sign in sign up
<<
Home , Battlefield 1943, Call of Juarez, Dark Void, Fight Night Round 4, Guitar Hero World Tour, Kuju (company)

Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 6: 14th - 20th July

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 .net.

THIS WEEK ...we focus on some more titles that have made an impression on Eurogamer readers, and reveal why.

Plus - the highlights of an interview with developer , the latest news, charts, Eurogamer reader data, price comparisons, release dates, jobs and more!

Popularity of Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures in 2009 B AGE OF CONAN VS SPORTS RESORT #1

A This week we look at the Eurogamer buzz performance around two key products since the beginning of 2009. First up is the MMO Age of #10 Conan - a game which launched to great fanfare this time last year, but subsequently suffered from a lack of polish and endgame content.

#100

Eurogamer.net Popularity (Ranked) Recently the developer, Funcom, attempted to reignite interest in the game by marketing the changes made in the build-up to its first anniversary - point A notes a big feature and #1000 Jul free trial key launch, while point B shows the Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jan '09 Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures re-review which put the game right at the top of the pile earlier this month - whether that interest can be converted into subs is a different question, but the team has given itself a good Popularity of Wii Sports Resort in 2009 chance at least. #1

Meanwhile, Wii Sports Resort shows rather

D E more consistency over the same period, with numerous little interest spikes throughout the C #10 year building up to its release this week.

Point C shows the buzz created around a Eurogamer sports and music article, while the

#100 first hands-on of the game last month

Eurogamer.net Popularity (Ranked) generated another huge spike at Point D.

Finally Point E is the Eurogamer review of the title, and while at no point does the game enter #1000 Jul Feb Mar Apr May Jun the site's top five buzz games, it's still a strong Jan '09 Wii Sports Resort result for a game that's arguably aimed less at the hardcore than most. It'll be interesting to track the post-release tail over the next few months.

Tickets for Eurogamer Expo 2009 are now on sale at expo.eurogamer.net. Page 1 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 6: 14th - 20th July

THIS WEEK IN RETAIL

HMV BAGS MODERN WARFARE 2 - PRESTIGE UK EXCLUSIVE Retailer announces pre-order of shooter's premium edition - with night vision THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW goggles. 's new Czech studio is working on a couple of high-end projects, the first of NPD: 'S PROTOTYPE LEADS JUNE SALES which should splash down at retail in 2011 Open world action-adventure sells a combined 600,000 units as overall sales - a big, well-known franchise..? continue to slump. The race between OnLive and - two 'cloud' gaming services - is hotting up, with GATES: NATAL ON PC IS "A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AWAY" people impressed by the latter at Develop founder anticipates costs will reduce enough by then to make it last week. realistic for most offices. Relentless, of Buzz fame, is moving into self-publishing with a new downloadable VATRA STUDIO LAUNCHES WITH TWO PROJECTS AND PUBLISHER BACKING title, but has no plans to stop working on its Kuju opens "hardcore" 360, PS3 studio staffed by ex-Mafia devs; publisher quiz games yet. already on board for first title in 2011. Microsoft hasn't forgotten about mobile GAMESINDUSTRY.BIZ SUMMER PARTY PHOTOS NOW ONLINE platforms for games, with plans to extend the Live service at some point... Witness evidence of why your employees were unproductive on Thursday morning.

THE BIG INTERVIEW: PIMP MY RIDE Director of Robomodo Josh Tsui talks to GamesIndustry.biz about why Tony Hawk: Ride could see the team skate or die. - Tony Hawk himself gave more time to the new title than any other in the franchise. - He's also a big fan of the skateboard peripheral, shockingly... - The final board peripheral will be "iPod" white, rather than "Darth Vader" black. - The peripheral will also be used for other, non- titles in the future... - Ride features "discrete levels" rather than open-world gameplay.

