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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 15: 15th - 21st September

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 look at the most anticipated games to be released in the key October and November months by readers of Eurogamer.net.

Plus we hear from Michael Sportouch on how the franchise is innovating this year and his thoughts on pricing, as well as looking at the UK charts, new releases, pricing of new games and more...

October Releases EUROGAMER'S MOST ANTICIPATED FOR OCTOBER

October is the annual face-off between PES and FIFA, and although we've already covered that showdown in a previous issue of GamesRetail, the difference between the two titles is stark. There's a very strong showing for DS title Scribblenauts next month, more popular than the return of Forza and Operation Flashpoint, and highlighting that the DS can still deliver unique experiences and capture

Anticipation Level on Eurogamer.net consumer attention. Eurogamer readers are also keen for new IP due next month, including 's RPG , Gearbox's new shooter , and 's Jack Black-starring Brutal Legend. The latest and Sega's Risen FIFA 10 PES 2010 Borderlands spy RPG title Alpha Protocol - developed by Scribblenauts Brutal Legend Gran Turismo Obsidian, the makers of KOTOR II - complete the Forza MotorsportOFP: Dragon 3 Rising The Ballad of Gay Tony top ten.

November Releases EUROGAMER'S MOST ANTICIPATED FOR NOVEMBER

November is dominated by Modern Warfare 2, and with Activision offering multiple SKUs and price points, the latest in the franchise looks set to clean up at retail. The second most anticipated is the new Left 4 Dead title - impressive considering it's a relatively new franchise - and it also highlights the loyalty a company like Valve

Anticipation Level on Eurogamer.net can achieve. Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed II, PES 2010 on the PSP and PS2 and EA's new IP Dragon Age: Origins also command similar interest levels. Also in the top ten are fighter Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate DJ Hero PES 2010 Left 4 Dead 2 Ninja 5 for the PS2, highlighting an audience Modern Warfare 2 Assassin's Creed II Dragon Age: Origins interested in hardcore Japanese titles. Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Muramasa: The DemonThe Blade Sims 3: World Adventures

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 5

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 15: 15th - 21st September

THIS WEEK IN RETAIL

GAME NETS ANOTHER MODERN WARFARE 2 EXCLUSIVE £120 bundle will feature figurine and Hardened edition package. THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Microsoft says it won't sell a 250GB ! CANCELLED 360 hard-drive separately despite one being Creative Games Media cans UK games expo set for November. introduced to new bundles for Xmas.

WATCHDOG'S PS3 REPAIRS STUNT FALLS FLAT According to 's UK boss Ray Maguire, "fewer than one half of one per cent" of 'Fixed' consoles break weeks after repair; report points to "trapped gas" in PS3s suffer from hardware failures. hardware. Movie and game rental store Blockbuster is SHOPTO: PSPGO IS "ALMOST DEAD BEFORE IT HAS ARRIVED" to close 960 outlets by the end of 2010. Retailers refuse to stock console, while others fail to invest marketing effort A new report has suggested will into release. release blue, navy and red DSi units this October in .

250GB TO RETAIL FOR £249 IN UK Valve's Left 4 Dead 2 is the latest game to New Forza 3 Super Elite bundle announced by following Modern be denied a release in due to its Warfare 2 deal. levels of violence.

PS3 sales in Japan have slowed, but the SALES "EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS" system is still the most popular home High end $249 edition to sell out by November, says Viacom CEO. console in the region.

GUITAR HERO'S MICHAEL SPORTOUCH The franchise boss talks innovation in the music game genre, plus what constitutes value for money. Here are the highlights:

- Guitar Hero, according to Sportouch, has not only transformed the games industry, but the music industry. - The forthcoming DJ Hero is central to innovating the franchise this year. - Buying all of the exclusive mixes for DJ Hero on a service like iTunes would cost over USD 90. - European and UK pricing for the franchise is decided in those regions, not aligned to the US pricing

MOST-ANTICIPATED GAMES MOST-READ ARTICLES

1. Alan Wake Microsoft 1. Need for Speed: SHIFT Review 2. XIII 2. Halo 3: ODST Review 3. Gran Turismo 5 SCE 3. Gran Turismo Review 4. III SCEA 4. WET Review 5. 2: Among Thieves SCE 5. Scribblenauts Review 6. Heavy Rain SCEE 6. Modern Warfare 2 Hands On 7. Final Fantasy Versus XIII Square Enix 7. IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony Hands On 8. Splinter Cell: Conviction Ubisoft 8. Policenauts Review 9. Aion NCsoft 9. Blood Bowl Review 10. Halo 3: ODST Microsoft 10. Forever Review

