Brought to you by 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 Eurogamer.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 Codemasters 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. 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 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 Xbox 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: WII 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 Square Enix 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 Ubisoft 8. Heavy Rain Hands-On 9. BioShock 2 2K Games 9. God of War III Hands-On 10. Dragon Age: Origins Electronic Arts 10. Assassin's Creed II Hands-On List based on traffic for Eurogamer articles dated 27th October - 2nd 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 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 Nintendo 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, Scotland. 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) Need for Speed: Shift Electronic Arts SELECTED GAMES INDUSTRY JOBS 14. (10) Operation Flashpoint: 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, England, UK & Europe. 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 & Metacritic 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. 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 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: Rock Band 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) The Sims 3 4. (4) Borderlands 4. (3) Championship Manager 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.