UK - Fight Night Round 4 Fights for the Top Spot

UK Top 40 Software

This is the first time a boxing title has taken the top spot on the software charts.

New releases this week: Fight Night Round 4 debuts at number 1, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at number 6, Overlord II at number 17, and Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits at number 18.

Rank – Title – Publisher

1. Fight Night Round 4 – EA
2. Prototype – Activision Blizzard
3. The Sims 3 – EA
4. Wii Fit – Nintendo
5. UFC 2009: Undisputed – THQ
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Activision Blizzard
7. Call of Duty: World at War – Activision Blizzard
8. Virtua Tennis 2009 – Sega
9. EA Sports Active – EA
10. Ghostbusters: The Video Game – Sony

11. Grand Slam Tennis – EA
12. Professor Layton and the Curious Village – Nintendo
13. Red Faction: Guerrilla – THQ
14. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – Activision Blizzard
15. FIFA 09 – EA
16. Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
17. Overlord II – Codemasters
18. Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits – Activision Blizzard
19. Pokemon Platinum – Nintendo
20. Wii Play – Nintendo

21. Infamous – Sony
22. Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings – LucasArts
23. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games – Sega
24. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training – Nintendo
25. Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite – Capcom
26. My Fitness Coach – Ubisoft
27. Arma II – 505 Games
28. MySims Racing – EA
29. Guitar Hero: Metallica – Activision Blizzard
30. Sega Superstars Tennis – Sega

31. Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires – Koei
32. Resident Evil 5 – Capcom
33. Carnival: Funfair Games – Take 2
34. Guitar Hero: World Tour – Activision Blizzard
35. Football Manager 2009 – Sega
36. Grand Theft Auto IV – Take 2
37. Spore: Galactic Adventures – EA
38. Tales of Vesperia – Atari
39. Mystery Stories – GSP/Avanquest
40. Star Ocean: The Last Hope

UK - Prototype Edges The Sims 3 for Top Honors

Activision has finally scored its first number 1 spot on the UK Top 40 Software chart, pushing The Sims 3 down to 2nd place. Sales of Prototype were down 20%, and sales of The Sims 3 dropped 49%.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game, a new release from Texas-based Terminal Reality, debuts at number 4 on the chart.

The price drop on Call of Duty: World at War helped to boost sales by 59% last week, pushing the title up to 5th place from 7th.

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings jumped from number 32 up to number 13 this past week. Infamous dropped from number 9 to number 18. Resident Evil 5 also reappears on the list at number 20, right below new release Arma II from 505 Games.

Rank – Title – Publisher

1. [Prototype] – Activision Blizzard
2. The Sims 3 – EA
3. Wii Fit – Nintendo
4. Ghostbusters: The Video Game – Sony
5. Call of Duty: World at War – Activision Blizzard
6. Red Faction: Guerrilla – THQ
7. UFC 2009: Undisputed – THQ
8. EA Sports Active – EA
9. Virtua Tennis 2009 – Sega
10. Grand Slam Tennis – EA

11. Professor Layton and the Curious Village – Nintendo
12. FIFA 09 – EA
13. Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings – LucasArts
14. Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
15. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – Activision Blizzard
16. Pokemon Platinum – Nintendo
17. Guitar Hero: Metallica – Activision Blizzard
18. Infamous – Sony
19. Arma II – 505 Games
20. Resident Evil 5 – Capcom

21. Wii Play – Nintendo
22. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games – Sega
23. Guitar Hero: World Tour – Activision Blizzard
24. Terminator Salvation – Warner Bros. Interactive
25. My Fitness Coach – Ubisoft
26. Carnival: Funfair Games – Take 2
27. Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Mummy – Ubisoft
28. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training – Nintendo
29. Football Manager 2009 – Sega
30. Star Ocean: The Last Hope – Square Enix Europe

31. Walk With Me! Know Your Walking Routine? – Nintendo
32. Sega Superstars Tennis – Sega
33. Fuel – Codemasters
34. Mystery Stories – GSP/Avanquest
35. Grand Theft Auto IV – Take 2
36. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel – Koch Media
37. Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum – Koch Media
38. Big Family Games – THQ
39. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 – Konami
40. Lego Batman: The Videogame – Warner Bros. Interactive

MC 2009-06-08 and Famitsu 2009-06-01: Things of Note

Based on the latest Famitsu hardware numbers...
PSP comparisons: After 235 weeks, PSP is where PS2 was at 189.0 weeks (October 12, 2003), where DS was at 101.8 weeks (November 10, 2006), and where GBA was at 158.8 weeks (April 3, 2004).