MOST-ANTICIPATED GAMES MOST-READ ARTICLES

1. Alan Wake Microsoft 1. Darkfall Online Review 2. XIII 2. Secret of : Special Edition Review 3. God of War III SCEA 3. Wii Sports Resort Review 4. Final Fantasy Versus XIII Square Enix 4. PES 2010: Pro Evolution Soccer 5. Gran Turismo 5 SCE 5. Retrospective: The Dig 6. Heavy Rain SCEE 6. FIFA 10 7. Splinter Cell: Conviction 7. teases unannounced game 8. Dragon Age: Origins 8. 1 vs 100 9. Halo 3: ODST Microsoft 9. Sony confirms PSP plan 10. BioShock 2 2K Games 10. Eidos files Kane & Lynch 2 trademark

List based on traffic for Eurogamer articles dated 14th - 20th July.

The GamesIndustry.biz Network now has over 6500 registered industry users! Page 2

Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 6: 14th - 20th July RETAIL DATA

PRICE-CHECK DATA

Anno 1404 (PC) Wii Sports Resort + MotionPlus (Wii) Transformers: RotF (PS3) HMV £24.99 £39.99 £24.99 £24.96 £37.96 £29.99 ASDA £24.91 £37.50 £37.91 Play.com £24.99 £39.99 £29.99 GAME £24.99 £39.99 £--.-- Tesco £24.96 £37.96 £37.96 Cheapest Online £24.73 £37.43 £24.99

UK ALL-FORMAT CHART EVENT CALENDAR

Title Publisher 10th - 16th Aug 2009 1. (4) Harry Potter & The Half-blood Prince Electronic Arts Edinburgh Interactive Festival Edinburgh, UK. 2. (3) Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen Activision Blizzard 3. (1) Tiger Woods Pga Tour 10 Electronic Arts 19th - 23rd Aug 2009 4. (6) Cologne, . 5. (2) Fight Night Round 4 Electronic Arts 6. (5) Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood Ubisoft 17th - 20th Sep 2009 7. (8) The Sims 3 Electronic Arts Games Convention Asia 2009 Singapore. 8. (7) 2009 Sega 24th - 27th Sep 2009 9. (9) 4: Modern Warfare Activision Blizzard Tokyo Games Show 2009 Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, 10. (13) EA Sports Active Electronic Arts Japan. 11. (14) Mario Kart Wii Nintendo 12. (16) Professor Layton And The Curious Village Nintendo SELECTED GAMES INDUSTRY JOBS 13. (10) [prototype] Activision Blizzard 14. (17) FIFA 09 Electronic Arts Senior Consultant for games software 15. (15) Call Of Duty: World At War Activision Blizzard vendor 16. (11) UFC 2009: Undisputed THQ Stockholm, Sweden, UK & Europe. 17. (12) Grand Slam Tennis Electronic Arts Trading Card Game Product Manager 18. (20) Wii Play Nintendo London, South East, England, UK & 19. (18) Pokemon Platinum Nintendo Europe. 20. (19) Hero: World Tour Activision Blizzard Marketing Manager (Sports & Core Gaming), SEGA Europe © ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track London, South East, England, UK & Europe. REVIEW SCORE COMPARISONS Producer - 3rd Person Shooter UK average , UK & Europe. Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures (PC) 80 77 Battlefield 1943 (360) 84 85 Games Product Manager - Contract : Smash Hits (PS3) 75 70 The Netherlands, UK & Europe. Guitar Hero: Smash Hits (360) 74 66 Punch-Out!! (Wii) 86 81 (360) 38 30

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

You can reach key UK retailers by advertising with GamesRetail.biz. Page 4 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 6: 14th - 20th July TOP 10S PLATFORM TOP TENS

