROGAMER USERS METABOLI DOWNLOAD CHART 1. Halo Waypoint 2. Forza Motorsport 3 1. (2) - Tales of Valor 3. Call of Duty 4 2. (3) The Sims 3 4. FIFA 10 3. (-) League of Legends Collector 5. GTA IV 4. (7) Football Manager 2010 6. Borderlands 5. (5) Rollercoaster 3 7. Call of Duty: World at War 6. (-) Dragon Age: Origins Deluxe 8. Halo 3 7. (4) Anno 1404 9. Halo 3: ODST 8. (8) Civilization 4 10. Dragon Age: Origins 9. (9) Total Annihilation 10. (10) Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising

Eurogamer.net information can demonstrate the impact of game marketing. Page 6 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 22: 3rd - 9th November RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES

Date Title Publisher Platforms

November 10th Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised Activision DS 10th Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Activision Blizzard WII 10th Modern Warfare 2 Activision 360, PC, PS3 13th Cooking Mama 3 505 Games DS 13th Race On PC 17th Left 4 Dead 2 Valve Software 360, PC 18th Gyromancer Square Enix 360, PC 20th Assassin's Creed II Ubisoft 360, PS3 20th Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Ubisoft PSP 20th Assassin's Creed II: Discovery Ubisoft DS 20th Dragon Age: Origins Electronic Arts PS3 20th F1 2009 Codemasters PSP, WII 20th LittleBigPlanet SCE PSP 20th Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky Nintendo DS 20th Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 Konami WII 20th Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper 360, PC 20th The Sims 3: World Adventures Electronic Arts PC 20th Tony Hawk: Ride Activision PS3 27th Revolution Konami PS3, WII 27th LEGO Rock Band Warner Bros DS, PS2, PS3, WII 27th Muramasa: The Demon Blade Rising Star Games WII 27th Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Capcom WII 29th LEGO Rock Band Warner Bros 360 Disgaea Infinit Nippon Ichi Software PSP Dissidia: Final Fantasy - Universal Tuning Square Enix PSP Easy Piano Namco Bandai DS Ghostbusters SCEE PS2 Karaoke Revolution Konami 360 SAW Konami 360, PC, PS3 Star Trek: DAC PC, PS3 Tales of Monkey Island: Rise of the Pirate God Lucasarts PC Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World Bandai Namco Partners WII

December 4th Colin McRae: DiRT 2 Codemasters PC 4th James Cameron's Avatar: The Game Ubisoft 360, DS, PC, PS3, PSP 4th The Saboteur Electronic Arts 360, PC, PS3 4th Tony Hawk: Ride Activision 360 19th Niki - Rock 'n' Ball Nintendo WII Blue Toad Murder Files Relentless Software PS3 James Cameron's Avatar: The Game Ubisoft WII Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs Gundam - Next Plus Namco Bandai PSP

Eurogamer.net information can demonstrate the impact of game marketing. Page 7 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 22: 3rd - 9th November RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES (CONT.)

Date Title Publisher Platforms

Q4 Allods Online Gala Networks Europe Ltd MMO Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge Electronic Arts PS3 Disgaea 2: Dark Hero days PSP Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast Bandai Namco Partners 360, PS3 Duke Nukem Trilogy Deep Silver DS, PSP God of War Collection PS3 Guitar Hero: Van Halen Activision Blizzard PS2, WII & Daxter: The Lost Frontier SCEE PS2, PSP Madden NFL Arcade EA Sports 360, PS3 Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time SCEE PS3 Red Dead Redemption Rockstar Games 360, PS3 Serious Sam HD CDV 360, PC SingStar: Take That SCEE PS2, PS3 Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition Lucasarts 360, PC, PS3 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed MAC, PC Tekken 6 Namco Bandai 360, PS3 The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood Turbine Entertainment MMO The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest DS, PS2, PSP, WII Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online Electronic Arts PC Wheelspin Bethesda Softworks WII

January 2010 8th SEGA Europe 360, PS3 8th Darksiders THQ 360, PS3 15th : The 40th Day Electronic Arts 360, PS3, PSP 15th Dark Void Capcom 360, PC, PS3 29th Mass Effect 2 Electronic Arts 360, PC

February 2010 9th BioShock 2 2K Games 360, PC, PS3 Aliens vs. Predator SEGA Europe 360, PC, PS3 Napoleon: Total War SEGA Europe PC

March 2010 God of War III SCEA PS3

Q1 2010 Assassin's Creed II Ubisoft PC Battlefield 1943 Electronic Arts PC Heavy Rain SCEE PS3 Just Cause 2 Eidos 360, PC, PS3 Monster Hunter Tri Capcom WII

Eurogamer.net information can demonstrate the impact of game marketing. Page 8