X360 comparisons: After 183 weeks, X360 is where GCN was at 17.0 weeks (January 6, 2002), where PS3 was at 38.0 weeks (July 29, 2007), and where Wii was at 5.5 weeks (January 4, 2007).

PS3 comparisons: After 135 weeks, PS3 is where PS2 was at 45.3 weeks (January 9, 2001), where PSP was at 68.4 weeks (March 29, 2006), where GCN was at 124.8 weeks (January 31, 2004), and where Wii was at 35.5 weeks (August 1, 2007).

Wii comparisons: After 132 weeks, Wii is where GBA was at 98.5 weeks (February 6, 2003), where DS was at 77.1 weeks (May 22, 2006), where PS2 was at 116.1 weeks (May 20, 2002), and where PSP was at 167.1 weeks (February 18, 2008).

DSi comparisons: After 32 weeks, DSi is where GBASP was at 46.4 weeks (December 31, 2003) and where DSL was at 16.4 weeks (June 20, 2006).

Based on the latest Media Create hardware numbers...
DS vs PSP: Weekly shares of 61.1 / 38.9 bring total shares to 68.3 / 31.7. If DS stopped selling and PSP continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 530.9 weeks (August 17, 2019).

X360 vs PS3: Weekly shares of 44.5 / 55.5 bring total shares to 24.7 / 75.3. This is the highest weekly share X360 has had relative to PS3 among the weeks where it didn't actually outsell PS3. If PS3 stopped selling and X360 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 267.5 weeks (July 31, 2014).

PS3 vs Wii: Weekly shares of 35.2 / 64.8 bring total shares to 28.4 / 71.6. If Wii stopped selling and PS3 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 486.5 weeks (October 11, 2018).

Week over week, nothing fluctuates more than 2.2K in either direction.

Through the first twenty-four weeks of the year, overall sales are down. However, the systems can be split into camps of 3 up and 3 down. Here's how the year-to-date year-over-year percents stand as of now.

PS3 takes a big dive this week. Last week it was 27.5% ahead of the year before; this week it is down to 10.8%. This is because last year's numbers just hit the MGS4 bump.

Wii: -63.9%
DSL+DSi: +2.4%
PS2: -49.8%
PS3: +10.8%
PSP: -45.1%
X360: +234.8%

Home hardware: -38.8%
Portable hardware: -24.7%
Sum of all hardware: -30.4%

Last year:


This year:



Famitsu Software Stuff

So though it passed this several weeks ago, thanks to popping back up on the Top 30 we can see for sure that Animal Crossing: Wild World (95) has joined the 5+ million club, joining Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire (855), New Super Mario Bros. (241), and Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (261).


Looking at a launch-aligned version, we can see that Wild World took a lot longer to reach 5 million than those other games. Diamond/Pearl took about 200 days. Ruby/Sapphire about 400 days. NSMB about 600 days. Wild World about 1300 days.


The only modern game left in my database over 4 million but not over 5 million is Brain Age 2... which I believe actually passed 5 million earlier this year, but its failure to make any Top 30 lists since January 2008 makes it harder to keep track of.

Out of sight since February, Professor Layton and the Last Time Travel (3293) has in the between gained about 50K. As was the case when last we saw it it's tracking above the first game (271) but below the second (2673).


Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (3586) continues performing... adamantly in-between. It's not doing as well as the original (984) or second (2352) PS2 games, but its second week number puts it past the total of GBA Chain of Memories (1645) and all Final Mix releases.