PS3 PSP

1. (1) Fight Night Round 4 1. (1) : Freedom Unite 2. (2) Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood 2. (2) Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen 3. (3) Tiger Woods Pga Tour 10 3. (3) FIFA 09 4. (4) Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen 4. (4) Harry Potter & The Half-blood Prince 5. (5) Virtua Tennis 2009 5. (5) Resistance: Retribution 6. (7) Infamous 6. (6) Football Manager 2009 7. (9) Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 7. (8) Need For Speed: Undercover 8. (8) Ghostbusters: The 8. (7) Ben 10: Force 9. (6) UFC 2009: Undisputed 9. (9) X-men Origins: Wolverine 10. (10) [prototype] 10. (-) WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2009

WII DS

1. (1) Wii Fit 1. (1) Professor Layton And The Curious Village 2. (3) EA Sports Active 2. (3) Harry Potter & The Half-blood Prince 3. (5) Mario Kart Wii 3. (2) Pokemon Platinum 4. (4) Tiger Woods Pga Tour 10 4. (10) Rhythm Paradise 5. (6) Harry Potter & The Half-blood Prince 5. (4) Mario Kart DS 6. (2) Grand Slam Tennis 6. (5) Transformers: Revenge - Autobots 7. (7) Virtua Tennis 2009 7. (8) Dr Kawashima's Brain Training 8. (10) Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen 8. (7) : Elite Penguin Force 9. (9) Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games 9. (6) Lego Battles 10. (8) The Conduit 10. (9) New Super Mario Bros.

XBOX 360 PC

1. (1) Fight Night Round 4 1. (1) The Sims 3 2. (4) Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen 2. (2) Football Manager 2009 3. (2) Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood 3. (4) World Of Warcraft: Wrath Of Lich King 4. (3) Tiger Woods Pga Tour 10 4. (3) Arma II 5. (5) Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 5. (5) Spore: Galactic Adventures 6. (6) [prototype] 6. (6) Empire: Total War 7. (8) Virtua Tennis 2009 7. (8) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II 8. (7) UFC 2009: Undisputed 8. (7) Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood 9. (9) Call Of Duty: World At War 9. (14) Fallout 3 10. (10) Harry Potter & The Half-blood Prince 10. (15) Grand Theft Auto IV

© ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track

You can reach key UK retailers by advertising with GamesRetail.biz. Page 5 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 6: 14th - 20th July RETAIL DATA

SHOPTO PRE-ORDER CHART SWAPGAME RENTAL CHART

1. (1) Uncharted 2 : Among Thieves (PS3) 1. (2) Fight Night Round 4 () 2. (2) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) 2. (3) Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (Xbox 360) 3. (3) Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) 3. (7) Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (PS3) 4. (4) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) 4. (4) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360) 5. (5) PES 2010 : Pro Evolution Soccer (PS3) 5. (5) Fight Night Round 4 (PS3) 6. (6) Halo 3: ODST inc Reach BETA Key (Xbox 360) 6. (6) Overlord II (PS3) 7. (10) Wii Sports Resort + Wii MotionPlus (Wii) 7. (8) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Xbox 360) 8. (7) : Dragon Rising (Xbox 360) 8. (-) Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits (Working title) (Xbox 360) 9. (8) Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer (PS3) 9. (10) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 (Xbox 360) 10. (14) FIFA 2010 (PS3) 10. (9) Overlord II (Xbox 360)

MOST PLAYED ON XBOX LIVE BY EUROGAMER USERS METABOLI DOWNLOAD CHART

1. Battlefield 1943 1. (-) Pro Cycling 2009 2. Call of Duty 4 2. (2) The Sims 3 3. Call of Duty: WaW 3. (3) Anno 1404 4. FIFA 09 4. (4) FIFA Manager 09 5. Monkey Island: SE 5. (-) C&C: RA 3 - Uprising 6. Halo 3 6. (6) Rollercoaster 3 7. Gears of War 2 7. (8) Total Annihilation 8. Fight Night Round 4 8. (-) Zeus 9. Fallout 3 9. (7) Final Fantasy XI 10. GTA IV 10. (-) Civilization 4

You can reach key UK retailers by advertising with GamesRetail.biz. Page 6 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 6: 14th - 20th July RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES

