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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 21: 27th October - 2nd 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 .net

THIS WEEK ...we're looking at Modern Warfare 2 - the most anticipated release according to last week's Eurogamer reader analysis. How has it stayed in the spotlight, and has it always been readers' top priority?

Plus - the first part of an interview with CEO Rod Cousens, and the latest UK charts, release information, Eurogamer user data, news, jobs, events, and more!

Page Impressions G MODERN WARFARE 2: BELIEVE THE HYPE

As last week's GamesRetail.biz analysis indicated, Activision's forthcoming shooter Modern Warfare 2 ranked as number one game Eurogamer readers were most looking forward to. This week we're breaking down how the game arrived at that A placing, first by looking at how it's performed over recent months in terms of page impressions, and B C the percentage of registered users nominating it

Eurogamer Traffic versus site visitors. E F H D Going back to July we can see three clear spikes when MW2 grabbed readers' attention. Point A is the news that HMV had signed an exlcusive on the Prestige edition in the UK, while Points B and C both relate to the game's controversially higher Aug Sep Oct Jul '09 price point. August was somewhat quieter, with Point D relating to the news that 50 Cent will lend his voice to the game, while Point E is a first Modern Warfare 2 Anticipation User Types preview and Point F a story about dual wielding weapons.

The single biggest spike to-date is in September with Point G - a combination of the first hands-on and a screenshot gallery - while Point H was the news that the PC version of the game woudl be Eurogamers dealyed. Of course, the review is yet to come and will be sure to generate a lot of interest.

Visitors Meanwhile, looking at a split out of registered Eurogamers versus other visitors specifically stating the MW2 is a game they're looking forward to, the game is clearly a high priority for both core and ultra-core gamers, with both numbers actually surprisingly high in raw data terms.

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 21: 27th October - 2nd November

THIS WEEK IN RETAIL

COUSENS: INDUSTRY MUST PURSUE NEW IP Lack of new experiences will 'drive consumers elsewhere,' warns Codemasters THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW boss. Microsoft and Sky have blamed "unprecedented demand" for the technical INFINITY WARD PULLS LATEST MODERN WARFARE 2 PROMO issues blighting the 360 Sky Player Viewers offended by spoof video, as bad press increases for developer ahead of launch, leading to it being delayed by release. almost a week so far.

Nokia has conceded defeat in the mobile IPHONE GOES ON SALE IN CHINA phone games space and decided to close its But high price and lack of wi-fi capability expected to stunt launch sales. N-Gage platform.

SONY SHARES DROP AFTER LOSSES INCREASE THQ has agreed more time with WWE as it tries to extract itself from the joint Stock falls 6 per cent today after Q2 sales were down by almost a quarter. venture with Jakks Pacific - analysts expect a pay-out is imminent. IWATA: SALES HAVE STALLED The iPhone is set to launch in China - President blames poor performance on lack of strong software releases; price although analysts expect high price points drop hasn't had desired effect. to stifle sales.

THE BIG INTERVIEW: ROD COUSENS - PART ONE The Codemasters CEO talks 2009 success, the importance of new IP and why the company can never compromise on quality. Highlights include: - Quality is vital, despite possible release delays, to ensure long-term franchise success - Codemasters has been a leader on ensuring such quality isn't compromised - He doesn't buy into the idea that you can't launch new IP successfully - New IP is crucial if the industry is going to keep consumers interested in games

MOST-ANTICIPATED GAMES MOST-READ ARTICLES

1. Alan Wake Microsoft 1. Star Trek Online Hands-On 2. Final Fantasy XIII 2. Risen Review 3. Heavy Rain SCEE 3. Football Manager 2010 Review 4. Gran Turismo 5 SCE 4. DJ Hero Review 5. God of War III SCEA 5. Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony Review 6. Final Fantasy Versus XIII Square Enix 6. Disney Epic Mickey Preview 7. Modern Warfare 2 Activision 7. BioShock 2 Hands-On 8. Splinter Cell: Conviction 8. Heavy Rain Hands-On 9. BioShock 2 2K Games 9. God of War III Hands-On 10. : Origins 10. Assassin's Creed II Hands-On

List based on traffic for Eurogamer articles dated 27th October - 2nd November.