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 15: 15th - 21st September RETAIL DATA

PRICE-CHECK DATA

Halo 3: ODST (360) Need for Speed Shift (PS3) MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (PSP) HMV £34.99 £39.99 £24.99 £29.96 £37.96 £17.99 ASDA £29.91 £37.91 £17.91 Play.com £34.99 £39.99 £17.99 GAME £34.99 £39.99 £19.99 Tesco N/A £37.87 £22.87 Cheapest Online £29.73 £34.79 £17.73

UK ALL-FORMAT CHART EVENT CALENDAR

Title Publisher 24th - 27th Sep 2009 1. (-) Need For Speed: Shift Tokyo Games Show 2009 Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, 2. (1) Guitar Hero 5 Activision Blizzard Japan. 3. (2) Colin Mcrae: Dirt 2 4. (3) Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos 27th - 28th Oct 2009 5. (6) Wii Sports Resort Nintendo Eurogamer Expo/GamesIndustry.biz Career 6. (-) Wet Bethesda Softworks Fair The Royal Armouries, , UK. 7. (4) The Beatles: Rock Band Electronic Arts 27th - 31st Oct 2009 8. (8) Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Activision Blizzard 9. (5) Wii Fit Nintendo GameCity Nottingham, UK. 10. (11) Tiger Woods Pga Tour 10 Electronic Arts 30th - 31st Oct 2009 11. (7) Il2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey 505 Games Eurogamer Expo/GamesIndustry.biz Career 12. (12) Fight Night Round 4 Electronic Arts Fair Old Billingsgate, London, UK. 13. (9) Kart Wii Nintendo 14. (13) 2010 Eidos SELECTED GAMES INDUSTRY JOBS 15. (15) Mini Ninjas Eidos 16. (-) Quantum Of Solace Activision Blizzard Analyst for a leading studio in browser 17. (10) Ashes Cricket 2009 Codemasters gaming 18. (14) Call Of Duty: World At War Activision Blizzard , UK & Europe. 19. (-) Far Cry 2 Ubisoft (Microsoft) Standards Coordinator 20. (19) Lego Batman: The Videogame Warner Bros UK & Europe.

Marketing Assistant - Mobile Games © ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track Developer REVIEW SCORE COMPARISONS Scotland, UK & Europe. Principal Programmer UK average UK & Europe. Halo 3: ODST (360) 85 87 WET (360) 70 65 Art Director - AAA Titles Cursed Mountain (Wii) 68 56 Australia, Rest of World. Need for Speed: SHIFT (PS3) 83 85 MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (PSP) 80 80

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 15: 15th - 21st September TOP 10S PLATFORM TOP TENS

PS3 PSP

1. (-) Need For Speed: Shift 1. (1) Dissidia: Final Fantasy 2. (2) Colin Mcrae: Dirt 2 2. (-) Need For Speed: Shift 3. (1) Batman: Arkham Asylum 3. (-) Motorstorm: Arctic Edge 4. (3) Guitar Hero 5 4. (3) : Freedom Unite 5. (-) Wet 5. (2) : Broken Destiny 6. (5) Il2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey 6. (4) Colin Mcrae: Dirt 2 7. (6) Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 7. (5) Resistance: Retribution 8. (4) The Beatles: Rock Band 8. (6) FIFA 09 9. (10) Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood 9. (7) Ben 10: Force 10. (7) Fight Night Round 4 10. (9) Harry Potter & The Half-blood Prince

WII DS

1. (2) Wii Sports Resort 1. (1) Dr Kawashima's Brain Training 2. (4) Guitar Hero 5 2. (2) Professor Layton And The Curious Village 3. (1) Wii Fit 3. (3) Mario Kart DS 4. (3) Mario Kart Wii 4. (6) Mystery Stories 5. (5) The Beatles: Rock Band 5. (9) : Elite Penguin Force 6. (6) Ashes Cricket 2009 6. (5) New Super Mario Bros. 7. (-) Mania! 7. (7) Pokemon Platinum 8. (7) EA Sports Active 8. (4) 42 All-time Classics 9. (10) Colin Mcrae: Dirt 2 9. (8) Classic Word Games 10. (17) Mini Ninjas 10. (11) Sherlock Holmes: Mystery Of The Mummy