UK - 2nd Week of Top Sales for The Sims 3

With sales nearly cut in half in the last week, The Sims 3 remains atop the UK Top 40 software chart, followed by Radical Entertainment’s latest blockbuster, Prototype.

Sales of Red Faction: Guerrilla were down 31%, as the title dropped to 3rd place. Call of Duty: World at War jumped back into the top 10, from 16th to 7th place.

EA’s new Grand Slam Tennis, the first game available with Wii MotionPlus technology, lands at number 13 on the chart.

Rank – Title – Publisher

1. The Sims 3 – EA
2. [Prototype] – Activision Blizzard
3. Red Faction: Guerrilla – THQ
4. Wii Fit – Nintendo
5. UFC 2009: Undisputed – THQ
6. EA Sports Active – EA
7. Call of Duty: World at War – Activision Blizzard
8. Pokemon Platinum – Nintendo
9. Infamous – Sony
10. FIFA 09 – EA

11. Virtua Tennis 2009 – Sega
12. Guitar Hero: Metallica – Activision Blizzard
13. Grand Slam Tennis – EA
14. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – Activision Blizzard
15. Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
16. Terminator Salvation – Warner Bros. Interactive
17. Wii Play – Nintendo
18. Professor Layton and the Curious Village – Nintendo
19. My Fitness Coach – Ubisoft
20. Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum – Koch Media

21. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel – Koch Media
22. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games – Sega
23. Guitar Hero: World Tour – Activision Blizzard
24. Fuel – Codemasters
25. Carnival: Funfair Games – Take 2
26. Football Manager 2009 – Sega
27. Star Ocean: The Last Hope – Square Enix Europe
28. Sega Superstars Tennis – Sega
29. Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Mummy – Ubisoft
30. Night at the Museum 2 – Majesco

31. Mystery Stories – GSP/Avanquest
32. Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings – LucasArts
33. Grand Theft Auto IV – Take 2
34. Lego Indiana Jones: Original Adventures – LucasArts
35. Big Family Games – THQ
36. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training – Nintendo
37. Ben 10: Alien Force – D3P
38. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – Take 2
39. Walk with Me! Know Your Walking Routine? – Nintendo
40. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 - Konami

MC 2009-06-01 and Famitsu 2009-05-25: Things of Note

Based on the latest Famitsu hardware numbers...
PSP comparisons: After 234 weeks, PSP is where PS2 was at 187.9 weeks (October 5, 2003), where DS was at 101.6 weeks (November 9, 2006), and where GBA was at 158.3 weeks (March 30, 2004).

X360 comparisons: After 182 weeks, X360 is where GCN was at 16.9 weeks (January 6, 2002), where PS3 was at 37.9 weeks (July 28, 2007), and where Wii was at 5.5 weeks (January 3, 2007).

PS3 comparisons: After 134 weeks, PS3 is where PS2 was at 45.0 weeks (January 7, 2001), where PSP was at 68.2 weeks (March 27, 2006), where GCN was at 124.1 weeks (January 25, 2004), and where Wii was at 35.3 weeks (July 31, 2007).

Wii comparisons: After 131 weeks, Wii is where GBA was at 98.0 weeks (February 2, 2003), where DS was at 77.0 weeks (May 21, 2006), where PS2 was at 115.9 weeks (May 18, 2002), and where PSP was at 166.9 weeks (February 16, 2008).

DSi comparisons: After 31 weeks, DSi is where GBASP was at 46.2 weeks (December 29, 2003) and where DSL was at 16.1 weeks (June 19, 2006).

Based on the latest Media Create hardware numbers...
DS vs PSP: Weekly shares of 60.5 / 30.6 bring total shares to 68.3 / 31.7. If DS stopped selling and PSP continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 490.8 weeks (November 3, 2018).

X360 vs PS3: Weekly shares of 39.4 / 60.6 bring total shares to 24.6 / 75.4. If PS3 stopped selling and X360 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 323.4 weeks (August 19, 2015).