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 21: 27th October - 2nd November RETAIL DATA

PRICE-CHECK DATA

DJ Hero: Renegade Edition (360) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) Wii Fit Plus: Game (Wii) HMV £139.99 £39.99 £17.99 Amazon £139.99 £38.99 £17.50 ASDA £139.91 £39.71 £17.71 Play.com £139.99 £39.99 £17.99 GAME £139.99 £39.99 £17.99 Tesco £139.96 £39.96 £17.96 Cheapest Online £139.73 £36.99 £17.49

UK ALL-FORMAT CHART EVENT CALENDAR

Title Publisher 5th Nov 2009 1. (-) Football Manager 2010 SEGA Develop Liverpool Arena and Conference Center, 2. (-) Wii Fit Plus Liverpool, UK. 3. (3) FIFA 10 Electronic Arts 4. (2) Forza Motorsport 3 Microsoft 13th - 15th Nov 2009 5. (1) Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 Konami NEoN Dundee, . 6. (-) Grand Theft Auto Episodes - Liberty City Take-Two 16th - 17th Nov 2009 7. (4) Mario & Sonic At Olympic Winter Games SEGA 8. (-) Tekken 6 Atari Montreal International Game Summit 09 9. (7) Borderlands Take-Two Hilton Bonaventure, Montreal, Canada.

10. (8) Wii Sports Resort Nintendo 26th - 29th Nov 2009 11. (5) WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 THQ G-Star BEXCO, Busan, Korea. 12. (6) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves SCE 13. (9) : Shift Electronic Arts SELECTED GAMES INDUSTRY JOBS 14. (10) : Dragon Rising Codemasters 15. (19) Lego Batman: The Videogame Warner Bros European Sales / Account Manager - MMO 16. (11) Professor Layton and Pandora's Box Nintendo / Digital Distribution 17. (13) Wii Fit Nintendo South East, , UK & . 18. (18) Eyepet SoCE Media / Ad Sales Account Manager 19. (15) Super Smash Bros Brawl Nintendo Brighton, South East, England, UK & 20. (-) DJ Hero Activision Blizzard Europe.

Sales / Account Manager - Digital / Online © ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track South East, England, UK & Europe.

REVIEW SCORE COMPARISONS European Product Manager London, South East, England, UK & UK average Europe. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter 72 73 Games (WII) Design Director - Czech Republic! Brutal Legend (360) 83 80 Czech-Republic, UK & Europe. Forza Motorsport 3 (360) 92 92 EyePet (PS3) 70 70 LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias (WII) 87 87

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

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 21: 27th October - 2nd November TOP 10S PLATFORM TOP TENS

PS3 PSP

1. (1) Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 1. (2) FIFA 10 2. (3) FIFA 10 2. (1) Gran Turismo 3. (-) Tekken 6 3. (-) Football Manager 2010 4. (2) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves 4. (4) Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars 5. (4) WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 5. (3) WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010 6. (5) Need for Speed: Shift 6. (5) Dissidia: Final Fantasy 7. (6) Borderlands 7. (6) Need for Speed: Shift 8. (7) Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising 8. (7) Motorstorm: Arctic Edge 9. (9) Batman: Arkham Asylum 9. (8) Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite 10. (8) Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition 10. (-) Lego Batman: The Videogame

WII DS

1. (2) Wii Sports Resort 1. (1) Professor Layton and Pandora's Box 2. (1) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 2. (2) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games 3. (3) Wii Fit 3. (3) Dr Kawashima's Brain Training 4. (5) Mario Kart Wii 4. (4) Rhythm Paradise 5. (6) FIFA 10 5. (27) Style Boutique 6. (7) Guitar Hero 5 6. (5) Professor Layton and the Curious Village 7. (8) Toy Story Mania! 7. (8) Mario Kart DS 8. (15) The Beatles: 8. (6) Up 9. (9) Star Wars: Clone Wars - Republic Heroes 9. (7) FIFA 10 10. (14) Up 10. (10) New Super Mario Bros