Date Title Publisher Platforms

July 22nd Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled Ubisoft 360, PS3 23rd Shatter Sidhe Interactive PS3 28th Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection Microsoft 360 28th Gears of War 2: Dark Corners Microsoft 360 29th Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2 Warner Bros Interactive PC 30th Bookworm Adventures 2 PopCap Games PC 30th Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2 Warner Bros Interactive PS3 Driift Mania Wii Fallout 3 Operation: Anchorage Bethesda Softworks PS3 Fallout 3: Broken Steel Bethesda Softworks PS3 Fallout 3: The Pitt Bethesda Softworks PS3 G-Force 360, DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii Roogoo Attack! SouthPeak DS Trine Nobilis PS3 Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures: Muzzled! Telltale Inc 360

August Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures: The Bogey Man Telltale Inc 360, PC 3rd Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta Bethesda Softworks 360, PC 7th Ashes Cricket 2009 360, PC, PS3, Wii 13th Red Faction: Guerrilla - Demons of the Badlands THQ 360, PS3 14th Wolfenstein Activision 360, PC, PS3 21st DJ Star Deep Silver DS 26th Watchmen: The End is Nigh Part 2 Warner Bros Interactive 360 28th Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos 360, PC, PS3 28th King of Fighters XII Ignition Entertainment 360, PS3 GI Joe: The Rise of the Cobra Electonic Arts 360, DS, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii Madden NFL 10 Electronic Arts 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii : The Siege of Spinner City Lucasarts PC, Wii

September 4th Champions Online Atari PC 4th Prime Trilogy Nintendo Wii 4th The Humans Deep Silver DS 11th Colin McRae: DiRT 2 Codemasters 360, DS, PS3, PSP, Wii 11th Red Faction: Guerrilla THQ PC 18th Need for Speed: SHIFT Electronic Arts 360, PC, PS3, PSP 18th 5 PC 22nd Halo 3: ODST Microsoft 360

You can reach key UK retailers by advertising with GamesRetail.biz. Page 7 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 6: 14th - 20th July RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES (CONT.)

Date Title Publisher Platforms

September 25th Aion: The Tower of Eternity NCsoft PC 25th Professor Layton and Pandora's Box Nintendo of Europe DS 25th Scribblenauts Warner Bros Interactive DS Entertainment 25th Spyborgs Capcom Wii

Q3 Battlefield 1943 Electronic Arts PC Dark Void Capcom 360, PC, PS3 Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge Atari Europe Wii Gridrunner+++ Microsoft 360 Activision 360, PS2, PS3, Wii Activision PC Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming Natsume DS Katamari Forever Namco Bandai PS3 Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Capcom 360, PS3 Mini Ninjas Eidos 360, DS, PC, PS3, Wii NHL 2k10 2K Sports PS3 Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny Namco Bandai PSP Tales of Monkey Island: Lair of the Leviathan Lucasarts PC, Wii Tales of Monkey Island: Launch of the Screaming Narwhal Lucasarts Wii The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition Lucasarts 360, PC

October 1st Gran Turismo PSP SCEE PSP 2nd Dead Space: Extraction Electonic Arts Wii 2nd FIFA 10 Electronic Arts 360, DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii 9th Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Codemasters 360, PC, PS3 16th Brutal Legend Electronic Arts 360, PS3 Borderlands 2K Games 360, PC, PS3 Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition Bethesda Softworks 360, PC, PS3 Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta Bethesda Softworks PS3 Forza Motorsport 3 Microsoft 360 Lips: Number One Hits Microsoft 360 Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games SEGA Wii

November 10th Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Activision 360, PC, PS3 17th Left 4 Dead 2 Valve Software 360, PC 20th Assassin's Creed 2 Ubisoft 360, PS3 Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Ubisoft PSP

You can reach key UK retailers by advertising with GamesRetail.biz. Page 8