PS3 vs Wii: Weekly shares of 37.2 / 62.8 bring total shares to 28.3 / 71.7. If Wii stopped selling and PS3 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 477.8 weeks (August 4, 2018).

Week over week, DS comes down from its bump and the rest are pretty flat.

Through the first twenty-three weeks of the year, overall sales are down. However, the systems can be split into camps of 3 up and 3 down. Here's how the year-to-date year-over-year percents stand as of now.

Wii: -64.0%
DSL+DSi: +2.2%
PS2: -49.7%
PS3: +27.5%
PSP: -44.7%
X360: +233.6%

Home hardware: -37.1%
Portable hardware: -24.4%
Sum of all hardware: -29.5%

Last year:


This year:



Famitsu Software Stuff

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days had a great first week. And actually, it had only half as many days of availability as most games have their first week. Few games have only two days to sell on their first week, and among those that are in my records only 3 of them did better than Kingdom Hearts. Those games in chronological order are Gran Turismo 3, Dragon Quest VIII, and Pokémon Platinum. Of course, it's perfectly possible that many games that sold large amounts in a normal four day period would have bigger two day periods if we actually had that data.

Bleach: Heat the Soul 6 (3521) once again ridiculously closely mirrors the sales pattern of Bleach: Heat the Soul 5 (2874).


Probably thanks to some price drop, New Play Control! Pikmin 2 has a big jump on the charts, from #53 the previous two weeks to #19 this week.


Famitsu Software Pie: Thanks to Kingdom Hearts, DS takes 64.6% of software sales this week. This is the biggest percentage DS has had since September 2008.

Media Create Sales: 06/01 - 06/07

01./01. [NDS] Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (Square Enix) - 106,000 / 401,000 (-64%)
02./02. [NDS] Gyakuten Kenji (Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth) (Capcom) - 42,000 / 214,000 (-76%)
03./03. [PS3] Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires (Koei) - 27,000 / 103,000 (-64%)
04./00. [WII] Arc Rise Fantasia (Marvelous) - 26,000 / NEW
05./04. [NDS] Sloane and MacHale's Mysterious Story (Level 5) - 26,000 / 102,000 (-21%)
06./00. [PSP] Evangelion: Jo (Prologue) (Namco Bandai) - 15,000 / NEW
07./11. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (BEST) (Capcom) - 14,000 / 722,000
08./05. [PSP] Yuusha 30 (Half-Minute Hero) (Marvelous) - 9,000 / 36,000 (-66%)
09./13. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) - 9,000 / 3,444,000
10./09. [NDS] Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! 2 (SEGA) - 9,000 / 65,000 (-47%)

11./14. [NDS] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky (Pokemon Co.)
12./15. [NDS] Made in Ore (Wario Ware) (Nintendo)
13./17. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!! (Nintendo)
14./21. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
15./08. [PS3] H.A.W.X. (Ubisoft)
16./00. [PS2] Evangelion: Jo (Prologue) (Namco Bandai)
17./10. [360] Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires (Koei)
18./20. [WII] Taiko Drum Master Wii (Namco Bandai)
19./16. [NDS] Dragon Ball Kai: Saiyajin Raishuu (Namco Bandai)
20./25. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo)
21./18. [PSP] Bleach: Heat the Soul 6 (SCEI)
22./23. [NDS] Pokemon Platinum (Pokemon Co.)
23./19. [WII] Play on Wii: Pikmin 2 (Nintendo)
24./22. [WII] Monster Hunter G (Capcom)
25./32. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
26./24. [PSP] Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
27./35. [NDS] Metal Fight Beyblade (Hudson)
28./31. [WII] Winning Eleven Playmaker 2009 (Konami)
29./28. [PS3] The Last Guy (SCEI)
30./39. [NDS] Phoenix Wright (NEW BEST) (Capcom)

Thanks to donny2112 for this week's translation.