XBOX 360 PC

1. (-) Need For Speed: Shift 1. (1) Championship Manager 2010 2. (1) Colin Mcrae: Dirt 2 2. (-) Batman: Arkham Asylum 3. (2) Guitar Hero 5 3. (2) 3 4. (3) Batman: Arkham Asylum 4. (-) Need For Speed: Shift 5. (-) Wet 5. (-) Blood Bowl 6. (6) Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 6. (3) Empire: Total War 7. (4) The Beatles: Rock Band 7. (-) 5 8. (7) Fight Night Round 4 8. (4) World Of Warcraft: Wrath Of Lich King 9. (8) Tiger Woods Pga Tour 10 9. (-) : Guerrilla 10. (5) Il2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey 10. (7) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II

© ELSPA, compiled by Chart Track

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 15: 15th - 21st September RETAIL DATA

SHOPTO PRE-ORDER CHART SWAPGAME RENTAL CHART

1. (3) Uncharted 2 : Among Thieves (PS3) 1. (1) Batman: Arkham Asylum (Xbox 360) 2. (2) FIFA 10 (PS3) 2. (2) Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3) 3. (4) FIFA 10 (Xbox 360) 3. (9) DiRT 2 (Xbox 360) 4. (5) PES 2010 : (PS3) 4. (-) Need For Speed: SHIFT (Xbox 360) 5. (6) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360) 5. (6) The Beatles: Rock Band (Xbox 360) 6. (8) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3) 6. (8) IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey (Xbox 360) 7. (7) Gran Turismo 5 (PS3) 7. (-) DiRT 2 (PS3) 8. (10) Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (Xbox 360) 8. (-) Need For Speed: SHIFT (PS3) 9. (22) Professor Layton and Pandora's Box (DS) 9. (-) Wet (Xbox 360) 10. (13) Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time (PS3) 10. (10) Section 8 (Xbox 360)

MOST PLAYED ON XBOX LIVE BY EUROGAMER USERS METABOLI DOWNLOAD CHART

1. Call of Duty 4 1. (1) 2. Batman: Arkham Asylum 2. (10) Championship Manager 2010 3. Call of Duty: WaW 3. (3) Football Manager 09 4. Halo 3 4. (4) FIFA Manager 09 5. DiRT 2 5. (2) Anno 1404 6. Trials HD 6. (5) 7. FIFA 09 7. (7) Zeus 8. Gears of War 2 8. (8) Rollercoaster 3 9. Need for Speed SHIFT 9. (9) Total Annihilation 10. Battlefield 1943 10. (6) C&C; RA 3 - Uprising

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 15: 15th - 21st September RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES

Date Title Publisher Platforms

September 22nd Halo 3: ODST Microsoft 360 23rd Zombie Apocalypse 360 24th Zombie Apocalypse Konami PS3 25th Aion NCsoft PC 25th Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do To Nippon Ichi Software PSP Deserve This? Europe 25th King of Fighters XII Ignition Entertainment 360, PS3 25th Crisis Konami DS 25th Professor Layton and Pandora's Box Nintendo of Europe DS 25th Spyborgs Wii 25th Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up Ubisoft Wii 30th Fate/unlimited codes Capcom PSP Operation: Anchorage Bethesda Softworks PS3 Fallout 3: Broken Steel Bethesda Softworks PS3 Fallout 3: The Pitt Bethesda Softworks PS3 Left 4 Dead: Crash Course 360, PC Men of War: Red Tide 1C Company PC Nostalgia Ignition Entertainment DS Tales of : Lair of the Leviathan Lucasarts PC, Wii Zuma's Revenge PopCap Games MAC

Q3 Dead Nation SCE PS3 Storm: Frontline Nation SimBin PC

October 1st Gran Turismo SCEE PSP 2nd PSP 2nd Dead Space: Extraction Electonic Arts Wii 2nd FIFA 10 Electronic Arts All 2nd Sigma 2 PS3 2nd Risen Deep Silver PC 5th Fatale Tale of Tales PC 7th South Park Let's Go Tower Defense Play Microsoft 360 9th Cities XL Monte Cristo PC 9th Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility Rising Star Games Wii 9th 358/2 Days Square Enix DS 9th Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Codemasters 360, PC, PS3 9th Scribblenauts Warner Bros DS 9th Spore: Hero Electronic Arts Wii 9th Spore: Hero Arena Electronic Arts DS

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Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 15: 15th - 21st September RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES (CONT.)