XBOX 360 PC

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

© ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 21: 27th October - 2nd November RETAIL DATA

SHOPTO PRE-ORDER CHART SWAPGAME RENTAL CHART

1. (-) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox360) 1. (1) Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) 2. (-) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PlayStation 3) 2. (2) Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising () 3. (-) MAG: Massive Action Game inc Beta Trial code 3. (4) Brutal Legend (Xbox 360) (PlayStation 3) 4. (3) FIFA 10 (Xbox 360) 4. (7) Wii Console Black Edition + Wii Sports/Sports Resort/ 5. (5) FIFA 10 (PS3) Motion Plus (Wii) 6. (6) Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Wii) 5. (-) Assassin's Creed 2 (Xbox360) 7. (7) Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising (PS3) 6. (-) Assassin's Creed 2 (PlayStation 3) 8. (-) Forza Motorsport 3 (Xbox 360) 7. (-) Left 4 Dead 2 (Xbox360) 9. (8) Risen (Xbox 360) 8. (-) Dragon Age: Origins (Xbox360) 10. (10) Borderlands (PS3) 9. (-) Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time (PlayStation 3) 10. (-) God Of War III (PlayStation 3) METABOLI DOWNLOAD CHART

MOST PLAYED ON XBOX LIVE BY EUROGAMER USERS 1. (1) Championship Manager 2010 2. (3) Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor 1. Forza Motorsport 3 3. (2) The Sims 3 2. FIFA 10 4. (4) Anno 1404 3. Call of Duty 4 5. (5) Rollercoaster 3 4. Borderlands 6. (7) Risen 5. GTA IV 7. (-) FM 2010 6. Call of Duty: World at War 8. (9) Civilization 4 7. Halo 3 9. (8) Total Annihilation 8. Halo 3: ODST 10. (-) Op Flashpoint: Dragon Rising 9. Op Flashpoint: Dragon Rising 10. Halo Waypoint

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 21: 27th October - 2nd November RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES

Date Title Publisher Platforms

November 4th Tony Hawk: Ride Activision WII 6th Band Hero Activision 360, DS, PS2, PS3, WII 6th Dragon Age: Origins Electronic Arts 360, PC 6th Ghostbusters 360, PC, WII 6th LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues Lucasarts 360, DS, PC, PS3, PSP, WII 6th Need for Speed: Nitro Electronic Arts DS, WII 6th Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 Konami PS2, PSP 6th Rapala: We Fish Activision Blizzard WII 6th Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron Lucasarts DS, PSP 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 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 Karaoke 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 Ghostbusters SCEE PS2 Karaoke Revolution Konami 360 SAW Konami 360, PC, PS3 Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage WII Tales of Monkey Island: Rise of the Pirate God Lucasarts PC Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World Bandai Namco Partners WII Where the Wild Things Are Warner Bros 360, DS, PS3, WII

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 21: 27th October - 2nd November RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES (CONT.)

Date Title Publisher Platforms

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

Q4 Allods Online Gala Networks Europe Ltd MMO Buzz! Quiz World SCE PS3, PSP Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge Electronic Arts PS3 Disgaea 2: Dark Hero days PSP Guitar Hero: Van Halen Activision Blizzard PS2, WII 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 6 360, PS3

January 2010 8th Bayonetta 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 2 Electronic Arts 360, PC

February 2010 9th BioShock 2 2K Games 360, PC 12th Dante's Inferno Electronic Arts 360, PS3, PSP Aliens vs. Predator SEGA Europe 360, PC, PS3 Napoleon: Total War SEGA Europe PC

March 2010 5th Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Elecctronic Arts 360, PC, PS3 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

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