UK - The Sims 3 Wastes No Time Taking 1st Place

After a five-year hiatus, The Sims franchise has returned, and the latest installment, The Sims 3, wasted no time jumping to number 1 on the UK Top 40 Software Chart. This marks the fourth biggest opening week ever in the UK for a PC title.

Critically acclaimed Red Faction: Guerrilla, the third installment in its own franchise, debuts at number 2. Recent release Infamous has dropped to number 6 on the chart. THQ’s latest UFC offering drops from 1st to 3rd place.

Fuel makes its debut at number 12 on the charts, from developer Asobo Studio.

Rank – Title – Publisher

1. The Sims 3 – EA
2. Red Faction: Guerrilla – THQ
3. UFC 2009: Undisputed – THQ
4. EA Sports Active – EA
5. Wii Fit – Nintendo
6. Infamous – Sony
7. Pokemon Platinum – Nintendo
8. Guitar Hero: Metallica – Activision Blizzard
9. Virtua Tennis 2009 – Sega
10. Terminator Salvation – Warner Bros. Interactive

11. FIFA 09 – EA
12. Fuel – Codemasters
13. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – Activision Blizzard
14. Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
15. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel – Koch Media
16. Call of Duty: World at War – Activision Blizzard
17. My Fitness Coach – Ubisoft
18. Star Ocean: The Last Hope – Square Enix Europe
19. Wii Play – Nintendo
20. Mystery Stories – GSP/Avanquest

21. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games – Sega
22. X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Activision Blizzard
23. Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Mummy – Ubisoft
24. Professor Layton and the Curious Village – Nintendo
25. Guitar Hero: World Tour – Activision Blizzard
26. Big Family Games – THQ
27. Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum – Koch Media
28. Carnival: Funfair Games – Take 2
29. Football Manager 2009 – Sega
30. Night at the Museum 2 – Majesco

31. Ben 10: Alien Force – D3P
32. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training – Nintendo
33. Sega Superstars Tennis – Sega
34. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 – Konami
35. Hannah Montana: The Movie – Disney Interactive Studios
36. Grand Theft Auto IV – Take 2
37. Halo Wars – Microsoft
38. Gears of War 2 – Microsoft
39. Lego Indiana Jones: Original Adventures – LucasArts
40. Resident Evil 5 - Capcom

Media Create Sales: 05/25 - 05/31

01. [NDS] Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (Square Enix) 295,000 / NEW
02. [NDS] Gyakuten Kenji (Capcom) 172,000 / NEW
03. [PS3] Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires (KOEI) 76,000 / NEW
04. [NDS] Sloan to Michael: Nazo no Monogatari (Level 5) 33,000 / 76,000
05. [PSP] Yuusha 30 (Marvelous) 26,000 / NEW
06. [NDS] Higurashi 3 (Alchemist) 23,000 / NEW
07. [PSP] Utawarerumono Portable (Aqua Plus) 22,000 / NEW
08. [PS3] H.A.W.X. (Ubisoft) 19,000 / NEW
09. [NDS] Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! 2 (SEGA) 17,000 / 56,000
10. [360] Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires (KOEI) 16,000 / NEW

11. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (PSP the Best) (Capcom)
12. [NDS] Suzumiya Haruhi Dance Game (SEGA)
13. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo)
14. [NDS] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky (Nintendo)
15. [NDS] Made in Ore (Wario Ware) (Nintendo)
16. [NDS] Dragon Ball Kai: Saiyajin Raishuu (Namco Bandai)
17. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Nintendo)
18. [PSP] Bleach: Heat the Soul 6 (SCEI)
19. [WII] Play on Wii: Pikmin 2 (Nintendo)
20. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Namco Bandai)
21. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
22. [WII] Monster Hunter G (Capcom)
23. [NDS] Pokémon Platinum (Pokémon)
24. [PSP] Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
25. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo)
26. [NDS] Tactics Layer (D3)
27. [360] Battle Station: Pacific (Spike)
28. [PS3] The Last Guy (SCEI)
29. [360] Mass Effect (Microsoft)
30. [PSP] Memories off 6: T-Wave (5pb)