Date Title Publisher Platforms

October 9th Zeno Clash ACE Team PC 16th Brutal Legend Electronic Arts 360, PS3 16th Mario & : Bowser's Inside Story Nintendo DS 16th Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games SEGA DS, Wii 16th Tropico 3 Kalypso Media 360, PC 23rd Borderlands Games 360, PC, PS3 23rd Fairytale Fights Playlogic PC 23rd Forza Motorsport 3 Microsoft 360 23rd Ghostbusters SCEE PSP 23rd Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Rockstar Games PSP 23rd Lips: Number One Hits Microsoft 360 23rd Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 Konami 360, PC, PS3 29th Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony Rockstar Games 360 30th Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition Bethesda Softworks 360, PC, PS3 30th Football Manager 2010 SEGA Europe Ltd PC, PSP 30th Harvest Fishing Rising Star Games DS 30th LittleBigPlanet SCE PSP 30th Tekken 6 Bandai PSP 30th Yoga for Wii JoWooD Wii Alpha Protocol Sega Of Europe 360, PC, PS3 Dragon Ball Z: Attack of The Saiyans Bandai Namco Partners DS Dragon Ball Z: Revenge of King Piccolo Bandai Namco Partners Wii Wars Square Enix DS Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta Bethesda Softworks PS3 SAW Konami 360, PS3 : Rise of the Pirate God Lucasarts Wii Tales of Monkey Island: The Trial and Execution of Lucasarts PC, Wii

November 6th Activision 360, PS2, PS3, Wii 6th Dragon Age: Origins Electronic Arts 360, PC, PS3 6th LEGO 2: The Adventure Continues Lucasarts 360, DS, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii 6th Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 Konami PS2, PSP 6th Wii Fit Plus Nintendo Wii 10th Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Activision 360, PC, PS3 10th Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilised Activision DS 10th Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Activision Blizzard Wii 13th Cooking Mama 3 505 Games DS 13th DJ Hero Activision Blizzard 360, PS2, PS3, Wii 17th Left 4 Dead 2 Valve Software 360, PC 20th Assassin's Creed II Ubisoft 360, PC, PS3 20th Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines Ubisoft PSP You can reach key UK retailers by advertising with GamesRetail.biz. Page 8 Brought to you by

Every week: The UK games market in less than ten minutes Issue 15: 15th - 21st September RELEASE DATES

RELEASE DATES (CONT.)

Date Title Publisher Platforms

November 20th Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 Konami Wii 20th The Sims 3: World Adventures Electronic Arts PC 20th Tony Hawk: Ride Activision 360, PS3, Wii 27th Revolution Konami PS3, Wii 27th Muramasa: The Demon Blade Rising Star Games Wii 27th Need for Speed: Nitro Electronic Arts DS, Wii 27th Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles Capcom Wii Alarm für Cobra 11: Highway Nights RTL Games 360, DS, PC Easy Piano Namco Bandai DS Ghostbusters SCEE PS2 Karaoke Revolution Konami 360 Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 5 Bandai Namco Partners PS2 RTL Winter Sports 2010 RTL Games 360, PS3, Wii Tales of Monkey Island: Rise of the Pirate God Lucasarts PC : Dawn of the New World Bandai Namco Partners Wii Where the Wild Things Are Warner Bros 360, DS, PS3, Wii

December 4th The Saboteur Electronic Arts 360, PS3 19th Niki - Rock 'n' Ball Nintendo Wii Blue Toad Murder Files Relentless Software PS3

Q4 Axel & Pixel 2K Play 360 Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge Electronic Arts PS3 Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast Bandai Namco Partners 360, PS3 Trilogy Deep Silver DS, PSP EA Sports Active expansion (working title) Electronic Arts Wii echochrono (working title) SCEE PSP Harvest Moon: Animal Parade Natsume Wii Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier SCEE PS2, PSP Just Dance Ubisoft Wii Last Rebellion Nippon Ichi Software PS3 America Madden Arcade EA Sports 360, PS3 Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time SCEE PS3 Redemption Rockstar Games 360, PS3 Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love Nippon Ichi Software PS2, Wii America Serious Sam HD Majesco Europe 360, PC Battlefront: Elite Squadron Lucasarts DS Tekken 6 Namco Bandai 360 The Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood Turbine Entertainment MMO

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